Stateside, remembering Mulungwishi

Forgive us for being out of touch for awhile. These last months have been full and hectic. Since May, we have had all the closing of school events, several bouts of malaria, four VIM teams and the everyday happenings! Eighteen students graduated this year and are now going to their designations. Some of you were able, through the blog, to see the video of graduation on line.

VIM teams

Our VIM teams were such a blessing to our Mulungwishi community.They helped paint, plumb, teach, work in the dispensary, and share their love of Christ in so many ways. One group helped a team of youth do a VBS for 450 kids! Each person seemed to have been sent at a particular time to help in a specific situation so we praise the Lord for their coming.

Stateside travels

Now we find ourselves back in the States, preparing to itinerate, to complete the second half of our furlough that we began last year. David starts in Michigan in September and then Lori will join him at the beginning of October. For the next months we will be in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, West Texas and New Mexico and returning to Denver for Christmas. Our email remains the same: persons_mulungwishi@hotmail.com.

Rough road for students

Our thoughts and prayers are with our Seminary graduates, who are now making their way to their appointments to begin their ministries. The conditions for their travelling are usually very difficult and hard on them physically. Journeys, that we would find very hard to take ourselves, so we are humbled by their perseverance. This past year, one of our students spent 50 days on the train traveling 600 miles to get to Mulungwishi!!! It was continually breaking down and they were always waiting for parts and repairs, sometimes out in a bush area, with no way to pick up extra food or supplies. The same is true of vehicles and trucks.

Maintenance is hard to do when you are out in the bush. Can you imagine loading your family on an already overloaded truck, precariously sitting on the top, bumping along a bush "road"!! Forget air conditioning, cruise control or road services!!! If there is a flat tire or breakdown, you camp at the side of the road until repairs can be made, sometimes for weeks!! Sadly, there have been times when our students have lost children during these trips because of no medical care available. It is with tremendous sacrifice that these servants of the Lord, go to the place they are to serve. We ask that you consider their names now and lift them up to the Lord as they travel. These are the students and their wives:

• Rev. Lobilo and Mama Lenge -- 415 miles by train, truck and bicycle
• Rev. Mashilongo and Mama Kalenga -- 425 miles by train
• Rev. Kaloa and Mama Ilunga -- 405 miles by train
• Rev. Numbi and Mama Banza -- 300 miles by train, flat boat, bicycle and canoe, depending on the state of the river.
• Rev. Ngoy and Mama Ngoy -- 565 miles by train, truck and bicycle
• Rev. Kabange and mama Ilunga -- miles by train, some type of boat, and bicycle
• Rev. Maik -- 575 miles by train, and truck
• Rev. Kazadi and Mama Mwayumba -- 375 miles by truck and boat

Others have journeys that are closer but still complicated with our transportation situations.

Please pray for ...

• Our students
• The D. R. Congo, the new government and again fighting has broken out in the Northeast involving Ruanda,who have basically never left and want land and minerals
• Our family and for our travels and speaking
• So many innocent people around the globe who are suffering and dying because of war and horrible conditions, to give leaders around our world wisdom to enact peaceful decisions for the welfare of people instead of their greed for wealth and power.

Please log on to BBC News for Congo updates and happenings. It will help you understand more of the situation.

Thank you again for your love and support.