Distribution in France

Distribution of invitations to our church has begun! During the next week, students will slide the pamphlets under the doors of thousands of rooms. Please pray that there will be many who respond and come to the church because of this effort. It is an exciting time and we miss being there!

Bixby Bulletin-- Aug/Sept. 2009

August/September 2009

Dear Friends,

As I write this, we are in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, wishing we were about two weeks later to enjoy the even richer colors of autumn. The trees are changing and the leaves are falling, but not like it will be in a few short weeks. God’s creative ways are “infinitely interesting.” We are in our sending church in Stephenson, and will be leaving in a couple of hours for another supporting church way up on the banks of Lake Superior. Following that we will be heading for Minneapolis, then down to Charleston, IL. Then out to Arkansas and Mississippi, and finally back to Greenville for a week.

In just over six short weeks we have put over 9000 miles on our car. A good bit of that has been getting around to see our children scattered around the country. Tsiry, the teenage boy who came to the states with us, returned to France as planned after spending one month traveling with us. Little did I know that less than ten days after his return, I would be following him. Our dear Rene Rottier, age 86, went to be with the Lord. We were shocked to learn of his sudden death of a heart attack. Rene and Marcelle have been with us since day one of our Bordeaux ministry, and have faithfully stood by us and with us over these long years. I knew that my place was there beside his widow and son as we are the only “family” they have. We will miss him dearly. I was there eight days before returning to Boston where I had left Bonnie with Johanna and Brian during my absence. We returned the following day to Greenville and then headed out for meetings in the north mid-west.

One bonus from my quick trip to France was to spend some precious time with Tim and Ruth and bonding time with my two grandchildren. They are adapting so well in the ministry in France. We are so thrilled to have them on the field. Micaiah and Miriam started school last week. There was some apprehension on all of our parts as to how they would do going into a strange school where a foreign language they didn’t understand was spoken in a strange culture that they weren’t used to. Up to this time they’d only known home schooling. They are doing well – very well, in fact. They love it. Their teachers seem excited to have them. Ruth began the semester of French learning on Monday of this week. They are doing a wonderful job of “filling our shoes.”

Continue to pray for us as we travel. It has not been wearisome, although these aging joints need more stopping and stretching than before. That didn’t stop us from traveling non-stop 1010 miles last week (from Boston to Greenville) upon my return from the funeral in France. Who says we’re old?

We are looking forward to seeing many of you over the next 4 months before our return to France on February 2^nd. We long to be a source of blessing and encouragement to whomever we meet along the way. We have been refreshed and encouraged already by those of you whom we’ve seen up to now.

Once again, thank you for your faithful love, prayers and support.

In Christ,

Bob and Bonnie Bixby

First Funeral in our church--

On Wednesday, our church in Pessac said "farewell" to our oldest member. It was a sweet funeral and Bob was so thankful that he was able to be there. Tim actually preached the message and Bob gave the eulogy and a testimony as his pastor of 19 years. He also preached at the grave site. Lala gave a testimony on the part of the families of the church and Laetitia, who returned just for the occasion, gave a testimony on the part of the students.

We are so proud of the church as they have pulled together to help Marcelle in many different ways. (She is the one in the middle bottom picture along with their 42 year old son, Daniel, who is in a mental instituation.) She is truly a "widow" in the Biblical sense.

I thought some of you would enjoy seeing the difference in a burial in France to the US! The plot was actually above ground. You can see our grandson Micaiah getting ready to throw in some petals. They have a family tomb (it was already marked with the family name) with 3 places and it is their's for 50 years. I doubt that they will care in 2059 what they do with it!!

Bob returns on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Thanks for praying for him during this time. He spoke at a Family time tonight and will be preaching on Sunday.

Change of Plans! and Prayer Requests.

Yesterday, Tim called us from France to tell us that Rene Rottier (86) had gone to be with Lord just minutes before. Rene and Marcelle have been with us at the church since our very first service and was very precious to us as a family. After prayer and talking it over with others, we decided that Bob needed to return for the funeral. So, we quickly threw things in suitcases and drove up to Boston where he flew out last night. I am staying here with Johanna while he is gone.

Would you please pray with us for:
1. His wife, Marcelle-- they were always together as a couple and the loss will be great.
2. Their son Daniel-- Daniel is 41 years old but is in a psychiatric hospital. He probably knows Bob better than anyone except his parents.
3. Our church-- this is a "first" for us as a congregation. Everyone has jumped in and are really helping out and doing all they can.
4. For Timothy-- He has been "tested" in his new position--learning French laws quickly! His loving spirit was much appreciated in the first few hours after death when, among other things, he helped move and dress the body !
5. For Bob-- He arrived safely tonight and went directly to see Marcelle. He was met at the airport by 4 families and a bunch of kids shouting Papi!! (Grandpa). Pray for wisdom as he plans and directs the funeral.
6. The funeral-- It will be Wednesday at 10 at the church. May it be encouraging to believers and convicting to unbelievers.

As I mentioned, our plans were changed. We were going to take a trip out west to see Bob's old home, etc. for our 40th wedding anniversary. We were thankful that we had saved the money for the trip and it could be used for this important "change" which was a surprise to us, but not to the Lord.

Grandchildren !

Grandchildren are definitely a wonderful gift from the Lord. We are so thankful for this time to see them. We were with Micaiah and Miriam (Tim's 6 and 4 year olds) for three weeks before leaving France and have now enjoyed a few precious moments with the rest of the gang. Starting at the top left-- Stefan (Johanna's 19 month old). Corban (Bob's 2 1/2 year old), Elise (Dan's 14 year old), Isabelle (Dan's almost 8 year old), Patience (Bob's 8 year old) and Ben (Dan's 12 year old). Great kids with great parents :-)

In The States!

We arrived in the states on Tuesday, July 14. Yesterday we spent the day getting re-established into the "american way." We have a 16 year old with us for a month. Tsiry is the son of Lala and Ando Razafindrabe, a key family in our church. He is excited about seeing lots of states as we start furlough with family visits.

Tim and Family in France!!

Thursday Tim and Ruth and Micaiah and Miriam arrived here in France. What a joy for us as parents to see our children here in France ready to serve the Lord! It was a great day for us ! Thank you so much for praying. The "turn-over" is now under way-- we leave July 14 and want to help them settle in as much as possible before then.