Year End Gift

Dear Family and Friends,

We trust your Christmas has gone well. We have spent ours in Minnesota with my family and are thoroughly enjoying the time. Our African Missionary Kids are learning the skills I grew up on – ice fishing, sledding, and skating. It’s quite a surprise, but Timothy keeps asking me each day when we can go drill holes, drop a minnow down the hole, and see what comes up. He has yet to actually catch a fish, but I think he enjoys the mad dash across the ice as the flags go up and we relive this primeval tradition. (I think large toothy northern pike still scare him, but he can’t help but want to be near the action.) We’re doing well. We are looking forward to the New Year, and trust it will be filled with new possibilities. We’ve extended furlough through January, and are in the midst of a big fundraiser.

I love what I do and would not trade my job for any other, but I’m at the most embarrassing point of what we do – Fund Discovery. In order to fulfill the vision of creating a transforming community of faith in Kigali among her current and future thought leaders through small groups, creative service, and education we need your help. If I was God I’d choose another method than having the sent ask for senders, but I’m not God and this is what we need to do.

We have 2 needs. First, as Jana wrote last week we need approximately $1,000 more per month or $12,000 in one time gifts to get through 2007 in a healthy way. The last couple years have been our best ever on the mission field regarding finances. We’re not in any financial holes, but some reserves we’ve had are depleted and a few regular contributors have dropped out. If you can either begin contributing on a monthly basis, increase your current giving or make a one time gift from $25 to $4,999 please write a check to Quail Springs Church of Christ – Rwanda and send it to the address below.

Second, we have a developing opportunity like we have never seen before. To be brief – About 4 years ago the Rwanda government built a model middle class community in Kigali. Its hope was that this model would lead the way in their 2020 Vision of turning Rwanda into a nation of middle class entrepreneurs who could break the cycle of dependency on Western donors. This community included 300 3 bed-room duplexes, a school, hall, and green play areas. The project finished about 2 years ago. The homes were all quickly bought. The school, hall, and green areas have sat empty. (Not a big surprise that it’s difficult to build community without faith.) I think the initial hope was that the community of home owners would organize themselves better and start using them. They are absolutely beautiful and built exceedingly well. The Hall could seat 600. It has several classrooms and offices in it; and could be used for all sorts of community activities such as a 24 hour prayer room, children’s bible classes, conferences, basketball and volley ball courts, wedding and reception meetings, and an internet café. We think it’s an ideal place to begin church planting if we want to develop a church made up of Rwanda’s current and future thought leaders. The school has 25 class rooms, 10 offices, and a clinic. We’ve already started a school (Kigali International Community School) and would move KICS into it. However, we won’t use all the space and would like to use the balance for other community serving activities such as offices for Christian Non-profit organizations, a library, gym, clinic, etc… Honestly, we can’t think of anything we could not do in ministry from this facility. In the same area are several green spaces for play. They are underutilized now, and we’d like to see them used as soccer fields, basketball courts, and a children’s playground. The school, hall, and green spaces cover over 6 acres.

They are all now for sale. The government is asking $1.4 million. Two of our elders from Quail, Tom Gooch and Larry Schwab (an engineer and architect) looked at them and thought in the U.S. their value would be between $15 and $18 million. It seems like an opportunity to make an impact far beyond what we ever could have anticipated to acquire this property. We are currently trying to raise $2 million so that besides the purchase of this facility we will also have the resources to furnish it and set up an endowment to maintain it.

The elders at Quail Springs have committed to raising 20% of the total. We’re now looking for other partners. Can you write a check for $5,000 or more and send it to Quail? If not, do you know a church, foundation, or individual who can? If so, can you put us in contact with them?

My emotion towards Rwanda still grieves, but has moved largely to hope. Rwanda’s is still one of the poorest countries in the world, but is past the desperate for any type of help mode. Rwanda is no longer a disaster. I believe that now is the time to build a sustainable community of hope and faith so that the disasters of the past are not repeated. Also, I believe that we need large investments in the portions of Rwandan society who will lead their own nation. Us missionaries can not do it forever, and we need to work with Rwandans who are capable of providing national movement leadership if we hope to be sustainable. Will you join our family in fulfilling this vision?

Thanks.

Dave

Prayer Bulletin

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement. We began our furlough on October 2 and have approximately one more month to go. Our first tour in Rwanda was one of the best ever in Africa, but left us exhausted. Also, the doors opening in Rwanda are so large that we continue to be struck by our own inadequacy for the task. This month we ask for your prayers for the following matters:

1. Thankfulness for Rest: During our first 2 weeks in the U.S. we traveled 2,000 miles in 2 weeks, and then we settled into life in Oklahoma City to renew our relationship with Quail Springs and Oklahoma Christian University. For the first time in a year we found ourselves able to sleep 8 hours through the night. Also, we found ourselves many times napping for 2 hours during the day. We did not realize the wear and tear that ministry in Rwanda had placed upon our bodies and spirits. We were thankful for the rest, and encouraging visits. We ask that you pray that as we return to Rwanda next year, we can establish a sustainable pace.

2. Thankfulness for Future Co-Workers: The Lord has abundantly answered our prayers for more co-workers to join us in Rwanda. We are convinced the biggest hurdle to overcome to take advantage of the developing ministry opportunities is to recruit a sufficient number of qualified personnel. Caleb and Jenny Beck plan to join us in April, 2007 as Apprentices. Caleb is a Kenyan Missionary Kid. Both Caleb and Jenny are Ironman Athletes and we look forward to both their youthful enthusiasm and enduring character to refine our work. Amy Brown will join us to teach Primary Grades at Kigali International Community School (KICS) by April, 2007. Amy has been in East Africa many times and comes highly recommended. We look forward to her Can Do Attitude joining us. Brian and Christy Dollinger will join us in August 2007 to serve as the Principal of KICS. We are thrilled at the Dollingers addition to our KICS leadership. Sam and Nancy Shewmaker plan to join us in September 2007 to serve as Mission Resource Networks Church Planting Facilitator for Africa. We ask that you keep all of these new team additions in your prayers. May their funds be readily discovered, and may our team grow in our sense of unity and purpose.

3. Wisdom for New Opportunities: We’ve never seen anything like what is developing in Rwanda. If we were 10 years younger it would stir our ambitions. Now, it fills us with holy terror. Will the funding be discovered? If so, can we manage it? Will we be found faithful? Will we be able to pace ourselves so that we are sustainable? Will we be permitted to say no to distractions? Will we have the wisdom to know what the distractions are? May we discover greater wisdom and more strength for the task. Thankfully, God has placed around us a team of counselors, guides, and co-workers. May our combined wisdom be the Lord’s.

4. Beard’s Vehicle: Kyle and Luz Beard are doing a fantastic job of holding down the fort in Kigali. They just spent their first Christmas away from their family in the U.S. We know from experience this is one of the toughest seasons to adjust to. They have had an added stress that needs your prayers. Their vehicle is just not running well. They had the engine rebuilt for $1,500 a few months ago. Recently they took a trip to Uganda for some much needed rest and their vehicle broke down again. They were stranded in the middle of nowhere. Thankfully, they were able to get to a nearby town where missionaries, Nick and Rene Fouts helped them get back on their feet. However, they had to tow their vehicle several hundred miles back to Kigali, ride public transport, and are at the end of their end. There is a good possibility they’ll need at least $3,000 to replace the engine of their vehicle. We know that in the U.S. vehicle repairs can be a pain, but to be honest they are a piece of cake compared to Africa. The stress of not knowing that your vehicle is safe to drive and that you have the ability to leave your ministry context to rest is almost unbearable. One of past nightmares we experienced in ministry was a 3 year period in which we could not get our vehicle to run properly in Uganda. We do not want the Beards to go through these types of experiences. We ask your prayers for them to have the resources and wisdom to soon have a well running vehicle.

Again, thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement that sustain our ministry. May this Holiday season be one that fills you with joy and hope.

Imana ikurinde (May God keep all of you),

Dave and Jana

P.S. This month we finally received Timothy’s U.S. passport and other than raising Ruth and Timothy to adulthood we think we’re done with the entire hoop jumping to finalize their adoption and U.S. citizenship. Thank you for your many prayers.

Dear Family and Friends,

My husband, Dave usually writes these things, but I think he is weary and overwhelmed by the task in front of us.

Our first year in Rwanda felt like three years rolled into one. I guess transitions are never easy, but with the prayer and support we have felt from many of you it enabled us to walk the path God had for us. During our first year there was a lot of gear shifting, or discovering what God’s will was for us. Anytime we felt one door shut; we felt propelled through another.

Some of the things accomplished with God’s help in the last year include:

· First new church registered in almost 4 years by the Rwanda government. Christ’s Church in Rwanda is now legally able to meet and all the missionaries have resident visas. Although some consider sitting in government offices is not newsletter worthy material, it has laid a foundation and mechanism for us to stay and begin the painful birthing of a church.

· Started the first American International School in Rwanda since the previous one was closed during the 1994 Genocide. One of our main goals for our first tour was sustainability and a big part of this is finding a good educational option for our 5 children.

We noticed several other families were in our same situation. We proposed for all to come together – pulling resources, ideas, and networks to see what we could do. To make a long story short, we formed Kigali International Community School. We started our first day of school on September 14 with 5 full time American teachers, 2 local hires, 4 part-time American teachers, 42 students from 9 nationalities and an American curriculum.

Since we left in October for furlough we hear that there are 40 more students on a waiting list. We have recruited another teacher, Amy Brown who will join us in April, and also found a couple, Brian and Christy Dollinger who will serve as our Principal.

· Formed many friendships with spiritual seekers with activities such as:

o Dave teaching Ethics at several local universities in town.

o Recruiting professors, such as David and Marlea Johnson to come to Rwanda to teach short courses at local universities in business.

o Facilitate the top 10 Rwanda Secondary Students Scholarships to Oklahoma Christian University.

o Hosting many fellowships at our home.

o Coordinating short-term American university students tutoring English on Rwanda university campuses.

o Wrote a column for Focus newspaper.

· Started 2 small group Bible studies in our home. We hope that this will be the nucleus that God has gathered to us to for the start of a new church.

As we have communicated before we are pregnant with a church that we hope to give birth on March 4. As with all pregnancies, there can be pre-term contractions or other pains – I think we are experiencing some of these. We are excited about all the possibilities of what this church can be, but also feel as my husband says so well, “Holy Terror.”

In 1980 Keith Green sang about it:

“Oh Lord You're beautiful

Your face is all I seek

And when Your eyes are on this child

Your grace abounds to me

Oh Lord please light the fire

That once burned bright and clear

Replace the lamp of my first love

That burns with holy fear

I want to take Your Word

And shine it all around

First help me just to live it Lord

And when I'm doing well

Help me to never seek a crown

For my reward is giving glory to You”

We are writing you all as this year ends to first express our thanks and gratitude for partnering with us and the Lord in this Rwanda endeavor, but also soliciting your prayers for the next year. There are a lot of “Amazing Things” happening as our 4 year-old Timothy says.

In order to make this happen we need you. God has asked for us to go and we are willing, but God has also asked you to send. We need you in order to answer this call. So many sacrifice for this ministry and we are thankful. We need $12,000 in either one-time gifts or $1,000 per month to meet our existing budget and keep our family on a healthy footing. Beyond that we are hoping to discover more resources so that we can take full advantage of the opportunities developing before us. If you are able to make a year end gift please send it to our overseeing congregation – Quail Springs Church of Christ.

Thank you for your support.

Jana Jenkins