It’s been a while since we mailed our newsletter. Things have been hectic with our deputation travels, relocating our daughter Rachel to college, and brief respite visiting with friends. Dan had been now on long stretches of deputation visiting churches, and American Baptist Women’s Associations in several States. Sarah had a very rewarding time speaking at ABW meetings in Idaho, and currently doing the same in Oregon.

In mid September we had a delightful visit from Rosette and her daughter Sally from Beirut, Lebanon. Rosette is the longest serving staff member at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut. A dedicated and brave lady, who during the long years of Lebanese Civil War from 1974-90, when all Missionaries were evacuated to Cyprus, faithfully worked with Dr. Ghassan Khalaf, our current director, to sustain the ministries of the seminary. Twice a month, she would undertake the most dangerous journey by boat, under cover of night, from the port of Juneh in Christian held Lebanon, to the port of Larnaka in Cyprus. She would carry all the books, reports, and accounts to the Southern Baptist missionaries living in exile. We were privileged to host Rosie and Sally in Oregon for a couple of weeks of rest and recreation.

Sarah says, “As I look back and reflect on my journey this past year, I have nothing but praise and gratitude to offer God. The faith that God was in control of our lives and that I had to move forward trusting in Him. The unsettling events in Lebanon in 2006 and their impact on our daughter Rachel, her evacuation and relocation in Oregon are behind us. As we look back we are amazed by the hand of God that guided us. I felt I was being stretched but realized I had to be stretched to be useful to God and society. I had several wonderful friends and prayer partners who helped me on my journey. While Dan travelled out of state for deputation, I mostly stayed in Oregon. But a couple of times, I went out of state to Missouri, Illinois, and Idaho. I am grateful to my ABW sisters for their kind invitations.”

Dan has been rather busy since late March connecting with churches and individuals in the regions of Los Angeles/Southern California, Northern California, Washington, Idaho, Missouri, Southern Illinois, Upstate New York, New Hampshire, Maine, and Kansas. He also had the joy of attending the World Mission Conference in Cannandaigua, NY and Shawnee, Kansas. In addition to that both Sarah and Dan were in Colorado Springs attending debriefing at MTI, the conference for missionaries in Pennsylvania, and the upcoming visit to the “holy donut” (Valley Forge) in early December. Through the strenuous itinerary, several thousand miles of travels by road and air, we have been kept safe. Wonder of wonders, we never lost our baggage!! But the most enduring impressions were sweet memories of faithful individuals, families/homes, churches who sustained us with love, and hospitality. Some drove long miles to “collect and deliver” us as we criss-crossed the states. To all the faithful saints, Sarah and I express with grateful hearts the words of Apostle Paul, “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thessalonians 1: 2-3).

Prayer Requests

1. Please pray for the political leaders of Lebanon who are unable to look beyond their personal gains. May God instill in their hearts fear to serve their people in humility.

2. Please pray for the members of our MPT (Missionary Partnership Team) who have gladly volunteered to come along our side, help in our ministry through raising support, be our hands, our eyes, and our voice while we are out in the mission field.

3. We praise and thank God for the warm welcome we received from individuals and churches during our deputation travels over the past several months. Please pray for the Churches/pastors/ABW ministries and their faithful witness & service all across the country.

We warmly invite individuals and churches who would like to partner with us and our ministry in the Middle East, to please contact us:

Sarah & Dan Chetti
1112 Birch Ave, Cottage Grove, OR 97424 danielchetti@hotmail.com

OR

Sarah & Dan Chetti
International Ministries ABC-USA, Missionary Partnership Team
Box 852; Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851