Help Is Coming

Dear CCR Family and Friends,

Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement. We wanted to write a note to our community with some updates.

Since I last wrote concerning my health I have had several treatments that sought to avoid surgery on my neck for 2 herniated discs. Though these treatments provided some temporary relief of pain they have not changed my condition. I could accept this pain as part of life, and allow a gradual deterioration of my left arm. However, this would likely mean that I would need to consider the season that God had called me to Rwanda finished. I do not perceive that a time has come to leave our commitment to Rwanda.

Thus I have made a choice to pursue healing through surgery. I will have surgery on Tuesday, 29 September. The surgery will be more complicated than I earlier anticipated. It will involve surgeons entering my neck through the front, removing 2 herniated discs, placing a titanium plate on my spine, and fusing 3 vertebrae. However, there are many factors that suggest I will recover well from this surgery, and we proceed in hope.

We continue to have many divine appointments on this journey and believe God has ordained this season of struggle for His glory. For instance, the surgeon who our insurance company referred us to (Dr. James Odor) is the brother of one of our dear pastoral friends in Oklahoma City (David Odor). I have quickly moved through doctor’s offices when it appeared I might wait for months.

Following surgery I will need several months to completely recover. Thus I will not be in Kigali for another few months.

While I am not in Kigali I have great confidence in those leading with organizations with whom I participated. My family is sponsored by the Quail Springs Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. We formed an International Non-Government Organization, ROC Partners (Rwanda Outreach and Community Partners) for the purpose of empowering CCR, KICS, and other projects that promote leadership development. The Quail Springs Church of Christ and ROC Partners are deeply committed to the success of our endeavors in Rwanda. Thus we are sending Tom and Sue Gooch to strengthen our work in Rwanda. Many of you know Tom and Sue from their previous travels to Kigali.

We trust that the Gooches will add great wisdom and willing hands to our endeavors in Kigali. We trust that you will shower them with kindness similar to how many of you have treated my family. We trust that this season of struggle will be one that builds and blesses.

While I am gone my CCR family and friends remain dear to my heart. You are frequently in my prayers. I ask your continued prayers as I pass through this season.

Imana ikurinde,

Dave Jenkins