TERRY and TAMI MORSE
WBF Missionaries to
FRANCE
December 13, 2004
Dear Friends,
Thanks for praying for our Christmas program yesterday!
It turned
out
well, and we actually had visitors from our village! The Hand bell
choir
played a total of 6 songs, the choir 3, 2 duets, and 1 solo. Stepane
did
the narration of the Bible verses while I did the chalk drawing, a
scene of
Bethlehem, the star, and the wise men in the foreground coming for
their
visit. The black light was of Mary and the baby Jesus to the left
side,
and in the center, high in the sky, I put the cross, empty, but with
blood
stains. The French have never seen this form of art, and they were
very
complementary afterwards. You must understand the French very very
very
seldom compliment you, it is just the way they are. I have the
impression
that they believe that they had do it better, thus usually they offer
their
advice. That is just my impression. So it was very encouraging to
hear
them speak in such away. At the end, with the lights off, and the
black
light on, I ask why Jesus came. Why? Then I explained why, using
largely
verses such as Luke 19:10, Matt. 3:16, and the Roman Road. The cross
was
why. Without a doubt, it was the first time the visitors heard such a
message, short as it might have been.
As to the visitors, Jeanine Martin-Garin was
there! First time
she
has come to a church function. And she was very touched. She said
later
that she felt like dancing ( I guess an expressing of her happiness?)
during the last song, so did the service touch her heart. She was the
first to arrive. You might remember she is the lady from St. Colomban
that
has cancer and is very thin and slight. She heard the Gospel once
again,
the third time, and I believe it is no longer so very strange to her.
She
also talked to Robert (the ex-catholic priest who comes so faithfully
to
the church, 69 years old, saved 10 years ago) for a long time. Surely
the
Lord will save this soul, who is so close to death. Please continue to
pray for her.
Mrs. Clappier and her husband (not the Mrs. Clappier
that Tami
dealt
with for salvation last year, but another, for the name is very common
here) who must be near 80. He was born in our village! This is a
great
step forward for us, for these village mountain people are extremely
difficult to get to know, they view any person outside of their village
with much suspicion. She came on time, he was very late. He came in
about
10 minutes late with three other people from our village. One man
studied
for the catholic priesthood, and Robert talked to him a long time too.
Then we had other visitors, from Modane, Montgelafrey, St Leger, and
two
couples from Marseille and Paris! But they are the parents of Solofo
and
Clodie, who came just for the program. They sure were an
encouragement.
Solofo's mom said, "It was like being at the Mount of Transfiguration!
We
did not want it to end." They are originally from Madagascar.
What a
joy
to have them in the service, and what a joy to have Solofo and Clodie
in
the church. They are so hungry for the Word, and bring great joy to
us.
All the time we have spent here is worth while in seeing such a couple
come
to the church. Emmanuelle, the daughter, was saved last summer when
Tami
dealt with her. Solofo is the owner of McDonalds in St. Jean, and he
took
a poster of the Christmas program to hang up at his store. His manager
took the first one down, not knowing that Clodie had put it up. He
left
the second one up, though, after Solofo talked to him. Please pray for
this couple, that they might be encouraged in the Lord. Several of
their
workers has promised to come, including Chantel, who have visited the
church once or twice before. But none came, and that had to be
disappointing for them. If you would like to write a brief note of
encouragement to them, I will pass it on.
After the program, guess who walked in? Alan, our
neighbor, Rene,
and
Noel. I have mentioned them often in the past. But as usual,
they
never
have the courage to come unless they has had a few drinks. They are
always
very respectful, and they were last night too. Marcelle spoke to Rene
for
a long time, witnessing to him. I showed the drawing to Noel, and he
asked
me why I had Mary in it. Because of our many discussions, he knows we
do
not pray to Mary. So I once again gave the Gospel. Praise the Lord
for
the ground that has been turned, hearts that have laid hard and
unproductive for years and years, and for the seed that was able to be
planted.
Folks, this is a hard field to minister. No
one has turned the
soil
here for centuries, if ever, let alone planted any seed. God is afoot,
and
He is working. We expect great things, for we serve a great God. I
realize that no one was saved, but do not let that discourage you in
praying for the Maurienne people. They are so very difficult to reach,
the
descendants of a God hating remnant that remained after all the
Christians
were killed in the dark ages. I believe that one reason that Europe is
so
difficult to reach with the Gospel is because of a Biblical principle,
in
which God says (He will visit) "the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me."
Three
times He says this, in Ex. 20:5, Num. 14:15, and Duet 5:9. The people
that
live in France are the descendants of those that hated God, especially
those of the Revolutionary War 200 years ago. The ground must first be
plowed, then planted with seed, then water, and then, the harvest. We
are
involved in all phases, and praise the Lord, the Eglise Biblique
Baptiste
is a light in a dark, dark valley, thanks to people like you who pray
for
us and support us! The Lord, who is just, will reward you for your
sacrifices.
Thank you for praying! May our God bless you and yours, visiting His
grace
upon you just to your 3rd and 4th generations in the future!
In Christ,
Terry Morse and Family
France
PS. Thank you for praying for Tami! There was no infection, which is
unusual. She is still very sore, and in pain, but at least can now
walk.
She might try driving tomorrow. She has one more visit to change the
bandage tomorrow, and Thursday the doctor will take out the 25 or so
stitches. It is an ugly wound, and will leave an ugly scar,
but
could
have been much worse. The muscles were not damaged, nor the nerves or
tendons. A few days later, a lady was bit by a fox, in the same area,
that
was eating her chickens. She has to go to Chambery for a rabies shots
every week for some time.