More News from Kenya

My sister Amy was able to talk to my parents for a few minutes tonight. She said they were upbeat and happy, and seemed to be having a really good time. This can only be attributed to God's presence with them when they told about their living conditions! There is no electricity at all in the village where they are at. Thus, they have no access to email. On the days that they have running water, it is icy cold and only comes as a trickle. On the days when they don't have running water, they have to haul water in buckets for washing up. The weather is very hot and humid and there are lots of bugs. My Dad has a pink rash on his feet, they are asking for prayer for that. It does not itch, but they have no idea what it is.

Every day the people kill a goat to feed my parents and the people attending the conference. My Dad is going through the bible from Genesis to Revelation in a narrative form, teaching theology along the way. The African pastors and their wives are asking lots of questions about marriage and family life. Mom and Dad are very much enjoying the teaching times and are so glad to have the privilege to share the truth of God's Word with their brothers and sisters in Kenya. They said they are taking lots of pictures and have many "stories" to tell about their time there.

We will continue to post updates here as we get news.

Anne Lynn, daughter of Al & Edie Lewis

News from Kenya

News from Mom & Dad is sporadic and sparse. However, I did receive a brief message from them today saying that the days are very long and the accommodations are rustic but that their teaching times are going really well. The people there (they are now in Kenya) are very warm and receptive and grateful to have my parents there. Apparently they lost their luggage again when traveling from Burundi to Kenya. Thankfully it was located after 1 day. Quite a scare, however.

Please continue to pray for my parents safety, health and stamina. Pray also for the Lord to use them to speak to the hearts of the Kenyans and that the teaching of the Word would be implanted deeply and immediately applied to their lives. Mom and Dad asked that you specifically pray that the teaching of the Word would begin to affect marriages and families among the Christian believers in Kenya.

Thank you for your continuing support and prayers,

Anne Lynn, daughter of Al & Edie Lewis

First Report from Burundi

We have begun our work here and it has been fun! We received our luggage Monday morning after five days in the same clothes (with heat and humidity, mind you) and 6 trips to the airport. Just in the nick of time. Al didn't get to bed until 3:30am so was exhausted but God gave him the strength he needed and he was impressed with all God did in and through him. The pastors are soaking up what they are learning, asking questions and interacting with him. My teaching is also being received well and my rapport with the women is amazing. I feel so relaxed and at peace, teaching and mentoring. I have met one young woman who is single and applying herself to learn English. We have connected so well and with her not having a mother or father I may have opportunity through email to mentor her. We passed out bibles and glasses today. What a privilege for us to be able to provide these special things for them. The bags and notebooks were a hit but there was not quite enough as the group has grown. We feel very safe, the people are extremely warm and accepting of us. Al has had good rapport with Esron from Rwanda, who is his translator. We are so grateful for the many prayers answered but don't quit praying for us yet, we still have many days to go!

Al & Edie

Urgent Prayer Request from the Lewis'

My mom was able to call briefly on Sunday to let us know that they arrived in Africa safely after 30+ hours of travel. However, ALL their luggage is lost. With the all the airline restrictions on carry-ons, they were not able to carry much with them on the plane. They have been teaching and ministering wearing the same clothes they have had on for 4 days and all they have for toiletries is a toothbrush. Of course this is not like America where the hotels have things for them to use like soap and razors. Nor are there shops nearby where they can purchase clothing. The people they are teaching are extremely poor. Mom said their room was comfortable though very sparse. They get to share the space with geckos, lizards and large spiders. It has been very hot and humid and the mosquitoes are very thick. She said the people have been very kind and wonderfully welcoming to them.

Please pray that God would miraculously locate their luggage (intact with nothing stolen) and that they would easily be able to be re-united with it. They begin all of their training classes today (Monday) and it would be a real encouragement to them to have their luggage.

This has proven to be, and will continue to be, a very challenging trip. Thank you for faithfully praying for them as they begin to equip our African brothers and sisters in the Word!

Anne Lynn,
daughter of Al & Edie Lewis

We go out with your prayers!

We’re on our way to Africa and Czech this morning. We feel really prepared and ready to get going. This past Monday some in our church here and Ft. Dodge had a prayer meeting for us. What a blessing!! We broke into three groups and prayed and then they all gathered around us and laid hands on us. It was a wonderful expression of solidarity with our ministry from the body. As their hands were upon us I thought of the many people elsewhere who are praying for us as well. Their touch seemed to me to communicate the whole body of Christ praying for us. Thank you so much for your partnership with us. At times we feel a little alone and isolated because we are not able to be engaged with one congregation. But this morning we feel fully connected. In a real sense by the Spirit you are traveling with us to serve pastors and wives that desperately need our help. I am certain God is pleased with that.

We will try to update as we can as we travel. God bless you.

Al

Request for Prayer

Dear Friends in Christ,

It is hard to believe that we have been home since the middle of April. Time has flown by and we have been incredibly busy developing training materials and doing support team building with churches and individuals. It still feels like we still have two full time jobs. We are thankful that we have made a lot of progress on our teaching materials for our upcoming trip to Africa and Czech Republic. The support building has been a little slower. Please pray that we will be able to raise the remaining 45% by the end of the year.

It is difficult to communicate how much we appreciate your partnership with us in this ministry. We especially sense a need for prayer as we leave for a 26 day trip to Africa and Czech on July 30th. It will be a very challenging trip so we are asking you to pray diligently for us. Here is our schedule and requests:

July 30: We fly to Bujumbura, Burundi, arriving on the 31st about midnight. This is our first time in Burundi as well as our first training trip and it is their first time hosting a training event so we all have a lot to learn together. The communication has been a bit sketchy and the country is still a little unsettled after war. Pray for the arrangements and for our safety.

August 2: Al preaches in a Burundi church. We do not know exactly where or what it is like so pray for our flexibility. Pray that God will use Al to preach the word in a way that builds up the church and spiritual leaders here.

August 3 - 7: We will be training about 30 pastors and their wives. None has had any biblical training so the need is great. Al will teach both men and women in the morning and then we will split them in the afternoon with Edie working with the women alone. Pray that we will both communicate well and that our teaching will be helpful.

August 8: We fly to Nairobi and then on to Mombasa, Kenya. We will train about 50 pastors and 35 wives again in Kilifi, Kenya, just north of Mombasa.

August 9: Al preaches somewhere near Kilifi. Again, pray for the ability to bridge the culture in preaching and that the Spirit will give the message that will speak to their hearts.

August 10 - 15: This training is much better organized and we will be working with a team who will share in the training. Pray that Al will be able to condense his training into a much shorter time frame. Pray again for Edie as she works with the women in the afternoons.

August 16: Al preaches again at a local church.

August 17: We fly to Nairobi and then late that night on to Amsterdam and Prague, arriving on the 18th around 8am. We will need some rest and recovery before our conference starts. Pray that our accommodations allow that.

August 20 - 23: Al leads a multi-church conference in Vlasim just south of Prague. The topics of the conference will be the role of the Holy Spirit in our relationship to Christ, to one another, to the Word and to ministry to one another. Pray that we will be effective in helping our Czech brethren to be more unified and to work together more effectively as churches. We will meet with leaders and their wives on the 21st and Edie will teach the women on the 22nd.

August 24: We fly home.

Thanks again for your willingness to support us financially and in prayer. By doing so, you have a real and vital role in the development of these men and women in ministry in Africa and Europe. We look forward to giving a good report about what the Lord did when we return. We will try to update our blog as we can. You can check it out at: alandedie.blogspot.com.

Yours in Christ,

Al & Edie

Getting Ready to Go Out Again

Two weeks from today we leave for our next trip. This one is our “maiden voyage” so to speak. We will be teaching, mentoring and building relationships. Lots of details need to be checked off in order to be prepared in a “physical” sense. But more importantly we have the subtle battle with our flesh and the enemy to be in shape with the Spiritual. It is time to gear up for real mission and that is to Glorify God and serve Him as He leads us. There are many unknowns particularly in Burundi.

We will be sending off a prayer letter soon and posting it as well on this blog. Our contact will be limited in that we won’t have our computers so thought I would start informing you now on what is coming up for us. Thanks for your prayers and interest in our ministry.

May all praise with thanksgiving be given to Him.

Al and Edie