Prayer Bulletin

Dear Family and Friends,

Do you ever have one of those weeks where you go “wow”? I admit; I don’t have them often. Most of the time I know clearly what the long term goal is, but in the details and problem solving of the day the small victories can easily be overlooked. Yet, I believe that God instructs us to see and remember these small victories. The Lord has been exceptionally kind to me. Our family has lived in a fascinating region of the world for 15 years. I’ve got a fabulous wife who makes so many things we touch flourish. My kids seem to all be born leaders and I can’t understand what I possibly could have done to develop such outstanding character at such a young ages. The church we are planting (CCR) continues to grow in an out of the ordinary way. However, life is still full of challenges that cause me heartache. Yet, this is a wonderful paradox of kingdom living. We can mourn and rejoice in the same day, and trust that though this world is full of injustice we serve a Sovereign Judge whose eyes are ever on the most vulnerable. This month I would request your prayers for the following matters:

1. CCR GROWTH: In the last 3 weeks, 4 people have been baptized and many are asking questions. Also, CCR had 201 in attendance this past Sunday. We’ve broken the 200 barrier on a “normal Sunday.” I can’t describe how thrilling it is to see what God is blessing in just 14 months of meeting as a church. Thank God for his grace to gather people to a new vision of church in Rwanda. May His favor continue to rest upon CCR so that we can be an agent of comprehensive renewal in Rwanda.

2. 40 GREAT YEARS: Jana turned 40 this past Sunday, May 4. We threw a surprise birthday party and showered her with the same playful affection and humor she has given our lives. It was the first social event we’ve ever planned without her help. Our oldest daughter, Sophia demonstrated that she has inherited her mom’s skills in social gathering and multi-task organization. Our most intimate friends gathered and we couldn’t believe how many people were in our home. They came from all sorts of belief backgrounds, nationalities, and working responsibilities. Many remarked they had never been to such an eclectic party and had such a good time. We took it as the Lord’s honor to Jana to have such good and diverse friends.

I had to admit that all the items that look good on my resume are really the results of having such a fabulous partner with me. She was with me when we initiated new missions in Uganda and Rwanda. She was my co-host when our radio program in Uganda became one of the more popular national weekend shows. All the surprising God moments in our lives really were just about Jana’s exceptional ability to make friends and serve people that put us in the right place at the right time.

Besides this how could we ever manage 5 school age kids in an environment as challenging as Africa? Truly, the Lord has given her 40 great years, and I’m extremely thankful he’s let me share 18 of those years together. May God continue to give Jana many more good years and multiply His blessings upon her life.

3. ORPHANS IN RWANDA: The most vulnerable have always tugged at our heart. We’ve done all we could through our own means to place the vulnerable in places where they would thrive. It’s this concern that led us in Rwanda to actively serve those responsible for creating the nation’s thought systems. We realized our efforts were most effective when they changed and developed systems instead of just the few lives we could personally touch.

Jana has been given a new opportunity to build and engage systems for orphans in Rwanda. She has been asked with our family friend, Bonita Baigana to open an office for Gladney Adoption Center in Rwanda. It’s a thrilling opportunity. However, it also comes with the entrepreneurial challenges of all start up activities. It will require much of the same skills that Jana has used in other start up endeavors. Also, as it is a new organization and opportunity there is great potential for misunderstandings. We trust the Lord will do the surprising and years from now we’ll have lots of “wow moments,” but today it can look insurmountable. We ask your prayers for Jana to have favor as she meets Rwandan government officials and explains this opportunity. We ask that our hearts will lay down our agendas of how to solve orphan’s problems, and truly hear what the Lord intends to do. We ask that the Lord will bring earthly fathers and mothers to the most vulnerable in Rwanda.

4. FURLOUGH: It is just 11 days away. We are trying like crazy to organize, but Rwanda still is a land of daily unforeseen opportunities (that on occasion seem like a crisis). May the next few days be ones of peace and calm. May our furlough be a season of rest, renewal, and reflection. May our travels be safe. May the Lord give us extra measures of wisdom and vision.

Again, thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement that empower us to thrive in Rwanda.

Imana ikurinde (May God Keep All of You),

Dave

P.S. Please also remember our CCR staff, Bryan and Holly Hixson; Moses Mbabaali; and Jane Naziwa Mukamongi who will be working overtime in our absence during these next few months.