Abundant Blessings

Dearest friends and prayer partners,

God is so good and has been answering your prayers!

Shortly after my last letter, I gifted Soňa (one of my Slovak teachers) a Bible, and within a week she had read the gospel of John. God’s Word is powerful. Please continue to pray that she would read more of the Bible, and that He would work in her heart through it.

I’ve been able to meet with Patricia a few more times, and the conversation often ends up on spiritual topics. Right now she is dealing with some hard things at home. Please be praying that God would use them to draw her to Himself, and that He would use me to accomplish His purposes.

My Slovak has continued to improve, and God has provided a teacher to work with me on some of my weak points. Her name is Ľudmila, and she is a member of the church here. It has been a blessing to get to spend some more time with her. She has already helped me tremendously in the few times we’ve met. Please pray that I can also be a blessing to her, and that God would continue to give me the ability to learn and improve in Slovak.

David and Anna Waite made it here and back home safely. While they were here, David was able to renew his residency, start the first class in the Bible school, and we were able to throw a surprise wedding reception for them. At the reception, there were a number of people from outside the church that came and were able to hear the testimony of how God has been working in David and Anna’s lives. There was also a lady named Danka that asked if I could start teaching her English. We’ve met once so far. She also has a friend that would like to meet with me. Please pray that the Lord would use me as a witness to these ladies.

God provided wisdom related to the BMM doctrinal questionnaire, and I submitted the first draft a few weeks ago. Then last week, I received some feedback, and there were a few things that I had not specifically discussed that they would like to see (the questionnaire is in the format that you are given a topic, such as “Christ”, and you have about half a page to write about that topic). Please pray that God would again grant me wisdom as I work through a second draft that includes those items. 

At the end of March, I have a friend from my sending church who is coming to visit me for just under a week. She’ll arrive exactly one year after I did on the 27th and leave April 2nd. She’s coming to celebrate my birthday with me, and while she is here, she’ll get to see some of the ministry here, meet the people in the church, and see a little bit of Slovakia. Then on Sunday after church, we plan to take the train to Budapest, meet up with her brother (he’s a missionary in Ukraine), and we’ll explore a little bit before she leaves.She is always such a blessing to me, and I’m very excited to see her again in person. Please be praying for safety in traveling and that the Lord’s will is done through her visit.

At the same time that we’re taking the train to Budapest, Don and LeAnne Waite will be making a trip into Rivne, Ukraine to visit the Kisarets. Through the BMM World Relief Fund, they will be providing supplies (food, sleeping bags, ect) that will be distributed to the soldiers and others that the Kisarets are working with. This not only helps meet some of the physical needs, but provides an opportunity to witness to these individuals about the eternal need they have. Please be praying that God would be drawing people to Himself through this, and that He would provide safety to Don and LeAnne as they travel.

Don and LeAnne are also preparing to go on a short furlow starting in May. Their daughter, Vivian, is graduating from college. They will be gone through July. In June, Lord willing, David and Ellie Luethy will be coming to fill in until the Waites are back. They’ve been here before and the people here love them. I’ve been asked to teach the ladies study in May and be involved in the Sunday School teacher rotation. Please pray that the Lord’s will is done in and through all of this, that traveling mercies will be granted, and that He will give me wisdom for both the ladies' studies and working with the children.

Your Sister in Christ,

Shae Zabel