For the next few days Donna and I are fasting and praying. One of the things that has been on our hearts for a while is the level of support that our children are receiving from us. (Please do not interpret this statement to mean that there are problems with our kids. All our kids are well and we rejoice at how well each of them has done in boarding school. Now there could be some better grades here and there; but then we are talking about teenagers.)

We believe that our kids attending Rift Valley Academy was and continues to be the right choice. All three are growing in faith and maturity and enjoy being there. Benin just happens to be a long way off.

Your prayers would be appreciated as Donna and I seek the Lord on the issue of supporting our kids. In addition, while we are fasting and praying, we will be praying for the short wave license, NGO status and the communication problem we have mentioned, we would be grateful if you also prayed with us concerning these.

The Good: We are thankful that one of the steps required to get TWR’s NGO status here in Benin has been submitted to the Benin government. Praise be to God that one of the government officials was kind and helpful so that the paperwork could be submitted in a timely way.

The Bad: At the transmitting site we have a smaller generator that provides power during the day (you will remember we only broadcast at night and early morning when AM has a much longer range and we have large generators for broadcasts). The failure was in the control panel and could be costly to replace.

The Ugly: It appears that some of our paper work from six years ago when we imported a container has been lost / misplaced and now TWR has been requested to pay duty on this container. I hope and pray that once copies of the paper work are resubmitted that this will be easily resolved. Pray that this is so.

In addition to this unpleasantry, there have been a number of power spikes here in Parakou. During one we measured the voltage at 380 volts rather than the normal 220 volts. As a result two team members lost laptop power supplies. (One of which way my power supply. As I write my laptop is jerry-rigged to a bench power supply.) We praise God that this is all that was damaged but it has been inconvenient.

The Late: Please forgive that I have not blogged much. The pass few months have been very busy and I always seem to be late. Back in February I asked for prayer concerning a communication problem. Some days I feel this problem is moving forward and being resolved. Other days I feel like one step forward and two steps back. This has taken a good amount of time and energy and it is a significant contributing factor to being behind. Your continued prayers for this problem and lateness would be appreciated. Speaking of lateness, I am a bit behind on a research proposal draft submission for my PhD, pray that this is completed quickly.

Many thanks to everyone who prayed for my trip; it was wonderfully uneventful. There was a joyous reunion with Donna, who surprised me by coming to Cotonou to welcome me home. (Cotonou, where the airport is located, is a seven to nine hour drive from Parakou, where we live.) It has been good to see Micah Joy, old colleagues, new colleagues and the team in Benin.

Your prayers will be appreciated as I jump back into life and work here in Benin. There are a number of issues on which I will be focusing: the communication problem I mentioned in my last blog, the Non Government Organization (NGO) process and the short wave license. Your continued prayers for these would be greatly appreciated.

(For the new comers to my blog, TWR is attempting to get its NGO status in Benin. This would be equivalent to getting 501(c)3 non-profit status in the USA. Also, TWR is trying to get a short wave license that will allow us to reach more people with the gospel).

Before we left Benin, the kids recorded a video tour of our home and Rift Valley Academy (www.rva.org). The post-production editor (me) took way too long to finally edit the video. But it is done and can be seen on YouTube at:

http://youtu.be/T46f7tkFPwI

Donna and Micah Joy made it safely to Benin and they are settling into the rhythm of life there. Donna feels pretty good from her surgeries; some days she is a bit sore and has yet to return to her previous energy levels. Her doctor said it would be a couple more months before her full energy levels would return. Please pray for Donna’s energy levels.

As many of you know, TWR is constructing new missionary houses and the plan was for Donna to move into a new home when she arrived. The housing project is just a bit behind schedule so Donna and Micah Joy are back in our old house anticipating the move to our new house. Pray for them as they figure out what to unpack and what to leave packed. In addition, Donna will start teaching the Kennedy boys on Monday (January 14).

Most of you know that I am taking a study sabbatical. This study sabbatical will be the start of my work on a PhD in New Testament interpretation. Pursuing a PhD is something that Donna and I have been praying about for a number of years and feel that the time is right to start this process. I will be formally applying to South Africa Theological Seminary (I have been provisionally accepted).

South Africa Theological Seminary is a non-resident program (i.e. I will study from Benin) so I will continue with my position as Station Director with TWR in Benin as I study. Plans are in place for more help to be around the Benin Transmitting Station, so my schedule should not be as full as it has been in the past.

During the time I was caring for Donna after her surgeries, and her dad while her mom had surgery, I lost key time to finish up our furlough responsibilities. As a result I was a bit late starting my study sabbatical. In an attempt to regain some of this time, I will be leaving the USA at the end of January, two weeks later than originally planned.

Your prayers for the start of this new endeavor would be appreciated. Please pray that the next three weeks would yield very fruitful study and for the extended separation of Donna and I. Pray that I can change my tickets without any problems (I have waited to change my tickets just in case Donna was not feeling well).

As always, thanks for your prayers.

PS For those of you interested in my topic, Lord willing, it will be in the area of using social science in New Testament interpretation; more specifically, using the cross-cultural communication research of Geert Hofstede and his six cultural dimensions in biblical interpretation.

In life there is a pattern of mountaintop high experiences followed by valley low challenges. This pattern is seen in Scriptures, in history and has recently been our experience.

Our time visiting churches and reconnecting with friends and supporters has been a mountaintop high. We cannot begin to describe how revitalized, uplifted and supported we have felt. We have been encouraged by the growth and depth we have seen in many of the churches that we have visited. We are greatly encouraged that New Covenant Church in Albuquerque is planning a mission’s trip to West Africa including a team coming to Benin. We are also excited that some close friends are planning their first trip to Benin to see us.

Our descent from the mountaintop began with Donna’s surgeries. While we praise God that they went well and Donna’s recovery is still going well, they took a lot out of both patient and care giver. Because of this I was unable to start my study sabbatical in December. At this point, we are unsure of all the implications of the delayed start with my sabbatical. In addition, we recently heard from Benin that due to some complications a key deadline was missed in the NGO process. What made this news even more discouraging was that the deadline was missed while some were focused on other issues.

At this point it is unknown whether the missed deadline will result in having to redo much of what was done just before we left Benin or if our colleagues can get an exception from the government of Benin. Your prayers for this would be appreciated.

I have already had my little rant with God demanding why He would let some complications cause a missed deadline with the NGO process. As usual, God was very gracious and kind and did not judge me too harshly for my rant.

Praise God with us for the mountaintop, the valley and His graciousness during my rant. Pray for our colleagues who are working on the NGO process. Pray for us as we work through the delayed start of my study sabbatical and start preparing to return to Benin.

As many of you are aware, Donna’s first surgery to remove some fibroids and her gall bladder on November 12 went well. Her second surgery to have some blocked veins in her leg removed on November 26 also went well. Please thank the Lord with us for these successful surgeries.

Praise God with us that Donna’s recovery is going very well, although a bit slower than she had hoped. The doctors are very pleased with her progress and to date there have not been any complications.

Pray for our transition from furlough and surgeries to study sabbatical.

The other day Psalm 95 struck me. About half way through the Psalm (verse 7b) the psalmist changes the tone from praising God to a warning about not hardening our hearts like Israel did at Meribah and Massah. It was at Meribah and Massah that Israel complained and grumbled about not having water (Exodus 17:1-7). Here in Psalm 95 the event that is mentioned is not the worship of the golden calf or failure to obey and enter the promise land at Kadesh but it is Israel’s complaining and grumbling. What is even more indicting is that Israel prayed for years for God’s deliverance from Egypt and now they are complaining about His methods of answering their prayers.

How often do we complain and grumble against the Lord? Many times, just like Israel, we complain and grumble about the very methods God is using to answer our prayers. Recently I have been complaining about a busy schedule rather than being thankful. We are so blessed by the many people and churches that support us and we have been very encouraged by our many visits. How I wish I was not so much like Israel at Meribah and Massah for complaining.

Lord praise be to you for all the mighty and wonderful things you have done. Praises to your name for the many people and churches that help support us as we minister in West Africa. Thank you for the opportunity and the means to visit so many.

There has been electricity and water since we arrived in the USA, the Internet is lightening fast (at least compared to what we are used to), there seems to be a bazillion choices as to food, clothing, entertainment and stuff that we purchase, the roads are fantastic, all our transactions have been in English, we have not see one malnourished child, we have not pasted a single fetish or talisman and we do not feel the constant spiritual oppression that we feel in Benin. We are grateful for these blessings.

However, life in the USA has presented its challenges. All the choices can be numbing if not outright overwhelming. All the comforts and niceties can give complacency strongholds in our hearts. All the entertainment options are fierce competitors for our time and attention. Distraction from the things that are eternal seem to be at an all time high in our lives. It is all too easy to let prayer and the study of the scriptures have a second seat, or worse.

The realities of Africa and the USA are reminders that this world is not our home and in this world there are problems. Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Africa who face a very different set of challenges than those of us in the USA. Pray for us and the other believers that make their home in USA. Pray that God would provide self discipline with all the distractions and entertainment competitors. Pray for compassion to grip our hearts in the midst of the comforts and niceties. Pray that Donna and I can help those in the USA better understand the challenges those in Africa face and what God is doing in that part of the world.

Over the past few weeks we have received a wonderful Welcome Home. First Baptist Church in Whitesboro has provided us a wonderful missionary house that was “move in” ready with lots of extra touches. Vilot Baptist Church gave us a pounding. (A pounding is when a church gives a family groceries and other items to help them establish their home.) Our pantry and refrigerator have never been so full. We have the use of two wonderful vehicles both of which can make road trips. Add to this family, friends and others have helped to welcome us back to the States.

While our welcome home has been wonderful, the last few weeks have been very busy. In addition to moving in and trying to get settled, we have spoken at two churches, had a trip to Cary North Carolina to visit TWR, sent our kids to camp and spoke to two groups in a home settings.

Thank the Lord with us for the wonderful provisions that He has given to our family. Please pray for us as we adjust to the USA and try to share the vision of what God is doing in Africa.