Dear Friends,

In the Dutch culture, the six-week summer vacation is an important time of rest and a slower pace. However in our family, the last six weeks have been quite eventful--including exciting answers to prayer, lifelong changes, and continued ministry opportunities.

After finishing our four-week evangelistic Bible study, we were overjoyed to see one man profess faith! We have now transitioned into a discipleship study covering basics for believers. It has been a joy to see people learn, grow, participate, and show Christian concern for one another. Another couple and a single lady have joined us in this study, and a third couple is planning to join us for a book study on Ephesians this fall. One lady expressed her gratitude that our studies are so Bible-centered.

On September 18, we are planning a baptismal service for a husband and wife from our Bible study. They will be inviting a number of lost friends and family members.  We are praying that the service will be a moving testimony to God’s power and grace in this couple’s life.

We are seeking God’s wisdom regarding the timing of beginning Sunday services. We are in the early stages of assessing possible locations and available facilities, although we want to move cautiously and prayerfully. Most of all, we are praying that the Lord will give us one more stable family who can help shoulder the load during these initial stages of church planting. Will you pray with us about this?

Besides the miracle of spiritual birth, the summer also brought the blessing of physical birth! On August 10, the Lord gave us little Luke Christian!  It was a specific answer to our prayers that Luke would arrive  before Sarah’s parents had to return to the U.S. on August 12! Sarah and Luke are doing very well, and Peter and Miriam have both responded with love in welcoming their new brother into the family!

After his six-week summer vacation, Peter is back in school and is excited to have swimming as a subject this year!

Miriam has really begun talking these last two months, and she is busy adjusting to her new role as “big sister!”

Sarah is continuing to grow more confident in the language. In September, she will begin another Dutch class one evening per week.  This course is designed to prepare her for the Dutch state exam held in May.

1. Daily growth in grace

2. Spirit-led evangelistic opportunities

3. Good follow up with contacts from the ministry of the MMT

4. A stable Christian family to help us with our church plant

5. Language mastery for Sarah and  Peter

Serving Him joyfully,

Theo and Sarah van Reijn