Update

Sometimes it feels like not much has been happening, that we are in a kind of holding pattern, mostly waiting. In the meantime, Gloria is continuing with her nursing job, and Joe is busy with gardening and keeping up with other, mostly church-related activities. And enjoying the grandchildren whenever we get the chance.

We have visited several churches to give presentations about our Africa assignment, and we have a few more scheduled. We are encouraged with the interest in what is happening in the Mennonite churches in East Africa. We share much in common as we try to be God’s people in our own world and we have much to offer each other.

The need often expressed by the African church is for leaders who are equipped. Three phrases I heard repeated on my recent visit were building capacity, training trainers, and sustainable with local resources. The churches are growing at a rate of nearly 10% each year, but they are not able to train enough leaders. We are looking forward to partnering with the church to “build capacity” for leadership training. That includes training models that can be maintained with the limited resources available locally. Up to now, the training has depended heavily on funding from outside the country. The churches are also looking for ways to improve the economic base of its members, and that will strengthen church finances.

We have had conversations with Global Disciples and also with Mennonite Central Committee’s Eastern Africa personnel to address these two needs – effective leadership and small business development.

Many of you have pledged financial assistance towards our support, and we are grateful to you. We have not yet reached our goal, but the pledges are coming in slowly and we hope to be ready to locate in Africa by August or September this year. We are also grateful for your prayers. Some specific items for prayer are:

§  Pray for the bishops in Kenya and Tanzania Mennonite Churches as they consider the needs of the churches and look for ways to develop leadership.

§  Pray for peace in Kenya. In March, one of the towns in western Kenya experienced tribal violence, probably politically motivated, and Mennonite Bishop Clyde Agola and his church were directly affected. Local authorities are engaging the different parties in dialogue to maintain peace and seek long-term solutions.

§  Pray for understanding between Christians and Muslims in Tanzania. Recently, the president of the country called a conference for dialogue between Christian and Muslim religious leaders. Tanzania is about 1/3 Christian and 1/3 Muslim and so far have avoided serious conflict, and the president wants to promote understanding for the sake of national unity. The Mennonite bishops were involved in planning the conference.

§  Pray that financial resources will be available for this ministry.