Tim and Gertrude Wambunya - Kenya |
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Prayer Update September 2008
Dear Friends,
Another busy and challenging but fulfilling three months. We thank God for sustaining and protecting us. But more importantly for the opportunity to serve him in Africa at this critical time.
Since our last newsletter, I have been to the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in Jerusalem as part of the Anglican Church in Kenya delegation, Overseas Council Australia (OCA) to fund raise for student scholarships and attended an Institute for Excellence in Christian Leadership Development in Ethiopia to boost my leadership skills.
The family is in good health by God’s grace - Okari’s burns continue to heal well. We are grateful for the medical insurance we have as mission partners which meant he could receive good care in Nairobi Hospital for the three weeks he was admitted there.
Our ‘new’ house continues to present its challenges – we finally managed to fix the electrics and water. So no more dark nights and dry taps – we hope! We discovered the letting agent had been economical with the truth when he agreed to rent the house to us. He has consistently evaded us whenever we’ve tried to contact him to carry out the repairs even after we got a lawyer to write to him. Fortunately Simeon (80yrs) the landlord is a good Christian man who has been very supportive in sorting out the issues. And he has accepted to charge us a below market value rent for an average sized house with a spacious garden. Simeon was our good neighbour when I was a little boy and I went to school with his children.
Gertrude and I are exhausted as we haven’t had the opportunity to take a proper break since the mission partner’s conference in April. It just hasn’t been possible with the many urgent issues at work. We still have not unpacked all our boxes or even arranged the house properly. The house looks a lot like a mini-warehouse.
Carlile College continues to grow. We were joined by another 51 intelligent, eager but needy students at the beginning of the new semester. Every time I walk around the college I am reminded of how much of my time as Principal will be spent raising funds for most of these students as most can only join the college if we find them scholarships to study. Their economic situation has been made worse by the political crisis early this year.
The Commission for Higher Education (CHE) finally arrived to inspect us after seven years of waiting. At last we have reached the concluding stage towards being granted interim university status. We are still waiting to receive formal comments from the inspectors but there is still much to be done before we get the letter – more reports, curriculum revisions and two more rigorous inspections.
Some highlights
- David Murrow from Kilcronaghan Parish in Northern Ireland was visiting lecturer for about a month.
- A working visit from St George’s Tron to cement our relationship. They have been key supporters of the urban mission course
- Phil Suddel from Grace Church, North London facilitated Joshua Mwaka’s visit to the UK where he attended the Evangelical Ministers conference and Northern preaching conference. Joshua is our Director of the School of Preaching
- A visit from Jos McCabe, Homefrey Vines, Richard and Rosalind Meryon, friends from our Naval Christian fellowship days.
- A Fellowship meal with John and Carol Head friends and supporters from Bishop Hannington Church in Hove
- Brief Fellowship with David, Rachel Williams and their boys in Melbourne Australia
Future and Prayer points
- Pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen our leadership at Carlile College. Give thanks for the way the Lord continues to sustain and protect us.
- Pray for the college graduation ceremony on 4th Oct 2008 and the 50th anniversary celebration. Give thanks for our many graduates over the years currently engaged in Gospel ministry across Africa and for previous Principals.
- Pray for all the needy students who rely on the college to find scholarships and bursaries. Give thanks for the 51 new students this semester and for those who have pledged to donate to their bursary fund in Australia and elsewhere.
- Pray for all our friends and church supporters. Give thanks for those who continue to support us financially and in prayer.
- Pray for the next School of Biblical Preaching in September which Doug Johnson Director of AICMAR and visiting lecturer at Carlile will be leading.
- Pray for more staff (mission partners) especially in Biblical studies, Finance, planning and marketing. Give thanks for Colin Smith, Tim Ryder, Noel Clarke and Emil Chandran who continue to serve on our staff.
- Pray for the University status application process with the Commission for Higher Education. Give thanks for the first inspection and positive comments.
- Continue to pray for our new home, that all the repairs will be sorted out. Give thanks for a spacious and yet affordable house.
- Pray for the Lords protection on our family. Give thanks for Okari and David’s recovery
Yours Sincerely
Tim, Gertrude, Tim (Jnr), Okari and David