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Making of a Missionary
This newsletter finds me out in the desert of California--Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio area. I am in training with this heat for my return to Africa--after "enduring" the cold of winter (I wasn't impressed even tho' I was gone most of January and February!). Temperatures here are above 110 degrees a majority of the days and the rest are 103-108 degrees--this will make the 90's of Kenya and Congo feel terrific. There is only one snag--our humidity is in the 80's and 90's and not like the desert!
Briefly, I am in the desert because when I returned home in February, the Holy Spirit gave me Jeremiah 31:2--"You have survived the sword and you will find favor in the desert." It has truly been that so far and I sense that it will continue so that our work can continue to grow/expand. I am finishing some papers due on my doctorate, working on a book and SEEKING direction from the Holy Spirit which I so desperately want!
As of this writing I will be returning to the field next month. I AM GOING BACK TO CONGO BY WAY OF KENYA. I will be in Kenya 2-3 months depending on the stability of Congo after their first democratic election in their history. My target is to be back in Congo in October.
This is part of downtown Nairobi, Kenya. Needless to say it is very different from the capital of Kinshasa where I live in Congo. My work is north in Nakuru about 3 hours away as roads are rough.
This photo is actually where they've placed a monument to the American Embassy that was bombed to the ground when I was in Kenya in 1998. |
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Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya
Congo --I have made arrangements with another American missionary couple to make a small efficiency out of one of their bedrooms and bath. I will rent from them. It is nice with AC and hot water. It is an enclosed (walled) facility and they have police security and access to the kitchen. I already have furniture and supplies. I will be required to rent office space and have a place for our activities since I now do not have the home but have the boys in Family Homes. Boys are doing outstanding as I explained in the last newsletter. Our work also supports projects for widows which sets them up in a small business to support their family. This project is expanding well as I work with two small organizations for widows run by educated Congolese women. This photo is a picture of one of our women selling cloth. We have started and expanded 32 businesses.
I have been in contact with a Pastor Masuaku whom I worked with when I first arrived, to do a small project (his request) for some of the street children near his church. He too is a former street boy so this project is close to his heart. He would like us to do a small project for foods and medicines for a group of elderly in his church who are suffering and no family to help. He is very troubled about these situations. He has used some of his own personal money in the past--for a teen mom project as well. Trinity church (his church) is doing above average in outreach to the poor and the widows. So many churches just look the other way.
I have purchased additional books on prayer, power and the Kingdom for our library project. I have been pushing hard on my doctorate in practical ministry (emphasis on leadership) in order to do training in local churches with an eye to setting up a Practical Discipleship Institute . They have several small Bible schools but are just getting academics. I want them to know God in a radical way and to do outreach to others out of that love for God!
Kenya --my work as a missionary to Africa began here in the central city of Nakuru in summer, 1998. I returned this February 2006 to visit the progress of those young people I'd helped and mentored. I wrote reference letters and three were trained in England and now have thriving ministries. Pastor Mike Brawan who is himself a former street boy, has a large cell-group church. He has asked me to help them set up a Discipleship Institute and to do some leadership training as they want to move toward five-fold ministry. FLRC is partnering with Metro G12 Church for a prison women project and small businesses for widows. We will pay the fines/bail for the women and avert 7-9 years in prison. Their crime? They were starving and killed a game animal or produced illegal brew. We will then set them up in business. I am dividing $4000 grant monies I received at Christmas for micro-businesses for Widows Projects. I must raise the funds for the bail. The women attend Metro church and are discipled and the women's ministry provides oversight for the micro enterprises. We started seven businesses and I just spoke to Mike and the seven women have each repaid their $75 and so we have begun another seven businesses in May, 2006. The church is asked to support the businesses of its people and they are making a list of what is available. This is very new an unusual for an African church to show interest in the marketplace like this. It's an exciting expansion and not one I planned but which God opened wide the door!
Pastor Mike has been nominated to the Parliament and has asked me to return in August for the inauguration. He asked me to train his pastoral Sleaders and cell group leaders to manage new responsibilities as he takes on his new role. I've pushed hard on my studies and will be 2/3 finished this month. As I prepare to return it makes the "intense stress" of the studies very worthwhile.
I am tentatively scheduled to leave August 9, 2006 out of Los Angeles as that was the cheapest/easiest.
You are in my thoughts and prayers more than you know! MOM/Theresa
CRVF is the Congo branch of FLRC, Inc. a 501© 3 corporation.
All donations are tax deductible for USA income tax purposes.
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