It has been
a rather long time since we last gave any news!
Lise and I
have continued to travel to Châteauguay every second Sunday from September to
April. At the same time, this year, I taught a course on the Holy Spirit to a dozen
people on Sunday afternoons, as well as preaching in the morning. In February
and March, exceptionally, we were there three Sundays out of four. At the same
time, Lise taught Sunday School.
On week
days during the school year, we take care of James, Annie’s adopted son, after
school, three or four days every week. He will soon be seven years old. In
spite of problems with his mouth, he is beginning to form words quite well. He
is a child with great determination. His difficulty in speaking does not prevent him from communication as he
uses the LSQ signs. In school, he has an interpreter assigned to him.
Last Fall
Lise and I participated in a Beginners course in LSQ (Langage des Signes du
Québec) every Tuesday morning. It was very interesting. Much more difficult
than learning another spoken language!!!
We also have access to a course on the internet.
Our two
other grandchildren, Elena and Emma, live in Quebec City, the daughters of
Daniel and Claudia. Elena is now 8 years old, and Emma will be two on December
31. She walks and runs, climbs stairs and ladders, and loves to play in the
park.
The church
in Rock Forest (EBES) where we are members does not yet have a teaching pastor.
Few of us have taken turns preaching on
Sunday mornings, as well as some visiting preachers.
Lise and I
made a two-week trip to Honduras in April, to visit the Children’s Home, as
well as do some teaching. I did some fifteen hours of teaching in two days in
the city of El Progreso. It was a BILD course on the Acts of the Apostles. These
leaders should eventually be able to lead groups in their churches through this
course.
Please pray
for the Children’s Home (Casa-Hogar) in Honduras. Because of the precarious
financial situation in Spain, the Vida y Libertad organization does not see
itself as being able to continue administrating the Home, and they have asked
FAIR (the humanitarian branch of our Fellowship missions) to take over, since
we have a missionary there(our daughter, Melodie). That will mean a large
financial responsibility, which will partially be met by the sponsoring of
children (if you are interested in this, you can communicate with Lise who is
responsible for Quebec and Eastern Canada, or Ena Ward, who is coordinating
this for Ontario and Western Canada. Reach her through the Fellowship office in Guelph), as well as a special project presented by
our Fellowship this year for Children’s Homes in Honduras and Lebanon.
We are glad
to note the addition of a new couple to the team, Rick and Ena Ward, who will
be spending three months of every year with the Home. For now they are spending
six months a year in Honduras, three months to study Spanish and three months
to help in the Home. Rick works in the upkeep of the property, and Ena works
with the children.
Many thanks
for your prayers and for those who support the Children’s Home.
May the
Lord bless you
John and
Lise Francis.
