Home assignment plans

In response to our last e-mail update, we received an outpouring of prayers and encouraging e-mails. Thank you all so much for praying, and for writing to let us know you were praying. We are so blessed to have encouragers like you.

Speaking of thanks, we had a special blessing for Thanksgiving–visitors from the “outside world.” The Buettners, a missionary family who serve out in town, came interior to spend 4 days with us over the holiday. For Thanksgiving dinner we had a baked chicken (we just pretended it was a turkey!) with most of the traditional trimmings. We had even hoarded a couple cans of cranberry sauce for the occasion!

We wanted to let all of you know that we’re planning to return to the States for 6 months of home assignment from February-July of next year. Lord willing, we’ll arrive in San Antonio, TX on February 7, spend about a week with my family, and then travel up to Ohio. Our window of time for traveling to visit churches and other supporters will be mid-February through the beginning of May. After that we’ll need to be back in Texas for the birth of our baby (due June 14.) We plan to return to the field the first week of August. We hope we can see as many of you as possible during our time back in the USA, and we’re looking for opportunities to share what God is doing here in Asia Pacific and specifically among the Hobongan people.
If any of you know of such an opportunity or want to make sure we fit you into our traveling schedule, please let us know.

We appreciate your continued prayers more than we can express. Praise the Lord that we’ve had no more malaria or other serious illnesses since we last wrote. I (Jennifer) am still very sick with nausea, but I’m hoping the end is in sight now.