Author: admin

Normally when I walk I head North on a road/path and walk by where Miriam goes to school. The other morning I wanted a change of pace and headed South on some small roads/paths. On my 20-minute walk I passed two fetishes, one talisman and two mosques.

I was burden that the gospel has yet to impact many of the people within a 20-minute walking radius of my home. I was further burdened by the tremendous spiritual and physical needs of Benin and of West Africa. I was reminded of all the outstanding issues on my plate with TWR (shortwave license, NGO status, housing project, title deed, open positions for an engineer and mechanic here in Benin, etc…). My desire was to do more.

For the next weeks I pondered how I could do more and just how much effect it would have if I added an extra 30 minutes or hour here or there to my schedule. I started feeling quite depressed by the overwhelming need and lack of resources (especially missionaries here in Benin). At some point in time, that I cannot pin point, during the weeks of my reflection a warmth of hope started slowly growing in my heart. It started as a small spark that I did not notice; by God’s power and grace it was kindled and slowly grew until hope’s warmth was unmistakable. This warmth reminded me that as Christians we are people of hope. Hope, not in what we can do, but in what God can. Hope that the Sovereign King of the universe will, one day, bring His creation into glorious freedom. While I remain burdened by what is not, I have a burning hope of what will be.

Yesterday, what an interesting day full of twists, turns and clear evidence of God’s abounding grace, not to mention cultural and language challenges.

Early in the morning a man and his supposed daughter showed up at our gate stating that a crime took place in our yard. Donna and I asked them if we could have one of the guys working for TWR help investigate the issue since we did not speak the language of the child. Later in the day the child accused the TWR worker of the crime and the story continued to evolve and evolve and change… Providentially, our coworker, Garth had the wisdom to suggest that the discussions be recorded.  After a long day and much prayer for God to be glorified the situation was resolved.

The supposed daughter was not a daughter but a child worker with a history of lying. The recorded conversations had contradictions and did not align with other facts. In reality, the crime did not take place in our yard, and was not with the TWR worker. Last night a small delegation of six people and two babies showed up at our gate for formal apologies, both to the accused and us. We have asked for the young girl to receive help as we accepted the apology of the man who aided in the accusations.

The story is much longer and complex than this synopsis with family ties, locked gates, guards, dogs, cultural nuances, irrefutable alibis and God’s power clearly demonstrated. Praise God with us for the resolution of these accusations. Please join us in praying for this man, the child and for others apparently involved in the true story. Also, pray for protection for our family, those working with us, and the ministry here.

Your prayers and your efforts to call other people to pray are greatly appreciated! Overall the meetings in Cotonou went very well. In a positive meeting, the licensing authorities assured us that they are still processing our requests and we need to continue to be patient. Thank God with us for the favorable meeting with the licensing authorities. Please continue to pray that God will give us wisdom (and patience for me) as we follow up with the procedures and that this process will produce a shortwave license with the needed flexibility.

In a meeting concerning our title deed, an impromptu visit was suggested to another government office. This impromptu visit led to a truly wonderful and providential meeting with the director of this office. The Lord blessed this meeting and at the end we were able to pray for the director of this office. In addition, during the meeting he actually called in the person responsible for our issues and instructed her to resolve it. Praise God with us for this meeting. Please pray that the lady charged with following up our issue would be able to do this in a timely manner.

Even our “worst” meeting (which did not turn out as we expected) ended positively much to the credit of God giving Dr. Mbennah insightful, wise and timely words. Join us in rejoicing for God’s intervention and the positive end of this meeting. Pray as more follow up will be needed in this area.

The team traveled from different places for all these meetings. Praise God that everyone was able to make connections and have safe travel. Also, thank the Lord that everyone on the team was healthy while here.

One downside of our meetings is that a number of things need follow up here in Cotonou, both immediately and in the coming months. Because of this, I have delayed my return to Parakou by a day. This has been rightfully disappointing to my wife and daughters. I would covet your prayers in this area.

Many thanks for praying for the Regional Management Team meetings in South Africa and for Miriam during my absence. These were productive meetings and God’s grace abounded at home during my absence.

You will remember that next week there are key meetings in Benin concerning TWR receiving a short wave license in Benin. This license needs to give TWR flexibility to make short wave broadcast viable from Benin. Werner Kroemer (Vice President TWR), Dr. Emmanuel Mbennah (International Director for Africa) and Rev Abdoulaye Sangho (TWR Area Director for West Africa) will be coming to Benin to take part in these meetings.

Please continue to pray that God would raise up a team of people to pray for these meetings next week and continue to consider how you might be part of helping raise up this team. Pray for God’s favor from the government of Benin towards TWR, wisdom for the TWR team and safe travels for the TWR team.

I am writing from South Africa where I am attending the Regional Management Team meetings for TWR Africa. During the rest of this week we will be discussing some key issues for TWR’s broadcast in Benin (including the shortwave license) and in other parts of Africa. Your prayers for these meetings would be greatly appreciated.

On June 21 and 22, 2010 there will be important meetings with government officials in Benin concerning the short wave license. Werner Kroemer (Vice President TWR), Dr. Emmanuel Mbennah (International Director for Africa) and Rev Abdoulaye Sangho (TWR Area Director for West Africa) will be coming to Benin to take part in these meetings. TWR is praying that God will arrange for a shortwave license that grants the needed flexibility to make shortwave from Benin effective. It is my firm conviction that this time needs to be bathed in prayer.

First, please pray that God Himself would raise up a tremendous prayer team for this time. Second, consider how you might help recruit people for this prayer team. (Please be careful if considering email as a recruitment method as we do not want to contribute to spam.) Third, please put June 21 and 22 on your calendars and pray.

The down side of my travels it is always hard on the family, especially Miriam. Pray for God’s grace during these travels.

Did you know that TWR has two audio channels delivered via satellite in Africa? This not only gives cable TV listeners the chance to hear God’s Word but this is a great opportunity for local FM radio stations to capture and broadcast TWR programs proclaiming the good news of the gospel.

The first two weeks of May the technicians from the transmitting station here in Benin and I were in Burkina Faso. A team from Canada gave training to the technicians from Benin and to the local technicians on how to install satellite downlinks so radio stations in Burkina Faso can broadcast TWR programs. During this two week trip a total of seven satellite downlinks were installed, with most of the installations being done by the trainees. It was very exciting to see these technicians receive and apply this training. Praise God for this great success

Another great event that happened since my last blog is that Chris and Christine, who are dear friends, came to Benin for a visit. Their visit was a huge encouragement to us. Thank the Lord for their visit.

At the risk of being to repetitive, the requests that I mentioned in my last blog for prayer for the shortwave license, NGO report and staffing needs are still very significant needs. Continue to pray that the shortwave license will give the needed flexibility. Next week a colleague will come to Parakou to, Lord willing, finish this report. Pray that this report can be completely finished then. Your continued prayers for more staff are greatly appreciated.

On the family front, Rift Valley Academy, where Nehemiah goes to school, requires that Nehemiah have two guardians in Kenya. These guardians keep Nehemiah during mid-term breaks and are available should he need something RVA cannot provide. One of the guardians will be returning to the States to accept a teaching position at Rosemead School of Psychology in California. Hence we are looking for an additional guardian. Please pray that we are able to find a suitable guardian. If you know of anyone in Kenya that could feel this role please let us know!

In my last blog I mentioned better organizing my life and ministry and received some very helpful feedback and challenges. These comments and challenges led me to pray and seek God’s face more. (I have already thanked each one who emailed but let me publicly say thank you very much.) Please pray that each of us would hear from His Word (and be diligent to study His Word), cast our cares on Him, more fully trust Him and follow His leading about the tasks and organization of each day and of our lives.

On the TWR front there are three major challenges: short wave license, NGO status and staffing needs. There is progress with the short wave license, however very serious prayer is needed for the details of this license. A license that does not give TWR the needed flexibility and simplicity of the multiple frequency adjustments in short wave broadcasting could limit the usefulness of the license. Pray for wisdom and God’s favor with the licensing authorities. A complete financial report is needed for TWR’s request for NGO status. Pray that we can finish this report quickly. Lastly, pray that God would raise up more workers both national and missionary for the work.

On the family front, Nehemiah is home from RVA for a couple more weeks. Pray that God would bless our time together as a family before he returns to RVA.

With great thankfulness for your prayers, encouragement and support — Paul

Once again I find myself indebted to you for your prayers, and God’s answers. It is your prayers that fuel the ministry and provide the need support to move forward. Many thanks!

The Regional Management Team meetings in Johannesburg went very well. I truly believe we heard from God on a number of issues. Please pray that we act appropriately based on what we heard. Also pray that God would be honored as we move from strategic planning to implementation.

On my return home my flight from Johannesburg was delayed such that I missed my connection in Nairobi. Given that there are only three flights a week between Nairobi and Cotonou I was able to spend a few days in Kenya with Nehemiah. (While I fly through Kenya often the cost of laying over a day or two is very expensive so I am not always able to go see Nehemiah on these trips.) Nehemiah was completely surprised to see me. It was great to have some spontaneous time with him. The only down side was that I missed Miriam’s birthday.

The last couple of weeks I have been working on better organizing my life and ministry. The question that has vexed me is: Am I engaging in the most important thing at this moment (with the distinct possibility that writing another overdue email may not be as important as studying the scriptures, going on a walk with my daughters or simply resting, which is a biblical commandment). I would appreciate your prayers in this area and pray that the Lord would send more workers into His harvest.

Thanks again for your prayer support.

Grace & Peace — Paul

Praise be to God that as I (Paul) write this, I feel like I am over my malaria and the rest of the family is healthy. Thank you to the many who prayed for this and sent encouraging emails. Also praise God that last week Donna and a colleague were able to have a wonderful time of refreshment in Ghana at a women’s conference while I got some extra time with Micah Joy and Miriam.

For those of you who have been following this blog/email update since August of last year, you remember that TWR Africa has been working on updating and revising its strategic plan. After many months of prayer and toil the new structure for TWR in Africa and the new strategic plan is being rolled out. Rejoice with all of us at TWR Africa that we are moving to the implementation stage of this plan. Which brings me to my current location for the next week: South Africa!

Part of the new structure within TWR Africa is that I will be helping with the regional management team and traveling to South Africa for meetings a couple of times a year. The first set of meetings starts on Wednesday and I came a few days early for some other meetings with colleagues and to do some shopping.

Please pray that God would give the regional management team ears to hear our Heavenly Father and wisdom as we work to further His kingdom.

Grace & Peace — Paul

If you are sick of hearing about malaria in our updates we are definitely sick of having malaria. At present, Donna and I (Paul) have not been able to kill off the parasite, Fiona Kennedy (one of our fellow TWR colleagues) and her son Daniel also has malaria. I have been through all the “nicer” malaria treatments and I am now on a week’s course of quinine, which can have some very serious side effects. So far, my side effects have not been too miserable, for which I praise God. Donna, Fiona and Daniel are on a treatment course with “nicer” side effects. First we would covet your prayer concerning our attitudes and hearts. Pray that we would not become discouraged and forget that our lives are in God hands for His glory, which can be shown through grace in illness just as much through healing. In this same vein, pray that our hearts would fully trust in Him and remain tender. Second we would covet your prayers for physical healing and spiritual protection. Pray that medicine being taken would kill the malaria parasite with minimal side effects.

Thank you for your prayers for my trip to Cotonou during the first week of February. Praise God with us that He granted the team a spirit of unity with some positive meetings and contacts. Unfortunately, my malaria hit a high during this week and I spent one day in bed and another team member had a nasty cold and spent a good part of day in bed. There is positive progress on the short wave license, however there is one area of concern, and the NGO status requires some more paper work. Praise God for the positive progress. Pray that God would give TWR wisdom with the area of concern on the shortwave license and in the paper work for the NGO status.