Enduring the Blitz

In the four months since we alerted you to the slaerous attack we had come under, so much has happened. We kept expecting things to resolve so that we could report back to you, but the legal mess dragged on beyond all expectations.

A combination of a very lazy DA, a small-town court and judge, and Brian's accuser working behind the scenes to prevent a defamation suit, combined to slow the gears of "justice" to a near standstill that lasted until the first week of August. 

Against this backdrop of waiting for vindication or at least an end to the nightmare, we were dealing with some pretty severe setbacks in Brian's dad's condition, camping on our back porch due to our kitchen being torn out in a remodel that lasted months, visits to supporters, training Movement-makers in Angola, hosting two sets of missionary guests that we had agreed to before any of this (with no kitchen), a trip to Manitoba to attend the wedding of a young cross-cultural couple we did premarital counseling with, writing and publishing a new book (more later) and loads of ministry housekeeping (overdue board meeting, change of accountant, late corporate tax filings, and a complete review of three years of finances). Whew!

We thought it was over when the DA agreed to throw out the original unprovable charges and insisted on a ridiculously false misdemeanor harassment charge. Since it was just a maneuver to get something he could hang a no-contact order on (which his "witness" was insisting upon to protect her from a lawsuit for destroying our reputation with Facebook lies), we decided it was better to give-in and end this lengthy ordeal than fight in court. Especially since court costs were already mounting. Brian signed the plea deal but insisted on "no contest" rather than pleading guilty to harassing someone he'd never met. Our lawyer assured us that it was over with payment of costs and signature. For the first time in months we could breathe again.

Then, inexplicably, the judge sent it back. Turns out, she never accepts "no contest" pleas -- only innocent or guilty. So, we were faced with an expensive fight before a possibly hostile judge or just pleading guilty to harassment. Brian signed and it was finally over.

Desperate Appeal Bears Fruit

Our last letter was sent out to you with our heart in our throats. We felt sure that many would desert us, but the need to be surrounded by prayer was stronger than our fears and the enemy's whispers.

Imagine our joy and surprise when we found the "unsubscribe" rate for that letter was almost non-existent! It went out to a huge list, many of who we have never met, or met just once at a class or booktable. Only five unsubscribed from the newsletter and follow-up reveled none were for content reasons. An average unsubscribe rate for our letter is about 25. This letter was the lowest ever! God was showing us that He was upholding us. Then the supportive emails began to pour in. Thank you so much, your encouragements were like water to our parched souls! Several gave big gifts as well. One new friend paid for all our court fees!  Jesus is so GOOD!