Sunday, February 27, 2022

Dear Friends,

How gracious how merciful, how loving is our heavenly Father. We finally got through the border check points about 6:30 this morning. We were met outside the gate by long-time friend Tony Dedan and a new-found Christian friend who works in a church about 20 miles south of the border crossing. We went there for a wonderful breakfast. There we met the family of an American missionary who works in Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. He and his wife and five children had a much more difficult passage through the border, which took them more than 24 hours.

After breakfast we drove about 7 hours to the big city of Bucharest where we are being treated to two wonderful nights in a beautiful hotel. We had to get covid tests before we could check into the hotel. We are so glad that all of us tested negative. Robby had tested positive before we left Kiev, so we rejoiced in the results of this test. But, we will have to get tested again to be able to fly to the US on Tuesday. Phyllis is faring well and her medicine has been helping. She is very tired, but doing much better. We are so thankful for all your intercession for us.

We have reservations to fly to Istanbul and then on to Houston. We plan to just relax for a few days and then make plans. Obviously we have no way of knowing how long this conflict in Ukraine will continue, but we are already looking forward to being able to return.

We have received just dozens and dozens of notes and letters from so many of you expressing your concerns, assuring us of your prayers for us, and sending precious promises from the Word of God. How we treasure all of those. Thank you all. All praise and honor goes to our loving heavenly Father who caused so many factors to come together to bring about our salvation from the war zone. In a future letter I will explain more fully how God takes all things and makes them work together for good for those who love Him, for those who are the called according to His purpose.

Thanks to you from our grateful hearts,

Jim and Phyllis