Buzzard Bylines 1978

• Martha Bass
  An August phone call from Dick & Ann Dye was the Lord's way of directing me to Mexico last fall. Claiming Matthew 19:26, we set out to plan a whole school year for 4 grades, teaching approximately 25 classes a day. I am only teaching 5 students, but we have 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 6^th grades. Jorge Cuevas, who I have been dating for almost 2 years, came down along with some friends of ours at Christmas, and I was able to meet his family. The need to know Spanish well was very present as I was there with Jorge's family. I got along, but to be able to tell them about Jesus, I definitely need a larger vocabulary than I have now. Please continue to pray: a) for guidance as to Jorge's and my future; b) returning in the fall to teach here or not; c) attending language school in June; d) for another teacher to join us here; e) for our new church (chartered in Jan.)-for the many new believers, the possibility of using a restaurant in the shape of Noah's ark being our church building. It has been unused for several months, so a good price might be possible; f) for the Teacher Training Program. We now have 5-6 adult Bible Studies, a children's Bible study, a Christian businessmen's breakfast, a young people's group plus 2 services Sunday as regular activities.

• Patty & John Chestnut
  John continues to go to school at Grace Seminary and loves it 'less' as the days go by--He is also preaching in a small Presbyterian church here and loving it 'more.' I am still working at the bank and hopefully my hours will become more normal soon (I work from 11:30-8:00 p.m.]. We're real happy here and hope anyone will come to see us if you're in this area [better wait till some of the snow melts!]

• Steve & Debbie Fields
  I live near Dalton, GA in a small town called Chatsworth, on about 4 acres of land, in a trailer. Debbie and I will have been married 2 years in July. We plan to join a small Baptist church here, though we both work for World Carpets in Dalton. Debbie reels and I rewind all of the electrical motors for the company and do preventive maintenance. Yes, I still take karate and am now a second degree black belt. My instructor is a Christian and we are working with some of the students. Any of you going north, south, east or west, you are welcome.

• Deb & Paul Haken
  For those of you who haven't heard--our second precious baby is due April 6. Please pray concerning this. Paul will be the only pilot on duty here beginning in March, and it would be nice if the flight schedule is light when the baby arrives. There is another pilot doing deputation right now and he is due to come out the end of March. Pray that he may be able to arrive as soon as possible. Paul continues to go to the prison every other Sunday, and we are especially happy about the six men who received Christ on Christmas morning. Deb has been teaching a Bible class at a commercial night school in Jos every Tues. evening. Pray that the Lord will bring some of these students to faith in Him. Another big aspect of our life here is the ministry of hospitality. We've had lots of visitors over the past several months.

• Rhonda Hartell
  Last semester I completed my M.A. in Linguistics at U. of Texas at Arlington. I tried to get a teaching job here this semester, but there wasn't one available so the director of the Dallas SIL asked me to be his secretary until this summer when I'll teach phonetics at U. of Oklahoma at Norman for SIL. Then I'll go back home and do deputation, pack up and leave for Europe and 6-12 mo. of French language study before going on to French West Africa.

• Deb & Peter Jones
  We are presently studying advanced linguistics and literacy at SIL here in Dallas. We were recently appointed apartment managers, which is a big help financially. We plan to be in Coast Rica this fall (1978) to first study Spanish and then develop a literacy program for the Chirripo--Peter's folks' tribe. Love to all.

• Armand & Jean LeBlanc
  Our barrels arrived with a minimum of trouble and our health is pretty good, but we sill have a little tummy trouble once in a while. Our days are filled with language study 5-6 hrs. five days a week; every 3^rd Fri. morning Armand speaks in our English-speaking church in town and just recently we helped with Daily Vacation Bible School for nominal Christians. There are 3 other missionary families in town and once a week we meet together for prayer (sometimes rather noisy with 4 babies all under 1 1/2 yrs.) Pray that we will learn the language and learn it well; that our water situation will improve (generally we are without from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.); for a good relationship with our landlord and his family (they are very particular); for the salvation of Cyrus and Ardashear (Muslim). Iran is becoming more like home as we begin to understand and speak the language. So continue to pray for us, as we need and depend on your prayers.

• Ed & Margaret Maehlmann
  It's with a lump in our throats that we write that we are resigning from GEM. Has God closed a door? Have we failed? Have Christians forgotten that it takes more than just a pat on the back for someone to go overseas as a missionary? Did we do something wrong? Did God want it this way? Am I right to ask why? We have contacted hundreds of churches by letter, phone and personal visit and have just run out of churches in Manitoba. Still, God is sovereign, and He has not failed. Our time of deputation was not all heartache. We were very touched and encouraged by the way many people gave sacrificially, wrote to us, and prayed for us. What are we going to do now? We really don't have the faintest idea. Pray that our Shepherd would lead us and we would be obedient sheep.

• Glynis & David Miller
  We are presently in Greensboro, GA. David is minister of music and education at 1st Baptist Church, and I am a second grade teacher at a private school nearby. The Lord seems to be leading us to make a move but we are waiting on His perfect timing. I also each college/career SS. We have recently begun AWANA on Weds. nights, and it's going quite well.

• Tricia & Dan Miller
  Our long awaited 'package' finally arrived, with less than 2 hrs labor. Scotty is still trying to figure out 'that baby.' We have been encouraged by additional promised support, that two barrels are on the way to the Philippines, and Dan's completion of flight recurrency. Our departure is now scheduled for mid-March. As we plan and pack, please pray with us for physical and spiritual strength. Also remember our need for remaining travel and shipping funds. We have had much encouragement already.

• Clint & Laura Morrison
  At present I am the circulation-reference librarian at NOBTS. My seminar work is completed and I am presently engaged in writing a thesis for my Ed. D. degree in counseling and psychology. Laura and I are both busy at the counseling center and have been amazed at what God is doing in the lives of His people.

• Al & Daisy Ortiz
  We are increasingly aware of the fact that we are due to return for furlough this coming summer. Pressure is beginning to build up as we face a multitude of details for which we much make decisions. Investigating doing graduate work during furlough, and phasing out the church ministry (allow Diego Gomez freedom to operate) is a must. I need to concentrate the last 6 mos. on the discipleship aspect of our ministry. We do need your prayers at this time to guide us through the many decisions and the transitional nature of furlough we must soon undergo. We praise the Lord for Diego and Mireya Gomez our co-pastors. They have taken a step of faith and have decided to work with us, but the church at this point in time cannot meet their economic need. Will you pray for them?

• LaVon & Debbie Post
  We finished seminary and now work in Arkansas with Ouachita Bible Society. LaVon speaks in high school assemblies and Deb is happily now a homemaker. We enjoy our new daughter and our work.

• Dottie & Stan Smith
  Praise the Lord that after 6 mos. being jobless (after seminary), the Bold Spring Bapt. Church of Callison, SC called Stan as their pastor. It's quite a challenge. Stan is their first full-time pastor, following a part-time an who's blind and been here 41 years. Quite a man to follow! The people are open but as so many places, there is a real need for spiritual growth. These people haven't been fed as they needed to be, having had only services one hour a week. We need your prayers as we face this challenge.

• Deb & Doug Stromberg
  We have been in Santa Cruz, Bolivia for a year. God has blessed us and taught us. The hardest part of missionary life for me is being separated from our loved ones. We are busy all the time. this past year while the other couple who work in literature in on furlough, we have had to do it alone. We have a Christina bookstore here. We also have a wholesale work which sells Bibles, hymnals, and books to other bookstores in Bolivia. I do all the bookwork and that keeps me busy. My Spanish is still terrible, but I keep plugging along. I often look at our graduation class picture and how I miss everyone.

• Pam & Fred Tuggy
  Tug has been travelling quite a lot since we returned from the States--even to Guatemala a week on a phone repair job. The Lord arranged it so we had to keep our beautiful stationwagon, so we brought it down--a nice trip. We feel the Lord is blessing us here and we're becoming more serious about joining Wycliffe permanently. Terry (Thames) was critical with a ruptured appendix in July. He's back to work, but Bev also has to work to pay medical bills.

• Marlita & Bill Walker
  We have moved again--into our very own house and are finding out the triumphs and tragedies of homeowners. Bill met with his ordination council in May and they officially 'Rev'd' him on June 12. We are enjoying parenthood. The young people are growing--there's always joys in the ministry. I'm trying to find my niche of services so I can be the mother I need to be--so I've dropped extra responsibilities. My greatest job is the AWANA girls, so I'm thinking of keeping just that area open. We're thinking spring up here. Can hardly wait to get my bike out!

• Gene & Bonnie Ward
  Gene continues to teach a 3rd/4th grade combined class at a branch of Columbia Christian School. He loves his work but doesn't know how long the Lord can keep us here at the salary. I just quit teaching on Jan. 20 to await our baby's arrival. I'm loving being 'just a housewife' and now 'mother' too. We saw Wayne & Wendy Graves at Thanksgiving. He just finished up at Grace but doesn't know what's next. Wendy just found out she's pregnant so they are really excited.

• Marlene & Paul Wenzel
  We are anxiously awaiting May 25 when Paul will graduate from Biblical School of Theology. Please pray for us as we look for God's will after graduation. Paul would love to get involved in Christian camping, but the openings are few. A second possibility would be as an assistant pastor for some experience. In the meantime, we're still keeping busy with working and our church college group. We praise the Lord for jobs we really enjoy.

• Grady & Vicki Merritt
  The day this is printed (February 28) we are closing on a house we didn't know about when I sent classletter notices. Grady is still weatherizing low-income housing, now driving an agency van and supervising 4 'disadvantaged' men learning a job skill. I am busy packing, cleaning and mothering. We hope to move all in one-day. The Lord has given us a repossessed house within walking distance of an excellent school and a Spirit-led church under circumstances that only He could have worked out.