Well Christmas has come and gone and the New Year is already approaching the
end of the first quarter. We want to thank you all for the gifts you've sent us
this past year and for the Christmas gifts. Because of this I was able to buy
Esther a new stove. This has proven to be a valuable asset in the kitchen and I
have already enjoyed cookies, peach cobblers, coconut pies and chocolate cake
...etc. Maybe I should get a second stove!
Seriously though, we know that you are praying and are ever thankful to the Lord
for all of you backing us in prayer.
Family News
The twins are very "busy", and are both helping mom in the kitchen. They get up
to unpacking all her Tupperware, pots and pans, and on unsupervised occasions,
pouring out flour and different cooking goodies over the floor and adding a
little food coloring to the mixture and "voila" you have a mess. But everybody
loves them and lends a helping hand when they can. The older children enjoyed a
week off school as the Grings family made a trip to the interior, back to Yassa
and Longa. Lord willing they will return the 6 March 2006 . We have all
struggled with upper respiratory colds, and coughs and with extreme earaches
with the boys. This week off gave time for everybody to just relax and lay low
for a while.
Ministry News
JANUARY - "As we approached the door to the morgue, the man tapped three times
on the door before entering..." Superstition is ingrained into the fabric of
this culture and society.
A two year old of one of the members of the Kimbuala church died due to malaria.
Malaria is still the number one main killer in Congo . This is due to inadequate
medical centers, and quick diagnoses of the malaria. Pray for this family as
they grieve the passing of their first child. The day of the funeral of the
child, the family of the mother insisted that she return home with them, which
she did and was there for two weeks, so really they have not had the time to
mourn as couple.
Later on it was explained to me that they "knock" on the door at the morgue to
let any "spirits" know that they are about to enter. How wonderful to know that
for the believer "..Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” This is the
reason we are here to share this wonderful truth with them!
FEBRUARY - I was able to hold a week long, Monday – Sunday Bible conference
at the Messina church. I preached a series of messages on The Body of Christ,
and dealt with the 'gifts' within the body. We had to spend a lot of time
dealing with the mater of tongues, healing and prophecies. There is so much
confusion, misuse and deception. Lord willing once a month we will hold this
same 1 week conferences at the other churches here in Kinshasa . Do pray for
pastor Osé and wife Odette as they lost their baby who was born 3 months early
yesterday. Today The Grings and Esther and I were able to visit and be with them
a while.
Ministry
Bible School - Saturdays 9:00 to 15:30
Quartier Congo early morning bible study, Mondays - Saturday 6am.
Kimbwala- (45 min drive away) early morning bible study, Wednesday 6am
Sundays alternate between Kimbuala, Banza-Lemba and other churches.
Matters for Prayer
In Christ,
Robert & Esther Marsh