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 Mwika project, 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