Massengill Middle East Minute

September 2015

Greetings from the Middle East. It is finally starting to cool down a bit (low 100's) but our schedule is really heating up. September was a month of harvesting fruit and planting new seed. We rejoice at what God is doing in this part of the world, and expecting He has even greater plans for the future. (Sorry the pictures are mostly of me, but for obvious reasons we need to be a bit discreet)

Reaping the Harvest

This month we were asked to preach at the 2nd anniversary of a church that meets in a small hotel in Dubai. The church was planted 2 years ago, and has grown to about 150 people. Kari and I established a relationship with this church through one of my students at our seminary. The service was such a blessing and 15 people "joined the family". There are so many people who only see what Satan is doing in this part of the world, but God is doing far more than the devil could plan or carry out. Please keep these new family members in prayer as they face a new, challenging, but exciting future.

Planting New Seed

This past month I also had the blessing of going to Kuwait to help initiate the birth of a new Bible school in the region. Of course the school is in its infancy, but success would be significantly impactful for the country and maybe the region. God's timing seems perfect and the hunger for training and education are high. Dr. Dwain Pyeatt, from the COG Division of Education, and I meet with some extraordinary men of God who have a heart not only to further their own education, but use the school as a platform to reap a harvest in the fields of Kuwait. And like most places in the Middle East, few have heard the Message of Grace, and the Bible school will play a major role in changing that reality.

Prayer for a Friend & Brother

While working and living in the Middle East, we have been able to build many wonderful friendships with people from all over the region, but also from other places in the world. One of those people is Simon Malele from the Republic of the Congo. A few years ago, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although the family is very poor, he was able to get some treatment and thought he had beat the disease. Sadly, last year it returned and unless God miraculously heals Simon, he cannot last much longer. He is already unable to walk as the cancer has spread to other places in his body. The family has run out of options & Simon and his wife must leave the UAE as soon as possible. To die here would cost the family more than they could ever pay and it is not lawful for him to be buried here. So, as soon as the funds are available, Simon and his wife will return to the Congo for him to live out the last days of his life. Two of his daughters live here and will not be able to return with their dad due to their visas and working conditions. They will have to say goodbye to him knowing, without God's intervention, it will be the last time they will see him on earth. Please pray for this wonderful family as they face impossible situations and decisions, but most of all pray for a miracle of healing. While I know it is fleshly thinking, I simply do not want to lose my brother and my friend.

In His Service,
Vance, Kari, Leandra & Kendra Massengill

COGWM Project# 065-0069

Leandra's Corner

Hello from the big desert... as Daddy likes to call the Middle East. I am doing good. Mommy is doing great with helping me with my dyslexia. With my new school materials, I even love math now... which Mommy calls a miracle but I think that is taking it a bit far. Anyway, I am doing much better with my language and math. Also I am now in the 4th grade. Daddy says if we do not slow down we will graduate high school before we are 12... which I think is a bit of an exaggeration. The last thing I want to share is that I am getting really good at bargaining at the souq (market). Daddy says all I need to do is give the shopkeeper a sad face and I can get any price I want...well it does seem to work! Anyway, keep me in prayer!

Join Our Mailing List

Kendra's Corner

Hey What's Up? I am doing pretty good but I do have a little problem that I need you to pray about. It is a little embarrassing, but if you pray for me God will know why. Other than that things are good. The weather is starting to get a little cooler. At night it will even get in the 80's... which is much better than normal. Like Leandra, I am also now in the 4th grade. That puts me a grade ahead of where I should be, but that is cool. My plan is to one day open a restaurant so I guess I need to learn math more than anything so I can count the money. Lately, I have been planning my birthday which is in December. I was hoping to have corn on the cob, but I do not think my front teeth will be in by then. Also I have another lose tooth in the front, so it might be a long time before I get corn on the cob... which is like my favorite food. That is all for now... Bye!