30 May 2006 - Letter from Leon [Number 3]
Thu Feb 14, 08 7:32 am
*Seeking God’s Direction*
Everyone struggles with determining God’s will for his life. It is a life lesson that I do not think we ever completely learn. Along those lines I have been asking, “God, should I stay longer than my initial one year commitment?” This has been the cry of my heart for most of this year The work I am doing will not be satisfactorily finished by November when my visa runs out and I have known that for some time. I also do not see anyone coming in soon to take over my work, but God’s timing always works. When I saw the job opening at OM, it was one and a half years before it was God’s time for me to join. I know and trust that God will provide someone to take over after I leave and that he will provide assistance to me for the massive amount of work I am currently doing.
I really enjoy the work, co-workers, location, culture and am completely willing to stay. 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 is one scripture that I have been reflecting upon. It describes an open door that Paul did not have peace pursuing. I have peace staying, but I would have peace going home as well. I do not view my ministry as tied to a job, title or location, but in my relationship with God first and then to those around me. I can perform this ministry in Carlisle or in the U. S. These are just some of the thoughts that have been swirling around in my head.
After much thought and prayer, I have decided to see if it is even possible to extend my visa for England. My thoughts are that if I cannot extend my visa for England then God does not want me to extend my commitment with OM. Therefore, when I arrive back from the States at the end of June, I will apply for an extension to my visa. I will then further evaluate whether I should extend my commitment.
*Technology Stuff*
God has been answering prayer brilliantly. In my last newsletter I asked you all to be praying for “breakthroughs in the technology I am recommended and researching.” This has truly been the case. I have seen massive strides forward on my various initiatives. I have a number of tangible solutions to present at OM’s International IT meetings next month in Upland, Indiana.
The solutions are answers to prayer for me as I have not yet delivered any tangible solutions to OM for international implementation. Prior to my joining OM very little focus was given to supporting or administering the needs of desktop computers. To finally see solutions developed that meet OM’s computing needs at the end-user level is truly a blessing. It is also a long awaited answer to prayer for OM. My work should reduce down-time, total cost of ownership, fears, and increase productivity in the work OM is doing for Christ’s kingdom.
*OM on the move*
OM has not moved offices yet. We have had numerous delays by red tape and paperwork. We were just about to sign and begin retrofitting the new offices when a clause in the lease agreement has once again caused further delays. We are thankful that the clause was found because it had significant issues if the leasing company were to cease to exist (i.e. go bankrupt). If that had occurred we would have been kicked off the property and the property would revert to the Carlisle City Council. Once this last glitch has been resolved we will be able to furnish the new offices and move within a 2 month period.
Above this furniture shop is the headquarters of this international ministry
Front entrance to our current office.
*OM Ministry*
Zimbabwe has been on my radar quite a bit lately. One team member of ours is from there and a man from our team just got back from doing handy man work in Banket. Zimbabwe used to be the bread basket of Africa, but under the leadership of President Mugabe, it is now experiencing massive inflation.
Excerpt from OM’s April issue of AfricanBeat
“Have you tried to pay for your weekly shopping with 1c notes? As we enter hyper-inflation (900%) [since, increased to 1000%) we are becoming experts in mathematics, try counting Z$7 million in Z$20 thousand dollar notes. Or stashing big packs of paper notes into any good sized plastic shopping bag, sometimes boxes or the odd shopping cart! Wheel barrows are definitely next! Our money is also illegal! Try giving your bank a bank note with the expiry date of 31 Dec 2004 on it. It still is valid in Zim if you want to send us some!
“Land of opportunity. With the best rains on record we have crop failure (lack of inputs) and the government is applying for UN food aid, wonder where the farmers went? With shortages abounding, not of commodities, but of stacks of notes to pay for things, people are struggling and the ministry opportunity abounds before the team.
“Banket (main base) is overwhelmed with needs, shortages, AIDS patients, orphans, and outages of electricity and water for days on end. Siabuwa (Tonga work) is overwhelmed with Malaria infections, shortages and muddy paths.”
Pray for Zimbabwe this month.
*Upcoming Conference in Indiana*
As I mentioned above I will be back in the States from June 2 until June 21. From June 8 to June 17, I will be attending meetings in Indiana. Two of my fellow missionaries in the IT department in Carlisle will be at the meetings with me in Indiana. They are Mona from Sweden and Hanna from Germany. After the meetings they will be coming back with me to Bloomington and I will try to give them a taste of what America is like, at least in the Mid-west. We will then depart for England on June 21.
*People Coming, People Going*
One of my flat mates, Martijn, is leaving to go back to Holland to attend an art university. We are sad to see him leave, but will soon have other interns here for the summer months. I am also expecting friends here in late July from the U. S. They will be attending the Keswick Convention. This yearly Christian convention was started over 120 years ago as a place to hear good Christian teaching and is devoted to deepening the spiritual life of Christians. Keswick is only about an hour from here and I will likely attend the evening sessions.
*Prayer Requests*
1. That God will bring someone to take over after me and/or help me in my work
2. Favor for my presentations that I will be doing at the OM International IT Committee meetings in June
3. Safety in my upcoming travels
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