Traveling--Appreciate Prayer

I (Glenn) will be boarding a flight in a few minutes that will take me from Johannesburg to Kansas City via Paris and Atlanta.  I'm so thankful to be able to get tickets quickly and for kind Christian friends in Johannesburg who took me to the airport and are willing to keep our vehicle until we come back.  I'd never met Koos and Gerda before, but their hospitality is a testimony to what Jesus has done in their hearts!  Pray that God will bless them!

She's Home

Stephanie's mother made her final journey home around 2:00am CDT Sunday.  Though are hearts are grieving, through the tears we can also see God's goodness and love.  She had very little pain, and she spent her final hours peacefully in the company of her husband and children.  Most of all, we are comforted by the fact that Jesus is preparing a place for each one of us, too. 

She fought the good fight,  she finished the race, she kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for her the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to her on that Day, and not to her only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 

We deeply appreciate your prayers!  As you pray, please remember me (Glenn) as I make travel arrangements to join the family, hopefully by Wednesday this week.  

Unexpected Turnaround

The night after we arrived back home in Lesotho, we received news that Stephanie's mother's health had deteriorated rapidly.  She had a series of tests and doctors' appointments during the days we were flying to Lesotho, and her doctors concluded that there was nothing more they could do to reasonably prolong her battle with cancer.  They suggested that she might have as much as a month or two, but if the cancer continues to progress as it has this week, it is possible that it could be less than that. 

Stephanie and her Mom
February 9th 2018
Jupiter, FL

After talking with HIM's leaders and praying, we have decided that Stephanie and the children will leave tomorrow (15th of March) to go back to America to be with her before she makes her final journey to heaven.  There are some rather urgent matters that I must care for here, but I will be joining the rest of the Stratton family before too much longer. 

We praise God that He provided a direct flight with no layovers in Europe or the Middle East.  (Initially our travel agent said they were all fully booked.)  These direct flights are ideal for getting to America quickly, but the flight from Johannesburg to Atlanta is almost 17 hours long!  Stephanie and the children would appreciate your prayers.  Please also pray that they will make it through immigration and customs in Atlanta in time to catch the next flight on to Kansas City. 

Home, Sweet Home!

It's SO good to be back home!  We arrived Thursday evening after almost 48 hours of travel.  In spite of the trip being very long, it wasn't too bad thanks to Qatar Airways and a complimentary hotel that they booked for us during our long layover in Doha.  We checked into the free hotel then walked a couple miles around the city seeing the sights and enjoying the Middle Eastern culture including a delicious meal of Yemen bread and two kinds of curry.  We got back to the hotel in time to shower, rest a bit, then fly on to Johannesburg.  We were blessed to be on flights with many extra seats, so we could stretch out and sleep in the plane quite a bit.

Good things have been happening here in Lesotho while we were gone.  The outreach in partnership with Mission Aviation Fellowship to Lebakeng was successful.  Pastor Kali is hoping to fly back there again later this month for more evangelism and to begin discipling believers there.  Just today I also heard about an older lady here at Matukeng who is really on fire for God.  She is the daughter of one of the first girls who got saved through Stephanie's children's ministry sixteen or more years ago.  We are praising the Lord for what He is doing!

Ready to board in Miami

A cultural center in Doha

The Doha skyline is spectacular at night.

Mutton curry and Yemen bread.  (No, Kaitlyn didn't eat it all!)

The "Souk" (an open-air market)

Johannesburg airport