50 YEARS IN BANGLADESH KAREN LANNING

This year we are celebrating 50 years in Bangladesh Bro and Sis Lanning labored for a little over 24 years and we have been overseeing the work for 26 years This would not have been possible had it not been for you, our supporters. Your financial and prayerful support has been invaluable. On behalf of our Bengali brothers and sisters as well as our family, we want to say thank you so much In 1973, while lying in the hospital with only one kidney functioning, the Lord spoke to Sis. Jacqueline to go to Bangladesh She had no money and didn’t know how to go about getting into the country. She said, “Lord, you open the door and I will walk through it.” Within three weeks time, the Lord opened the door and supplied the needs God had told her that she would go under her earlier training as a lab and x-ray technician.

Later that same year, Sis Jacqueline along with her teenage son, my husband - Bro. Jeff went to Bangladesh to “ spy out the land”. She worked for Dr Ronald Garst, who was an American Orthopedic Surgeon, in the Shari Bangla Hospital. She set up the X-ray department and taught the Bengalis how to use it.

In 1975, Sis Jacqueline returned to Bangladesh and continued to work in the hospital. Accompanying her on this trip was Bro. Herman and their son, Bro Jeff Bro Herman put his skills to work in helping build the new orthopedic hospital. Bro. Jeff helped make artificial limbs for the freedom fighters and whatever else needed to be done Bro Jeff returned home later that year and Bro Herman and Sis Jacqueline Lanning stayed, continuing to work.

In the very beginning, the first work that the Lannings had begun was in Mirpur This church started in their home from a prayer meeting. The Lord had shown Sis. Jacqueline in a vision that He would send a young man to work with her She would be able to recognize him because there would be a light on his head A short time later a young man named John Hira came knocking at their door. When Sis. Jacqueline answered the door, she saw a young man with a light over his head This was only the beginning of what God had in store for Sis. Jacqueline and Bro. John Hira. Today, Pastor John Hira is known as their son in the Gospel and is the Bangladeshi Director of this work of God

Many of you have heard this story before but I would like to tell you how I got involved with this work I was raised in a denominal church and started attending an Apostolic church while I was in high school because my friend’s dad was the pastor My first initial impression when I went to that church these people are crazy! But there was something they had that I wanted and something that kept drawing me back. In November 1979, I went out into Clarks Lake after they broke the ice; I was baptized in the wonderful name of Jesus and filled with the Holy Ghost.

My heart has always been tender for missions In 1983, I had a vision and in that vision, I was in a small little worn-down sailboat in the middle of an ocean The Lord said “Go” and I asked how and where all the questions that you would ask The Lord again a little louder this time said, “I said Go” as He pointed his finger.

I was praying for a husband who loved God, was a minister, was involved in missions, and would be a good husband and father. The Lord let me know my future husband would not be coming to me but I would go to meet him; He told my husband to stop looking because she was coming to him.

In 1984, I was visiting a church that was in a revival with Bro. Carl Angle ("It's the truth anyhow!"). It was at that time my spirit was drawn to Bro. Jeff Lanning was like a magnet and I knew he was the one We went out on our 1st date for his birthday in May and we got married two months later because we both knew. Let me back up for just a moment in saying that before Sis Lanning left for Bangladesh, she told Jeff that he would meet a dark-haired girl (he was dating blonds) and for him not to wait on Mom and Dad, go ahead and marry her. It was several years later before I found out that the Holy Ghost also drew Bro Jeff to me like a magnet

I finally met my in-laws for the first time in 1987, with baby Josiah in tow She immediately made me one of her secretaries, overseeing the children’s program. I have always stayed behind to “hold the fort.” But each year as I made all the necessary flight and hotel arrangements for everyone, it got harder and harder to be left behind. My heart ached and longed to be in Bangladesh. The Lord heard the cries of my hearts and answered my prayer In 2003, the Lord made a way for me to go with my husband to Bangladesh and someone to take care of our boys.

During this time, we raised our boys, Josiah who was born with cerebral palsy, and Micah who had a stroke in the womb. I homeschooled them both and helped Josiah work his way through college Josiah and his service dog were the 1st dynamic duo to receive a Master's degree at The Ohio State University. His degree is in public policy and he is working on becoming a representative in the Ohio Statehouse Micah, my baby who turned 34 on March 14th, has been involved in Special Olympics and is an ambassador for our local chapter. He continues to play the piano and is working part-time Both require special attention

During COVID: Mission’s giving went down and very little to none have come back as churches who supported us have closed permanently or individuals could no longer support for one reason or another.

We closed our schools and orphanage, sending the kids back to their families

No longer working as an NGO (Nongovernmental organization)

BANKING PROBLEMS:

We have been dealing with banking issues for several years now as the government wanted to tell Bro John when he could receive money from the states; that is why he got the missions out of the NGO.

Bro John opened a new bank account earlier this year and we sent the necessary paperwork on this side.

We sent our 1st bank wire to the new account and it was received. However, the bank will not release the money to Bro, John.

At the end of February, we found from our new Bangladesh bank they needed more. We have sent our U.S. citizenship verification, our photo, and everything else they have asked

In 1997, Bro. and Sis. Lanning turned the work over to us However, in the early 1990s, Bro James Corbin came visiting and then (I believe) the following year returned with his wife They worked with us for a while and then Sis. Lanning gave them the church in Dhaka so they could work in that area

Two weeks ago, we found out that we need to reside in the country to be able to access the bank account Bro John and his son are trying to resolve the problem but there is nothing else that we can do. Given our circumstances, there is absolutely no way possible we can live in Bangladesh

We have talked with Bro. James Corbin and he is going to help us get money to Bro. John Hira for the work as they reside in the country We have also talked to Bro Corbin to see if they are interested in taking over the work that they used to be part of in the early 1990s. He will be getting back with us once the organization gets back to him

This is where we are at now and it hurts I know we don’t live forever and we were just caretakers of this work. But it’s like you never dream that you would go out because the government wants you to live there

The Lord allowed me to see a meme last week and it reads, “IT HURTS TO LET GO, but sometimes it hurts more to hold on ” We would rather see this work continue and carry on the legacy that Mom and Dad Lanning had than to let it die

1 - Please keep us in your prayers for the Lord to give us wisdom as we move forward and lead us to people who can help us navigate through it all

2 - Please keep our Bengali brothers and sisters in your thoughts and prayers as they continue to need our prayers and financial support

But this chapter is winding down and the torch is about to be passed, stay tuned. This is His work It’s not the Lanning’s work; it never was we were just caretakers It is a Kingdom thing

Again, thank you for all your love and support for the work and for our family down through the years