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It's obvious that the need for prayer never ends. In Phil. 4:6 it says that in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving we are to make our requests known to God. So, we don't stop asking over there in the right column (and indeed we have requests for the month of November!), but we also don't stop thanking over here in left column! So, it's normal to be thankful and at the same time experience "felt needs" that challenge us. Don't be discouraged by the continue need for prayer, it is God's designed framework to teach us how to breathe spiritually.
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Glasses - Angela and I have had new prescriptions in our hands for about 6 months now but have been told that new glasses will cost a minimum of about 600 euros for each of us...so we have waited. One of Angela's temples broke off recently. She decided to go to the local "boutique" optometrist (read: expensive) in town to see if they could be fixed. They could not...but...she looked at frames while in there and found out that because of annual, non-advertised manufacturers' reductions, they would only be 300 euros. What's more they would allow us to pay in 3 installments and even hold the 1st check until we actually have the money! Again we discover God's provision right under our nose!
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Christmas - Well, it's not Christmas yet, but as an early Christmas present, we've had our tickets paid for to visit a group of dear friends in England during the Christmas holidays...by...that group of dear friends! It's nice to be loved!!
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Noah - Every trimester all the junior high teachers are available one Saturday morning to talk with each parent about their child and how they are doing in that teacher's subject. We had that time with Noah's teachers in October and it was a real blessing. We got excellent feedback from all his teachers and were very much encouraged about Noah's progress and the scholastic situation he is in. One of the suggestions by his gym teacher was that Noah might enjoy archery as a sport that matches his personality. He has tried it at the weekly session that meets at the community center 1 block away and it was a success. So, we'll be signing him up for that. A true blessing to find more interests and contacts for him.
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Neighbors - We're continuing to develop more and more contacts with our neighbors; building the relational bridges very much necessary in this culture to carry and live the Gospel message that will change their lives.
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Worship - Connecting with the Youth Worship team at church has advanced as well as the worship leaders in the church beginning to meet and pray together on a weekly basis. These are both important developments as building a foundation of worship and intercession is vital in this region for what God wants to do.
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Intercession - Our "Gideon Attack" intercession night was most encouraging and, I think, effective. Many more people were involved than any of us had hoped for. It has released a sense of destiny and anticipation in the church which is vital and life-giving. God has begun to move also on our heart about some concrete connections with the community right next to our church building and the need for that community to function in harmony with Guebwiller, within whose borders our church is situated.
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Angela's Physical Health - Angela visited an osteopath who gave her a good working over that was very effective in relieving some back pain. Also she received some prayer about recurring headaches (while suffering one) during a church home group worship time. It was very encouraging and we think that perhaps we've turned a corner here for the better (the headaches seemed to be getting more frequent). So...
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Angela's Physical Health - We're still holding on to healing for headaches and physical pains. Please pray for continued persevering faith. If these osteopath visits can make a lasting difference but more are needed, please pray for the financial increase and/or government benefits that would facilitate them.
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Season of Life - Right now, in Europe, there is a stretch of time that focuses annually on death. Obviously, we want to fight that as it affects everything like a wet blanket (e.g. our health...like above). It starts today with Halloween (that we have unfortunately exported to Europe from the US). Directly after that is All Saints Day, which, at least in France, is a major pilgrimage to cemeteries to lay flowers. This year, Ramadan is ending during this time (Nov 3rd) and the last 10 days are the most significant. The "Night of Power" in the Ramadan fast was last night (30th) so one could say that this peculiar season started yesterday or even before. It ends on November 11th with Armistice Day. On Armistice Day, there are ceremonies in every village and town around France and most of Europe where people congregate around the ubiquitous memorials to the war dead from WWI and WWII. I will take part in the the bi-monthly regional intercession weekend beginning the 11th. Please pray for a spirit of Life to reign in Europe, which has been so touched by death in the last 100 years. This may seem too general and broad, but this is crucial for the Gospel to take root again in Europe.
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Berlin Africa Conference - Rachel and I and two ladies from our church will be traveling to Berlin on November 17th, and returning on the 20th. During this brief time we will all be participating in a conference focusing on African-European Reconciliation. This conference will be a "redemptive reenactment" of the "Berlin Congo" conference of 1884-5 in which 14 nations (European and the US) divided up Africa for the purpose of colonial exploitation. Of course there were no Africans present at this conference. From the standpoint of the Western Powers, this was a coordinated, unilateral effort. This conference 100 years ago, as a milestone in the whole blight of slavery and colonialism, has served as a focal point in the last 5 years for several reconciliation efforts between Europe and Africa. Like the first prayer point above, dealing with this cancer of history is crucial in both Africa and Europe to the advancement of the Gospel. Both continents are still in the grips of reaping the consequences of the sins of our forefathers. This conference in November is an occasion to foster the repentance, reconciliation and restitution necessary to allow God's Kingdom to flourish instead of earthly empires. Pray for finances for African representatives to come. Pray for a spirit of humility, repentance, reconciliation, and restitution for those of us who represent the original 14 nations. Pray for travel safety and protection of Angela and Noah and Olivia while we're gone.
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Immigration - October was to have been the month when we heard something from the immigration authorities in Strasbourg about solidifying our status here in France. We've still not heard and November is the month when we turn in our residence card renewal papers. We believe that God is actively at work to establish us here in all areas...including our immigration status. Please pray that all immigration roadblocks would be removed to allow us to stay without the need for annual renewal and with the attached privilege of the right to work. Pray in particular for the logistics of the intersection of this immigration authority activity and the annual residence card renewal. Pray that none of this would hinder our trip to England at the end of December.
Until next month!
David
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