Lebanon

This has been an interesting trip to say the least.  Our assignment in Jordan was to help orient a new couple and to continue the relationship we have had with three major partner organizations in distributing wheelchairs.  In addition we met with representatives of the Ministry of Social Development and other key government officials.  The Church has a good reputation in Jordan and it has been exciting over the past seven years to be a small part of the evolution of the relationships there.   We were able to organize the plans for another training course to be held in May.  At that time we will turn our responsibilities over to another couple.  We were up in a small town named Husn where we have a building that the Church meets in – a very small branch.  We noticed photographs on the wall of the missionaries who had served in Jordan.  We were surprised to realize that we have worked with twelve different couples during our assignment to Jordan.  By the way the reason we were in Husn was for a baptism.  It was on a Friday, the Sabbath there.  An eight year old girl from a member family in Amman was baptized because the only font is in Husn.  The Jordan River, a location of choice was too cold.  Most of the Branch from Amman drove the hour and one half to come and participate in the baptism service after their block.

Lebanon is another interesting location.  There seems to be a significant misunderstanding about what Lebanon represents for the Church.  We met with Elder and Sister Allen and MLS couple there.   They are very knowledgeable about the country and have made some wonderful contacts.  We would not be surprised to see Lebanon blossom over the next few years for the Church.  The District President for most of the Middle-East lives in Lebanon and has been a powerful force for good throughout the region. He is a native Lebanese and is quite well to do.  We had a chance to visit with him for a while on the telephone.  We were sent here on our own – with no one in the Church knowing we were coming.  This was primarily because the Humanitarian Couple who was supposed to be here had problems and at the last minute had their assignment changed.  But it all worked out, we were able to make the Church contacts.  Actually we were sent to meet with a Humanitarian NGO in Lebanon by the name of Arcenciel.  The Church has had a good relationship with this organization for almost a decade. We had met with them about six or seven years ago.  Because of some organizational changes at headquarters and because of lack of continuity in-country with couples not over-lapping, there were some questions developing about the relationship with Arcenciel, and some misunderstandings.  So our job was to meet with the leaders of the organization and find the facts and lay the foundation for future dealings.  It all worked out very well, and everything it back on track.  We were able to do more than we had anticipated.  Once again, we have seen the hand of the  Lord in directing us and inspiring us as to what we should do.  This applies to both Jordan and Lebanon.  It is likely that we will make a fairly quick stop in Lebanon in May after our training in Jordan.

What a blessing it is to be involved in the work of the Kingdom in these very unique and unusual parts of the world.  It seems that whether it was sending us to needful (for the Church) places to live – like Miami, Oklahoma and Branson, Missouri, or our church assignments in these faraway places with strange sounding names, the Lord has seen fit to have us be pioneers in helping to build the Kingdom.  We have not done much, but it has been a source of great joy to us.   We have a great love of the work, and feel gratitude beyond description to have been entrusted with these special opportunities.  The Gospel is true and the Church is rolling forth.  We have seen it with our own eyes.  We bear record of these great truths.

Mom and Dad