Thank you for all your faithfulness in praying,
supporting and giving
and caring during another year. We have returned
praising God for an
amazing trip where we saw many miracles, but we are
remembering to
rejoice, knowing that our names being written in heaven
is the greatest
blessing.
With a week to go we needed £3,000 to meet the budget.
By Sunday lunch
time we had passed that target by £50! That was a very
exciting start.
The report that follows reflects a terrific team effort.
We give God
the glory, but I do thank all the team for their
adaptability and
sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and some fairly spartan
conditions.
BUSHINESS saw over 1,250 leaders gather and an impromptu
crusade saw
about 9, including a prominent Moslem, saved. Scott's
first preaches in
Africa were very well received.
MYMPERE saw 300+ leaders, and the painstaking
administrative work put
in by Anton over the last few years bore fruit as Rev
Pete Ali,
supported by local Pastor Paddy, had very powerful
ministry times. It
was good to look in on the last day knowing all was
going so well.
Bibles were provided here which were effectively
distributed. The
central Kampala conference was cancelled, which enabled
us to get to
Biseruka earlier than planned. This was very useful
because being so
isolated, some problems had occurred which we were able
to resolve, and
143 people gathered. Mary’s testimony proved a real
stimulus to pray
for healing. It was remarkable to hear of people having
their sight
improved and two completely blind claiming to see. Thank
you to Pastor
Peter & Rose Kasozi for their unselfish co-ordinating
work.
KISUMU has proved to be a very fruitful place for the
gospel in the
past, with gangsters, cult members and Moslems coming to
Christ, and
lots of sick healed but the numbers this time were
staggering. James
Osare has been urged to check, but we could be nearing a
1,000
professions of faith in Christ. Hallelujah! Scott, Ed,
Pete and Jim saw
remarkable things, and we praise God. Through the
generosity of God’s
people it was possible to give New Testaments, and
practical support to
the orphanage.
NAIROBI - The committee formed after Rev Steve
Waterton's visit did a
very good job. About 80-90 leaders attended. Again
Bibles were left to
be distributed by the committee.
LIGHTHOUSE TV UGANDA - We were well received, and it is
obvious people
watch the programme. Director Gary Everett sees us as
part of the
Lighthouse Family and was very positive and supportive.
TOP RADIO UGANDA has changed hands, so we will look to
see how things
develop.
FAMILY TV KENYA were very welcoming, and we had a good
time with
Director Leo Slingerland. Again the sense of being part
of something
bigger is evident. We await registration of LIVING HOPE
KENYA, but
there were good developments, and I am hopeful by April
we will be
registered with new trustees. We will have a LIVING HOPE
post box in
Nairobi soon, and we obtained one for Uganda this time.
This will
consolidate our communication within both countries. Jen
and Niall had
a very good time with the Sekatawas, and saw a large
number of children
profess faith in Christ. Please pray for these children
- some of them
are infected with aids.
In the midst of all the blessing there were challenges:
one of the
brothers on the Nairobi committee lost his father, a
friend who we had
encouraged in our early ministry at West Hoathly died,
new people
opposite our home were burgled, family members of some
on the team were
unwell & some possessions went missing. However, the
overwhelming sense
of God’s protection and blessing was very apparent, and
we praise the
Lord.
This year I have been to Spain, Uganda, Rwanda, Poland,
Romania, Kenya,
a first trip to Nigeria, Scotland and soon Northern
Ireland. Living
Hope continues to grow with TV programmes, radio
programmes, magazines
and conferences. Elaine’s & the boys' work behind the
scenes is so
vital, numerous letters written and umpteen envelopes
sealed and
delivered are all part of the ministry. Our parents also
keep
remarkably active & well, in Norfolk & Sompting. We want
to wish you a
very happy Christmas and a new year of hope and
encouragement. The news
over the last months has been depressing with terrorist
attacks,
bombing and fighting. Airports have worked hard at
increasing security
but nothing and no one can bring hope like the Lord
Jesus Christ. JOHN
1:12 says: "He (JESUS) came to His own and they did not
receive Him but
to those who do, who believe on His name He gives the
ability to become
sons of God.
May the forgiveness and peace Jesus came to bring, be
yours this
Christmas time.
God bless you, with love from
Richard and Elaine, Paul, Philip, Matthew, Stephen and
Jonathan.
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