Thank you for prayer support during our first full year in Cameroon. We are seeing God open doors for Covenant ministry in amazing ways. We look forward to our second year of ministry here and eagerly anticipate seeing him do “great and mighty things which we don’t know” (Jer. 33:3). If you don’t have time to read all the requests, at least pray that we’ll love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength and that we’ll love our neighbors as ourselves.
For July praise God with us for:
1. Our vacation July 8-15 at a mission guest house in the Northwest region of Cameroon. We had a safe trip, fun and relaxing time, and were able to start working with Covenant missionary Sharon Davis to look into the possibility of the Covenant expanding ministry in sustainable holistic community development in the NW Region.
2. Michelle has had some relief from hives since being back in GR, though it’s not completely gone.
3. Some of the teachers for both RFIS (Middle and High School) and PRS (Elementary School) have arrived for the new school year. Pray that the others will be fully supported in time to be here for the start of the school year, August 11.
4. Konroy and Heidi Boeckel, who have been in the US over the summer connecting with ministry partners in order to gain sufficient support to return for a 2nd year. They have the green light to return to Cameroon Aug. 1.
5. Ron obtained all the information he needs to start plotting out where to lay the foundation for the new Prayer Chapel at RFIS.
Pray with us in August for:
1. Summer is transition time for missionaries. Pray for those who are returning to their countries of service, particularly new teachers and students at RFIS and the Parent Run School (elementary level). Pray for their adjustment to living in Africa. And pray for those teachers who are still trying to raise enough support to get here.
2. Michelle’s flight back to Cameroon from Grand Rapids (via Chicago and Brussels) departing Aug. 1, arriving Aug. 2. She will travel alone from GR to Brussels. Pray all goes well. Answered! She made it safely and God provided someone to give assistance when needed at every step of the trip!
3. School starts Aug. 11. Pray that Ron and his workers get all the classrooms cleaned up, wall dings repaired, bathrooms clean and working, grounds tidied up etc.
4. Aug. 11-20 we will host Covenant World Mission Regional Coordinators for Africa, John & Letha Kerl and Executive Minister of the Covenant’s Dept. of Compassion, Mercy & Justice, Debbie Blue. During their time here they, Sharon Davis and I will be going up to the NW Region to see about expanding the Covenant’s ministry in Cameroon (see Praise #1 above). Pray for safe travels, good meetings, and leading of the Holy Spirit.
5. Continued progress on new hostel and staff housing on our joint owned Covenant/Free Church property adjacent to RFIS campus. We need the paperwork to be in order before we can begin construction (land title in our name, building permit), and to hire good construction workers. Thankfully the project is funded so we haven’t had to do fund raising. Still, “unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” Ps. 127:1. The Baptist (CMF) Hostel was begun November 2010. Pray they’ll be ready to move into it by the time they have to move out of their present location Aug. 9.
6. August 19 RFIS will be holding the official dedication of the new site and 20th anniversary of the school’s “birth”. Pray for preparations for this event. May the Lord be glorified in the celebration.
7. Aug. 1 to 30 is Ramadan. It is an excellent time to pray for Muslims around the world. For guide to prayer go to www.30-days.net/.
Enjoy your last month of summer,
