MARCH, 2001

Dear Prayer Partners,

Psalm 100:5 "For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

Nahum 1:7 "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."

Greetings once again from continuing to be hot and too dry Australia. The first of March is the first day of autumn and hopefully some relief from the heat will come in the form of some much needed rain. However, as this letter is being written it has started to rain but for how long? As the land needs refreshing physical rain so the parched souls of our people need the Water of Life found in the Word of God. Isaiah 55: 10, 11 "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Thank you for sending us to preach the unsearchable claims of Christ!

The Lord IS good and we rejoice in His salvation by grace through faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sunday 18 February the Rob Davis family from Cunnamulla, Queensland visited the service. Rob is manager of a one hundred and ninety thousand-acre station just across the New South Wales border in Queensland. To get an idea of how far out they live they receive their mail twice per week. Their house is the last house on the mail route and the nearest neighbour is sixty-four miles away. To say the least they make each trip to town count. They came to Dubbo for dental and doctor appointments. They have seven children (of whom five were with them) so our attendance more than doubled that Sunday. Brother Davis was the pastor of the almost if not the first independent Baptist church in Australia, Gladstone, Queensland. This church was started in the early 60's. He was pastor there six years before going into property management. The Davis' were in Dubbo until Tuesday so Monday evening we had them out for dinner and enjoyed their fellowship immensely. It is always a joy to get acquainted with other believers.

Andy Thompson is home but did not receive the heart operation as planned due to his diabetic condition. The doctor changed his heart medication so his body is slowly readjusting. He has mood swings along with other side affects with the new medication. We have re-continued the weekly Bible study with him and his wife but have had to cancel frequently due to doctor appointments and Andy's not feeling well. We ask you to pray the medicine will help him feel better so he and Ellen can begin attending the Sunday service. Abel Morgan fell in late February and was in hospital several days for observation. He is now home and his speech is better but the doctor didn't find anything physical causing his inability to walk properly. We are praying he will recover enough so he can travel with Phyllis to Perth in April for their son's wedding. Phyllis is adjusting well to her mother's death. She took a bus to Brisbane the last week of February to be with her sister Kathy Bird. Kathy's husband, Ben, went into hospital 1 March for a triple bypass. Ben is an aboriginal pastor who was considering coming to Dubbo but now believes the Lord would have him minister in Tamworth. He will be making a decision sometime after he recovers from surgery.

Becky, our second child and youngest daughter, is due 10 June with her third child. She emailed last month saying she will be having a boy. This will give us four grandsons. She and her family live in Acworth, GA a suburb of Atlanta.

The 15 September wedding of Jonathan and Lynne Mercer is drawing closer. Jonathan has signed to build a house in a housing estate of Dubbo called Eastridge. It is only about ten minutes from us which is nice. It takes approximately three weeks for council to approve the building application so hopefully it will be in lock up stage before 1 June which is the first day of winter. Winter is also the rainy season and this means building is sometimes delayed. He is hoping it will be done by late July.

We received an email from some friends in Wyoming the last day of February saying their 18 year old grandson was very ill with ulcerative colitis. The doctor recommended he be taken to Rochester, MN so he and his parents left for Rochester the 28 February. Pray for Nathan.

As we mentioned last month we have submitted the forms for the reapplication of Ross and Carolyn Trumble's 2-year visa to government immigration. There shouldn't be any problem for renewal but as yet no answer. They will finish their first two years here in April. They are also anxiously awaiting the birth of their fifth child in May. Pray for them and the work in Parkes, NSW. Pastor Van Kleeck emailed saying he and his wife will be visiting Australia 19 October - 1 November this year. Pastor Keep visited twice and this will be Pastor Van Kleeck's first visit. We do thank the Lord for giving us a home sending church such as Evangel Baptist.

Again we remind you to note our mini-furlough schedule for 2002. We ask you to be praying for the Lord's provision of funds for (1) round trip airline tickets (2) rental car while we are in the states and (3) God's blessing on the churches and meetings. FURLOUGH 2002

February

Sunday 24 - Crossroad Baptist, Pensacola, FL 850-944-3544

March

Sunday 3 - Evangel Baptist, Dale City, VA 703-670-5152 (Our home sending church)

Thursday 7 - Bible For Today Baptist, Collingswood, NJ 856-854-4747

Sunday 10 - Columbus Road Baptist, Quincy, IL 217-222-5891

Wednesday 13 - Bethany Baptist, Galesburg, IL 309-342-3132

Sunday 17 - Stony Point Baptist, Kansas City, KS 913-299-4774

Wednesday 20 - First Baptist, Grafton, IL 618-786-3379

Sunday 24 - Ottumwa Baptist Temple, Ottumwa, IA 641-682-4836

Wednesday 27 - Bible Baptist, Ottumwa, IA 641-682-9609

Thursday 28 - Grace Baptist, Cherokee, IA 712-225-4533

Sunday 31 - Tomah Baptist, Tomah, WI 608-372-2071

April

Wednesday 3 - Woodcrest Baptist, Fridley, MN 763-571-6409

Sunday 7 - Galilee Baptist, Kent, WA 253-854-5828

Wednesday 10 - First Baptist, Windsor, CA 707-838-6694

So far three churches have confirmed their meeting date. We do appreciate each church and individual for their support in finances and prayers. Hebrews 6:10 "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister."

Your Servants,

David and Pam Bennett