July Prayer Letter

July 2012

Dear Praying Friends,

The waves hit my back with chilling frequency as I watched him in his white robe wade out to join me.  A small group of church members watched from the shore as we prepared to follow our Lord’s command. 

A few years ago, we were on a short furlough and in the middle of a missions conference.  Michele was at a ladies meeting and Joshua and I were in the hotel room for a few hours.  He had been asking about salvation for a few weeks but hadn’t understood completely until that day.

“Dad,” my son insisted, “I want to be saved right now.”  I took him through various verses and then questioned him to make sure he comprehended what he was asking to do.  His answers showed me that he indeed understood and was ready.  We knelt down by his bed to pray when there was a knock at the door.  The hotel maid entered to replace our towels.  After she left, Joshua again asked to be saved, so we knelt down only to have another knock at the door.  This time it was the pizza delivery man with our lunch.  My son would not be deterred, for as soon as I had paid and shut the door, even with the aroma of pizza filling the room, Joshua insisted he wanted to be saved.  I joyfully led him to the Lord that day.

This year Joshua completed our discipleship class and now I had the privilege of baptizing my son as he publicly showed his faith in Christ.  As he boldly stood beside me, my heart was filled with joy for his salvation, for his spiritual growth and for the privilege to have led him to the Lord, disciple him and now baptize him. After I brought him up from the sea, we embraced and waded back to shore together. Joshua has already surrendered his life to the Lord to do anything God wants.  Please pray with us for him that God would reveal His will for Joshua’s life.   I am a very blessed father!

Praising the Lord,

Mark Hale

June Prayer Letter

June 2012

Dear Praying Friends,

With my father standing next to me, I waited at the front of the church.  The music started and she entered with her father at her side.  She was a vision in pure white, but to tell you the truth, I don’t remember the dress all that much, but I sure do the gorgeous lady who was wearing it!!  I found it difficult to breathe, she looked so beautiful.  Could this really be happening?  Could this classy, elegant, godly lady be walking down the aisle to be my wife? 

It is hard to believe that 25 years have passed since that wonderful day.  Honestly, it feels more like a year or two.  I have gotten old, fat and gray while my bride has hardly changed.  I think she is more beautiful now than when I married her. I hear her humming or singing hymns while she fixes a meal, I see her hunched at the computer, preparing lessons and teaching aids.  I watch her stretch our food budget when it doesn’t look like we will have enough to last the month.  She encourages and helps.  She listens and loves.  She is devoted to God and her family and I am still amazed that the Lord has blessed me so much with a treasure like Michele!

I was wrong on our wedding day.  During that long ago ceremony, I looked at my beautiful wife and thought, “There is no way I could ever love her more than I do right now!”  Oh, how wrong I was!  She and I have shared so much over the years; triumphs and failures, abundance and want, great blessings and horrible losses.   Yet through it all, God has greatly blessed us and been with us every step of the way.  It is only because of His great love and care for us that we can celebrate these wonderful 25 years. 

To God be the glory, great things he hath done!

Mark Hale