David and Rachel Williams - Australia |
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July 2007 Prayer Letter
LOOKING BACK:
This is the last prayer letter that we will write from Nairobi. When we write again in November, David will already be in Australia and Rachel and the boys will be on their way. This is our opportunity to thank you for your support of us over the last 9 years. We could not have done it without you! It is our deeply felt experience as we have known your fellowship in prayer through all sorts of circumstances. There have been many highs and lows during our time here.
Highs:
- Growth and development at Carlile College – from 50 students to over 180
- Launching the Centre for Urban Mission
- The School Chaplaincy training programme
- Developing the Anglican Church of Kenya’s TEE programme
- Spending time with Kenyan Christians
- The discipleship and card making project in Kibera
- Watching Tom, Sam and Jonathan grow up physically and spiritually.
Lows:
- The car hi-jack in 1999
- David’s injured neck in 2002
- Rachel’s mum dying in 2005
The Bible tells us that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. And as we look back, it is with a strong sense that it is the “lows” that have made the “highs” possible. Our times of weakness have been the occasions when our relationships with friends and colleagues have developed most quickly. We have experienced far greater spiritual change and transformation from the lows than from the highs and it’s been during the lows that our ministries have made the most dramatic steps forward. We know that you have walked with us in prayer through all these experiences. Thank you!
LOOKING FORWARD:
We are delighted that the next Principal of Carlile College will be Rev Tim Wambunya. Tim began his career as a Kenyan Naval officer. He then worked in Hull for the Mission to Seafarers before training for the Church of England and being ordained in 1998. He holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Theology from Oak Hill Theological College and is due to complete his PhD in Missiology this year. Since then Tim has been involved in parish ministry in Britain. He also brings significant experience of mission in Africa through his involvement in the African Institute for Contemporary Mission and Research. In addition, Tim is Chairman of the Kenya Church Association, is a panel member of the C of E “Partners in World Mission” and is on Crosslinks Council. Tim brings particular skills in mission leadership, strategic development and fundraising. Tim is married to Gertrude and their children are Tim, Okari and David.
Tim and Gertrude will be coming to Carlile College as Crosslinks Mission Partners. We hope very much that it may be possible for our supporters to move from supporting us to supporting Tim and Gertrude. The majority of our supporting churches have a partnership with Carlile College that extends beyond the Williams family, so it would be great for this link to continue.
CARD PROJECT – KIPEPEO DESIGNS
above: Prayer and Bible study amongst the shredded paper
Eight women have begun card production and the first order for England is being sent out. It is now becoming more challenging to keep the Lord Jesus at the centre of everything. The temptation to focus on “supply and demand” rather than “service and discipleship” is very real. Wambui and Nillah are doing well at keeping the project on track. Lowna is doing a great job in leading the Bible study each day and is coming up with fantastic designs to teach the women. We are also very encouraged by the Board of Trustees that are being put together who will provide oversight for the project.
AUSTRALIA
We have just heard that our work permits have been approved. Now we need to organise...this house to pack up, new house to rent, car to buy, flights, starting again, making new friends, new church, new job, new school, new culture. We’ve done all this before, but please pray for the energy, grace, wisdom and perseverance that we need as we do it all again.
POINTS FOR PRAYER
- For Tim and Gertrude Wambunya as they prepare to return to Kenya and as Tim gets ready to take over as Principal. For the staff team at the College as they cope with this transition; pray for a good handover between Tim and David.
- For the card project, especially Wambui, Nillah and Lowna that they would be able to keep the focus on service and discipleship not supply and demand. For Rachel to be able to have to time to share all the important things she knows about card projects and handover well before we leave. Pray too that the Board of Trustees would be able to guard the true vision of the project.
- Please pray for all of us as we prepare to leave Kenya – it is really sad to say goodbye - especially for Sam who will sit GCSEs in the weeks before we leave.
NEWSLETTER NEWS
If you receive this newsletter through the mail, you should find a response slip enclosed. Please read it and respond! If you receive this newsletter through your local church, we will only send out one more prayer letter like this in November. If you would like to go on hearing from us after that please write and let us know, either by e-mail to davidrachel.williams[at]gmail.com or by post to Lawn Farmhouse, Stratfield Turgis, Hook, Hants, RG27 0AR. We will then send newsletters to you directly rather than through the local church.
With our love and thanks,
David and Rachel, Tom, Sam and Jonathan