Buzzard Bylines 1986

• Grady & Vicki Merritt
  Our first year of home schooling has pointed up some of my shortcomings as a new teacher, but we are very much looking forward to continuing and benefiting from the experience. Ben and David are playing soccer and loving it.

• Ed & Margaret Maehlmann
  Of the 5 new boys in our dorm, 3 have received Christ as Savior, for which we praise God. Since almost _ of our boys are 9th graders, they're livelier and more immature than last year's bunch. Monika and Rick are always busy with activities and Margaret has a challenging and rewarding time with her Sat. children's radio program.

• Glynis & David Miller
  David will be glad to graduate from New Orleans Bapt. Theo. Sem. in June. If we are approved by the So. Bapt. Foreign Mission Board in Feb. we will spend Oct.-Dec, 1986 near Richmond in orientation and move to Costa Rica in Dec. for a year of Spanish language study. Then we'll move to Guayquil, Ecuador to serve as a religious educational consultant. We have enjoyed becoming part of the seminary family and look forward to the coming of our fourth child in March.

• Armand & Jean LeBlanc
  As you pray for us remember: 1) Jean's language study; 2) Armand's ability to share the gospel in Swahili more effectively; 3) the kids continued health and learning at school; 4) for wisdom to know what methods and individuals to pursue in the work; 5) for full financial provision to pay for our car and renting a bookroom (the dollar's decline is pinching a bit).

• Stan & Dottie Smith
  We've been asked to consider a move north to do church planting among a very poor tribal people in the Agusan rain forest. As we consider this direction, the practicalities of needing a house, making a move, beginning again in a new place crowd our thinking. If this is to be our direction, play that our doing His will and being His kind of people (Gal. 5) will mesh. That's true Christianity-being and doing. It's a movement we celebrate at Christmas. May the new year find you rooted in Christ as He enables you "to be and to do."

• Debbie & Peter Jones
  We have seen the birth of a long-standing vision of jungle campaigns supplementing Bible study and discipleship, which incorporate the dynamics of music, teaching, teams, visitation, medicine & healing. We pray this is just the beginning of an even more powerful ministry of God's Spirit. On the homefront, the children have started their new school year. Two-year-old Luke runs off from Daddy's care to visit the little schoolhouse on the other side of the patch. Debbie enjoys the new setup. Our fourth child is due around Christmas.

• Rhonda Hartell
  This year has been pretty busy. I've had some extensive editing work to do on two books-a descriptive grammar textbook and a compilation of SIL language survey in Burkina Faso. This summer I went to Cameroon to help train Africans to work linguistically on their own languages with the ultimate goal of Bible translation. The fall was rather chopped up with meetings, deadlines, travel, etc. and even Christmas was a bit hectic. A special event was a month-long visit from my parents in Feb. Dad helped in carpentry and Mom with typing library cards. The Lord has been faithful in supplying my needs, sustaining my health and answering prayer. Our team in Burkina Faso is growing.

• Marlene & Paul Wenzel
  1985 will be remembered by us for the very sudden homegoing of Marlene's dad [54 yrs. old]. While vacationing together in 1000 Island Canada, he died of a heart attack. He was babysitting Megan but she was asleep at the time. No warning, just collapsed and was gone home with the Lord. The shock and sudden loss have left their imprint on our lives these past few months but the Lord has become more precious in these difficult times. We continue here in the pastorate-7 years now and a delight to see God working in many lives. We plan a Wenzel reunion this summer. It has been 19 yrs. since all 8 Wenzel kids have been together so Mom & Dad are very excited as there are 19 Wenzel grandchildren.

• Martha & Jorge Cuevas
  We are to be in Mexico the month of Feb. Then in March we all go to Columbus, MS to build a Lutheran church. In about July it will be another Lutheran church in Raleigh, NC. I'm not sure how the boys will adjust to 8 months away from home. We usually stay here while Jorge comes and goes, but this time it is too far. So we've about decided that I will teach JB kindergarten wherever we are.

• Deb & Paul Haken
  Our big news is that Josiah Luke arrived Dec. 15. We feel pretty much `at home' now and little by little are learning what SIL does here. Besides flying and maintenance, Paul sees public relations as a vital part of the growth of Bible translation here. We are grateful to the Lord for His help in finding a church. The kids continue to be very contented at school.

• Chris & Anne Matthies
  Our family is in the Spanish Language Institute in San Jose, Costa Rica from Jan.-Aug., 1986. From here we go to Madrid, Spain where we will be joining Worldteam's Spainteam ministry headed by Paul Thompson. As most of you know from the CBC newsletter ["he died suddenly from complications after having the flu for several days"], our oldest son Toby (9 1/2) died of peritonitis last August. We had just been studying Revelation, chapter one together. We miss him greatly but are assured of his being with Jesus.

• Al & Daisy Ortiz
  Daisy's 92 yr. old dad Pepe went to be with the Lord in Oct. At the marriage retreat in Nov., Dr Pena, who'd cared for Pepe with free in-home visits, and Mr. Alvarez, an influential lawyer who used Pepe's wheelchair for his broken right leg, attended. Isn't it like God to turn tokens of grief into symbols of joy? As of a result of one of our marriage retreats, we are following up Dr. & Mrs. Belliard. We will need wisdom, discernment and the opportune boldness to penetrate their professional shell with the power of the gospel. The house-church now has 6 consistent couples at its nucleus. We'll soon need a meeting place, especially if we get good results from the showing of the JESUS video-cassette in selected homes during the Easton season in the neighborhood of Villa Olga.

• Doris & Neil Wolfe
  I haven't sent out a prayer letter since Sept. I keep waiting/hoping for some news of our new assignment. It's beginning to look like we may be here at Waxhaw for another school year. The children have done amazingly well at adjusting to life in the State-actually better than us adults have done. I for one still feel like a fish out of water. The highlights of our furlough so have been our visits with our supporting churches and from Lorraine Evans (she'll be here again this week and celebrate her birthday with us). Neil has enjoyed being assistant coach for Elaina's soccer team and now for Andy's basketball team. Thank you for keeping in touch.

• Steve & Debbie Fields
  We are still in Ellijay, GA. In Feb., 1985 I started working for a Christian developer at Beaver Lake Estates. We sell lots and timeshare villa and houseboats. I do collections for the maintenance fees and property owners' association. I had a successful year and we have been able to buy a house in the development. On Weds. at lunch we have a Bible study in the office and it has had a good impact on several lives. A new church has started here and I am helping with that. We will begin construction in a few days. Debbie is almost finished with cosmetology school and has done well so far. Keith Fellows came by a few days ago. He has been helping with Ethiopian relieve work for SIM for 16 months and is soon to return to Ghana to the work he started there. My parents will be home from Kenya in April and we are looking forward to seeing them.

• Allan & Cindy Bosson
  Allan continues to pastor the Lee St. Bapt. Church in Valdosta. He is still working on his doctorate and will be for a few more years. Our latest news is the arrival of our third child due April 16. With Christopher 9 and Timothy 7 this baby was a definite surprise. But we can't wait to meet him/her!

• Pam & Fred Tuggy
  We thank the Lord upon every remembrance of you. So many have written to tell us of your concern and prayers we feel rich. My physical and emotional health is improving steadily. I'm still not good for much heavy work yet, but run a lot of errands and still work in childcare 3 days a week. We are building our house. The Lord has worked out details so quickly we still feel we're dreaming. We'd like to move in May or June. Come see us.

• Marlita & Bill Walker
  We're starting our 3rd year here and the Sr. Highers seem to really be taking hold with maturity and love for one another. Bill & I are each discipling 3 teens on a weekly basis, which is a great joy. Our kids are in Christian school which makes it tight and it looks like we'll be moving again (in the area) this year to lessen the stress. Mikkel (9) is busy with piano and Rainbow Choir. Benji (7) loves soccer and asked Jesus into his heart this past year. Melody (4) is our socialite who can hardly stay home by herself and play-she continually `needs' her friends and activity. The Lord is giving us wisdom & grace in our lives and also the victories over Satan's darts as we struggle with sick cars and rental increases. We're thankful that He is the Overcomer, the Rock, the Fortress-"we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us."