Donavan and Laura Bangs: May 2007

Dear Friends,

May has been an interesting month. It started out with as hosting another foreign student for three days. He really enjoyed the time he spent with us and asked us if we be able to host him again. He attended services with us and even had some familiarity with the subject matter. We were also able to give him the plan of salvation written in his own language, in this case Chinese. We hope to be able to host him as well as other students and thereby get the gospel into places that we cannot go ourselves.

This month's Bible study went well and we had 14 people in attendance. It was held in the home of the Pera's family this is the couple where the wife is recovering from cancer. She seems joyful and was particularly happy when I pointed out that her hair had grown back, so now she has more than I do. Jerrick failed his driving test and so must reapply for another test. This is not unusual even I failed the first time I took a British driving test and I had been driving for 10 years prior. The young Englishman Michael is still awaiting his entry date into the military. Christine the young lady from Singapore came back from one business trip, in time for one service. But now has had to go to Taiwan temporarily. I also have the opportunity to meet some of Peter's extended family. I was able to share my testimony with his cousin who actually attends college at one of the ivy league schools in New Jersey. Admittedly it was a captive audience as I was driving them to the Airport. However communication with the rest of the family was extremely limited as I do not yet speak Chinese.

We have also had the opportunity to over the past few days to host a Bible College student named Delight, from America. This young lady is very enthusiastic, and certainly very helpful. We have been able to show her a side of England not normally seen by the tourists. Like the local recycling centre when I took the van full of junk left over from the refitting of my new shed. She and Laura eagerly assisted me in vanquishing the clutter. Laura was particularly pleased because the house and garden no longer resembled a building site. The shed renovation also went well and is now also insulated which means I will be able to store my paint in the shed rather than in the house. It is possible also in the future perhaps to put my washer and dryer in the shed, to free up some much needed space in the kitchen. In addition to the assistance with the mundane but necessary tasks Delight has been involved with our literature distribution and has accompanied Laura on some visits to some of the ladies. They were also able to meet up with and invite a Greek lady to church, whilst they were investigating one of the local charity shops. It amazes me sometimes, no matter what a person's native language may be a lady can always find a way to shop no matter where she is located.

Thank you all for your prayers concerning Laura's newest niece and nephew who were premature. They seemed to be growing well, and they and their mother are now back from the hospital. We are still having some difficulty with the church sign. But we hope to have that resolved in the near future, although with the speed of the local council the near future may be further away than we thought. We thank you for your continued support, as we minister together giving the gospel to those who have not yet heard. As well as those who have heard but need to hear it again.

In Christ
Donavan and Laura Bangs

posted Monday, June 4, 2007