August Update

Dear friends,

Greetings from a very cool and wet Kagoro. We are hurtling towards the beginning of a new semester at an alarming rate! We can't put on the brakes but we know with the Lord's help and your faithful prayers we will do all that's necessary to get off to a good start.

Praise the Lord that I ( Debbie) have finished my marking. It's a great relief. Thanks for praying. Please pray for David as he still has some papers to mark. Thankfully his secretary is back from leave which reduces the workload in the office.

This week we have been enjoying the company of Rick Creighton who hopes to come to Kagoro with his wife and family in January. Rev. Alan Purser, the director of Crosslinks mission, was with us for two days at the beginning of the week. Please continue to pray for the Creighton family as they make preparations for this new adventure in serving the Lord.

Yesterday afternoon we had a meeting of all the SIM missionaries in our region. A grand total of seven! We had a good time of prayer and fellowship together which was definitely enhanced by the consumption of a terrific selection of donoughts made by Donna Pridham, our Canadian friend and master baker!.We were discussing some strategy issues so that David could present them at the area council meeting on the 26th August when the International Director will be visiting. Pray for beneficial discussions and wise decisions.

A Theological Educators' conference will be held at the Seminary from this evening until Saturday morning. Many of those involved in the various levels of Theological Education in the denomination will be attending. Please pray for safety in travel and helpful presentations. The time of interaction with teachers from other institutions should also be encouraging.

Next week the orientation programme for new students will be on Monday and Tuesday. The registration process for both the new and returning students begins on Thursday. This is a very busy time for David and his secretary as well as others involved in the necessary administration. Classes begin on 15th and we all need prayer as we start the academic year. Pray especially for a peaceful environment. We are so thankful that our area is still calm. The beginning of the semester means a steep learning curve for new students so pray for them as they adjust to the discipline of study and the routine of Seminary life. Pray along with us that they will have teachable hearts and that we will too (Matthew 22:37-40).

Thank you again for standing with us in this ministry.

Love and God bless,

Debbie and David

February update

Dear friends,

Greetings from hot and humid Kagoro. While most of you have been experiencing one of your worst winters for many years, we are having an early hot season. Thankfully, it still cools down a bit in the evenings which is a help. During the day it is over 35 degrees C!

Thank you so much for your prayers as we are now three weeks into the new semester. The students are all back now as well as the new ones who were admitted in January. David is thanking the Lord for a successful admissions process especially as the numbers of students has increased.

David is happy about this but it means I have two of the biggest classes ever and I really do not know how I will cope with the marking as well as managing the classes on a weekly basis. One class has 68 students and the other has 79! To balance it out I have one class with only 8 students, most of whom I have taught before. At least I know the names of this group. David has one class of 73 and another one of 22. Please pray for us and the rest of the faculty as we face the challenge of teaching such large groups.

We really appreciate your prayers for David’s dad. He got out of hospital but had to return a week later. Please continue to pray for him. Thanks.

Our friend, Evelyn Greer, will arrive on Saturday morning to stay with us for a week and then she will go to Jos to stay with another friend. Pray for safety in travel as well as a good time of fellowship together.

Many of you may have heard of the recent violence in Jos. Our hearts go out to the people who lost loved ones, their homes and all their property. Pray for those involved in the relief effort that they would be able to assist those most in need. We are thankful that we were not affected directly but we would value your prayers for peace in this region as well as the rest of the nation.

This semester we are studying James in our devotional services. We need the wisdom James talks about in 3:13-18. Taming the tongue (3:1-12) is even more of a challenge!!

Thank you again for your fellowship in this ministry.

Debbie and David