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To all of our dear
supporters.....
Christmas is upon us
and I ask you to join with me in thanks to God what you have helped us
accomplish this past year!
The 2000 pastors and womens leaders are growing in their vision of how they
can effectively work together. Gidori, Jones, John Bao
and I were in Karatu recently. Its
hard to communicate in words how the Word impacted the leaders. His Word,
directed by His Spirit, ALWAYS brings fruit. I believe the leaders are  working together and building
"pillar-strong" Christians in their churches because of the Word
we are privileged to bring to them. We will continue to fulfil the command
to us to "feed His sheep" in 2007.
You would be incredibly
blessed with what we are seeing in our schools. Karanse was top of their
year 4 mock exams for the whole district out of more  than 20 schools! When you consider
that Karanse only had 5 children succeed to get into high school in 5 years
you can see the impact this school is going to have on the children and the
community.
Kondoa Integrity
School has 75% Muslim children in its first year. When Fred Beasley
recently dedicated the school what really impressed me was how the Muslim
community was so positive about the pastors work
in the town and thanked the church for what they are doing. May God show
His love to the kids through the teachers in the school.
[As an aside, we think the president of the country is opening  the school in January]
We are thankful that
we have had Miriam Johnson from Perimeter to help us with our education
work these past 6 months. We can thank her so much for her input to lift
the schools professionalism. I am over the moon that Jenny Willdigg from
Maitland Baptist  will be with us long term from July
next year. You have no idea what a relief it will be have someone to help
us as PA and in the admin area! Our first long term missionary that we have
been praying for so long!
Australia is coming on
stronger. Go Ozzie Go!! West and East are working on tax deduction status for
mercy projects, better support for us as missionaries, ………
and so many other areas to make Imara stronger in Australia. God be praised
for sending so many dedicated folks to stand with us now!!
The HIV/AIDS
department under Lyndall has been doing so well and will possibly grow in
2007. Pray with us for a USAID grant we have in process and for Julia who
is praying about coming next year to work with Lyndall and Esther. We want
to strengthen the churches work in their villages with the sick and this
will help us to take them another step forward.
There have been a few
trials....but they always help us in the long run don't they? No-one likes
them but its the only way we can grow into how God
really planned us to be! Our western mindset needs to become biblical on
how we react to difficulties that inevitably come in our lives.
On a personal note, its great to have Kirsty back with us. She passed Uni!
She seems ok on the surface, but pray the unexplained dizziness and
fainting that has been with her for the past 18 months or more would be
gone completely for the rest of her life. My car still is smashed waiting
on the incredibly long insurance process. Any transport donations welcome. Its been a real headache for Imara. Sharon and
Peter are going well in NZ and Josh is currently looking for an electricians apprenticeship in the South West of WAustralia. We are still trying to secure some land to
build. You have no idea the difference it is to do things like that here.
As we are blessed, we
at Imara need to keep our hearts right..... “Guard your hearts for out
of it are the issues of life”. History shows us over and over again to
ad nauseum that we Christians can be blessed in
our work, families and countries by God….. and then what do we do? We forget Who it was that so
freely gave all we have! Sometimes we are so stupid! Pray we at Imara will
not fall into that trap and stay close to our Comforter whether things go
well or if we pass through hard times.
Have a blessed
Christmas and New Year! Thanks to all of you who have prayed, given and
encouraged us over this last year. Talk to you again in 2007!
Mike and Lyndall
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