oetman.robert@ifmnews.com

BIRTHDATES:
Rob - 9/26
Brenda - 08/09
Robbie - 07/25/96
Amanda - 12/26/02
Matthew - 07/28/05

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY:  5/29

Excerpt from their Summer 2009 Prayer Letter:
Our summer has come to an end and fall begins.  Let me update you on the happenings in our lives and ministry.  The highlight was July 5.  On that day Seoul Baptist Bible College held its first commencement service and graduated three men with Masters in Pastoral Studies.  Two of these men are already in pastoral ministry and one will begin preparing to go as a missionary to Korean speaking people in China. 

In July our family flew to Michigan to be with my parents for 7 weeks.  In March my father had a heart attack and nearly died.  The heart attack was caused by blood loss from internal bleeding.  After several weeks in the hospital, his doctors determined the damage to his heart and kidneys was permanent and declared him terminally ill.  He has since been receiving home hospice care.  We spent the summer in Michigan helping remodel my parents home and cutting firewood that they will need for the coming winter.  It was great being with them and our children made many wonderful memories.

In addition to visiting my parents we were also able to visit a few of our supporting churches.  It has been some years since we last saw these dear friends.  They had many questions for us, such as "Are we troubled about the tensions between North and South Korea?"  The answer is that our life is but a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanishes away.  Only God knows what tomorrow will bring, but there is peace in doing God's will.  Another surprising question that was brought to us was, "Why South Korea?  Isn't Korea a Christian nation that no longer needs missionaries?"  The answer is not to get either your doctrine or your facts from sources such as the 700 Club.  I recently heard  a well known evangelical apologist state that 1 in 8 people in the world are Christians.  What an absurd statement!  I've met pastors who wondered whether 1 in 8 members of their church were real Christians.

For various reasons, five churches that had been supporting us have ceased.  However God has blessed us with one new supporting church and two others increasing their support.  It seems that God still wants us here.  Certainly many of our Korean friends have made it clear they also want us here.  We are ever so thankful for your continued support, both of prayer and finances.  I am absolutely convinced God is going to do a great work through our Bible College ministry.

Yours for the harvest,
The Oetman Family
Rob, Brenda, Robby, Amanda & Matthew