Steve and Gayle King Serving with Baptist Mid-Missions in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa Dear Friends, ‏ I am sitting in my living room looking out through the branches of the Traveler's Palm and past the coconut trees to the large ship out in the ocean. I was thinking, “God, you have been so good to us in bringing us safely back home again!” Truly He has been gracious and loving in bringing us back to the place where He put a burden on our heart to minister many years ago. I truly am content. ‏ People here have shown their happiness in so many ways. When we arrived back home, we were greeted with the traditional woven palms and flowers. Agnès came from Divo with Bertin to make sure that the guys who stayed here had the house clean for our arrival. :-) One deacon at our church gave us beautiful African material so that Steve can make a shirt and I a dress. The church planned a large meal of rice and different African sauces, and the list goes on and on. “Thank you, Lord, for the love that has been shown by so many.” ‏ The last few weeks has been spent in meetings for the various ministries, in repairing things around the house, and in receiving many visitors, each one with their stories to tell. We are saddened to hear of some of the hardships they experienced during the unrest. Like the case of Didier who along with his neighbors were forced to bury 5 other neighbors who were killed. Eunice saw 3 trucks go by her home with dead bodies piled up on top of each other. Yet in the midst of this sadness, each one remarkably told how God protected them and helped them through this time. When we told them that many people and churches were praying for them during this time, their faces were filled with joy. I asked a few to write out their stories for me; I think you will be encouraged to see how God truly has been answering your prayers. Thank you for your love for these African brothers and sisters. ‏ Not all people came with sad news. Rodrigue (who was in our DVD) came by to introduce his fiancee. We are glad that he has fallen in love with a nice Christian girl. This young man was saved in my children's Bible club. Since this is his last year of our Bible Institute, he is doing a pastoral apprenticeship with Missionary Andy Messer this year, working to begin a new church plant. God's grace continues. ‏ Looking again at the ship out in the ocean waiting to enter the port not far from our home, I am reminded that our container will be arriving here in San-Pedro soon, probably around Oct 25th. Steve is out now working on trying to get papers signed so that we can take them to the capital of Abidjan next week to ask for leniency on the cost of the customs and duty. Since most of the things are Bibles, tracts, things for ministry and many relief clothes and items that were given to us to give away, we are praying that they will be gracious and not charge as much as they could. Will you pray with us? ‏ We do thank you for your support, prayers, and love for us and for the ministries here. Steve and Gayle Serving with Baptist Mid-Missions Kings Skype Phone # - 570-906-8443 (PA #) Africa Phone #s – Home = 011 – 225 – 34-71-3459; Steve's cell – 011-225-01-50-7586; Gayle's cell – 011-225-01-50-7587 King's address: Pasteur Steve King 01 BP 2152 San Pédro 01 Côte d'Ivoire WEST AFRICA Baptist Mid-Missions - PO Box 308011 Cleveland, OH 44130-8011 Phone # - 440-826-3930 Hope Baptist Church – 6450 Hope Way Hanover, PA 17331 Phone # - 717–633-1479