Dear Friends and Family,
What a year this has been so far! Helen and I have been able to go to so many places to strengthen the churches, train leaders and bring needed aid to help in crisis situations. It is so true how we make our plans but the Lord establishes our steps. Being led by the Lord has kept us more on the road than at home. We were in States the months of May and June, visiting family and ministering in various churches, thinking that we would be able to spend the month of July home, before going to Angola, but the Lord had other plans. A request came to travel with a multi-national team to Lebanon. We ministered in a number of churches in various parts of the country, brought aid to those still suffering from the explosion in the port of Beirut, and did prayer walking in areas of conflict and war. This was a tremendous time and exceeded all my expectations. Lebanon is ripe for revival.
The month of August, I spend three weeks in Angola. Angola is a long-term investment for us. I have been going there consistently for over 25 years and have seen some major changes in the country. The Bible school we established in the 90’s has produced a number of dynamic churches around the country that are reaching into many unreached areas. I have the privilege to go to the Center and the South of the country to support Bible schools and churches. I was also able to go into Namibia in preparation for a new church plant, that one of the Angolan churches is planning to do, along the border with Angola. I returned home on the 21st of August and Helen and I left for Belgium on the 23rd. We were there for a week ministering in an African congregation, which is fruit from the Bible school we established in Luanda, Angola.
In September we travelled to England to minister in Manchester and Newcastle, then Helen and I returned home in time to receive a team from America that came to go with us into Morocco and Tunisia. Little did we know that a major earthquake would occur in Morocco, killing over 3000 people. We had time to raise over $25,000 to bring with us, so that we could help local believers aid those devastated by this earthquake. We were able to help purchase over 100 tents, water filters and blankets. Many of you participated in this act of love and we so appreciate your generosity. The next step is to help rebuild some of the houses that were damaged. In the process of reaching the villages most in need, our friends were able to identify several Christian families that were left homeless. These are the families we will mainly be helping. Their testimony of coming to faith in Jesus is incredible. Through dreams and visions, their eyes were open to see Jesus as the Son of God. Later they sought out personal contacts with believers and received Jesus as Lord and Savior in their lives. In a Muslim environment, deciding to become a follower of Jesus is not easy. It usually comes with persecution. Our help, in times of crisis, strengthens their faith and is a witness of the love God has for each one of them. So many times, we hear the Muslims say that it is the Christians that love us and help even more than their Muslim brothers. We are planning to go back soon with more help. If the Lord puts it on your heart to help us be the hands and feet of the Gospel, please give via S.I.M., indicating that your gift is for Morocco. Also, pray with us for the purchase of a new car. Ours has too many kilometers and is at the end of its life.
We are home now; getting our “batteries” recharged, having family time and being with our local church. On the 3rd of November we are off again, this time to Sweden and Germany. We love these two nations and so enjoy being with our dear spiritual family. It will be a busy time but refreshing at the same time. We return on the 29th of November and then leave again on the 5th of December for Mauritius Island and Madagascar. Our missionaries in Madagascar are in a transition time and we will be helping them with leadership training in the churches they have established. Home on the 23rd for Christmas….take a deep breath…family time. Yes!
There are some books I am working on and manuals for Bible schools, so hopefully in the beginning of 2024 I will have home-time to work on these projects. Helen and I need to go to Africa, (São Tomé, South Africa, Eswatini, and Mozambique), again in the Spring as well as to America for our annual S.I.M. board meeting. Our calendar is starting to fill up, but before we respond to the requests coming in, we need time apart to seek the Lord and get His direction. This time of our life is definitely not “retirement” but “refirement”. Even though our bodies are not what they used to be, we sense a new energy and excitement in fulfilling the calling the Lord has given us. Your prayers and support are essential to fulfil the assignments of the Lord and we thank God daily for each one of you.
Be blessed,
Jim and Helen Reimer