3oV^

CHARLES & IVIA RHJ-RRS === Apr. 20, 1991

In the name of our Lord JESUS CHRIST,
GREETINGS from the Tip o'Texas I
BLESSINGS

It is a pleasure to count our blessings, like;

our health, which is good and looking up.
sharing Christmas gifts with officers

and crew who missed Christmas, being on the

high seas.

witnessing to men and women from thirty

different nations in the past few months.
attending the "Gulf Coast Maritime Conference"
in Houston of Seamen's Centers on the entire coast
of the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes.
presenting the work in Italy and of the

International Seamen's Center to groups in Texas.

teaching a Bible School class in the First

Ctiristian Church, Harlingen, Texas.

visiting mission churches and schools led by

Clinton & Melba Looney in Mexico.

bringing lectures on Esther and the Apostle

John to Senior Citizens in the Shepherd's Center,

Brownsville,

a ten day trip in a borrowed car to Missouri

and Kansas to report to churches, for our first

check-up with our Doctors since moving to Texas

more tiian a year ago.

seeing family and our Forwarding Agent, Ray

Downen briefly while on this trip,
(over)

The

I TALIAN

aiiJ\n.iL.F:B

SI

CHRISTIAN

MISSION

x\riA.

BOX 717 * Joplin, HO 64802-0717

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

SPRING 1991

3rd Class

BULK MAIL
PERniT#88
JOPLIN MO
6 M 8 0 1

ex. fello5_

kSoXv^'~TN 37901-2427

leeeSWC"

BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE--

Vie were caught in the flood when 18 inches

of rain fell in a few hours. The disguised blessing
is that our car Is ruined. We do not know yet whether
our insurance will put us back on wheels.

We are so grateful to a beautiful Christian

family who faithfully gave us $200 per month until

a radical change in their situation made it necessary
for them to cease. Ivia and I are eagerly waiting to
see how the Lord will fill the gap,

WE ARE ALWAYS GRATEFUL for your support that makes

it possible for us to continue our work in Italy and

with the International Seamen's Center, Port of
Brownsville, Texas.

Later nehs (8/2/qi~^

2'5?^

'N"?s'EN?,"^rr
bowel, of course

A SECTlni^^^ CANCER

dii

CHARLES &

Address Correction Requested

IVIA PHIPPS

2' yOij
***********

*3rd Class*

Box 717

*BULK RATE*
*Permit 88*
*JOPLIN MO*

Joplln, MO 64802-0717

*64801*
***********

0^

^0- ^

pLIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

box 717 * JOPLIN. MO 64802-0717

Charles was
HOSPITALIZED

7/28 FOR A
BOWEL obstruc

tion; OPERATED
ON FOR A PERFO
RATED BOWEL ON

7/31. At

Valley Baptist
Medical Center
2121 Pease.
Harlingen. TX
78550-8321...
Telephone is
512/421-1100.

Dear Friends in Christ!

Charles (singing) with CLINTON LOONEY in Mexico recently

Tip-o-Tex" and the International Seamen's Center, where

we are having a busy summer. Lots of ship to minister to, especially one
from Brazil. Captain Roberto Gama says, "In my 20 years of navigation, I

have
^en
here
^en

never experienced this type of situation." The owners are having

paid for several months, food supply was almost nil, the ship is held
until essential repairs are made, and to add to it all, the ship has
arrested by Federal Marshalls because of the owners' unpaid debts to

financial difficulties and have sent very little money. The crew had not

firms elsewhere.

Until (insufficient) funds arrived, we brought food and supplies to the

officers and crew.
Needless to say, they were very grateful
CommunicatLon has not been easy, since their language is Portuguese and,
except for the Captain's limited use of English we have found only a
couple of the crew that knows more than a few words. We manage through
Charles translating to get the message across. The situation is at a

standstill and we are praying for a happy resolution. It has been over a
year since some of the crew have seen their families; some of them have
young children and are feeling the hurt.

iilS

the PHIPPSCharles & Ivia

Ah Brother Will's church for three weeks while

. S"s"aly"ana ^as been'teaching a young adult class at First Christian^

Church, Harlingen.

;^ng
other things,
getting^ready^^to^s^^^
o^^ y over^ _
God willing, we will leave "
, soecial prayer that our good
control while traveling.

^
wp^ ask
help i"
with
housing,
while
Also, dear
ones, ?ou
fa"forelPts
thistravel
area,funds,
we would
surelyetc.,
appreciate

on the road. If you can

travel funds available.

iSV" .nS
EM" 'S-/'is --i."Si
f3
s
Sng?'i>ut^re eager'to see all of you to sharer/i
with you this unique vrk.
PRAISE - On July 11, Will and Charles in the new van had just

van full of seamen and were returning to the Center, when a car suddenly
cut across their path. The collision was unavoidable and did considerab
to both vehicles.

'itax"t

it

-V-'c p^raise
Co- will

.' ,

aS'T.
equj'p?r-n- . .
-3....,- the ten .
3Bf I'ke
1
lous year, i<: i. i ^
in "-.n '
ithriLuoi i .
. ~
tii-e
r\, v.-'v:

one was injured seriously; Will, v/ho was

. ; driving, with bruises, Charles, a- little more with abrasions and ^prainrf

tdn^e a.-vi-ir. .
'dl 3corago.
aacPi larti-i i V

No

neck shoulder and arm. We praise God for keeping Charles and will and
SatEhe other insurance Co. will pay the $3,000.00 damage to the new van.
IN ITAr.iY - It is camp time again and the families have gotten all their

clp egui^ent out of storage.

Our camp ground does not have

dormitories, etc., so each family or camper brings his own housing .

Since the camp has no kitchen equipment or dining building, each one does
his own cooking and eats at the tent. At the close of camp, what little
permanent equipment there is, like the generator, has to be taken back to
storage, since in a previous year, it had all been stolen.
Camp in Italy is different in these ways, but the pleasure of being
together, the wealth of spiritual progress, the joy of seeing people give
their lives to the Lord is something we can all relate to. We ask your

prayers for the mothers and fathers who bring their children to camp, for
the young people during the week especially theirs, and for the leadership
both Italian and American, who teach and guide.

In Terracina, the church continues its worship and vjitness, under the

guidance of Giuseppe and Rosette. Roberto carries his personal witness to

the 'IV station and over the air as newsman.

Daniela has grown to be a

beautiful young lady, both in appearnce and in life for Christ.

M'-:!
v-

We close, asking the Lord's richest blessing on each of you and praying
that "you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers."
Your missionaries, as. together we serve HimI
Charles and Ivia

CHARLES

&

IVIA

PHIPPS

The ITALIAN CHRISTIAN HISSION

P.O. Box 717 * Joplin, MO 64802-0717

Porwarciing Agent:
Ray Downen

"They that go down

to sea in ships,

Also working with

INTERNATIONAL SEAMEN's CENTER

Brownsville, TX 73523-4033

that do business in great waters...

tliese see the works of the Lord..."

Psalm 107:23,24

FALL, 1991

"I cried out to the Lord, and ile heard me frcxn His Tanple.
Then I lay down and slept in peace
And woke up safely
For the Lord was watching over me."
(Psalm 3:4,5 Living Bible)
This beautiful verse has meant so much to us - to Ivia two and a

half years ago in Italy, and now in the Tip o' Texas these past two and a
half months during Charles' two surgeries and our time of "resting in Him;'
and getting back on track again,
Charles came through the second surgery fine, too, and is eating
well. He weighs 124 lbs. now and slowly his strength is coming back. He
is able to work at home now and goes to the International Seamen's Center
for short periods of time. Before long, the lord willing, he will be up
to climbing gangplanks and the several floors to the Captain's quarters on
board the ships.

The Center is alive and well and has seen a steady flow of ships
in Port during Charles' absence. We are eager to get back into His work
there i

Ivia is doing well now, too.

Much stress caused her to have
blood pressure and blood sugar problems.
To add to it, an insect bite

caused a serious infection in her foot. After good care from her doctor
and expensive antibiotics, she is gaining strength.
We have had many calls and letters from our faithful Italian

Christian family
We thank God for them and for all of you for your
prayers, cards, material support and letters of encouragement. They have
truly sustained us.

We are

grateful

to

Ray

Downen through this trying

time for

keeping all of you informed, as well as doing his usual efficient job a
Forwarding Agent.

"Our" plan, God willing, is to see all of you next Spring and
Summer, but first we must ask your earnest prayers that soon we may
continue in His work here at the Port of Brownsville, bringing the Good
News to those brave men and women "who go down to the sea in ships."

I
CHARLES &

***********

Address Correction Recpaested

run, HO 64802-0717

4eir88^

*40PLIH^H0*

***********

Wp would also covet your praverFi that: the, (ireafifid cancer not

return. Charles must have periodic tests to..watch for this_.

Please pray for Charles brother. Don, as he, toOfbouts with

cancer.

We close this letter v/ith much thanks in our hearts to God and
all of you for caring and sharing. Our love and prayers Ibe Phipps' - Charlesand Ivia