REPORT on Sunday etc.

Well, FRIENDS,  I was asked how it went with the Missions Conference this weekend.
HOW do I answer you?  Did I sense "AWH:?
Well,No!!!!
WHEN I asked were people affirming?,  "YES"!
Did I sense that it was OK?  Yes!
So, you tell me.
How did it go?
I spoke Friday for 30 minutes, 7 minutes twice on Sunday morning.  I know that I was emotionally drained both times.
Our Chairman of the Board spoke to 75 to 100 in SS, and from what he reported, it went very well, but he didn't comment on what I'd said.

So how did it go?

I WISH I knew.
But then maybe it's good that I don't know.
For 15 years I haven't known how "it's gone", except that today 15 years later, we're STILL giving away scholarships.
We're STILL growing in regard to relationships, churches that "catch on" and assume responsibility.  We STILL have the same LOYAL supporters that are growing in commitment to what we are doing.

AND today, we TALKED with a man that we were FAVORABLY impressed with about 5 years ago WHEN we (the board) offered the job of Executive Director to someone else.  Since then we've had TWO executive directors  and THIS MAN from FIVE YEARS AGO contacted us (OUT OF THE BLUE).

We got the impression from him that the timing of his contacting us was unusual too.  But doesn't God work that way?  He is an AMAZING GOD!

Stay tuned!.  None of us other than God know HOW this will turn out. 

In Time, we'll see what God had in mind when He started EAFC.  UNTIL THEN, I think we are to pray and to solicit YOU, our friends who read this to pray with us.

Will you?  Will you let me know that you have read this and have prayed?

My email is vvickery@gmail.com  since responding to this blog seems challenging to MOST OF US!

Stay tunes, OK?

The Friday Event in Retorspect

My appreciation for preachers rose today after speaking for 30 minutes to a very nice and sympathetic group of ladies.  Why was I so tired after it was over?  

Then later my son told me that it's been "found" that people fear public speaking more than death.  So they'd rather be the one in the casket than one who is gives the eulogy!   I guess it was reassuring to realize that we're all in this together, and when you speak you are embracing all of us who understand the challenge before us when we do speak in public.

The ladies planned a lovely luncheon and they even came by the office and took boxes and boxes of African crafts to be sold at the luncheon.  The last I heard EAFC raised a lot of money for our students through their efforts for which I'm most thankful.  At times I get tired of the responsibility of sharing the stories, but to whom much is given, much is required. right?

God has let me shake their hands, listen to their stories, brainstorm with them concerning possible solutions to their problems.  My listening just in itself offers HOPE.  And at times I want to scream,  "NO."  Don't count on me to give you HOPE.

But in my heart of hearts I know I have had many unique privileges to name many people in Africa as my friends.  And when you have friends, you go to bat for them.  That's what I hope I was doing today.  There I go using that word again.  HOPE!

Faith, Hope and Love!  With these three I cling.  It'll be fun to watch Hope grow both here and in Africa.

Looking Forward to Friday

It's not that I don't think Tuesday through Thursday hold lots of possibilities, but on Friday I get to speak at a luncheon for about 80-100 ladies interested in missions.  Besides that, they want to see all the wares from our African Market.  Maybe if they "buy" they can bless someone with a gift while providing funds to go to Africa, or they can decorate their home with decorative pieces that make them think about and pray for some they'll learn about Friday.

I love to tell the stories of my friends in Africa, and after spending almost 3 months in Africa last year (Liberia, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda), I have some pretty current ones to share.   Not only that, but Joyce from Malawi came to see us!  We have truly been blessed.

When in Uganda, we got to visit Amazima in Jinja.  Amazima was founded by Katie Davis, a 22 year old young lady who went to Uganda when she was 18 and has as a result of that trip spent the last 4 years of her life in most unusual ways from that of her peers.  She's even written a book Kisses from Katie.  We didn't get to meet Katie;  she was homeschooling 12 of the 13 young girls that she is in the process of adopting.  We did get to meet Jeremy, their Project Director.

 AND TODAY, I got to see a letter of intent sent by the church for Peter.  Peter was recommended to EAFC by Jeremy.  Jeremy said Peter had worked with Amazima for years and he can't recommend him enough.  Is that enough said?

Jeremy Shull, Program Director for Amazima Ministries, future EAFC partner

Hummm!  Maybe I've just included another story in my collection for Friday.  See why I'm looking forward to Friday?
Will any of you reading this pray for that event?


thanks a bunch!

Faces Full of Hope

JOYCE is a PhD Candidate.  She got to visit the U.S. for the first time as a friend let her
live with her so she had some quiet time for her research.  Now she's joined her husband, Moses in MALAWI.
Pray for Joyce to finish well as she resumes her teaching duties at Livingstonia University.

We call Onesmus, our BISHOP.  He's from Western KENYA,
and is a wise counsellor and friend.

Faser, Onesmus recommended.  She's the one on the left.
Now she's finishing up her Law degree.  Both Faser and Jane were discussing how
to form
  Women of Purpose chapters in their areas.

Faser again, telling her story.

Ah, memories!  There's Jamima, as well as Julia and Edith.  All these
want to help women in Liberia rise up to their potential.

Lydia, an EAFC student from RWANDA.  She couldn't
seem to say THANK YOU enough, even coming to the
airport to say "BYE"!

Keeping the Train on the Track!

Since I last wrote I've gotten lots of emails from friends in Africa-----Malawi, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda!  I feel like the spoke of the wheel.  In my head is experience, relationships, trial and error lessons, knowledge of what is working and what people expect, and yet  as I have told you before, I must decrease in order for someone else to increase.  Who has God called to keep this train on the track? 

IF ONLY, you could read my emails.  IF ONLY, you could see the library at Rwanda Institute of Evangelical Theology. (Oh, they need good books, and it costs us $90 to send 20 pounds of books.)   IF ONLY you could be a fly on the wall when Jean Paul and Addy told me how they long for good books to read, but they simply are unavailable even if they could afford them.  Amazon.com doesn't work for them!  IF ONLY, you could listen in as T.S. a church leader in Liberia talked with me on Skype and told me how much the Evangelical Church Union of Liberia (ECUL) appreciated our respect of the church's decisions regarding guiding the students that EAFC helps support.

Yes, I care deeply that the train stays on the track.  But I have other assignments these days.  I'm teaching both as an adjunct and teaching piano.  I love what I do.  But I love helping people in Africa too.  

I think I'll close by showing some pictures of faces of some I've mentioned.

The man on the right is Nathan.  His daughter is in pre med, being supported by the church and EAFC.
With him is Eleazar who is part of the partnering church for others in Liberia that we help.

The lady on the right is Priscilla.  She's across the continent from Liberia now, studying in Kenya.  Her husband, not pictured is also studying.  They need our prayers.
Also meet Musa, form Sierra Leone!

Look Just Like You

To a class full of students on the first day of class I introduced myself through stories of Africa.  It appeared that I had their attention.  "Yes," I said "people's heartstrings seem to gravitate to pictures of bloated stomachs, flies around the face, dirty unkept clothes, but did you know that for children that look like this to truly have hope, the adults in their lives need education first?"  That comment seemed to resonate with my students.
"They look just like you," I said. "But the difference is that you are here in this fine university, and there, they don't have hope without someone on the outside being emotionally touched enough to dig deep."
No, we don't have a lot of extras these days, and if we just don't think about it, and if we don't try to get to know the names of some of these who live in refugee camps, whose stories will break your heart, then we'll get along OK.  Maybe!
For me, however,  I HAVE been touched, and so I keep searching for ways that I can be a part of the solution.