February 2011 Update from Bob & Debbie Clark
NTM Asia-Pacific
Family visits
These past few months we have enjoyed spending time with many family members. Our daughter Michelle came down from Grace College for a month-long Christmas break with us. On Christmas Eve Debbie prepared a big Christmas dinner, and for the first time ever, we had both my parents and Debbie’s parents around our table for the big holiday feast! It was great to have so much of the family together. Then in mid-February Debbie’s brother Paul McDole and his family returned from the Asia-Pacific region for a two-week visit with Debbie’s parents as well as with us. During that time our son Steve came down for a quick weekend visit. And of course we see Debbie’s parents almost every day since we live so close to them.
Christmas Dinner with our parents and Michelle!
Ministry Update
These past few months I have been reviewing Scripture translation from two tribal missionary teams in Asia-Pacific. Soon I will be leaving to conduct on-site translation checks in both of those remote areas to ensure that the tribal language translation is communicating clearly and accurately to the native speakers of those languages. In the first location we will check much of Genesis as well as portions of other books which will be used in foundational Bible lessons for the new group of believers there. Our goal is to check over 1,200 verses. Then in the second language / people group we are preparing to check the entire Gospel of John. In each of these locations the people are very eager to have more of God’s Word printed and available in their own native tongue so that they can grow in their faith and learn more of his plan to redeem mankind. After I return from my trip I will have the opportunity to speak at a Missions Conference on the gulf coast of Florida.
All the McDoles plus Bob, Debbie, and Steve
Debbie continues to work two days a week as a caregiver for a senior citizen in the area who needs assistance. On the days she is not working she helps her parents, primarily by cooking meals for them. Her mom is now finding it difficult to speak, as the ALS (Lou Gehrig’s) disease continues it’s assault on the motor neurons in her system. In April Debbie will be participating in a fund-raising walk to benefit the ALS foundation as they work to provide assistance and also seek a cure for those who suffer from that disease. I would join her in that walk of course, but I will be at the Missions Conference that day.
Our Granddaughters – Maggie with twin sisters Katie & Jade
Challenges and Blessings
Although it seems that we face many challenges, we know that this is true for all of us who are still residents of this world while at the same time being citizens of heaven. We also realize that the Lord strengthens us through trials, and because of that we can be thankful and joyful in our circumstances. And of course we have experienced many blessings, certainly even more than we realize. One of those blessings is knowing that we are not on our own but rather part of a team that includes each of you who pray for us and/or support us financially. The Lord has placed each of us in the Body of Christ with a particular purpose in mind so that as we all function properly we can help each other to be effective servants of our King! Thanks to each of you for your prayers and partnership in the ministry to which He has called all of us!
Because of Calvary,
Bob & Debbie Clark