Kathy,

First, it's good that Liz is enjoying herself and feels able to meet the 
challenges set before her.

Well, I am very pained as I read your message, shaking my head, fists 
against my mouth, feeling wretched and haven't much I can say except I so 
wish I could come out there and do something practical for you right now at 
least to ease something for you.  Again I feel drawn back to Martha's 
comment:  "If you had been here our brother wouldn't have died" and again my 
heart echoes the truth:  "You are here, Dear Lord, You feel and see all that 
is going on, You love to the end and You are God!"  Hold fast to Him and let 
Him explain one day what all this is about.

Standing with you in prayer:

--
Carol
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 3:38 PM
Subject: the latest from Maine


> First of all, thanks you guys for continuing to pray.  I'm afraid that the 
> latest isn't good.  Well, at least we heard from Liz last night and she is 
> loving it down there.  She has to practice much more than she is used to 
> and she is expected to have her pieces memorized for her recital, but she 
> thinks that she can do it, so good for her.
>
> Chris called last night from jail.  He was picked up for trespassing.  His 
> court appearance is today.  Greg is working at the post office so we won't 
> be going.  We told him long ago that we would never bale him out, so there 
> you are.  He was with Nicki and she got arrested too.  I guess that they 
> were in an abandoned building doing, who knows what.  Nicki's mom called 
> last night to make sure that we knew about Chris.  Evidently, Nicki was 
> released because she is still a juvenile.
>
> Still no word on Matt.  A friend of ours, in the Grand Rapids area, called 
> the police and was told that, because Matt is 20, we must assume that he 
> doesn't want us to hear from him and they aren't going to do anything to 
> help.  Greg's name is on Matt's bank account out in Michigan, so Greg 
> signed up and was able to access Matt's account on line and there has been 
> no recorded activity since June 29.  Please pray that we hear from him 
> soon, one way or another.
>
> Our church is also having a quarterly business meeting this Sunday and the 
> flag issue is going to be re-visited.  Many people are wanting to vote to 
> change the flags back, not because it's right, but because they want the 
> conflict to go away.  I just pray that God will prevail.
>
> Also, Greg and I are disappointed because a few years ago, a vision to 
> action committee was formed in our congregation to try to move our people 
> from the 1950s to the 21 century, or at least close.  We created a nice 
> mission statement, but then not much else.  The people got distracted by 
> busy activities that did nothing to move us forward and now, the committee 
> has pretty much disbanded with no progress, but a nice statement, being 
> made.  It's just one of those times when it is very discouraging to be in 
> the ministry.  It feels like we are being attacked on all sides, both 
> family and church and yet we must continue to move forward, trust God and 
> love the people anyway.  I'm sure that your prayer for us is most helpful.
> God bless,
> Kathy
>