Several have asked me the question:
"Are you returning to Africa?" The answer is Yes!
I have a target date for October 2006. However, I just got a call from the pastor in Kenya that the work we've started there is growing fast. He says I am needed and will return sooner than I think. I'll explain below what God did with our work and future plans.
- I am writing this quickly as I have become a missionary-on-the-move! I wrote you brief notes from Congo and Kenya in January and February. I arrived back into Atlanta, Georgia the 16 th of February and spent until the first of March along the eastern seaboard visiting friends and family who are supporters. I was able to visit my dad whom I've not seen since I began missions work and who is a real prayer partner for this work. I saw family and friends in Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio as I drove back to Kansas. I can honestly say I've "toured the USA" driving from Wisconsin and Minnesota to Kansas to California to Texas to Atlanta, Charlotte, and back to Kansas through Maryland/Virginia. It has been super to touch base with those who keep my feet planted in missions and in safety. Did much praying on the highways too! U.S. needs our prayers right now as never before.
- As planned, I spent all of March and 10 days of April with my daughter and her family. I have been able to play and participate in the birth of #6, Ariannah, home-schooling and life of my six grandchildren (mission field of another kind!). It has been many years since I got to enjoy a newborn. It has been such a good time and gift from our Lord.
- I am back "in the flow" again for the ministry. I just attended our regional meetings in Wichita of the Federation of Ministers and Churches International (for accountability).
- I've finished four major papers due for doctorate courses taken before returning to Congo/Kenya. I DIDN'T THINK MY BRAIN COULD MOVE THAT FAST! Ha ha
- I'm headed out to Colorado Springs for an intense week of classes for six days--so I can write more papers! Question? Do brains get thinner doing this much exercise? That is where I believe revelation is to be sought, right?
Democratic Republic of Congo
As many of you know, I returned to the USA in a wheelchair and walked with crutches last July 27 th . I have received tremendous healing because of your prayers, times spent in the prayer room in Kansas City and a miracle during the 10-day meetings with Cindy Jacob's ministry in re-digging the wells of revival at Christ for the Nations last October. I was diagnosed with an MRI as needing two full knee replacements yet, have returned to work when as the orthopedist stated, it shouldn't be possible and he prayed with me for continued healing. I need some bone and cartilage restored for a complete healing and flexibility. The board of directors asked me to go back to Congo--to check on the projects and to see how I'd handle the travel and work on my feet. It was amazing--how I climbed all those steps at Charles de Gaulle airport.
I worked long hours on this trip since I was gone just over a month. This allowed me to make arrangements and adjustments to stay in USA a few more months and prepare for returning. I met with the families caring for the boys and all is going very well. The boys are at the top of their classes in school. I brought them together twice for meals, prayer, planning, and fellowship with each other too. We talked about how to reach out to the boys who ran away from David's House of Refuge when I return. I met with an attorney and the Ministry of Planning on renewal of my non-profit documents. I had to trouble-shoot jeep problems and repairs. I met with the president of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Kinshasa Chapter and renewed my membership. He asked me to stay in touch for future plans and speaking possibilities.
The widow's projects are also going very well. I took photos and stories to prepare a report. We now have over 20 women starting businesses and supporting their families. I received a small grant at Christmas (great present) from Children of Promise to expand this work. I left funds for them and will send a copy of the report to the grantor. This project has been exciting because it is organized by widows and oversight is provided by a well-educated Christian Congolese woman. There has been much prayer and accountability in this work.
One sad note was the time I spent in prayer consoling Petrus, my young Congolese instructor for the boys, whose dad was murdered the day I arrived. He is a leader in the Salvation Army church and was doing a seminar and so he had money from the church on him and was killed with AK47 machine guns in front of his home gate. Please remember Petrus and his sisters and mother. He is the only son and so shoulders much burden and responsibility while finishing his college studies this year. His father was a great man of God, walking in integrity and unwilling to follow the evil ways of many leaders.
Kenya
On my return trip I had an opportunity to visit Nakuru a city in the center of Kenya. I began my African mission in 1998 in that area of the country working with a local bishop and his churches. I had many opportunities to mentor the young people ages 20-32 and taught them to minister in prayer, healing and deliverance. This trip I was able to witness the fruit of their lives by the churches and ministries now growing as a result of additional training and input from other European ministers. It was delightful to see.
During this visit I had numerous opportunities to teach. I spoke in cell groups, a high school, several churches and a women's prison. I had the privilege of going into the prison twice and I taught a four-day seminar in a rural church on "Leadership and the Kingdom". Pastor Mike age 38 (as near as we can estimate as he is a former street boy) was one of those I mentored in 1998. He has a thriving cell-group church and God has given him much favor with government. He asked me to speak to the leaders of his church and to pray for church growth and their church building program which has stopped as they wait for God to bring in the funds. Churches build as they go--no such thing as a loan!
Seeing the church's concern for widows and orphans, I presented them with some of the grant money and we partnered on a widow project for micro-enterprises for the women. We helped seven women whom have almost paid the money back so that another seven can start businesses or expand their current ones. The women's group of the church is directing the project and the church which has over 1000 members are rallying behind these businesses and purchasing their food and clothes from them. They are so thrilled for this opportunity and to have a program that directly aids their church family. Of course the widows are all tithing into the church. It is amazing what God has done to breathe on this program. The repayment rate of their funds is extraordinary because usually it takes a year to repay the $75-100 starting capital, as the profit is so small. I spoke to Pastor Mike briefly by phone and he said it is a miracle to him what is happening.
He told me that since that time of prayer, the number of cell groups has doubled from 16 to 32 groups. He loves seeing the Hand of God move for His Kingdom! He also was excited about our other project which involves the prison women. Eleven women have gotten out supernaturally or had their charges dropped as unverifiable. They are all attending his church and bringing the notebooks and pens FLRC, our ministry, purchased for them. Over 200 women are in this prison. A majority of them are there for being so poor and starving so they shoot a game animal such as a gazelle, or they make/sell illicit brew.
The babies and toddlers are there with them in the prison which was a shock for me. Their fines average $75 but their prison time is 5-9 years. The warden of this prison is a Christian woman and she can release them for the cost of the fine. I am starting to raise funds to "buy" the women out of prison and then of course we want to set them up with a small business. Basically we can set a widow and her family up and eliminate the dire poverty for $150. It is directed through the church so that these women will be discipled and grow in their Faith which many of them have not done in the past. This is an exciting new dimension of our work. I am very enthusiastic about it since I worked in USA women's prisons eight years. Because of Pastor Mike's connections in government, there will have more prison ministry opportunities in the future.
FUTURE PLANS AND PRAYER REQUESTS
- Plans--subject to the approval of the Holy Spirit--are to return in October and to open a library/training center for discipleship in Congo.
- I am really seeking the Lord for strategy on the work with the boys and what means to capture more hearts and help them to grow into Godly disciples and citizens. I just want what God wants and the way He wants it!
- Plans are in the making for Young People's Crusades and teaching. We are hoping to team with a group of Christ for the Nations graduates who teach and minister in music and worship. They are young and currently working in Brazil and the Philippines. Our plans are for them to be involved in the crusades in Congo with perhaps a jaunt over to Kenya during a three-week time period in January or February 2007.
- Pastor Mike called me just before writing this newsletter. He said that there is an open door for him to be a member of Parliament as the member from Nakuru just died. Several leaders have called him to run as he was instrumental in helping them block a new constitution which had very Moslem overtones, a big area of contention for them in Kenya. When he called he gave me the praise reports I gave you above and asked for prayers in all of this that is transpiring. He told me when I left that he knew God wanted him to consider running for an office. He told me that I (Theresa) will be back sooner than I think because he wants me there for his inauguration in August as one of his global partners. He also said I had a responsibility with my doctoral work in Practical Ministry to take their church to a new level of leadership! Finally, he stated that some members of Parliament want to meet with me because of my work in Congo with the street children and my education background as a professor in marketing and communications. In other words I may return to Congo via Kenya!
The most important thing is that it all needs God's direction and timing and provision. I am willing to step out in obedience and to do my part. Please pray for me!
I have made a section in my journal for all of you I've met with or corresponded with these past few months. I do lift you specifically in prayer and if I know of particular need, I write it down. Please keep in touch so that I know how to best keep you before the Father. You are really important in my life and I thank God on my every remembrance of you and how you've stood with me over the past three years.
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.
