Proverbs 25:25 “Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”

It sure has been hot lately. Walking outside for even just a brief few minutes will cause you to begin sweating. If you find yourself out in this heat for any extended period of time, then you know how nice it is to come back inside for a cold drink. A cold drink on a hot day is so refreshing. This proverb understands that truth, and it also connects it to receiving good news from a far country. 

Over the next month, our church will send out our second missionary family of 2025. And over the remainder of this year, we will be finalizing plans to send out a third missionary family. Lord willing, they will be leaving in 2026. There are many emotions that come with sending out missionaries. Our church family has been processing these emotions for about the last year. On one hand, it is all so happy and good. People are going to serve the Lord. The church is supporting and sending out people. And on the other hand, it is sad. We miss them. We think about them regularly. We wish we could see them. The emotions that come with sending missionaries are real. 

But there is a big blessing that comes with it. A source of joy and encouragement that I had not considered – Receiving the monthly updates/newsletters. We are at the point now that our church family (and the entire support team) is receiving a monthly newsletter from our missionary families. And these are so very good! I get excited when I see them show up in my e-mail inbox. They have information about how they are adjusting and feeling. They have cute little updates about their kids and home lives. They have fascinating information about the gospel ministry being done there. They have personal updates that continue the relationship. They contain so much encouragement! In a beautiful way, they continue the healthy relationship between the sender and the sent. 

As I read these newsletters, I feel my life and soul and faith refreshed! These newsletters are “good news from a far country”, and they come to us “like cold water to a thirsty soul.”We thank God for the newsletters our missionaries send us! If you are a part of FBCF and you are not receiving the monthly newsletters that our missionaries are sending out, then I encourage you to get signed up right away. They are such a blessing and source of refreshment.