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Today's message of
encouragement is being replaced with this announcement from my brother who has
written many of the "Daily Messages Of Inspirations" from his missionary base
on the Amazon River. We are most appreciative for his contributions to this
ministry.
THE BOURNES ARE TAKING A SABBATICAL LEAVE
A sabbatical leave is a year for rest, travel, or
research with pay. It is derived from the Biblical
year of rest for the land, observed every seventh year
in ancient Judea. Without this year of rest, the land
wears out. And missionaries wear out, too. Usually
the times that Jean and I have taken off to go to the
United States has been for physical surgeries and
check-ups.
I have had physical afflictions most of my adult life.
My one
good eye has gone bad! Typing has been next to impossible. Diabetes has
crippled my fingers so that I am now typing with my
two index fingers. Jean has to do any reading for me.
I’ve loved the research necessary for my daily “Message of Encouragement” on
my brother’s http://http://http://http://http://www.somebodycares4u.com. I have had to quit
reading and typing.
· I have not been well physically for some time. The
stresses of carrying on missionary work in three
countries are getting the best of us. My sugar yo-yos
badly throughout the night, and both Jean and I suffer
the loss of sleep. Please don’t mind my complaining.
However, I have testified to my physicians that my
commitment to missions has kept me going—has kept me alive. Now the time has
come when our supervisors have seen it necessary to take a complete year of
rest. The observation is accurate. The hour is
urgent. Day by day we are recognizing our loss of
strength to carry on. We do plan on returning.
Let me reprint a portion of a letter we received this
last week, written by an Amazon missionary who has
labored amongst the indigenous Ticunas for fifty-some
years: “Dear Erwin and Jean, Thanks for your recent
E-mail. We were sorry to hear of your health concerns
and pray that God will guide you in seeking the help
you need. We are amazed at your stick-toativeness.
We're not very good at suffering, so we're awed at
your keeping on keeping on. The Lord bless you both
with His special joy and grace.”
Mission AMA under FWM Inc. has been net-working with Black Buffalo. He has
been with us here two times in Amazonas. Now he has invited us to one of his
spreads in California, U.S.A. He has a two-bedroon house already for us when
we can be ready to travel. The job looks very big to Jean. Pray for both
of us as we make this long trip, and pray for us as we recover. I will be
working on another book: THE ITINERANT MISSIONARY.
Brother John Fenske will care for the mission base at
the Casa Grande. Iván Porras is in full agreement,
saying that our health is the most important. The
church-building project will continue. Please
continue to support this developing mission on the
Amazon in Peru, Columbia and Brazil.
Thanks to all our friends and supporters,
Erwin and Jean Bourne
<Outreach_amazon@yahoo.com>
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