Monday, May 6, 2013

Praying Friends,
The time is flying by here in Australia.  April was a busy month and May is shaping up to be just as busy.  During the month of April we had several activities that took place at Grace Baptist Church, and here are some highlights:  The first of many youth activities took place at our home.  We were able to help and enjoy the Easter-egg hunt at Cornerstone Baptist Church, a sister mission church about thirty minutes drive away.  Sara met with some of the ladies from Grace to go to a sewing event in a nearby town.  They had a great time of fellowship and also gained new ideas for more crafts.  Grace and Cornerstone joined together for a joint bowling activity, and on the same day the Sara and the ladies went to Miss Marple's restaurant for a lunch.  Many other activities kept us busy, but it was good to have some face to face time with the people of Grace.  It is difficult to get to know someone when you only see them for a few short hours at church and these activities helped us to get to know them better.
The Lord provided opportunities to meet more people who are searching.  One evening I went to a local restaurant to order some pizza.  I was wearing my Grace Baptist Church jacket, and the lady that took my order asked me about it.  She is an Iraqi woman that is born again, and she has been looking for a good Baptist church that she could attend.  I was able to share with her what we were all about, and she asked for prayer that her husband would come back to the Lord so that the entire family could attend.  Another opportunity came when a man actually came to my door.  He was a salesman and we got to talking about Islam.  The man is from Pakistan and he claims himself to be a liberal Muslim.  He shared with me many things that I did not know about Islam, and I shared with him how he could know Jesus as his Savior.  The seed was planted.  I gave him my contact information and now I am praying that he will contact me to talk further.
God has been good to us and much better than we deserve!  Only just three days ago we received our container with all our household items.  It was like an early Christmas with all the packages to open.  Now the house is full and we are sleeping in our own beds.  We have come to realize that it is only stuff, and that a home must be built by God Psalm 127:1.
Thank you so much for all your prayers!  We have seen visitors at church the past several weeks and two families have started to visit regularly.  Please pray that the Lord would work in hearts.  May God bless you for taking the time to read about what He is doing here in Australia.

In Christ,
Mark Pitts and Family