Dear
Family and Friends,
Twenty years ago we
remember arriving in Uganda with good intentions to frequently communicate to
our support network. Instead missionary
adaptation ate up our emotional and creative energy. The Lord allowed us to succeed at the basic
tasks of living. The Lord gave us many
friends. He is doing the same in our new
American posting. Yet it has been a
struggle to communicate. Adaptation is
still overwhelming. Yet, we know to
remember the Lord’s past goodness. He is
shaping us for His glory.
This month we ask your
prayers for the following matters:
1. Rwanda Genocide
Memorial in Chicago this coming Saturday, April 13: 19 years ago Rwanda experienced one of the greatest
tragedies of humanity. A few of us in
Chicago are planning a Memorial. May it deeply comfort the grieving. May others learn this tragic event so our
world can truly say, “Never again.”
2.
Discerning the USA Missionary
Call: We need an exceptional measure of
wisdom from both God and men. Please
pray.
A. Diaspora Struggle: The
people we call our own, the Diaspora from Africa’s Great Lakes (Kenya, Sudan,
Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, and Tanzania) are in Chicago. We now guess they number over 5,000. Many are
struggling with some of the same adaptation issues that our family is currently
going through. Yet, we have a heritage
of older missionaries who have coached us through this transition. Our people are in need of a shepherd.
B.
Christianity in the
USA: As we try to put down roots in the USA 20
years after our Uganda departure we have many sobering moments. Is our appraisal
accurate? Yet, almost everything we read
tells us Christianity has not done well over the last 20 years. Could God
be asking for us to again launch into church planting? He gave us spiritual gifts for this endeavor
that were abundantly used in Africa. Do
they fit here? Can our people rally with
us to start anew?
3. Thanksgiving for the
Lord’s Care: The Lord and His people
have been remarkably kind. We’ve stayed in
the Missionary Furlough Homes in Wheaton, Illinois as our “missionary half-way
house” as we’ve relearned America. Over
$20,000 was given by many of you in December in one time gifts. These gifts have sustained us for the last
few months. Our kids are all doing well
in school. In fact, our son, Caleb has joined the core
of a recent church plant called, “The Branch.”
We are very thankful. May God
receive our thanks.
4. Daily Bread: Yet we are facing some of the greatest
challenges we have ever faced. Our
monthly funding is down by 70%. We will
run out of savings shortly. Dave has
applied for many jobs hoping his skills can make some extra income, but nothing
has materialized. We must leave the
Missionary Furlough Homes in July. We
have almost no furniture, cooking utensils, etc… to set up a home. God
has quite an opportunity to display His providence and Glory. We ask for our daily bread.
Thank you for your
prayers, support, and encouragement that sustain our family and ministry.
Us with Sam Gonzalez at ACU's Summit 2012 |
Mungo akubariki (God
bless you),
Dave
and Jana
P.S. Jana will be traveling to the Pepperdine
Lectureship in a few weeks courtesy of her brother Wade Tarbet’s American
Airline privileges with her parents Gaston and Jan Tarbet. She looks forward to many reunions and
divine appointments.
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