More from Gordon Woolard - Theological Training - French

Dear Supporting Colleagues,

The spider isn’t meant to frighten you. Nor make it seem like I was in a dangerous place. It’s just a three-inch spider who clung to the wall next to me for four days while I taught in Gonaives, Haiti a couple of weeks ago. He’s one of God’s fiercer looking creatures.

The class for thirteen fellows (not counting the spider) on Bible interpretation went very well, by the way. Thanks for your supporting prayers. Haiti still needs enormous help from the believing community to rebuild itself. I have great respect for the dedicated UN troops who keep law and order.

Earlier in the month I spent a week in Santiago, Chile at a Mission to the World training event for team leaders. One of the highlights was praying for the city with a committed group of guys at the top of a mountain overlooking a valley of six million folks.

Aren’t the palace guards dressed sharply? Chile is a beautiful place if you’re looking for something different in vacations.

My third trip in March took me to Belize, Central America again for a preaching seminar. After a big start last year with 25 students we dropped back to 4 (!) due to many conflicts of schedule. I’m very thankful, though, for the ones we had. They are committed to preaching the text of Scripture and to coaching their preaching friends in how to really build a message from a text rather than finding a text which might go with a sermon they already want to preach.

Marilyn has been asked to be the international adoption liaison for the agency. She’s on a steep learning curve working extra hours in order to be able to walk couples through the lengthy process of receiving a child from overseas. We are relieved and rejoicing that the agency received its certificate of compliance with the new international standards for adoption set by the Hague Convention.

I’ll be reporting to my denomination’s western Virginia district (presbytery) meeting this weekend. Otherwise I’m committed to lots of teaching and preaching at our church in Hollywood, Florida. I’m also helping to verify the French translation of Global Church Advancement’s training materials we will use in Ghana in early June.

It’s always a humbling privilege to write you these reports. I know it’s your prayers and support that God uses to allow me to travel and teach. With confidence I ask you to keep up the partnership you’ve begun with us.

Sincerely,

Gordon Woolard