Dear Friends and Family,
These past few months have been amazing. Just in the month of July I have been in four continents, and today I am completing three weeks in Angola. I will arrive home on the 21st and then on the 23rd, Helen and I are off to Brussels, where we will be ministering to churches and ordaining pastors. It seems that the rest of the year will continue to be like these last few months, with trips to England, Morocco, Tunisia, Sweden, Germany, and Madagascar.
With all this travel, I have remained strong and healthy. (a few minor “bumps in the road”, but nothing to worry about) I praise the Lord for this, seeing I am in the land of mosquitos that at times can carry malaria. While here in Angola, I have been able to visit three different provinces and give orientation to Bible schools that my former students have established. The vision of Strategic Indigenous Missions is this: to raise of ingenious workers to do the work of the ministry without creating dependencies or cultural colonialism. These former students are multiplying in church planting and now are establishing schools to train up the future generations. While in the South of the country, we went into Namibia, where Angolan missionaries will soon begin a church plant. Exciting to see the Kingdom of God advance in so many creative ways, by a people that face so many difficulties. One of the biggest challenges is the area of transport. Few have cars and there are long lines at the gas station each time on wants to fill up his car. Gas is cheap, here in Angola, but not enough reaches the remote areas of the country. Electricity comes and goes, so most are dependent on generators, which run on gas.
In September, a team from our church in Lisbon will go on a mission trip to São Tomé. Our missionaries there have done such a great job and this team will help in their ministry to children and wherever needed. Our granddaughter Lara will be on this team. Another “grand” will be able to accompany us on the mission trip to Morocco, Jamin Schneider. What a joy to see our grandchildren desiring to go on mission trips and to be able to help them fulfil this calling. As I travel and minister to a variety of people groups, I can really confirm what Jesus said in Luke 10, that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. This is my daily prayer, that more and more people would respond to the Great Commission, whether that be as supporters or goers. There is so much need and the doors are open.
I am in the middle of creating curriculum for the Bible Schools. Much of what I have already produced needs a new formatting and revision and others need to be written. Some of the books I have written need to be translated into Portuguese and made in a work-book format to be able to teach from. All this takes time and finances. I am also needing people to go for short-term mission trips to teach in the Bible schools and work in practical ways of construction and IT development.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Our hands and hearts are joined so that together we can fulfil His will. These are exciting days and I wanted to give you all an update on our comings and goings before I get back home and then we are off again.
Be blessed,
Jim and Helen