Oct. 24, 2011 Prayer Updates

The past few days I have been thinking about the phrase... Like drinking from a fire hose.  In this case though it has been an amazing thing to see that up till now God seemed to have the faucet on low but has recently turned it up full blast.  This faucet is filled with blessings that are taking the form of ministry opportunities for Small World Connections.  Although I won't say it is easy to keep up with all of it, I will say it is amazing to be part of His work in this world for His Kingdom and realize that He is directly involved even in the smallest details.

My first prayer/praise for this month is something that is very close to my heart.  We have an opportunity to directly impact the life of a young woman who was orphaned during the genocide that took place in East Africa (Rwanda region) back in 1993.  This is close to my heart because since 2004 I have been trying to find ways to help orphans in that region and in fact can trace this desire to help there to the founding of SWC, but that is another story.  Lucine is a smart and educated young woman who has been living in poverty and continued danger there since she was orphaned at the age of nine.  For five months Lucine has been living and serving in our community of Chillicothe Illinois as a missionary at our youth center and at Helping Hands Re-Sale.  With the visa she currently has she must return to her country and the terrible living conditions by early December. 

That is where a great community of believers in our town have stepped in.  Through Small World Connections we are committing to sponsor her and fund the legal expenses for her to be granted asylum in order to stay in our country.  Through this we pray she will find a better life as she seeks the answer to why God protected her from the men who murdered her whole village.  This is a clear and present opportunity to directly change a life and God brought it right to our doorstep.  I am asking our prayer supporters to pray and to consider sharing the financial load to make her dream a reality.  If you would like to contribute to this need - that could reach well into the range of $5,000 - simply send a check (made out to: Small World Connections - 1623 North Finney St.  Chillicothe, IL 61523) with Lucine written in the memo line.  We will keep you posted on the progress.  If you want to know more just give me a call - 309/251-2048.

New target area -

India - David Headley and Larry Bradley just returned from 10 days visiting the ministry of Delhi Bible Institute.  We as a  ministry are "All In" with supporting what they saw and we will begin to send teaching teams of pastors from the U.S. there in 2012 to teach frontline church planters who will take the Gospel into the interior of a country that is less than 1% Christian.

We are also adding Indonesia and Cambodia to the list of our target areas.  We will have more details on those for you next month.

I had planned to share another story this month of someone involved with our ministry who is living out the Timothy Culture we see in Philippians 2:20-21 - but I believe in sharing Lucine's need and story with you I have already shown you an opportunity and in Lucine someone who is living out the attitude Timothy had of putting others needs first.  Please praise God for Lucine's example and continue to pray for Small World Connections.