Dear Friends,

Life is busy isn’t it? The last time we wrote to you was August 2007 and a lot has happened since then!

Mike and I arrived in Western Australia on 31^st August. We travelled around to most of our supporting churches and also spent time with some of our family and getting medical checks and some dental work. It was great to catch up with you.  For those of you we did not manage to see, we hope to see you next time.  Six weeks in WA went quickly.

We then flew to New South Wales and spent 2 weeks in the east. Many many thanks Roger for taking us to meet lots of people and doing such a wonderful job.  Because of God’s gracious hand on us, we met many generous people who gave to the work at Mwika.
For those of you who don’t know, Mwika is an Imara project in the hills of Kilimanjaro. Some of you have met Pastor Godlissen and Mama Margreth Mrina, the local pastors and our partners in the work. This area is heavily affected by HIV/AIDS. Because of your generosity, (you know who you are) the school rooms and toilet blocks are being completed ready to start school in January, and the desks are paid for. The Mwika child support was launched at the first Imara Australia National Conference and the Fleets and our faithful finance lady, Margie, are overseeing that.

[if we can get knitting machines like this one hired at Mwika, we can help Mwika [and other projects] with an effective business for the school. Our schools, and other schools, all need sweaters knitted. Mwika has potential large from neighbouring schools]

Then we had a quick 10 days in New Zealand, visiting our eldest daughter, Sharon, and her husband, Peter (we hadn’t seen them for 18 months) and some other friends.  Thanks to Merv and Liz Cullen for the use of their beach house at beautiful Lang’s beach. After that we flew back to WAustralia for 8 days where we visited 3 more churches, said goodbye to our family and attended the first Imara Australia Conference in Perth. Chris Bullock has agreed to be our new Imara prayer co-ordinator so we are very thankful for that.

In the mean time, back in Tanzania, our faithful Imara team continued the work and several teams visited from the USA and Australia.  Some of the visitors probably don’t even know who Mike and Lyndall are!

We flew back to Nairobi on the 19^th November, stayed overnight in Nairobi and then Moses drove us back to Arusha the next day.

Since we arrived back in Tanzania we have moved to our new house in Tengeru, had Imara retreat, had friends [our Pastor] visit from Australia (Peter and Lesley Hack and their daughter Lauren) and we have 2 new dogs.  Also I (Lyndall) have been having a topical anti-cancer treatment on my face and hands and, at the same time, I have had 30 mango worms hatch out under my skin! Not fun.

We are really happy to be in our new house and so thankful to the Lord for this wonderful gift.  We don’t have electricity yet, (we paid for it in July!), the kitchen is still being built and the tiler was chopping up the floor for 4 days and replacing the cracked or loose tiles. But… we have an amazingly, wonderful view of Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru (with snow on it this morning). And we have an AMAZING WONDERFUL GOD!

Hallelujah! God is faithful.  I love the last words of John Wesley, “Best of all God is with us”. His name is Immanuel.

"Thankyou" points:

• The President of Tanzania, opened Kondoa Integrity School in September. [here is Godsave and Frank [from SBC] with President Kikwete on the left. We are thankful for President Kikwete taking the time to come to our school]

• Julia Lowry from Perimeter Church came to join the HIV/AIDS dept. in October.

• Jenny Willdigg has sold her farm and is coming to join Imara at the end of February. Mike is so looking forward to having Jenny as his personal assistant.

• Being able to see our family in Australia and New Zealand

Prayer points:

• HIV/AIDS 3 week course 12th January

• Mike and Godsave travelling to USA in February

• Help and wisdom for Mike as to how to improve and establish effective processes in our current work- especially in the mercy project areas.

• Leadership  and project leadership seminar work in January.

• Effective ways of teaching and introducing DNA, Discipleship and Christian worldview work to our leaders throughout northern and central Tanzania

• Evangelism work Stanley and Paul are planning with the schools and colleges in 2008

• Jenny Willdiggs' preparation to come late February

Thank you to those of you who have given to us personally from across the world in such a generous way, we appreciate you. We wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Lyndall & Mike, Arusha, Tanzania.