PRAYER BULLETIN

Dear Family and Friends,

On June 24 2006, we celebrated our first year in Rwanda. We’ve been amazed at all that has happened. Our minds have a difficult time comprehending all that is around us. Your prayers, support, and encouragement have been key to what the Lord has done. To list a few things: Our ministry has been able to engage Kigali’s university campuses through English tutoring and Dave teaching Ethics. Dave has been writing a weekly column for “Focus” newspaper (Rwanda’s Independent Newspaper), and we’ve been frequently in the news. In fact, last week a small section in “USA Today” mentioned the Rwandan students who will attend Oklahoma Christian this fall. In May Christ’s Church in Rwanda (our registered name) became the first church to be granted a legal registration from Rwanda’s Ministry of Local Government in 3 years. The Rwanda government is willing to allocate us land to develop for a church property and community center. Our need for our own children’s education has led us to partner with other families to start a new school, Kigali International Christian School (KICS), that we hope will meet the educational needs of many families. We have been joined by Kyle and Luz Beard. The Beards are doing fantastic, and it appears that Kyle will have opportunities to use his coaching skills with the Rwandan National Women’s Soccer team, and also get several new small group bible studies started. Next month, we’ll be joined by Amanda Moore and Kyla Kizer who will teach at KICS. In 2007, we anticipate that we will be joined by Caleb and Jenny Beck, and Sam and Nancy Shewmaker.

Yet, at the same time we are tattered and tired. The year in Rwanda feels like about 3 years. We need a season to rest and recuperate. Our furlough is beginning in October and we anticipate will last until early January. We hope it will be a time of rest. During the next 2 months we hope to reach a point of closure on several areas. It has been our hope that the Lord will use our first year in Rwanda as a time of foundation laying for future church growth. One of our buzz phrases has been “create missionary sustainability.”

This month we ask for your prayers for the following matters:

1. Government Documentation: We still have documents that will need approval from the Ministry of Justice and to acquire our resident visas from immigration. May we be able to craft the necessary documents in the proper form, and soon finalize all of our government documentation.

2. KICS Formation: In order for our family and others like us to stay in Rwanda, we will need to form a school for our children. It has been quite a challenge. We plan to open KICS on September 14. Pray that this endeavor will succeed.

3. Ruth and Timothy’s Immigrant Visas: Next month we plan to travel to Nairobi to finalize Ruth and Timothy’s Immigrant Visa. May our travels be safe and the process go smoothly.

4. Preparation and Closure: All of the activity around us is difficult to keep up with. May we come to closure points in the next 2 months.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement that sustain our ministry.

Imana Ikurinde (May God keep all of you),

Dave and Jana