Dear Pastors and Churches,

As I pen these words, I feel that God has given me my strength back in a good  measure.  I have been very much exercised as to when to return to South Africa.  Acts 20:24 has been the verse that the Lord has impressed me with: 'But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto  myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I  have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify of the gospel of the grace of God.
I do not believe that God is done with me and this exhilarates me.  I have seen God's good hand in this medical leave time in America.  Space will not  permit me to write of the ways God is working in the lives of our children and  grandchildren.  'It is good for me that I have been afflicted' as I know it has drawn us closer together as a family.

Theresa and I are scheduled to leave for South Africa on Monday, August 8.   The South African church has a Mission Conference scheduled for the first week in September (as well as other matters during that month).  The airlines  re-issued our tickets for a small fee of $800; truly this was an answer to  prayer as they could have had us pay full price for for our tickets.

I can't express in words how extremely good everyone has been to us during this stay.  Certainly we still covet your prayers.

Joel & Theresa Bain
P.O.Box 3110
2125 Randburg
Johannesburg, South Africa

tel & fax: 011 27 11 462 5272
cell # 011 27 72 450 0535
(use all numbers when calling from US)
joelandtheresa@hotmail.com
www.directmissions.com
Baptist International Missions, Inc.
Chattanooga, TN
Since 1974