Thank you to all of you who were praying for me! This was a wonderful and blessed trip! Here are some things I am thankful for and some things to pray for going forward.

I thankful for:

• Stefanie, Cintia, and Anahi studying the ten-month online Discipling for Development course offered by our Atlanta, Georgia D4D team! The call of God into missions on these three (in difficult access countries in Asia and Africa). I want them to have the tools and understanding of planting whole-life discipleship movements as they go out.
• Stefanie Chambi’s excellent Spanish to English translation skills and her willingness to help us translate the D4D material into Spanish
• God’s clear movement towards INELA becoming a missions sending denomination.
• Participating with a great team from the United States, with Roy Lujan, Maria and Edwin Giron, Dan Cammack and Ken Comfort. I am also thankful for Elisabeth and Timoteo Choque hosting us in La Paz.
• High interest coming out of the six- hour foundations vision casting workshop in Santa Cruz. Lots of questions about how to apply this. Stefanie understanding some of D4D and helping me as scribe to capture all the participants ideas was really helpful.
• High participation in this workshop. Appreciation for a very different style of adult learning than they are used to.
• A clear understanding that the gospel really does touch all of life, not just our spiritual lives. And an understanding that we need to disciple and minister accordingly.
• I’ve got the freedom to communicate and facilitate well in Spanish! I’ve also got all these friendships and connections that might lead to the Navigators being able to start their own interdenominational D4D ministry in Latin America, starting in Bolivia!
• A clear connection with David Tintaya, his family, and his CCA church which might become our first D4D team.
• CCA already has a clear mission “Communion, Community, Commission” and all happens in the context of creation (the environment around us). CCA already has participated in some great community outreach activities and is even recognized by the Santa Cruz mayor for this work.
• They are beginning to understand the value of empowerment, not just doing things for the poor, or giving them things, but instead walking with them and working through the barriers they face together.
• I am thankful for family friends like Umberto Gutierrez, with whom I have an instant connection and freedom to talk about anything!
• I am thankful for Illimani showing it’s face from Timoteo Choque’s house and also for getting a left-hand side window flying from La Paz to Santa Cruz with another perfect view of Illimani!

• I am thankful for an amptapi Aymara community meal on the floor of Villa Alicia, for avas, chuños, tuntas, various potatoes, sweet cooking bananas, aji and strips of fried, salty, country cheese!
• As far as food I’m also thankful for having my all time favorite meal three times in a row, lunch, supper, and next day lunch. Never can get too much of good Sajta de Pollo! I also enjoyed eating: Papas a la Huancaina, Anticuchos (beef heart skewers), salteñas, chicken foot soup, ‘french-fry soup’ chicken broth with sémola, umintas, and various delicious empanadas, and hot api (sweet purple corn drink).
• I’m thankful for people praying for me when my stomachache, head ache and altitude all left me miserable and unable to focus the day before my talk at the INELA friends church yearly meeting. I’m thankful people’s prayers helped me break through that barrier allowing me to give my talk, which was facilitating the testimonies of Latin Americans involved in mobilizing their churches into missions.

• Opportunity to stand in the place my Dad stood in when he looked over the City of La Paz during the first few weeks he was there in 1972. It was here when he recognized the place of his dream with Jesus, as an eight year old child, walking hand in hand on a road where a great city opened up below him on the right side of the road! Umberto and I prayed from that place connecting the blessings of the past with the blessings of now and on into the future. Agreement in prayer between the generations is powerful!
• Opportunity to celebrate 50-year anniversary of the Hal and Nancy, David and Kristin Thomas family coming to Bolivia on the 20th of January 1972!

Bless you!

David Thomas

The post End of Trip Prayer Update from David Thomas first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

I am currently in Bolivia, participating in a Luke 10 Vision Trip! I would love for your prayer as I travel this month. Please also join me in praying for Jan Cammack who is participating in a Future Missionary Training Trip in Rwanda.

Bolivia Trip

Purpose of Trip:

Invite INELA to join us in exploring possible new mission fields through our EFM Luke 10 initiative. Encourage INELA leaders to join God on his mission and to mobilize their congregations for missions. For me personally, plant seeds of empowering, whole life discipleship among pastors and YM leaders in La Paz through a couple 1.5-hour workshops, and with leaders in the CCA church in Santa Cruz through a seven-hour workshop and Sunday morning service. Build relationships.

 Praises:

• Three young ladies (Stefanie Chambi, Cintia Huayhua and Anahi Tintaya) are taking the Navigators 10-month, online Discipling for Development training starting this January. Pray for them to engage deeply with God’s Word, and with principles and practices of whole-life discipleship that they can apply to their missionary work wherever God sends them for their whole lives.
• I especially appreciate a growing friendship with David Tintaya and with Rodiz and Stefanie Chambi. We have been meeting since the summer looking at how to influence INELA towards missions and whole-life discipleship.

Prayer requests:

• Pray for great connections with friends and leaders and for sensitivity to God-appointments, and what he is doing in each person.
• Pray for health and strength in the high altitude and that we would not get any stomach bugs. Pray also for protection from COVID-19.
• Pray for God’s blessing over whole-life discipleship seeds planted, that they would grow and bear fruit in the right people, and especially in the CCA church.
• Pray for my ease in Spanish, for clear thinking and communication and for excellent facilitation of the seminars and classes I’m teaching.

Jan Cammack’s Rwanda Trip

Purpose of Trip:

Invite Rwanda and Burundi yearly meetings to join us in EFM’s new vision of establishing 5 new fields with 10 new households by the end of 2025. We currently have 10 possible new mission fields and we are hoping Rwanda will join us in the South Sudan/Ethiopia venture and Burundi in the Tanzania exploration. This is also a time for Jan and Emmy to explore more their sense of call possibly to this region.

Praises:

• God is still in the business of calling people into cross-cultural missions. We have over 100 people on a list of prospective future missionaries. Thank God for Jan and Emmy exploring this call on this trip.
• I am especially grateful for godly leaders we have in both the Burundi and Rwanda yearly meetings, and I am grateful for Brad Carpenter and his focus to equip Rwandan’s going into cross-cultural ministry outside of their countries. I’m also grateful for Matt Macy and his EFM leadership and passion for missions. Also, Kevin Hoppock has given the EFM board valuable leadership and support over the years. This is a group God is moving in & bringing together.

Prayer requests:

• Pray for blessing on Jan and Emmy and the families they will be visiting at the beginning of the trip. They get to stay with some of my very good friends and experience their lives.
• Pray for safety in all their travels, and for health, including protection from COVID-19.
• Pray for God’s blessing and guidance on all leaders involved in the two days of meetings in both Rwanda and Burundi. Pray for them to catch and own a missionary sending vision.
• Pray for wisdom, blessing and encouragement for Matt, Kevin as they meet with leaders involved in the Rwandan Pastors Development Fund focused on small businesses.

The post David Thomas January Prayer Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

David Thomas/EFM Discipulado de Vida Integral

¡Es tiempo de la cosecha, celebremos!

“No se amolden al mundo actual, sino sean transformados mediante la renovación de su mente. Así podrán comprobar cuál es la voluntad de Dios, buena, agradable y perfecta“. Romanos 12: 2

El pastor Tertullien, nuestro líder de Disciplina para el Desarrollo (D4D) en Ruanda, dijo: “¡Dígale a Debby y a nuestros entrenadores de Navigator que es hora de cosechar los resultados de todas las semillas que sembraron en los últimos años!” La carta de Tertullien continúa de la siguiente manera:

Alabamos a Dios porque muchos de nuestros líderes de D4D lo están haciendo bien. Los líderes de nuestra iglesia nacional tienen buenos testimonios de la aplicación de los principios de D4D en sus vidas. Por ejemplo, están construyendo sus propias casas e incluso poniendo en marcha planes pastorales de jubilación (algo que ha sido una necesidad durante mucho tiempo). Vemos que D4D ha impactado a la Iglesia Evangélica Amigos de Ruanda en su conjunto. Los que están siendo mentoreados también demuestran una transformación más integral que la vista en años pasados.

Nos estamos expandiendo cruzando las fronteras denominacionales aquí en Ruanda, asesorando a líderes en el Congo y Burundi, y esperamos enviar a nuestros propios misioneros a otros países. Agradecemos a Dios por los nuevos líderes que continuarán el trabajo con D4D a medida que continuamos expandiéndonos. ¡Es seguro que el reino de Dios viene a África! ¡Tenemos una herramienta!

A pesar de que COVID-19 ha sido un desafío, se ha convertido en una oportunidad para usar el “proceso de resolución de problemas” de D4D y descubrir diferentes formas de hacer las cosas, para expandir nuestro entendimiento y para continuar con la evangelización y el discipulado.

Cuando visitamos recientemente nuestras comunidades D4D, vimos la diferencia que marca nuestra forma de pensar. ¡Las personas con las que estamos trabajando han progresado! La educación familiar tiene más propósito y es más eficaz. Los logros del Plan de desarrollo personal son más exitosos. Vemos a Dios obrando incluso en las dificultades.

Después de compartir los textos de Tertullien con mi esposa Debby, ella dijo: “Confrontamos las barreras de la dependencia, la mentalidad de pobreza, tantas necesidades insatisfechas de nuestros pastores y sus familias, así como la pobreza general de nuestros creyentes. ¡Alabamos a Dios porque nos dio la idea de superar esas barreras! ” Tertullien continúo diciendo:

Celebramos la transformación integral de los pastores, saliendo de la dependencia. Nuestros testimonios harán que llores de felicidad. Recogerás tus semillas sembradas. Hemos visto que eran profetas y ahora se cumplen sus mensajes proféticos.

¿Cómo? En la vida de nuestros pastores y la vida de nuestros cristianos. En la transformación de varias comunidades como Musovu y Kirambo. Nuestra denominación de las Iglesias Amigos ahora es independiente. Nuestra nueva estructura de liderazgo, nuestra toma de decisiones, nuestra Junta Anual y el liderazgo de la iglesia local, todos son autosuficientes en todos los sentidos.

¡Nuestra forma de pensar ha cambiado totalmente!

Lee mas…

The post Carta de Oración Diciembre 2021 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

It’s Harvest Time, Let’s Celebrate!  

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Pastor Tertullien, our Discipling for Development (D4D) leader in Rwanda, said, “Tell Debby and our Navigator coaches that it’s time to reap the results of all the seeds you’ve sown in past years!” Tertullien’s letter goes on, as follows:

We are praising God that many of our D4D leaders are doing well. Our national church leaders have good testimonies from applying D4D principles in their lives. For example, they are building their own homes, and even putting in place pastoral retirement plans (something that has long been a need). We see that D4D has impacted the Evangelical Friends Church of Rwanda as a whole. Our mentees also demonstrate more holistic transformation than seen in past years.

We are expanding by crossing denominational lines here in Rwanda, mentoring leaders in Congo and Burundi, and we hope to send our own missionaries to other countries. We thank God for new leaders who will continue the work with D4D as we continue expanding. For sure the kingdom of God is coming in Africa! We have a tool!

Even though COVID-19 has been challenging, it has become an opportunity to use the D4D “problem solving process” and to discover different ways of doing things, to expand our understanding, and to continue to do evangelism and discipleship.

When we recently visited our D4D communities, we saw the difference our way of thinking makes. The people we are working with have progressed! Family education is more purposeful and effective. Personal Development Plan achievements are more successful. We see God at work even in the difficulties.

After sharing Tertullien’s texts with my wife Debby, she said, “We confronted the barriers of dependency, poverty mindset, so many unmet needs of our pastors and their families, as well as the overall poverty of our believers. We praise God that he gave the insight to overcome those barriers!” Tertullien goes on to say:

We celebrate pastors’ holistic transformation, moving out of dependency. Our testimonies will make your tears for happiness. You will harvest your seeds sown. We have seen that you were prophets, and your prophetic messages are now fulfilled.

How? In the lives of our pastors and the lives of our Christians. In the transformation of various communities like Musovu and Kirambo. Our Friends Church denomination is now independent. Our new leadership structure, our decision making, our yearly meeting and local church leadership – all are self-supporting in every way.

Our mind set has totally changed!

Click here to download full prayer letter…

The post December 2021 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

I want to let you know how we are doing as well as give you some highlights from our work in Thailand, Rwanda, DR Congo, and some encouraging news from Cambodia.

First, from our family, here are some pictures of us celebrating our youngest daughter Alandra’s senior prom party. She is 18 and a 2020 high school graduate. We dressed up, danced, walked to the park, and took lots of pictures. It was really fun to celebrate her in this way!

I’ve also enjoyed some gardening with Gwen. I have a wonderful family and it has been a gift to spend this focused time with them! Gwen just finished her Junior year of Nursing at George Fox University. Debby is thriving in her work as a leadership and management professor in the College of Business at GFU, as well as head Leadership Coach (facilitator) for the Professional Development Academy. Aren is working in a biofuel engineering job in Bend, Oregon. Breanna graduates from GFU as a Doctor of Physical Therapy!

As I report on these communities in different countries and different situations, let me give you a framework to think about appropriate ways to partner with friends in these countries.

1. Relief: saving lives, urgent, immediate, temporary help in response to a devastating event, outside funding, and direction.
2. Rehabilitation: restoring and rebuilding what has been lost, largely directed and funded by outsiders, intermediate term.
3. Development: empowered communities moving beyond the status quo toward God-centered wholistic improvement. Long-term. The people of a community direct the process (with Discipling for Development we mentor communities in this process).[i]

Thailand-Lahu, May 2020

Chiang Rai, Thailand, The Way Foundation working with the Lahu people:

Our team is doing well. Chiang Rai started social distancing early and kept the Coronavirus from spreading. For many hill tribe peoples including the Lahu, living secluded in their villages is not a problem. They had a good rice harvest last November, and the bountiful forests are close by. April is Thailand’s New Year, and so it is always a slower month. Village chiefs are also careful to quarantine anyone coming back to their village from the outside.

Rwanda, Africa, Discipling for Development through the Friends churches and beyond:

I’m impressed with our Northern Regional leader, Gerard, and his encouragement of all the leaders in his region, among many of whom are our D4D leaders. He has assigned each leader to give an encouraging devotional for every day of the month on their WhatsApp group. Our Rwanda D4D leader, Tertullien, has developed some great goals for our D4D leaders to focus on discipling their families using all the D4D training they have received during this time they are at home with their families. Tertullien says they will finish this quarantine time with more experience in discipling and over 100 more people discipled using our D4D lessons.

Many in Rwanda are hungry and some organizations are doing relief work. Tertullien and team are working on a “Rehabilitation” plan to help people in our small groups to get back on their feet economically.

Uvira, DR Congo, Discipling for Development team with their Friends churches:

Devastating floods ripped through Uvira the weekend of the 16^th, 17^th, and 19^th of April resulting in two neighborhoods wiped out, many homes destroyed, many people displaced, and many people killed and or missing. It is still the rainy season and they have had some more floods. All roads from within Congo and from Burundi were destroyed with four major bridges washed out. The local UN Pakistani troops worked tirelessly with local leaders rescuing people and trying to save the town from further destruction. Our Friends church leaders on the ground Lusungu and Manasseh have been involved with rescuing people, identifying bodies, housing refugees in believers’ homes and in schools, etc. EFM raised some funds and was able to help with a small food distribution our leaders carried out. The Mayor is presenting his plan for rehabilitating Uvira this coming Monday. We are praying we can find a useful project that EFM, CEEACO can partner in that will benefit the town of Uvira and build relationships. Two months ago the Mayor hosted our three main D4D leaders from Rwanda who did a three-day vision casting workshop. The Mayor is a Christian man who wants to see his town of Uvira develop in an empowering, non-dependent way. He has invited our D4D team to mentor his town through this process. Pray we can steward this opportunity, these relationships, and this present crisis well.

Stung Treng, Cambodia (northern province, on the Laos border), Scott Sward a Friends missionary partnering with YWAM (Youth With A Mission).

Even though this is not a D4D ministry project yet, Scott’s work is so encouraging I want you to know about it. I visited his team in February and am hoping to partner with them soon using D4D to help them disciple the Kavet people. In late March and early April Scott said, “Christians in the province of Stung Treng joined together to educate the public about COVID-19, distributing more than 10,000 leaflets.” Last week Scott wrote, “These last two weeks I’ve had the chance to be part of an amazing team that has assisted the Provincial Health Department of Stung Treng in educating village chiefs and police officers about COVID-19. Tomorrow the adventure continues.” I love the way they are coming together as Christians to help their government in a tangible, needed way working together for the kingdom goal of protecting Cambodians from COVID-19. They are empowering leaders and building important relationships throughout the province. I can’t wait to see what further blessing comes out of their being faithful to steward well these opportunities!

God is on the move during this unprecedented time in history. Instead of a crown (corona) of death we will see Jesus’ crown of life. We have been focused on the exponential curves of infections and deaths from the coronavirus in countries throughout the earth, but instead I believe God will bring an exponential growth of people coming to faith in Jesus, of disciple-making movements and churches multiplying and thriving throughout the earth. Almost the whole earth has heard of the Coronavirus by now, but there are still areas and even whole people groups who do not know the good news that their Creator loves them, that Jesus lived and died and lives now to save us and to reconcile us back to right relationship with God, with each other, and with the world around us. Jesus says in John 10:10, “the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy (COVID-19), but I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly!” The promise I keep praying as a “now” promise, not just a future promise is Habakkuk 2:14: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

I would love to know how you are doing during this crisis time. Write me a note if you would like.

I am grateful for the privilege of partnering with you and working with all these wonderful people.

David Thomas

[i] (D4D Lesson also borrowed from “When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself” by Corbett and Fikkert

The post David Thomas | May 2020 Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Lusungu, el Representante Legal de las Iglesias Evangélicas Amigos-Congo, informó que los Amigos en las ciudades cercanas de Mulongwe, Kasenge y Songo también se ven afectados. Lusungu dijo en la tarde del 19:

“Uvira se encuentra en la provincia de Kivu del Sur, en la parte oriental de la República Democrática del Congo, a unos 25 kilómetros de Bujumbura, Burundi. Uvira está formada por tres comunidadess, cada una con un gran río: el río Kalimabenge, el río Mulongwe y el río Kavimbra ; todos se alimentan desde las montañas hasta el lago Tanganica. Uvira reside al lado del lago y hacia las montaña.

Durante la noche del 17 de abril, las fuertes lluvias causaron enormes inundaciones. Seguidamente el viernes 19, hubo lluvias más intensas y las partes de la ciudad donde estos ríos se encuentran con el lago Tanganica, Uvira se convirtió en un lago. Muchas familias han muerto y las casas destruidas. El recuento total se desconoce en este momento debido a las continuas inundaciones.

Desde Kavimbira a Mulongwe, muchas de las personas son desplazadas a la comunidad de Kalundu, algunas se quedan con familias y otras se quedan en escuelas o iglesias.

Hasta este momento, no se ha recibido asistencia de alimentos o agua potable, ni ninguna otra asistencia a las víctimas de la inundación, por parte del gobierno ni de ninguna otra persona. Iglesia Evangélica Amigos-Congo está pidiendo a los miembros de las iglesias de Iglesia Evangélica Amigos -Uvira que reciban a las víctimas de las inundaciones y les ofrezcan apoyo.”

De 129 miembros de Iglesia Evangélica Amigos-Congo estos son los afectados por la inundación hasta el domingo 19 de abril:

• 17 familias han perdido completamente sus hogares
• 33 familias tienen casas muy dañadas
• 79 familias acogen a otras familias que perdieron sus hogares
• Hasta ahora, no hay informes de muertes entre los miembros de la Iglesia Evangélica Amigos-Congo

EFM está enviando fondos de emergencia a Iglesia Evangélica Amigos-Congo en Uvira hoy, para ayudar en asistir tanto a los miembros de la iglesia como a los miembros de la comunidad en donde la iglesia está ayudando. Brad Carpenter y David Thomas están ayudando a EFM a monitorear la situación con la disposición de enviar más ayuda de emergencia a fines de esta semana y la próxima, según sea necesario.

A medida que el Señor te guie, estas son las formas en que tu puedes enviar una donación especificando que está designada para el Alivio de Inundaciones del Congo (Congo Flood Relief):

• Donar en línea aquí. Por favor especifique que le gustaría designar su donación al Alivio de Inundaciones de Congo (Congo Flood Relief).
• Donar con tarjeta de crédito por teléfono al 303-421-8100.
• Enviar un cheque marcado con la designación al Alivio de Inundaciones de Congo a EFM, PO Box 771139, Wichita KS 67277

En el servicio a Cristo juntos,

Matt Macy

Director Asociado

P. D. Desafortunadamente, nuestro formulario de donaciones en línea solo está disponible en inglés en este momento. Sin embargo, si usted cambia la configuración de idioma a español en su navegador, debería traducir el formulario. Estamos trabajando para agregar un formulario de donación en español pronto. Gracias por su paciencia y comprensión.

The post Alivio de Emergencia Necesario ante Inundaciones para Amigos en el Congo first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Out of 129 EFC-Congo members who are affected by the flood so far (as of Sunday, April 19):

• 17 families have completely lost their homes.
• 33 families have heavily damaged houses.
• 79 families are hosting other families who lost their homes.
• So far, there are no reports of deaths among EFC-Congo church members.

EFM is sending emergency funds to EFC-Congo in Uvira today, to help in assisting both church members and members of the community that the church is helping. Brad Carpenter and David Thomas are helping EFM monitor the situation with readiness to send more emergency aid later this week and next week as appropriate.

---

In Christ’s service together,

Matt Macy

Associate Director

The post Emergency Flood Relief Needed for Friends in Congo first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Así es como Kathi respondió a las preguntas que envié a nuestros misioneros:

¿Cómo está afectando COVID-19 a quienes viven en el área donde tu vives y ministras?

• Ahora estamos en una orden de “quedarse en casa” hasta el 19 de abril (aunque es probable que se extienda). Las escuelas cerraron hace dos semanas, y más recientemente se ordenó el cierre de todas las empresas no esenciales (muchas ya lo habían hecho). Muchas personas han sido despedidas del trabajo, con más de 140,000 solicitando asistencia financiera en los últimos diez días. Si las personas pueden trabajar en casa, se les pide que lo hagan. Esto se hace más difícil por el cierre de escuelas y centros de cuidado infantil. El gobierno está trabajando duro para proporcionar asistencia financiera a personas y empresas durante este tiempo. Hubo diez muertes hoy relacionadas con el virus. Ese es nuestro mayor recuento hasta ahora.

¿Cómo está afectando esta situación al ministerio que tu llevas acabo?

• Todos los grupos que dirijo no han podido reunirse durante las últimas dos semanas, y es probable que esto continúe hasta el verano. Tampoco podemos reunirnos informalmente. El gobierno ha prohibido cualquier reunión de más de cuatro personas (a menos que esas personas vivan en el mismo hogar). La mayoría de las comunicaciones se realizan ahora en grupos de WhatsApp. Hemos comenzado a reunirnos para el Estudio Bíblico en línea, y estoy agradecida por esa opción (¡Realmente agradecida!).

¿Cuáles son algunas oportunidades que estás viendo para compartir las buenas nuevas de Jesucristo con aquellos que aún no lo conocen?

• Los irlandeses son muy buenos vecinos en tiempos de problemas. He visto esto una y otra vez. Se frecuentan entre sí y se ofrecen ayuda. Me alegra ser parte de una comunidad que hace esto, y espero poder ser igualmente útil y de aliento para ellos. Continuaremos con el Estudio Bíblico en línea. Estoy realmente agradecida de que las mujeres quieran hacer esto.

¿Y cuáles son dos o tres solicitudes de oración que podemos usar mientras oramos por ti y por los que ministras?

• Ore por aquellos que están enfermos y por los muchos que trabajan para cuidarlos. Ore por protección para aquellos que son vulnerables. Conozco a varias familias jóvenes cuyos hijos tienen afecciones médicas complicadas y necesitan que otros tomen en serio las precauciones recomendadas. Ore por corazones abiertos, fe renovada y un espíritu de paz mientras vivimos en una época de incertidumbre.
• Y, por aquellos de nosotros que estamos muy lejos de nuestras familias, oren también por nuestra protección y salud. Sé que así sentiré aún más paz. Gracias.

The post Actualizaciones de EFM COVID-19 | Orar por Irlanda first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

by David and Tricia Howell

Tis the season for orange traffic cones, barriers, diversions in place, stop and go signs, and men in high visibility jackets to dot the landscape. Construction is in full swing.

We live in a beautiful little town on the seafront called Wicklow. A place filled with coffee shops, small businesses and the like. Normally I love sitting outside, drinking my coffee, and chatting with people as they walk by. Today as I write this, I am sitting outside one of the coffee shops and it is a different experience all together. It is loud and dirty and chaotic. When the construction zone enters, it loses its charm for sure. However…it is necessary. Without the upgrades or repairs or preventative maintenance, we would be in for serious peril down the road.

In many ways, life mirrors this scene. It takes a time of a construction zone in our lives for the needed work to be done. They can be messy and ugly as things are dug up and revealed. They can be hard times or confusing times, but they are necessary. They require a great amount of patience as the work, slow as it may seem, is carried out. And in the end, it will all be worth it.

Recently, I have been thinking about our ministry and our friends who have gone through tumultuous construction periods in their lives. These friends have faced addictions, relationship problems, deep wounds, and so many other issues that have caused a deep spiritual brokenness. As we struggle through these times with each of them, we hold fast to the promises of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” What a celebration it is to see the brokenness repaired and the new life appearing. The cones are gone. The roads are clear. And the peace has returned. But God is not done here. As new cones begin to pop up in other friend’s lives, we pray that they too may find the same peace in Jesus Christ. Would you please join us in this prayer?

Praise God…

• For relationships that encourage and bless us, both from Ireland and the US.
• For the lives that have been transformed through the ministry of EFM-Ireland.
• For the opportunities to minister and share Jesus with people who have graciously invited us in.

Please Pray…

• As the new school year begins, life picks up speed, both personally and in ministry. Pray for Jonathan who starts university in Dublin. Pray for Moriah as she starts 5th year (her Junior year). Pray for us as we volunteer in the schools and begin a new year of working with teenagers.
• Pray for our Visa and Citizenship process. We are waiting to hear back in relation to our current visa and for our application for citizenship for Tricia. Please pray that we will be granted favor to stay and continue to serve.
• Pray for our ministry among those we are blessed to know. Our prayer is that they will know Jesus Christ as their Lord and the love and peace that this brings.

Read more…

The post September 2019 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Psalm 2:8

Our brothers and sisters working in The Way Foundation in Chiang Rai, Thailand (friends through Damascus and Winona Friends Churches in Ohio – EFC-ER) are praying about the communities they will be discipling over the next few years. They have been going through a process preparing their team to mentor a community through a transformation process where the community overcomes the things that hold them down in poverty and release the blessing of the Kingdom of God among them. They have come up with criteria and they have taken many trips to help them discern the most “ready” communities for this work. They are also actively seeking insight from the Holy Spirit to know which communities to select. Even though we don’t know which communities they will select, we can join them and Jesus in asking the Father for these specific Lahu communities. We believe that the transformation that will happen, a clear example of God’s Kingdom come among the people of these villages, along with all the leaders who will be developed through this process will be the foundation of a growing disciple-making movement reaching deep into the rest of the Lahu speaking cultures and beyond them into other people groups.

Join me, our Lahu brothers and sisters, and Jesus as we “Ask the Father” for these communities, for the Lahu nations, and for the nations God wants to reach through his Lahu church (their inheritance)!

David Thomas
Whole-Life Discipleship

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The post July 2019 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.