My precious friend,

Most people believe the mission field is a place that you go to. But the mission field is really the place where you are. Take my Norma and me. We've been all over the world and I am still going. However, three days after Christmas found us in the Dartmouth hospital. A twelve inch cyst had been discovered in my wife's abdomen. Surgery was scheduled and, after prayer, the anesthetist wheeled her away. Six hours of delicate surgery followed before Norma opened her eyes to my voice and face-almost 9 hours after our last hug.

Dartmouth hospital is one of the finest in the nation. That's where desperate people come to from across the region, the nation and even the world. Life and death issues are decided there-and patients and loved ones are faced with the reality of mortality and eternity. So the action here has been fast and incredible. Norma's pain has meant gain to so many others.

• An intern showed me to ICU and I later led him to Christ.
• As I sat alone in the cafeteria, a tall man came and sat near me. He broke down in tears, so I touched his shoulder and told him he was not alone-that God loved him. His wife's body has been ravaged by cancer, chemo and radiation. After long conversation, this 6'5" inch giant cried out to the Lord for forgiveness and salvation. In that massive hospital, guess where his wife was being treated? Right next to Norma's room-and that afternoon Wilma also gave her heart and life to Christ.

• On New Year's Day our nurse Urzsula (from Poland) attended to Norma and then lingered in the room. She wanted God with all her being-and 20 minutes before midnight prayed and asked our Lord for His forgiveness and eternal companionship.

On and on we could go. But that's enough to let you see that the mission field is everywhere. God could have healed my Norma and it would have been a great testimony. Instead, He allowed her to suffer pain that many others could find Him. That is a greater testimony-the comfort of others. God never wastes our sufferings. Our Lord has spared Norma's life and she is on the road to recovery. And glory to God, many others are on the road to salvation and new life.

See what your prayers do? Thanks for your love and support toward this ministry of Shalom. We usually tell you about the action in Israel or in other places across the world. This time, we wanted to take you across the street-here in a mission field called America.

Thanks for continuing to stand with us through your prayers and gifts.

We send you our love,

Frank (and Norma) Eiklor