People say: “Stuff happens”, “Just do it”, “That’s life.” This is what God says: “I know the plans I have for you…” (Jeremiah 29:11), “My ways are higher than your ways…” (Isaiah 55:9), “You have been placed here for such a time as this…” (Esther 4:14), “My purpose prevails…” (Proverbs 19:21), “What I have planned, that will I do…” (Isaiah 46:11).

As our family reflects on the divine providence of God in our lives, we are blessed and at peace because of it. We see how God has orchestrated the occurrences of our lives for His good purposes. And as Proverbs 3:5 reminds us, we are learning to trust God more, and we are learning to lean less on our own understanding, but rather to continually acknowledge God and His providence, knowing that He will indeed direct our paths.  Rejoice with us in how God brings us to the places and through the times of our lives for His glorious purposes!

God planned and purposed for us to return to the United States this year for a medical leave, to attend to some concerns for one of our children. We wondered at the time if it was necessary as it would pull us away from ministry in Chad. We now see that it was for the best; that the medical/psychiatric attention was not only a huge blessing but will enable us as a family to continue this ministry together.

God has planned and purposed for us to welcome a new member to our family. Shortly after we arrived home in the States, we discovered that Rachel was pregnant! This event defied the scope of medical logic, and so was a big surprise. Claire Mireille was born to us on the 19^th of April. “Claire” means “clear” in French. “Mireille” is another French name meaning “miracle”. And so we are blessed with this “clear miracle” from God. God purposed to place us in the United States for this time of pregnancy and delivery, as we were able to have access to good obstetric care, something not easily found in Chad.

God planned and purposed that while on this home leave we would be able to visit multiple North American congregations, share about the Lutheran Brethren ministry in Chad and be blessed by this fellowship. And God purposed that Dan would be able to work alongside LBIM director Matthew Rogness, assisting him with matters concerning the mission in Chad .

God has also purposed that Dan take a trip to Chad for the first two weeks of June, along with three men from the Bethesda Lutheran Brethren congregation in Eau Claire. While there, they will be visiting unreached communities and overseeing the installment of three wells in villages that currently have no good source of drinking water. We pray that this open door to these communities will lead to further contact and opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus, the source of water that gives eternal life.

God is leading us next to France where we will spend the 2010/2011 academic year in French language learning. We are doing this because as we return to Chad we will be engaging more in a partnership ministry with our Chadian Church , the EFLT. This partnership will include providing assistance to the Chadian Lutheran Brethren congregations in enabling, training and facilitating the sending and supporting of Chadian missionaries among the unreached people groups of Chad . Much of this engagement will, by necessity, take place in the French language.

Thank you for your continued prayer and support of the ministries of LBIM as you continue to rejoice with us in God’s providence.

Dan