January Update

Hello dear family and praying friends. This newsletter is long overdue. We’ll begin by wishing you a happy new year (although it’s already February). 

Ministry

These past 2 months have gone by quickly. We finished our 2nd term of the discipleship course on Dec. 19, so up to that point we were busy with that 3 times a week. Then Christmas was upon us with its different celebrations. In January I (Luke) have been meeting with the other discipleship teachers (Peter & Japhet) to plan for the 3rd and last term of the discipleship program. Luke has also attended some church leader meetings, trying to sort out some problems. That, along with the many requests we get daily in this needy part of the world, has taken up much of our time.

Opening gifts.

Family

Over Christmas week Luke’s Uncle Ken & Aunt Melli + their 10 kids drove down to Kigoma from Burundi for a little break. Then at the beginning of January Luke’s sister Annette & her husband and 2 boys drove down from Kenya, to spend a couple of days with us. We were pleased to see them and catch up on their news. Besides that, Gina has been busy homeschooling Esther, along with the multitude of other tasks that need to be done daily to keep our family going. As a family we all eagerly await the arrival of the next baby, Lord willing, in the next few weeks. Please pray for special strength for Gina in these last days, and for a safe birth for both mother and child. We would also appreciate prayer for Luke’s mother, Ruth Johnson, who is currently in the US and is scheduled to have corrective heart surgery on Feb. 13. Please pray that it would go well and that she would have a quick and smooth recovery, and that God would be glorified.

Upcoming

The 3rd term of the discipleship course begins tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 2). It will continue for 3 1/2 months, 3 times a week. Please pray for God’s wisdom, health & strength for the teachers, and for personal growth & faithfulness in the life of the students. We have added practical ministry for them this time and will be visiting 7 village churches throughout the course. We hope to give them opportunities to discover, and use their spiritual gifts, as well as share what they are learning in the classroom. We want to build in them a vision for serving the Lord and helping with the many needs in the village churches. We also pray that the churches will be encouraged as we visit and minister to them. 

We are so thankful to God for each and every one of you who prays for us faithfully. May God strengthen you more and more in your inner man to pray more fervently than ever. We sincerely believe that this is where the battle is won, in the spiritual realm, through the prayers of God’s people. And pray for us, that a door of opportunity would be opened to us, for effective and fruitful service.

Blessings in Christ,

Luke, Gina, Esther, Emily, Aaron & ???? Johnson