Dear Friends,
       
Once again, we want to thank you for your faithful prayers on our
behalf on our volunteer trip up north last month.

Sitting in front of about 25 people, waiting to get started, we were
told that the village headman was sitting on the front row and another
village leader was sitting next to him.  We were sitting outside under some
mango trees.  Most people were sitting on the ground.  We were introduced
and then I (Mary) started our stories.  "I want to tell you a story.  This
story is from a book called the Bible.  People did not write the Bible.  It
is the word of the Most High God....."  Jeff and I took turns sharing 8
segments that begin with creation and continue to Christ, showing how He was
God's plan for salvation from the beginning.
At this particular place, almost all those who heard wanted to believe in Jesus.

In Malawi, a very common saying is to receive something with two
hands.    Jeff used this analogy when asked by several who listened to the
stories, "What does it mean to receive Christ in our lives?"  Jeff told them
that it is similar to how people in Malawi receive visitors at the house.
"What do you say when you receive visitors at your house, Jeff asked?"  They
said, "We say that we receive them with two (both) hands," meaning that the
visitors are welcome and invited to come and visit.  Jeff then told them
that it is the same when we "receive" Christ.  It means that we want Christ
in our lives.  We ask Him to come in because Christ is welcome.  We then ask
Christ to forgive us of our sins and by faith, we believe that only through
Him can you have a relationship with God.  They seemed to understand very
well when Jeff explained it that way.

One woman raised her hand and asked, "Can I repent right now, right
here?"  It was asked in the most sincere way.  Jeff assured her that, "Yes!
You can repent right now, right under that very tree (where she was
sitting)."  Everyone smiled, clapping.
These were such encouraging days for us and our friends, Doyal and Nancy Rowland,
who traveled all the way from the U.S. to share stories from God's Word with the people here.
We were blessed by the great response from almost every place we went.

Please pray for all of those who heard the stories and made decisions to follow Christ.
Pray that they would be discipled and become committed Christians. 
Pray for the leaders in the areas of Chitipa and Karonga to be diligent in following up
all of these decisions.

As you know, Mary's mother died while we were on this trip.  Mary was
comforted by your prayers and many messages during that time.  She knew
beyond a doubt that many were praying for her!   She felt God's love and
peace throughout those days and until now!


FAMILY NEWS

Our oldest daughter, Elizabeth, travels to Richmond, Virginia next week, the
29th of July, to attend a matching conference for missionary Journeymen and
others who want to serve overseas for 2 to 3 years.  She will be having
interviews and also will be listing her top three choices where she would
like to serve.   Pray that God would lead her to where He wants her to live
and the job He wants her to do. 

Amy has been working at Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center this summer.
She has enjoyed it very much!  We thank God for protecting her, letting her
meet some great new friends, and providing this job for her.  Pray for her
as she finishes up there in August.  Please also pray for her to have a good
beginning for her sophomore year at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.

Samantha arrived home with us in Malawi on July 11th and gets to stay until
September 1st.  She is doing great.  She has been cooking some, practicing
basketball, and riding her bike, along with catching up on sleep while home.
She will be a senior!  Please pray for her as she decides which university
she should attend.  Pray also for her to have an awesome senior year.

There are so many things to share with you, but these are what we have
chosen to share for now.  Please know that we are so grateful for your love
and support which you show to us.  We count on your prayers to keep our
focus on sharing with the people in our cluster faith in Jesus Christ.

In His Love,

Mary & Jeff Polglase
Elizabeth, Amy, and Samantha