Thanks, friends, for checking in on us today. We really appreciate your prayers and are thankful for all of your thoughts and kind gifts.

Right now, my heart is H E A V Y!! It has been that way for a while. You see, although Canada is not the country I was born in, it has been my home for the last 15 1/2 years. It is the home of my husband and all four of our precious children. We are blessed to be here. In this land, we are free to worship, get an education, get any kind of job we wish...the possibilities are endless. God has been GOOD to this country!!

However, here is where the heaviness comes in: In the last week and a half, 4 pastors/missionaries have resigned their Canadian churches. I don't know the reasons. I just know that Satan has definitely ATTACKED! One of the pastors has gone to another church to be an assistant pastor. The facts are that there are now 3 preachers without sheep, and 4 churches without a shepherd. Those are the facts. As Alan has called churches in the Nova Scotia area, he has found that there are many works without pastors. I can't stop thinking about this, and it has driven me to my knees in tears several times in the last few days. I have BEGGED God to do something for these men and their wives as well as the congregations. I know they must be hurting. During the last couple of times that we have driven through the Toronto area, I have looked and looked for Baptist Churches. I have seen a couple of mosques, and 1 pentecostal church...but no Baptist churches. Folks, this great country NEEDS the Lord! I have asked the Lord why He would send Alan, who is a great pastor and fantastic preacher to a country so far away, when this country needs more men of its own kind. Please don't get me wrong...Our burden for the Togolese people is VERY STRONG and VERY REAL. And one reason why Alan first struggled with the call to Togo is because Canada has so few Canadian preachers. But the Lord KNOWS what HE wants, and we will do HIS will. All I can do is PRAY!! And that is what I will do. Will you join me? Will you not only pray for your pastor on a daily basis, but pray for other pastors in this great nation? The Devil's attack is real, and although this country is blessed with ABUNDANT materialism, it lacks SPIRITUALLY.

I know that before we became missionaries, I lived in a bubble. Home-school kids, go to church, focus on church family. I did not realize the need for pastors. I lived in a bubble. The Lord has certainly opened my eyes to the sad truth. Let's not wait until July 1 or Gay Pride Day before we think to REALLY pray for Canada. Let's pray fervently EVERYDAY!! Thanks for reading and letting me get this off my chest. Thanks especially for praying with me! Let's expect God to do great things through these pastors and their wives.

By the way, an O.P.P. officer was killed in a shootout yesterday in Southern Ontario. The man that killed him is in his 70's and in hospital. Canada NEEDS the LORD!!

Psalm 113:1,2

Love,
Ida