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Happy New Year and new beginning!

000September 19, 2008

• Updates on Germany and Israel have been sent.   Hopefully, you have received them both.   The visit to Germany was a scouting trip to determine 'where' I am to work and set up a base camp so to speak.   I do not yet have full understanding as to why I am called there, but one thing is clear:   Germany is on God's Heart, yet, most of the nation is not interested in God.   A group of young people ages 18-35 have the passion and love to see God's Kingdom come here once again.   They need much training, encouragement and mentoring.   I plan to help organize some things for them.   May call you to Germany to help me!   I've linked with quite a few French-speaking African peoples in Bonn and I want to assist them in whatever ways I can.   They were excited that I come from DR Congo and understand their culture.   I believe I'll be training small groups to go and to participate in short-term missions trips to Congo, other African nations, and back to Israel to work in the refugee camps--all as God leads.  

• Israel was a desire in my heart from the Lord for my 60 th birthday, as is the nation's anniversary--to set aside the work I'm responsible for and to work short-term in His chosen land.   It has been wonderful but many challenges as well.   Even though you bring food and clothes--you are not always welcome as Christians.   Someone hassled or threatened us almost daily on the renovation work--city, police, etc.   I have learned that at the end of the day, God truly had the final word and solution.   It has been a privilege, nonetheless.   It is a humbling experience to work in a place you do not know (Jericho), live there 5 weeks, can't speak the language, work with Arabic men from refugee camps, stay calm as they 'holler', ask for supernatural grace and strength to do a work 'outside your comfort zone' and see God breathe on it and bring it all together!   I have truly learned that it is not about me at all--only willing hands and a willing heart!   His Presence over Elisha Spring is absolutely amazing.

Downtown Jerusalem

• Two men that I've worked with and witnessed with my life in friendship evangelism are so close to salvation.   This is amazing in this solid Muslim community.   One was a high level leader just a few years ago when President Clinton was in office.   The other has been my primary contractor on the Prophets' House.   His six children are precious.   Please keep them and their families in prayers .

Abdallah's Children. (His baby was born while working for me.)

• I have a whole new appreciation for "freedom".   I don't have to wear long sleeves in public in 115-degree heat.   I don't have to 'watch my words' or, be careful when I mention Jesus' name.   I can pray for someone who is sick or hurting--they don't believe God "stoops" or "serves" us in such a manner!

Old Olive Tree on Temple Mount

• As you know, I've been privileged to spend hours in the prayer rooms.   I spent 3 full days and nights last week locked in a small prayer room, Tabernacle of David--with water--to worship Him.   It was so special.   How much love He desires to pour out on His children if we will only take time to receive it.   I realize that worship & intimacy releases great measures of love and a heart of meekness--what He desires most and not what I 'work at' or 'accomplish'!   The more of Him in us--the more quickly souls respond to His amazing Love.   "Christ IN US--the hope of Glory".

• DR Congo with the boys and David's House of Refuge is going strong.   They are all in secondary school which is amazing to me!   The senior pastor who provides oversight for the boys has thanked me for the prayers and information from Israel since he hasn't the opportunity to go.   Expenses have increased immensely in this struggling and war-torn nation.   Prices have more than doubled!   We pay for all food and clothing, basic expenses, and school fees and related costs.   These boys go to a private school as public schools are terrible with no desks at times, over 60-70 students in a class etc.   They are continuously at the top of their respective classes.   This is amazing as they started school almost four years behind their fellow students.   During the time I lived there fulltime, I taught the teachers how to teach and prayed over them daily for their minds to be healed from living on the streets.   Our boys went from 1 st to 4 th grades in 18 months--something only Holy Spirit could help us accomplish.   They all started 8 th -11 th grade this September, 2008.   God will use these precious jewels in a mighty way in Congo and beyond.   They are receiving great spiritual education as well.

• I have a visa to visit Congo in November.   I've been offered a two-year courtesy visa once again.   What a gift and such favor--worth over $2000.   I hope to visit another city in east Congo where the violence has been brutal--to see what God needs done there for His people.    I am looking into partnering with another Congolese young man in Germany who is working with the orphans in the east.   He has German funding to help him.   He has asked if I'm ready to work with him on a project.   We'll see where the Holy Spirit leads.   It will be wonderful to see my boys.   I truly count on your prayers which can accomplish so much-- and financial support--to keep things going as God gives to you for this work.

• FLRC continues to partner with two ministries in Nakuru Kenya (central region).   Deborah Arise Ministries assists widows, does regular visitation in a women's prison (work I began 2 years ago), and started a home for children that was birthed out of the ravaging in Kenya in January of this year.   We have 22 children.   They still need tables and chairs.   The food and fuel to cook is so high and so they eat on the floor and also study on the floor.   They do have beds and we purchased uniforms for the children for school.   We also purchased a special stove that cost $800 but which cooks efficiently and conserves wood so that it reduced fuel costs in half.   These are all things because of YOUR partnership with us in the work of the Gospel for the Kingdom of God.

• In August of 2006 we planted a church in the slums of Nakuru.   A young pastor and his wife have been doing a wonderful work.   Through your partnership with us, we've provided a sound system, keyboards and several months of rent for the building.   This is a pastor who goes into the woods to pray and to seek the Lord.   They are truly serious prayer warriors.   I was in a quiet air conditioned room with no bugs and a mattress--they sleep on logs and rocks--drinking minimal quantities of water.   I have so much respect for my serious African brothers and sisters.   They are a powerful force for the Kingdom!

• In closing I will share a couple of interesting things.   I am driving an 11-passenger van through the streets of Jerusalem and to Jericho.   They are 'wild' Middle East drivers (or L.A. & Dallas freeways).   It has been quite an experience.   I'm sure the angels are worn out at the end of the day!!! Roads are narrow in many places, and they feel a certain "challenge" to cut it front of you--honking so much and so often I now don't pay attention to them (often I don't hear them)!   We use the van for our outreaches into the refugee camps, to pick up hundreds of boxes of clothes from Christian Friends of Israel--to distribute in the camps (with Arabic Bibles in them), and to take teams to Jericho, Bethlehem and Hebron to see the city and the camps.   I am getting this privilege to drive the van because a majority of the staff is in the USA and Canada for conferences at which Karen is speaking.   She is a wonderful teacher and has her own media ministry, Door of Hope which is subtitled in Arabic and goes out to all of the Middle East nations, India and beyond.   Australia and New Zealand were added recently.   She brings a unique perspective to the gospel -the fruit of a radical fasted lifestyle and prayer.   You can read much more online:   livingbreadchurchinternational.net I believe I take some clear gifts and spiritual anointing with me on to the fields I have responsibility before our Lord.

• I so appreciate Shabbat.   Yesterday I attended the orthodox synagogue:   The Great Synagogue of Jerusalem.   It was a beautiful experience.   They rise and sit quite often--Catholics and Lutherans are most Jewish than they realize in their services--though they both released documents despising the Jews and discounting them in 300 AD and 1500's.   We must now re-capture the 'one new man' with our Jewish roots--as Paul describes well in Romans 11.   Jesus is a Jewish Messiah!

Blessings to each and every one!   I'm headed once more to Jericho to work on the Prophets' House and to stay the night.   A couple from New Zealand are joining me.   I have to finish painting my Berlin gold door (I sent you a photo).   The paint is from Germany.   Interesting huh?

Shabbat Shalom to all from Jerusalem!

Mom/Theresa

PS   Photos are of the contractors' children--one family that I'm believing for salvation.   They have a new baby son born during this work; downtown Jerusalem--new city; and a very large old olive tree on the Temple Mt.--symbol of the Jewish people and the tree to which we gentile Christians are grafted in through Yeshua.

CRVF is the Congo branch of FLRC, a 501c 3 corporation. All donations are tax deductible.