The Christian Mission VOL 18 NO 8

AUGUST 1974

GERMANY, BELGIUM AND SPAIN

SID AND MARY ALISBURY

BAHNWEG, GERMANY

Jodi, Mary, Sid and Randy Allsburr (left to ifeht).

Heidi and John (front row, L, to R.)

- S' '.i V

!L

Hi

Sunday afternoon in our living room.

Single servicemen visisting after lunch.

Bible study group at Westerburg.

m^.

'-ft;

Note:

We try to have two main

Mid-winter Rally group picture standing in front of the Genk, Belgium church building. Jan. 1-3, 1974.

gatherings for English speaking

Service camp in summer.

PROJECT GERMANY: Allsburys

Cartervills, Mo*
Perniit No, 1

64835

r;

Carterville, Missouri
Germany Address:

64835

Sid h Mary Allsbury

/ . ^ /77 j y ^
/'r ^

Garmany

jQT ?. 1
October, 1974

Dear Ones in the Lord,

Today is such a good day to write to you all. Lots of things have been happening or are about to happen, but today X have a break in things over here, somewhat, and that gives me a chance to write to you all. How I would like to do more personal letter writing,
but'that would mean less of something here. I'm glad that you are so understanding of
this form of communication. The longer that we are over here the more opportunities we hc\,'a"'to write to people on this side of the world. That, of course, gives us an opport-

un'ty to say things about Christ and His Way^to people that don't too often stop to hear him. Some of you dear ones who read our newsletter don't take any other time in ;r'; month for things of spiritual importance, so this is the only time you are reminded this flesh and this planet are going to pass away so very soon. Therefore, if this Ti-.Cect is special'for you then you can see how the letters we produce here are, perhaps,
'7 d to some of the soldiers, sailors and airmen who get the same reminder that I just

: ..tioned. We put out two editions of news and Christian reminders from the Frankfurt ",*/ -tian Church in September. These are mailed by Guy Mayfield to 250-275 names and . - jL-es in the U.S. military in Europe (including some 30 names on ships in the U.S. 6th i cat). There is an every growing list of civilian names we mail to, about 60-75 at
present.

_.3o!ne of yw are aware_.Qf ,the prayer requests _that had been made for Wes Beasley, Wes^ ahd his wife Alta, have been in Germany only less than a year. They sought right away how they could be of some use to God while in Germany. They were the couple responsible

for getting the Bible study in Worms going eariler this year.
cause of the rotation of students back to the U.S.

We've discontinued it be

Earily in September Alta called us and

.old us that she was in the Hospital in Landstuhl where Wes had just had surgery and the octor told her he had a tumor on his spine. That was like ringing a loud alarm bell,
//hat next? They said he would be paralyzed from Che chest down. The threat of cancer was certainly there as he was to be flown to Washington D.C. as quickly as possible for

cobalt treatments. We spent the night at the hospital Qdary & X, the children stayed with Guy and Thelma Mayfield) and returned the following afternoon via a Bible study at Heilbronn. We pushed the "prayer-request button" right away in an effort to call God's mercifv-l help into play. In the mean time Wes and Alta were fine examples of God's Peace. Thank God for thati Three days later, one day 1>efore the trip to the U.S., the lab report came back reporting that the tumor was only a cyst. We all thanked God for His answer to prayer. The Beasleys, with two sweet little boys, left the following day. Before they left, however, several officers from Wes' company and many of the fellows ho worked with came to the hospital (an hour's drive for them) to say good by. They really respected Wes
as 3 Christian. I believe God will raise Wes up to again serve Him in the U, S. Armay.

What an opportunity for service! The latest reports coming to us from Walter Reed Hospital are that the doctors keep changing their thoughts about Wes, each time predicting a brighter
future. He may even be re-instated in the Army, I'd like to see hint here because wo cer

tainly needed Christians in the armed forces. Thank you so much for your prayers! I guess X should say too that your offerings to this work allowed us to be at Wes' bed side every day and also to be with his wife. I had an unusually good talk with a buddy of Wes' that had just the week before decided to hive his heart to Christ. He was thankful to Was for h:s er.ample. We are still in contact and know this will be another victory for Christ. Sunday, September 29, was an especially exciting day for us here. We invited the German folks from the meeting I have mentioned in other newsletters, to be with us on Sunday. We discussed God's love on Sunday morning and enjoyed lunch together in our home. At 2:30 we
continued with an hour in discussion of God's Peace. We were over flowing at the meeting

house.

I counted 39.

That sounds funny, doesn't it?

Normally, we've been running about

25 and we have about 30 chairs.

Change those numbers into percent figures and you can see

vvhy we tjare happy. Mary did beautifully on keeping the dinner on a smooth basis. X would compliment her in a big way if she weren't my wife! The German neighbors that we've spoken to several times about spiritual matters came and seemed to like what was being said. ' n sure we'll be hearing more from them. She asked ira where she could buy a modern speech
translation of the German Bible. She read some from mine in our car one day and liked

understanding the Bible.

Let's join in prayer for our neibhbors that they can know God's

PRoJeCT GERMANY

NEWSLETTER

Page Two

October 20 will be a special day for us here.

I've asked several of the young men to start*

preparing to lead the lesson that day. The topic will be the Sermon on the Mount, as I've been going through the Life of Christ each Sunday. I believe the most important thing I can do is try to help these young men (both German and Araerican) to be better leaders. If I don't get to preach for a year (I'd die) while I'm helping others advance in service for
God I'll consider that a wonderful opportunity. Several of these fellows are willing to stop forward and servo the Master, Why not? Along with such emphasis we arc starting a

Sunday afternoon Bible study European Christian Institute have'said they would like to I can do such an effort) and

on the shorter epistles of Paul. This will be part of the which Guy Mayfield has been working on About four people take part. This will be on a Bible college level (As best as will give these students a chance to improve their Bible abil

ities and to gain possible Bible college credits while in the Military.

I'm going to conclude with the news matters as I have some mattera of business on my heart. If our financial matters bore you then you can feel free'to cut acfoss the pasture and
meet us at the closing. We love you anyway.

In January of this year we purchased a used car which we have cettainly used.

We'd use it

more if gasoline were cheaper. X borrowed $1000 at that time for half of the car cost. , I thought I could do that and pay back the loan at $100 per month, based on the rate of our incorae up to that time. We haven't been able to do it. We've only been able to pay 2 or 300 dollars on it, as best I understand. I'd like to get that paid before I wear the car out. That's the first thing on my mind. Another possibility is a month visit to the U.S. next year. We arc certain that the wisest use of our time and your money is for us to

^b-j^avoid furloughs of a year in length. The expenses of relocating in the U.S. for one year, fy coupled with the strain of changing schools and leaving a work here make such plans less
' than desirable for us. Don't you agree? Since the children are out of school for almost a month at Easter time next year we'd like to plan a month in S-W Missouri for that time, That will cost some money for the trip. I thank God that the main airlines have just

lowered round-trip flights between Europe and the U.S. for the winter months, ending Inarch 31,'75. Up to 30% and more can be saved, thanks to the change. That's quite a change in
things as everything^else is going up. Therefore, we are making plans ta.rGturn as men*"ion3d. The only condition I must impose upon us is that the car is paid for first. First things first. We'll also need to have the plane fare two months before the flight. All of which is to say, with the car first, we'll have to have $2175 for the flight borne plus ..some 7 or 800 dollars by January 10, '75. That seems like a big "mountain" to move, but " ns' Jiony Ross and many others will remember, we, with God's leading, moved a much bigger mountain x^hen we came here in the first place. We are setting our selves to this plan and
trusting God however He sees fit to lead. " ^ -

We are asking l.'onna and Nelda at Carterville Christian to set up a special fund for the .car and trip home. That x^ill help us to handle special gifts tox^-ard either or both of these funds. We want to consider a gift for the Trip home to 'oe usable also for the car fund and ask your understanding in that matter. It is actually one big project.
I'll close with a prayer of thanks that we can come to you all with such needs. I would not speak so with just everybody but we feel that most of you are part of the "family ,We never forget you who keep our regular support up and thank God (and you) for your faith
in us and God's program.
Our Love in the Lord,

Sid, Mary, Jodii Randy , Heidi & John Allsbury

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