Richard & Ruth Jertberg Family
Madagascar
Baptist Missions to Forgotten Peoples
July 2020
Though the Corona-19 virus has not changed our daily life much (we are still doing school, cooking, taking care of babies, packing, working, etc.), it has changed our departure plans. As you know, we were supposed to fly out in April, which was changed to May, then to June, now… We heard from some missionaries in Madagascar that it is not likely that the country will open up till September (earliest) and possibly not till the first of the year. We will keep you updated as we learn what we can do. Please pray for the believers in Madagascar; the number of virus cases is still increasing (as it seems to be doing in many southern hemisphere countries). We are waiting till we will be able to leave. I (Ruth) am thankful for the extra time in the States; it has helped me get more ready emotionally. A few months ago when we were anticipating leaving, I was ready as far as being packed; but I was not looking forward to more work (learning a new culture, language, etc.); I was tired and sometimes overwhelmed at the thought of it. Also, I was not looking forward to saying goodbye to family and friends. Now, with not being able to leave and being stuck here for a while, I am looking forward to getting to Madagascar, to getting settled in there, to learning the language, to working with the people there, to starting a church, and (most especially) to seeing people saved and grow! God’s timing may not be what I would have chosen or what I would have thought would happen, but it is the best. I must let God lead and rest in Him and His Word. Proverbs 3:5-6 “TRUST in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean NOT unto THINE OWN understanding. In ALL thy ways acknowledge HIM, and he shall direct thy paths.” We have been blessed to be able to get involved in the local church here in NC. We have heard some excellent messages, and the kids have started to make some nice friends. We praise God for leading us to this church where we can worship God and grow closer to Him. Richard has helped with preaching. We pray that God will use us where we are and that we will be used of Him! All the kids are doing well. We have been working, practicing the piano, learning verses, playing outside, and having lots of birthday parties (all the kids recently had birthdays). Because of the accident that Matthew was in (and was not able to do school for several months), he is just getting finished up. Sarah has been enjoying learning to cook and has been a great help taking care of the younger babies. Nate loves to collect bugs in containers and study them. Abby loves to play… with anyone who will play with her (Sarah, Nate, Kezia) and anything that they want to play (dolls, cars, legos, bugs, books). She also enjoys cooking with someone in the kitchen. Kezia runs around all day with LOTS of energy! She loves to play with the kittens, read books, blow bubbles, and do anything (except take a nap) with anybody. Hadassah is crawling around and pulling up on things. She will turn a year old in a month. She has 8 teeth now and is such a happy adorable little thing! We praise God for a house that He provided! After praying about what to do with some inheritance money, we decided to invest it into a house and property in the Lattimore, NC area. Lord willing, we can use this for the kids to live in while going to college and we can possibly rent it to other college students as it is just minutes away from Ambassador Baptist College. It is hard to believe, but Matthew only has one more term with us in Madagascar. The house, also, will be something that we can use while on furlough. It is an old farmhouse built in 1887. It had a fire and has not had anyone living in it for many years. It needs a LOT of work before it will be livable! While working at the house, we have had the opportunity to meet and witness to some of our new neighbors. We pray that God would work in these people’s lives; that they would be saved! Thank you for your faithful prayers for us during this time! We pray for you as you also go through this unknown time and some go through illness and lack of work. We pray that you would be encouraged, and that you would draw closer to God! We must all keep our eyes on God and not allow the situations around us cause us to despair! Hebrews 12:2-3 “LOOKING UNTO JESUS the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For CONSIDER HIM that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” In the Service of the King, Richard and Ruth, Matthew, Sarah, Nate, Abby, Kezia, Hadassah Jertberg