Rivers Baptist Church - Christ alone - and Him crucified

Dear praying friends

In summary
- Praise God for the church’s ladies retreat last weekend.
- Continue to pray for Young Nam who had her passport stolen.
- Praise God that Ps Carlos got his visa & is now on the way to Cuba.
- Pray for him as he leads the Bible studies at a Cuban youth camp.
- Pray that the contract on our apartment can be renewed at the same cost.
- Continue to pray for Jorge (car accident - March), Natalie and their daughter
- Continue to praise God for all of us in good health.
- Pray for the kids now in their last week at school (before the summer vacation).
- Pray for us as we make last minute plans for our busy time back in Australia.
- Pray that I’ll have sufficient time to formalise an agreement this week.

Geof

The details

Marion had a fantastic time at the ladies retreat last weekend. The ladies were encouraged to think creatively to experience God afresh in their devotional times.

Young Nam is still waiting for her passport. The latest delay was that the Australian Embassy hadn’t received her payment (because the Canadian Embassy had supplied the details for an account which was closed quite some time ago). Consequently Young Nam has not been able to leave Venezuela to renew her visa (which expires tomorrow). The Australian Embassy will be sending her a temporary travel document which will allow her to travel as soon as she receives it. Young Nam has been informed it shouldn’t be a problem in overstaying her visa due to her passport being stolen. Pray that it won’t be.

My friend Carlos is now on his way to Cuba. He had literally given up on the idea of going but during this week his visa was granted this week. He has had a very busy time making all his last minute arrangements. Pray for him as he leads the studies at a Cuban Youth Camp. Pray that he will encourage those who attend and the pastors with whom he will have contact.
I am looking forward to hearing his stories, but will have to wait until we get back in September as we leave before he gets back.

Thanks for your prayers for Jorge. This past week he’s seen another incredible answer to prayer in that the two sections of his head have now joined (and his brain is not trying to escape any more). It is now almost four months since the accident and Jorge is a walking miracle.

When we left Australia we were able to get a round-the-world ticket for almost the same price as a return ticket so we decided to cover the extra personally and my brother & sister-in-law (Anthony & Catherine) in Switzerland and visit some friends in London too. We leave Caracas on the 21st and get back to Australia on 6th August.

This week is the last week of school for the kids. We praise God that they have both done as well as they have.

Marion has her annual cancer checkups and doctors’ appointments (15th & 18th Aug) almost as soon as we get back to Brisbane.

Our office in Melbourne has given their conditional approval of our proposed team strategy. Before we get the final approval I need to complete 2 significant tasks: Firstly, we need to draft our Team Annual Ministry Plan (a plan of all our team goals for at least the next year).
Secondly, I need to formalise an agreement where we come under the coverage of another missionary organisation here. We’ve got a verbal understanding but our leaders want to see it formalised. Please pray for adequate time this week with our very busy pastor (who heads up the ministry in Venezuela) so that this can be accomplished before he goes on holiday (15th).

While back in Australia we have quite a full programme in which our primary purpose is to launch our team strategy and hopefully generate potential interest in others joining us in Caracas. Please pray as we work on last minute planning for our time back home.

Geof