Prayer and Praise

[CarlaSun@aol.com]

Dear Prayer Partners,

It has been a while since I have communicated with you all.  It has been a 
real tough summer, to say the least.  We all have been so very busy that we 
have not been able to get to our computer work.  However, I wanted to write 
you all a quick note while I have a minute or two.

Carla and I had the privilege of going to Kazakstan this past weekend for the 
dedication of the Astana First Church sanctuary.  It was a wonderful 
experience.  The building was built to seat at least 350 people.  There were 
nearly 300 people at the dedication including a Work & Witness team from 
Michigan and a delegation from Korea.  It was very moving to be in the midst 
of a number of different cultures that had come together to praise God for 
what He has been doing through Michael Park and his team there in Kazakstan.  
I can't tell you enough how proud I am of Michael and Do-Ye Park.  They are 
doing such a wonderful job leading our work in Kazakstan.  Another exciting 
aspect is that they are getting our Korean Church involved in the work there. 
 I am anxious to see how that all develops in the coming years.

The Work & Witness team that came was mostly from Jerry Decker's church.  For 
those of you that do not know, Jerry has been a longtime CIS Partner.  The 
reason we are as far along in our work in Kazakstan is largely due to Jerry's 
vision and dream.  He has developed many contacts in Kazakstan over the last 
10 years through his work with the Kazak government.  In fact, this was his 
fourteenth trip into Kazakstan.  Since the very first trip he had a dream of 
seeing our church established in that country.  To say the least, the 
dedication service was especially emotional for him.  I thank God for this 
faithful servant of God.  He is another one of our wonderful partners in this 
amazing ministry.

That brings me to the prayer part of my note.  Unfortunately, on the flight 
from Kazakstan to Moscow, Jerry started having chest pains.  As some of you 
might remember, just a few years ago we all prayed for Jerry who went through 
by-pass surgery.  The Lord really helped him through that and we were 
grateful.  Therefore, when he experienced chest pains we were all concerned.  
We took Jerry to the American Medical Center and they took very good care of 
him.  He is now in another hospital in Moscow and will be there until, at 
least, the weekend.  The doctors have not decided when to release him to 
travel.  We put the Work & Witness team on the plane home yesterday.

Carla has been with Jerry a lot over the past two days.  We were up to see 
him just a few hours ago.  He is in good spirits but anxious to get home.  
Please keep him in your prayers until he is reunited with his wife, Flo, in 
Michigan.  Also, please remember Flo and their daughters as they anxiously 
wait for Jerry to return. 

The Lord has been faithful to us through this challenging summer.  Thank you 
so much for your faithful prayers.

Sincerely and thankfully,

Chuck