Special prayers for the Congo

Dear Friends,

Special prayers have been called for in Congo for the dates of May 27-30. We want to share with you the subjects that they will be praying for.

We also invite you to join with your brothers and sisters in Congo to bring these concerns to God in Prayer.

• Pray for sustainable peace in the Eastern DRC. Pray for the AMANI (peace) Initiative led by Abbe Appolinaire Malu-Malu.
• Pray for the implementation of the five key performance areas (chantiers) for the DRC. The Congolese people are waiting for effective implementation of these five KPAs.
• Employment
• Road infrastructures
• Health and Education
• Shelter
• Water and Electricity.
• Pray for the Church and its mission in the DRC.
• Pray for the DRC President, the Government, the National Parliament, the Senate and other institutions so God can provide to them further wisdom, good governance, etc. in order to be able to serve the people.
• Pray for children (separated and abandoned) and women (sexually abused) affected by ethnic and armed conflicts.
• Pray for the newly established mining companies. They have to avoid child labor, corruption and fraud, destruction of the environment, exploitation of highly radioactive minerals, etc.
• Pray for the civil servants who are not paid for many months. This situation has led to many social problems, including prostitution, street children, crimes, etc.

Congo departure delay

We seem to live in a continual state of complications. Our departure for Congo has been postponed until early June. We are doing this for family medical considerations which need to be taken care of. For right now we felt that it would be better for us to be on this side of the water. The GBGM agrees with our decision and have been very supportive.

We covet your prayers for our family at this time. Please continue to pray for the Seminary and the University as they move towards graduation.

May prayer focus

During May pray for the Doris Bartlett Women's School. Pray for Mama Lorene, Mama Kat, the teachers, staff, and students.

The Women's School educates and trains the wives of seminary students and others from the surrounding area to be women of God.

Cleared for Congo return!

Praise the Lord! Good News! This past week, we completed the testing having to do with Lori’s eye and arthritis.

The rheumatologist was able to rule out lupus. He was not sure about the rheumatoid arthritis because he has found that those of us who are malaria carriers mess up the numbers on that part of the blood test. So we are working on the pain management having to do with her arthritis and phybromyalgia. The ophthalmologist said that the cotton wool spot on her eye has disappeared but there is still a spot on the retina.

Long story short, their opinion is that we can return to Congo. We have sent the results in the Wellness office of the GBGM for clearance to return. We appreciate so much your prayers for us. If all goes as planned, we hope to leave around the middle of May.

In the mean time, David arrived in Ft. Worth today to interpret for the French speaking delegates at General Conference. He is looking forward to being with so many Congolese colleagues and friends. Be in much prayer as our church leaders gather to dialogue about issues facing the church and what the Lord wants us to do in the coming 4 years.

April prayer focus

The 2008 Mulungwishi Ministries calendar asks us to focus our April prayers on the Methodist Seminary at Mulungwishi. Pray for the faculty and the students.

The seminary was founded in 1951 and was the first University-level seminary for the United Methodist Church in French-speaking Africa.

Through the years the faculty has become Congolese; today the seminary has over five PhDs on staff.

Since 1976, women have also entered the ministry.

Latest news ...

Back in Lakewood

A quick note to let you know what is happening in our lives and a call to prayer. After some 20,000 miles on the road we are back in Lakewood!! It was good to see and fellowship with many of you along the way and we are thankful for your warm hospitality.

Lori's eye shadow

During our last week of itineration in Arizona, Lori developed a shadow in her left eye. We went immediately to an optometrist to check it out. The shadow is gone but the spot on the retina is still there. She said we should have it checked out by an ophthalmologist as soon as we got back to Denver. Long story short, she is busy seeing a number of doctors and getting tests. At this point, we do not have results or what the treatment will be. We covet your prayers for us, for her healing and the doctors who are ministering to her.

Return to Congo delayed

We were due to return to Congo on April first. In fact the tickets were in hand. The General Board of Global Ministries and their Wellness Program have been very understanding and have put our return on hold until the picture is clearer and we know what we are dealing with.

David to be French translator

Since we were to be here through April, the GBGM contacted David to help with the French translation at General Conference in Fort Worth at the end of April. He is looking forward to being with so many African delegates and helping them with the language in order that they may fully participate in our Methodist procedures. He is especially excited that six of the delegates are professors of the Seminary at Mulungwishi. This speaks very highly of our institution and the respect that our faculty enjoys within the Church in Congo.

March prayer focus - High School

The Mulungwishi Ministry 2008 calendar asks us to pray for the High School -- for Principal Mayonde, the faculty, and all the students. The High School educates 600 students from around the region. Program specialties are Math, Physics, and Agriculture.