Dear Partners in Ministry,
A number of encounters and observations over the past few
months of ministry have impressed me with an essential component of any endeavor
that involves teamwork, trust. Kathy and I are very aware that you
extend trust to us. We don’t take that for granted. Thank you.
One of the ways we encourage
our Liebenzell family is by hosting a Zoom meeting once a month, every second
Monday. At our June meeting we’ll be discussing how to encourage greater trust between
team members and partners. Pray that we can help each other.
The
second half of May, Kathy and I were busy. May 17-18 we were at the Mission’s
headquarters in
Schooley’s Mountain, NJ. We participated in a weekend in honor
of Hudson Taylor, the pioneer missionary to China who was the inspiration for
the start of Liebenzell Mission. It was my privilege to be one of the speakers
at the event.
Here
is the handout that I gave to the guests. While there, we reached out to one of
our missionary couples who serve at headquarters. They are dealing with a
serious health issue. Please pray.
On Sunday, May 19, we drove to Newark Airport and left for
Guam, where we served for four and a half years. Our time in Guam was full. Our
colleagues there have had a lot on them in the recent past. Hebrews 10:24-25
speaks of “stimulating one another to love and good deeds,” and “encouraging
one another.” The two main things we did while in Guam was encourage our
colleagues, often that took place over a meal. Encourage and eat.
Kathy was the speaker
at a ladies’ luncheon. I was involved in the two-day Board Meeting for Pacific
Islands University. The recent typhoon and other matters have been tough on the
school. You can read more about it here.
I have been appointed to serve on the
Board. Please pray that I and the rest of
the Board can be an encouragement to the new President, Ian Richards. Pray for
all of the personnel at Pacific Islands University.
(The picture is of us enjoying breakfast with the chair of Biblical Studies at
PIU, Iotaka Chorum, and his wife Vivian. In addition to his academic responsibilities,
Iotaka is teaching a non-credit program for Chuukese pastors and other leaders.
He is teaching the classes in his first language, Chuukese.
While on Guam we attended the funeral of a good friend and
colleague, Dr. William Wood. We were able to spend time with his wife Christel.
Kathy spent time with a good friend whose husband had just died. On the way
home from Newark, we attended another funeral. It was for Barb Schuit, the wife
of the former LMUSA Global Ministries Director, Bill Schuit. We arrived back in
Covington on the evening of May 30. Our Lord counseled us to work while it is
day.
It is a privilege to minister to these servants of the King.
Praise the Lord with us, for this opportunity, you help make possible.
On a personal note: We’ll be in South Carolina the end of
June. One of our granddaughters is getting married. All of our family and two
of Kathy’s siblings will be there. We’re taking our camper down for an extended
time with family.
Thanks for your partnership in our ministry.
By His Grace,
H&K