Many of you know that a few days ago, my son Joshua and his wife Hannah’s baby, Hope, died and went to heaven. Needless to say, this is a difficult time for the two of them, for their four other children, and for the rest of the family, including grandpa and grandma! We will be flying to the States for the Memorial service and to be with them for a few weeks. We definitely covet your prayers for Joshua, Hannah and the children at this time. The phrase “Grateful for the HOPE of heaven” has taken on an added meaning to us because of our granddaughter Hope’s passing!

PLEASE PRAY FOR JOSHUA, HANNAH, AND THE CHILDREN DURING THIS TIME! 

I just returned from an eight-day ministry trip in Indonesia with Brother Tomlinson and his son-n-law Matt. We had a wonderful time! It’s amazing what God is doing in this country that is 83% Muslim. We were in four different churches and two different Bible Colleges. And, as always, we went to be a blessing, but the Indonesian people were a far greater blessing to us than we to them. God really is doing something special in this, the largest Muslim country in the world. I had the privilege to preach the last service before we left Indonesia. Four adults made professions of faith!

It’s good to be back in China! We had a great time of discipleship training last week. God seems to be moving in hearts already. Can’t wait until our next meeting. Of course, we won’t meet with them for a few weeks because we will be in the States. It was a blessing to have two doctors (Barry and Joy) sit in with us. Lord willing, they will be eating over our house soon. I think they are bringing a couple more doctors with them!

I had the privilege to preach for last week’s midweek service (“Mistakes Parents Make”) and our Sunday service (“Biblical Stewardship”). One thing about living and serving in this part of the world, it isn’t long before you find out that these people are just like our folks back home and have the same struggles. The response to both messages was great!

It was a blessing for my wife to speak for a group of ladies here in China this past week. Another missionary here in the city, who I have preached for in the past, invited her to speak and she had a wonderful time, and I am sure she was a blessing. While my wife was teaching and fellowshipping with the ladies, the missionary and I, along with his son, had a wonderful meal and great fellowship at a Muslim restaurant down the street!

It was a real joy to be able to have Lee and his wife Yang Shou (pictured below) over our house for a time of food, fun (UNO), and fellowship. This couple has suffered much in recent days in the loss of their child. It was great to see Yang Shou back in a church service this past Sunday. I know it was difficult for her, but she worshipped the Lord with the rest of her brothers and sisters in Christ!

We have made a new friendship with a lady who is actually a member of the church we are assisting, but she hasn’t been in church for a while. Her name is Peng Ling Mei (pictured below) and she is dying of cancer. As soon as we found out that she is in a hospital not far from our apartment, we have made it a habit of going to visit her and her husband just about everyday. We even bought her a small stuffed puppy that she has named Chocolate. Peng Ling Mei is saved and she’s on her way to heaven, her husband Huang is not. Please pray for her husband’s salvation. And pray for a miracle in her life!

In a previous post we mentioned Maggie and have asked you to pray for her salvation. We were supposed to get together for supper at her house this week, but because we are going back to the States, it had to be rescheduled. Yet, she insisted on coming by and visiting with us before we left. We had a wonderful time. Please pray for Maggie’s (pictured below) salvation!

What a blessing to be able to preach in two communist countries and one Muslim country all in a matter of two months. Who would have thought that God could use an old sinner like me to go to these dark and difficult places to make a spiritual dent for His glory and the good of others. Not me, that’s for sure!

We Covet Your Prayers for the Following:

(1) Please pray that we will learn the language enough to be able to get around and function.

(2) Please pray for God’s favor and blessings upon the church and the missionaries (Dick and Trish) that we are presently working alongside of

(3) Please pray that God will open doors of ministry here in this city, throughout the country, and throughout Asia in the coming days, weeks, and months.

(4) Please pray for Barry and Joy to get more involved with the things of the Lord!

(5) Please pray for our Tuesday meetings to continue to go well and lead to many people eventually getting saved, discipled, and churches planted!

(6) Please pray for our upcoming trip to Laos (October)!

(7) Please pray for Peng Ling Mei (health) and her husband Huang (salvation)!

(8) Please pray for Maggie’s salvation!

(9) Please pray for future laborers, not only from Pacific Baptist Church of Long Beach, but from all over the world, to come to this needy part of the world!

My wife and I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support!

Just doing what we can to keep the dream alive,

Johnny and Denise Esposito