The last three weeks have been very busy. We have been in seven different churches and I have had the privilege to preach for six of them. In addition to this, my second youngest grandchild, Emma, was hospitalized for ten days. During this time period, she was in three hospitals, including Stanford for seven days. My wife and I, along with Emma’s parents, are thankful for the prayers of many and for those who helped her parents financially.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR EMMA’S RECOVERY!

It was a tremendous blessing to be able to be with some of our dear friends and the churches that they have been entrusted by God to pastor. Pastor Rick Owens (Victory Baptist Church), Pastor Tim Ruhl (Pleasant Valley Baptist Church), Pastor Winiel Pechardo (Harvest Baptist Church), Pastor Art Maricle (New Hope Baptist Church), Pastor Mike Ray (Hopewell Baptist Church), Pastor John Evertson (West Valley Baptist Church), and my son-in-law Pastor Josh Aquino (Lighthouse) and their church families were a tremendous encouragement and blessing to us.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE THESE MEETINGS TO INSPIRE YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE TO PRAY MORE, GIVE MORE, AND IN SOME CASES, BE WILLING TO GO TO THE 1040 WINDOW!

While doing an all-day Missions’ Emphasis at West Valley Baptist Church (Pastor Evertson), I was introduced to a few young people who had surrendered to serve the Lord on the Mission Field, including a nine-year old boy named Jack. After the morning service, I gave them all a copy of the book “Keep the Dream Alive.” Just before the evening service, Jack came to me and said he had been reading the book that afternoon and his eyes were glued to it. The next day I received an email from Jack, which said: “This is Jack Gerbitz and I just wanted to tell you thank you for the book. I loved the testimony of Pastor Esposito. I might go to China to keep the dream alive with my friend Aydin. He said he would like to go there too.” NOT BAD FOR A NINE-YEAR OLD BOY!

PLEASE PRAY FOR JACK AND OTHERS WHO GOD WILL SPEAK TO, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, DURING OUR TIME IN THE STATES!

Once you have been serving on the field and grow to love a people it’s hard not to have them on your mind. There’s seldom a day that goes by that I do not think of, and pray for, our folks in Cambodia and Laos. It has been a real blessing to be kept updated on a regular basis of what is going on in Southeast Asia, especially in Cambodia. It was a joy to hear that our new church plant in Steung Meanchey is continuing to do well and to hear that the recent Youth Conference our team held in Phnom Penh was greatly blessed by God!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR TEAMS AND THE VARIOUS WORKS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!

I know many of you pray regularly for my brother, Pastor Joe, and his wife Mary. We are all extremely grateful for those prayers. Very seldom do I go to a church and not have many people come and tell me they have been praying for him and his wife. With that in mind, I thought you might get a kick out of this. My brother and I are originally from Chicago and are Chicago Cubs fans, he, even more than myself. Well, this year, for the first time since 1908, the Cubs won the World Series. Pastor Joe had the chance to watch a few of the games. And I think he was a bit excited about their World Series Championship victory!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR JOE, MARY, AND THE FAMILY! 

My wife and I would like to thank you for your faithful prayer and financial support. We couldn’t do what we do without your prayers and your support.

Johnny and Denise