Making of a Missionary
000It just seems like a couple of weeks have passed since I came for a furlough! I can’t believe how fast it has gone. Maybe this part of the hemisphere spins faster?! My knees continue to heal and I continue to stand in faith for a complete healing of the bone and cartilage tissue. I can walk up and down stairs with one rail and I have done my fair share of Christmas shopping—all which would have been impossible just two months ago. I am just “grateful” to our Lord the Healer and to you who have prayed so faithfully for me.
000Since I wrote you last, I have traveled from my young granddaughters and their parents in Fond du Lac Wisconsin to the Duluth and Minneapolis area to visit two sisters and their families, onto Kansas City for a week of prayer at the International House of Prayer, and onto Dallas for another four weeks of prayer, conferences/seminars and ministry meetings. I really focused on prayer/worship during these five weeks. Thanksgiving was spent with the other five grandchildren and their parents in Minneola (western Kansas near Dodge City ) and then I drove from there on December 2nd to Palm Desert California (2-day trip and praying to miss bad snow-storms). I am with my daughter for Christmas—first time in five years. She lives just south of Palm Springs where lots of tv/movie stars and wealthy people hang out and it is decorated very fancy. I am asking the Holy Spirit how to receive a ‘transfer of wealth’. ha ha It is just wonderful to be home for all the holidays and to make Christmas dresses for all five granddaughters. Again, I find myself just ‘very grateful’.
000At Thanksgiving, I started making a list of all the things I was grateful for this past year. I was just a little shocked when I began counting 4 times I faced death (or could easily have died) and over 25 challenges with the ministry like the kidnapping of the boy, no water for 6 months, 19 electrical fires with the public cable, machine gun shoot-out, military outside our gates and so on. If you don’t think your prayers count—think again. I am reminded of Peter in prison and how the people prayed and he was supernaturally released. That is why “I never stop thanking God for you and keeping you in my prayers”. Ephesians 1:16 Your support and prayers are the biggest Christmas gift I could receive! How grateful I am for God’s faithfulness to me.
000In all my places of travel I have been visiting individuals and churches concerning our work. I solicit prayer with our prayer cards. I have received some one-time donations for which I am really grateful. I have also taken some web classes and have begun a Doctorate in Practical Ministry with Wagner Leadership Institute, Colorado Springs . I am being given advanced placement for all ministry work both here and on the foreign mission field. So I write papers too, now!
BRIEF UPDATE:
• I have called and emailed several times to see how the boys are doing. One of the pastors with 5 of the boys is bragging that they are in better shape physically now! They are all studying in private schools, which is approximately $50/quarter plus uniform, books and supplies. They seem to continue to do well and my friend, Mrs. Munshi continues to oversee purchase and distribution of the monthly food and monthly financial allotment for each boy. I will be anxious to see if their prayer life is still as healthy!
• I have several challenges facing me as well. The Belgian man who sold me the red jeep last Christmas was guarding it for me. Well he used it and he or his workers damaged the engine badly. An American couple storing my things wrote and asked to use the jeep and I sent a letter for the guy to release it. It took him TWO months to do so—I had to call to get him to give the jeep. He was “working” on it and when they picked it up the engine began leaking oil profusely and it just stopped. We can’t determine if it was damaged in use or repair. The couple has an American mechanic looking at it in his spare time. They have spent $500 just on parts and it is still not running and I don’t know what I will be asked for labor. I had to stop the work as we just don’t have that kind of money right now. Pray for wisdom.
• One of the pastors caring for the boys is creating much verbal havoc. He won’t work with the others on the team and thinks he is “above” doing our simple reports for accountability of the boys. He stated he was not a servant or a little pastor. He is critical of me and discouraging the others. This needs prayer.
• My attorney in DRC who was helping me and who did a good job of protecting me from legal issues, has left suddenly for Gabon and gotten married. She just quick communicating with me all together and didn’t distribute the funds, creating more upset among my team.
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I am returning to Congo January 18th. The board has asked me to spend 10 days to 2 weeks checking on things and working to resolve some of the issues. I will also be determining safety issues. On my return, I am visiting Dan, a young pastor 32 and his new wife and daughter. I will spend 10 days in Kenya before returning stateside the middle/end of February 2006 (I want to help with new grandchild due early March). My first African mission was to Kenya and I worked weeks with the young people as well as in the bush. This young man credits me and my visit and the impartation the Holy Spirit gave him through me as the reason for his ministry today. He has 35 churches in Kenya and travels each year to the USA and works for 2-3 months in the Portland , Seattle and Idaho areas. He is often on Christian television in that area. It will be a delight to see ‘what God has done in Kenya ’ as I continue to plow the territory of Congo for HIM. KEEP THIS TRIP IN YOUR PRAYERS, PLEASE.
• After my return I’ll meet with the board and we’ll plan our strategy for Congo and my return back to DR Congo. Board wants me to emphasize the teen mom projects and to begin our Bible Institute of Practical Ministry next year. I will be writing a grant to that end as well. Please pray for me to hear very clearly the voice of the Holy Spirit in all of these matters.
000I have written you in my heart and on my prayer list. Please stay in touch. May 2006 be a year we SEE victory in some greatly-needed areas of our lives. As the Holy Spirit put on my heart recently in prayer:
000"LOOK TO ME! I have already won the victory—you just need to walk-it-out, can’t you see? I will give you strategy—Praise paves the way! The road isn’t long and hard as some would say—my Mercies and Loving-kindness are NEW EACH DAY and guide you all the way! LOOK TO ME, all is clear from MY View—you have the victory over your enemies. Be strong—Overtake it! "
000With all my heart I wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR!
000MOM/Theresa
