Thank you for your continued prayers! The past few months have been busy with ministry, medical appointments, and travel. In December, we had two Christmas services. In Cokeville, we had the normal attendance; but in Kemmerer, we had several visitors, including a family whose two younger daughters have been coming to Sunday School.
In January, we continued our regular ministries, and James also was able to travel to attend the Arch National Pastor's Fellowship in Florida. The trip was encouraging, and James was able to share an update on our church planting efforts in Cokeville, but it also took much of his strength and endurance. It didn't help that after he got back, he came down with a bad head cold that lasted the entire next week. However, in all this, God has been faithful and provided the energy - and at times, the voice - needed to be faithful in preaching and teaching.
More good news: C from Cokeville has finally been able to go home after multiple surgeries and an extended stay in the hospital. Keep praying for C's recovery and return to church, but most of all for salvation.
Please also keep J, BR, B, RG, R&R in your prayers for salvation and growth in Christ. We have had some very good and direct conversations this past year and into the news with BR about their salvation. Pray with us that BR will be the first fruits of our ministry in Cokeville.
We also have had some additional interest in the church plant in Cokeville from people who live there. One is the wife of a sheriff's deputy, whom James met through the jail ministry. The other is a physical therapist who works at the hospital in Kemmerer, whom James met while visiting C in the hospital. Pray with us that those who were invited and showed an interest will come, hear the word, and grow in Christ.
Continue to pray for those that James and Pastor Hartman have been ministering to in the jail. The state inmates continue to show signs of growth as they come to both the regular Friday preaching times and the Monday night discipleship time. Pray also for a lady in the jail, CH, who has expressed a desire for salvation but, in her own words, lacks the faith to trust God.
On the housing front, nothing has changed, and we are still looking for God's provision in His time. With spring coming in the next few months, more houses may come on the market for us to pursue. Pray with us that we will have wisdom in this and wait on God.
Health-wise, James continues to be stable, with occasional hard days from the more strength- and stamina-demanding times, such as his trip to Florida. Elizabeth remains stable as well, and had a good check-up from her rheumatologist just last week. Thankfully, she recovered quickly from the infusion in November to the point she was able to play for the Christmas services in Kemmerer and Cokeville. We appreciate your prayers about this and thank God for His goodness in answering our prayers!
We appreciate your support and faithful prayers, and trust that God is working through them even when we can't see what He is doing!