January 1, 2004

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

May this find you enjoying the beginning of the New Year. Reviewing what the Lord has done in and around Tournefeuille since January 1, 2003 is amazing even to us who were here and saw it happen. Following are some examples of how God has worked.

In February 2003 someone contacted us by email enquiring about our Bible studies. Shortly thereafter we met this person, a young man named Shantha, and he began coming to our home weekly to have a 4 hour Bible study. He is from Sri Lanka and grew up as a Hindu. During this past year Shantha has read and we have discussed most of the New Testament and over half of the Old Testament. We delight in what God is doing through these Bible studies and we have become good friends with him and his (French) wife, Nathalie. When Shantha first contacted us, he and Nathalie lived in another town about 30 minutes by car from us. Since then, they have moved to downtown Tournefeuille. When they moved into their new home we were had the privilege of being the first guest invited to their home. The most amazing part of this story is how God brought Shantha and us together; He was searching for a job in our town in Information Technology (computers). When he entered job related search words and Tournefeuille, he found our letter on the BFM internet site among the results. After this happened on two different occasions, he contacted us!

In May, Raphael and Tonia, our neighbors from across the street began coming to Sunday services. We had been praying for about nine months for an opportunity to share Christ with them but not having a common language was a barrier. They are German and could not speak English or French. We do not speak German! We had watched their children on various occasions and even shared a few meals. One Sunday in May as Ursula was arriving for church, she noticed that Tonia was frustrated with her oldest child. She stopped and offered to take the child, Kim, with her to Judy's Sunday School class for children. The next Sunday morning, I was moved to tears as we saw the entire family, mother, father, and three children crossing the street to come to the service. Ursula translated from French to English for them. My parents, John and Alta Hatcher were visiting with us at the time. Dad took the youngest child who had been distracting the parents to the front porch and prayed and watched her while the parents listened. They have never stopped coming.

Ursula and her family moved back to Germany in July 2003. Before this took place, we began praying for God to provide someone to translate to German when Ursula moved away. God gave a perfect solution. Another young German couple, Joachim and Angela began attending. They have been translating ever since then. The husband in this family is not a Christian but the wife is. They have two children and Amanda met Angela through a children's play group. Angela was saved about 2 years ago and had been praying for God to give her a church. Her husband comes regularly, even when Angela is out of town. God's answers more than one prayer at once!

At the close of the year we were having 6 weekly Bible studies, two weekly prayer meetings and Sunday worship and Sunday school. There are many other blessings we could share, but these are sufficient as evidence that God is at work! Ursula's parting words as they departed for Germany were, "You have changed my life." Well, God was the one who did it, but we sure are glad that we got to be in on it!

We praise God for your faithful support. God has used your faithfulness for the advancement of the Gospel here. May the coming year be a delightful one for you, your family and your church.

With thanksgiving,

John and Judy Hatcher