From rfepley at gol.com Thu Apr 29 10:14:19 2010 From: rfepley at gol.com (Russ and Flossie) Date: Thu Apr 29 10:14:24 2010 Subject: [Epley Update] April 2010 Message-ID: <4b5bc08ca7f9ecd0c40785c5edb690aa@gol.com> April has been filled with joys, surprises, and anticipation...not to mention lots of hard work! JOY ? We started off the month with the handbell choir from Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ) giving a concert at the adult care center Russ attends. The kids did a good job and it was a joy for us to hear how much the clients and staff appreciated it. I try to arrange for some group of CAJ students to visit the home once a year. ? School Support Services continues to support homeschooling families and regional Christian schools across Japan. Over 30 students gave speeches or recited poems or Scripture passages at our 14th annual SSS Speech Festival on April 23. We gave over 50 achievement tests and have been busily analyzing them to give advice to parents. I've put extra effort into streamlining the process this year trying to work smarter rather than harder. Even though that has kept me overly busy right now, I think we'll reap the benefits in years to come. It's been a joy to sense God giving me strength to accomplish more than I thought possible. ? We've enjoyed the many guests who have come for meals and overnight at our "Home of Peace." SURPRISES ? After an unusually mild February (usually our coldest month), we had a cold April. Just over a week ago we woke up to several inches of snow covering my daffodils and tulips. I had one confused plant that came up in the fall and stayed green throughout the winter. I didn't think those thin blades would ever bud and wasn't even sure what plant it was. Today I was surprised to see a beautiful iris blossom. God encouraged me with that hearty flower. ANTICIPATION ? Our son Joel plans to graduate from LeTourneau University next week on May 8! The hurdles to this point often seemed overwhelming?Russ' massive stroke, financial challenges, difficulty finding work, inability to get restorative sleep, accidents, etc?BUT God is faithful. In contrast to the hardships, Joel has made wonderful friendships and learned many things. Most of all God's character has never changed. We praise Him! ? God has worked it out for me to attend Joel's graduation. For the first five days of my trip, Russ plans to stay in the care home. Our daughter Christie will meet me in Texas to attend Joel's grad and then fly to Tokyo to care for Russ during the remainder of my absence. Joel and I plan to drive from Texas to Augusta, Maine where Joel plans to work at a Christian radio ministry. That trip will take a week and then I plan to be in Fort Wayne, Indiana for about a week. If you live near Fort Wayne and have time to get together with me between May 17 and 21, please let me know by May 5 if possible. I don't know what kind of internet access I'll have while traveling so contacting me before I leave Japan would be a great idea. I would love to see you! PRAYER REQUESTS ? Safety for the many, many miles of travel between May 6-25, 2010 ? Blessing on the time Russ and Christie have together ? That Russ will thrive during my absence and that there will be no emergencies ? Fruitful visits with many friends ? Blessing on Joel as he finishes up his college career and steps out into the next phase of his life Thank you for your prayers! Flossie From rfepley at gol.com Fri Apr 30 21:59:51 2010 From: rfepley at gol.com (Russ and Flossie) Date: Fri Apr 30 21:59:56 2010 Subject: [Epley Update] special prayer request Message-ID: <85d5ee56ad9cbafdd82afb613559caf1@gol.com> Hi. I know I just wrote a few days ago, but we have an urgent prayer request. Last fall Joel was in a weather-related accident that totaled his car. He has been looking for a vehicle since that time. We all thought he would have one long ago, but Joel has just not been able to find one in his price range that would work well enough to make the trip from Texas to Maine. When he finds a promising ad and calls, the cars have already sold. Now I'm to arrive in less than a week and he still can't find a car. I've been looking online myself and see the problem. The area just doesn't seem to have what he needs. I checked into renting a car to at least get us to Maine. I thought maybe broadening the car pool to the northeast part of the country would help. But renting a car in Louisiana (where I fly to and Joel had planned to meet me) and then dropping it off in Maine is easier said than done. I've checked six different rental companies and unfortunately it won't work for several reasons. We are asking God to please lead Joel to a reliable vehicle that he will somehow miraculously be able to afford. There's also the difficulty of try to car shop when he doesn't have a vehicle to go out looking. Please pray with us. I've spend many, many hours arranging the details of this trip, but will have to cancel the drive to Maine if he can't find a car. I don't know how he'll get to Maine and I would be terribly disappointed to not have this week of traveling to chat with my son. We get to see him so seldom since we live across the Pacific Ocean. God knew this would come up. I think that's why He's had me concentrating on his unfathomable power this past month. I particularly love Ephesians 3:20 in the Amplified version: Now to Him Who...is able to carry out His purpose and do super-abundantly, far over and beyond all that we dare ask or think?infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams Right now I'm desiring, hoping, and dreaming of Joel finding a car, picking me up at the airport on Thursday, enjoying his graduation, and then driving together to Maine. Maybe God has a different plan or maybe it's just become so much more difficult than I imagined because He wants me to understand more of His power. Thanks for your prayers, Flossie -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 2321 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://charlotte.lightoftheweb.org/pipermail/epleyupdates/attachments/20100430/50642027/attachment.bin