Greater Portland Baptist Church

Donavan and Laura Bangs: March 2009

Dear Friends,

March has been like a march, exhausting. We began the month with all of us sick. A combination of some wicked form of cold with flu and allergy like symptoms. Once we recovered from that I somehow injured my back which produced incredible amounts of pain, almost like when I had sea urchin spines removed from my foot. I finally got to see the doctor to get some happy pills but unfortunately they are only barely amusing pills at best. Laura's Grandmother died late this month and the funeral will be on the 17th of April here in England. I should be conducting the funeral so at least there should be the opportunity for the Gospel to be preached. But apart from that things have been great.

Ministry has continued with the people making request for more teaching. So I am adding additional teaching in the midweek service. We continue to pray for more workers and better facilities but God blesses in so many ways. This month was also mothers day in the U.K. We held a special service and gave flowers to the mothers in attendance. This was well received and afterward we had some flowers leftover. As I was walking through the hotel lobby out to the van with this bucket of flowers a group of about six women called out to me telling me that they were mothers. Obviously they assumed I worked for the hotel as I was wearing a suit and carrying flowers. So I went over and gave them some flowers and explained to them who I was and they all happily received a gospel tract as well. This worked well because I really had no use for more flowers and Laura has hay fever. Isn't it great how God can take what is of no use to you and use it as an opportunity to share the news of His Son with people.

Max is continuing to grow and will be one year old on the 11th of April. He continues to grow teeth as a friends chair found out when he bit off a chunk of it. He is such a blessing, an exhausting blessing but we thank God for him.

Things are becoming more difficult for missionaries over here as an associate pastor for an established work about an hour away was unable to get a visa as an employee for that church as the rules for employing non E.U. members have changed. So after a few years of being here he has had to return to the United States. He is currently looking for a new place to serve in America as well as a place to live with his family, his name is Jake and I know he would appreciate your prayers. But thankfully that situation will never apply to me as I am a dual national and they can't kick me out. Yes even with the pain it is still good to be me.

Thank you for all your prayers and support even during these difficult days God has seen to provide for his work and the Word goes forth because of your efforts here in England.

In Christ,
Donavan Laura and Max Bangs

Donavan and Laura Bangs: February 2009

Dear Friends, February has been a good month. We completed a church charter, which is now been signed by all current members. We are getting things organized in the way they should be. Joel has been a great help in the organization process and many other things. We have had several visitors to the church this month, several people from Africa have attended and what is interesting is that Joel...continue

Donavan and Laura Bangs: December 2008 and January 2009

Dear Friends, Many things have happened since our last letter. As many of you know the difficulty with my eye turned out to be nothing to be concerned with. We registered Max at the American Embassy in London and now he has a passport and social security number. Max is also a dual national like myself. Our Christmas celebration went well and we had a time of prayer bringing in...continue