Dear Praying Friends and Family,    

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:16-17).

All things were created by him:
     I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to see so much of God’s creation these last couple of months. Since my last bi-monthly prayer letter, I had the opportunity to travel to churches in Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Beside that, I enjoyed viewing God’s handiwork of majestic mountains, wide open plains, and beautiful rivers as I traveled from Wyoming back to Illinois.

     In addition, I got to meet a number of people and make many new friends. Even though each of us has been uniquely created, we are all equal in the sight of God. I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with one young lady during my time out West, and I was grateful for the circumstances God has allowed in my life that opened the door for me to be able to share the Gospel with her in depth. Now, though I am physically far away from some of the people with whom I was able to get close to over the summer, I appreciate the continued fellowship that we can have because of our relationship in Jesus Christ.

All things were created for him:
     God taught me a lot since my last prayer letter. If you’ve been reading my weekly updates, you will have already heard about my adventures on the cattle drive or about my slight impact with the deer on an evening drive. Every week, God has been bringing specific circumstances into my life to teach me more about Himself. It is so humbling to realize that He cares so much about me that He orchestrates the individual events in my life to teach me more about Himself, myself, and the world He has created.

    I would like to ask your prayers as I seek to encourage a couple of girls in Cambodia and Ukraine through some of the events that they are facing in their lives right now. Although I am not in their vicinity, God has opened the door to keep in contact via Messenger and WhatsApp. One of the young ladies is trying to determine the Lord’s will regarding His next steps for her in missions and in serving the Lord with her life. Please pray that I would have wisdom in these interactions!

He is before all things:
     I really struggled with knowing what to write in this section. The thing that kept coming to mind was COVID and how, while it has claimed a lot of our attention lately, it is not the thing that we should get distracted by in our lives. I hope that statement doesn’t create frustration, because what I’m trying to say is that God has always and will always exist. Although there are so many things in 2020 that can cause us to worry and fear, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The gospel message of Jesus’ death on the cross is the same as it was in 2019, and it will still be the same in 2021.

    I am thankful that none of this year took the Lord by surprise. He knew it was all going to happen like this long before it ever happened. Time and again, I have seen him prepare my path to put my exactly where He wants me (both in and out of certain trials). He is worthy of all praise!

By Him all things consist:
     One exciting piece of news, that I can only praise God for, that I would like to share with you is that I have jumped from 62.5% up to 73% (and possibly even a bit more)! In September, I heard about three different churches and one individual who plan to take me on for support. While I don’t have the official numbers yet, I am amazed and humbled to see God so quickly and drastically raise my support level. He is truly the originator of all things!

    These next couple of months will be pretty full of meetings in Illinois and Wisconsin. I am working on filling up the rest of the winter and into the spring as the Lord opens opportunities. Please pray that I would know in which states and at which churches He would have me book the meetings. I look forward to being used by Him wherever He has me go!

Thank you all for your encouraging letters and emails, faithful financial support, and uplifting prayer support!

Reaching forth,

Rebekah Fruin

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

“Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me….when I
              fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me” (Micah 7:7-8).

     Thank you so much for your prayers for me since my last bi-monthly prayer letter. Sadly, it’s been a bit longer than two months, so I apologize for that. However, I do have quite a bit of news to catch you up on since my previous letter. For those of you who get my weekly updates, this letter will be a synopsis of what you may have been reading for these last several weeks.

     First of all, I just wanted to say, it has been such a blessing to be able to meet with fellow Christians in the Lord’s house on Sundays again. I was probably more spoiled than others during COVID-19, as my sending pastor was extremely diligent to maintain contact with all of our church family and to provide Zoom or livestream services on Sundays and Wednesdays. However, once the restrictions were over, it was like a breath of fresh air to meet at church again for services. I pray that each of you have been similarly refreshed since many of the virus restrictions have been lifted.

     During the coronavirus constraints, the “extra” time came in handy. One adventure that the Lord opened up was that I had the opportunity to volunteer at a nearby facility. There were several staff members there with whom I was able to share short testimonies of the Gospel or of what God is calling me to do in Ukraine. Please pray for the seed that was planted in their hearts, that they would recognize their need of a personal Savior.

     Some of you may remember that I have also been working on a few educational endeavors, especially since arriving back in the States. Although the Lord allowed me to not pass my EMT test back in February, I was able to continue studying for it and take the test again in May. Not only was I able to pass, but the Lord allowed me to re-establish some contacts I had made during my original EMT training in 2014. Please pray for wisdom as I seek to know how to continue these relationships even over long-distance. Please also pray as I continue my graduate classes in the areas the Lord has directed toward.

     Another big event in my schedule was my brother’s wedding at the end of May. I, along with my parents and my sister, had the opportunity to partake in his special day. We are excited to see where and how the Lord uses Jonathon and his wife, Johanna, for His glory! The Lord also provided in a special way for Jonathon’s wedding preparation by allowing my parents to return home a little early from South Africa (due to COVID-19 restrictions and regulations). Please pray as my parents seek the Lord’s will regarding His timing for their return to the field. Please also pray as they will need to begin filing visa paperwork once the appropriate agencies and offices are open.

     These last few months, I had planned to have meetings in five different states, but the arrival of COVID-19 required some schedule adjustments. Although I have been able to do a few meetings in three of those states, others have needed to be postponed. I am so grateful for the various pastors’ willingness to reschedule the meetings at a later date. Along these lines, I am thankful for how the Lord, even at the end of 2019, arranged my schedule so that I would have meetings in Wyoming, Nebraska, and Montana for June and July, instead of in more restricted areas such as the East or West coasts.

     This first week out West has been a tremendous blessing and full of new adventures. I have been able to present my ministry to two churches so far, with the opportunities to meet many new people, learn about other individuals who I look forward to meeting down the road, and ask for prayer for the country of Ukraine. A church in Wyoming that has supported me for the last several years has graciously allowed me to make use of their prophet’s chamber while I am out in this area. I have especially enjoyed the chance to have extra time to fellowship with the pastor and his wife during the weekdays between each meeting.

     One thing that has especially stood out to me during my time out here has been the urgent need for laborers, especially here in the United States. While I have seen that many churches in Illinois and Wisconsin are lacking the numbers of faithful men and women that they had before, I have seen this shortage more frequently in some of the churches out here. Please be praying, with me, that the Lord would raise up more people that would seek to serve the Lord whole-heartedly, wherever He may call them. May we be faithful in growing ourselves, seeking to intimately know our Redeemer who loves us so, and in discipling others that the Lord has put into our paths so that together we may more fully serve our King.

     Thank you all for your prayers, your financial support, and your words of encouragement! I look forward to hearing what God is doing in the ministry He is calling you to.

Reaching forth,

Rebekah Fruin

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

     “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth” (Psalm 57:7, 10-11).

     These last two months have been busy and full of seeing the Lord’s hand at work. During this time, I have had the opportunity to travel to four different states, share my burden about Ukraine with ten different churches, renew several old friendships, and meet many new people.

     There are two lessons that the Lord has been especially teaching me these past two months. One of those lessons is about doing good to others if it is within my means. The Lord first started driving that home more personally when I was visiting a nearby church. The pastor spoke on how many people lose focus of godly priorities; instead, they get so wrapped up in thinking about time, meetings, and things, that they miss practical opportunities of ministry. I appreciated his illustration of a person, on their way to church, driving by a side- lined car with a flat tire. Yes, we need to strive to be on time for church, but mightn’t God be giving us an opportunity to stop and help that stranded motorist, especially in some of this cold weather that we’ve been having? Can you imagine how much of a testimony that could be to him/her, plus how God might use that to open the door to share the Gospel?! It reminded me to not get so caught up in the busyness of life at the risk of missing out on the people that we’ve been given the responsibility of ministering to. Then, this last week, a different pastor mentioned something similar, asking the congregation, “How is what you are doing right now going to affect eternity?”

     The second thing that God has been reminding me of is His awesomeness. Not only I have seen God open doors for church meetings, keep me safe in all sorts of weather, and allow me to attend some educational conferences, but He has encouraged me in so many “impossible” ways. Besides the many ways I have seen Him working in my life, He has also given me the exciting opportunity of seeing what He is doing in the lives of others. One pastor told me of how the Lord miraculously provided their church building despite a lack of funds and a plethora of other interested parties. Another pastor shared details of how the Lord provided the strength and grace his church family needed as they worked through some particular struggles. Several individuals have shared personal testimonies of how God has provided funds, direction, medical help, or relationships to bring them to the point where they are in life now. What an amazing God we serve!


Prayer Requests:

• The Lord’s guidance and direction in my life as far as timing. I am praying about a couple of plans for this fall/winter 2020 and all of 2021. As I speak with some of the leaders in my life, I hope to let you know more details soon.
• That the Lord would give me wisdom in conversation with my contacts in Cambodia. One of them is struggling, spiritually. Several others are not yet saved.
• I have had the opportunity to share my testimony with one of the girls I met in Ukraine, and we have continued to have good discussions about various aspects of what it means to serve the Lord.
  
  
• Traveling safety, wisdom in meetings, and ministry opportunities on the road.
• Balance and wisdom in the various responsibilities God is giving me.

Praises:

• My support is up to 54.5%!
• I was able to complete my video presentation, as well as various other materials I needed to properly report to churches.
• I anticipate being at meetings in four different states this next month, which will require traveling through parts of the southern United States.
• My EMT test did not go as I anticipated. However, the Lord has something to teach me in that as well. Praise the Lord for what He has chosen to allow, and please pray as I continue to study for this facet of ministry.
• My parents arrived safely in South Africa.

     Thank you for all your encouragement, financial support, and prayers. I am thankful to be partnering with you!

Reaching forth,

Rebekah Fruin

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

“Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done
                                                                                for you” (I Samuel 12:24).

          •    Did you know that twenty years ago, in 2000, my family moved from the United States to Irkutsk,
                Siberia, Russia? My life has never been the same!

          •    In January 2010, I had just moved back to the United States from a three-month stay in Cambodia.
                While I never thought the Lord would lead me to Cambodia, He later used that short-term trip to                 influence me toward returning to Cambodia and toward the English-teaching ministry I am
                learning to love.

          •    The beginning of 2011 saw me finalizing my application to join Baptist World Mission. In April of
                that year, I was officially appointed with BWM. The Lord opened doors for me to pursue the burden
                that He had been laying on my heart since I was 10.

          •    When 2012 and 2013 both started, I was in the midst of deputation, where I had the opportunity to
                meet so many faithful friends and supporters. The Lord taught me a lot about trust and patience
                during those itinerant years.

          •    In the beginning of 2014, I had the opportunity to visit Cambodia for a couple of months before
                continuing on deputation. Little did I realize that the beginning of 2015 would see me in Cambodia                 full-time. That last year of traveling taught me a lot about the importance of remaining diligent,
                despite struggles and lengthy durations, in the responsibilities God had placed in my life.

     While the first part of my decade was focused on preparation for the ministry in Cambodia, the majority of the second half was spent in serving in the various ministries there. I’m thankful for the 16 students whom I was able to teach at the two separate sessions of the Bible college. I’m thankful for others that the Lord allowed me to interact with and tutor at the Bible institute and English preparatory course.

     I’m thankful for the countless children and young adults we were able to minister to at the church. Please pray for the fruit that was sown through our interactions with them, through the various soul-winning opportunities we had in the area, and through the many tracts and Bibles that were distributed in Takhmau throughout the years. I am grateful that the Lord has allowed continued interaction with some of the children and adults we met there. (However, please pray that I would be able to maintain my Khmer language skills so that I can communicate with them effectively!)

     I also praise the Lord for the many witnessing opportunities He opened to me at the music school I taught at. While I taught more than a hundred different students during my time there (my student list varied year-by-year), the Lord allowed me to share the Gospel with several of them and my co-workers. I am excited to see what fruit the Lord might bring forth from the tracts, Bibles, and study commentaries He allowed me to share there. I am also thankful that the Lord has kept lines of communication open with some of my students. Please pray for me as I seek to continue to share the Gospel with them.

     Although 2019 saw the close on my time within Cambodia, I am praying that the Lord will continue to use the things He allowed me to learn there. While I am so thankful for the countless friends and Khmer family members that the Lord brought to me during my time in Cambodia, I am also burdened for the country and the spiritual needs so many of the people there still face. Please pray the Lord would give me wisdom in future ministry opportunities through the Khmer language, cultural understanding, and contacts He has given me.

     As I look forward to this next year, and next decade, I am excited about what the Lord is going to do. He has truly done great things for me, and I could not have done it without your faithful prayer and financial support. Thank you to each of you for how you have contributed to my life and the ministry the Lord has allowed me to be a part of. I am praying for you, this new year, that “the LORD bless thee, and keep thee: the LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).

Reaching forth,

Rebekah Fruin