Africa Inland Missions

OCT-DEC 2015

MAGAZINE & PRAYER DIARY

04
ANNUAL REVIEW
HE WILL BUILD
HIS CHURCH
22
STREET CHILDRENS STORIES
FROM SAFINA
STREET NETWORK
24
CHRISTMAS IN NORTH AFRICA
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CAKE

Christ-centred churches among all African peoples

04 AIM EUROPES
ANNUAL REVIEW
As we look back on 2014 we share
stories of the life changing work that
God is doing in Africa.

04 ANNUAL REVIEW

God is building his church

in Africa. We share our
review of the last year.

08 OCT 1-3

Could you be part of

reaching the unreached
Didinga of South Sudan?

10 OCT 4-10

We share about a new

team seeking to reach
Islamic people groups in
Madagascar.

12 OCT 11-17

Pete & Libby Halestrap

share about the important
outreach & evangelism
work of Kijabe hospital.

14 OCT 18-24

Derek & Nerina Harborne

share an insight into life
as a healthcare worker in
Uganda.

22 NOV 15-21

Read an interview with

the children of the
Safina Street Network in
Tanzania.

24 NOV 22-28

We share about the gospel

opportunities through
teaching English in North
Africa.

16 OCT 25-31

30 DEC 13-19

We are beginning a new

work in Niger. Find out
more here.

Read about the impact of Gods love

on street children in Tanzania, and
how they long for a clean heart,
wisdom and deeper fellowship with
God.

Prayer and information

about the team reaching
the Laarim of South Sudan.

28 DEC 6-12

18 NOV 1-7

22 STORIES FROM
SAFINA STREET
CHILDREN

26 NOV 29-DEC 5

A team is about to go to
the San in Namibia. Team
leader Zeka Avelino shares
news and prayer points.
Steve Lancaster explains
why theological teaching
in Tanzania is important.

20 NOV 8-14

The Hong Kong mobilising

office share their passion
for reaching the unreached.
News and insights from
the team reaching the
Samburu in Northern
Kenya.

32 DEC 20-31

Our Short Termers share

about their work in Africa.

24 CHRISTMAS
IN A CREATIVE
ACCESS NATION
Mission partners share how baking is
opening doors to the gospel in some
of the hardest to reach places.
Looking for more prayer resources?
Visit our website:
www.aimint.org/eu/prayer

HE WILL BUILD
HIS CHURCH
by Deborah Kong

e open this issue of Connect with our Annual

Review a chance to look back over the past
year, and to look forward to the coming year.
You may like to do your own review of how God
has worked in your life, and how you hope he will continue
to work in your life, and to praise and thank God for all that
he is to you.

In doing this, remember to give thanks for those who were

instrumental in your journey towards faith. There is probably
a whole team of people who were involved in some way, for
whom you will remain eternally grateful.
As it was with you, so it is with every Christian throughout
the world. Here you will read about lives which have been
transformed by the gospel in remarkable ways. As you read,
let your heart be encouraged not only by Gods work in the
lives of individual Africans, but also by the knowledge that
you are part of a team which is enabling this work to happen,
whether that is through your prayers, your financial support,
or your going.
Your prayers have enabled us to send teams to some of the
hardest to reach places in Africa. And through your prayers,
teams will continue to be mobilised to take the gospel to the
unreached. We serve and worship a God who does not want
anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
(2 Peter 3 v 9). God longs for the unreached to be reached.
And so, as you pray earnestly for God to work in the hearts
and lives of the unreached, and to strengthen and equip
African believers in order to build Christ-centred churches
throughout Africa, give thanks for what he has already
achieved in this work, and have the confidence to persevere
in your prayers. You may go through this life and never
meet anyone from the Fulani, Laarim or San people groups,
but they will be represented in the celestial gathering
worshipping Christ in glory, and they will remain eternally
grateful for the team which prayed so faithfully for them.

The Laarim of South

Sudan live in the rugged
Boya Hills. (page 26)

Your prayers
have
enabled
us to send
teams to
some of the
hardest to
reach places
in Africa.

Thank you for being a vital part of that team.

Annual Review:

HE HAS BUILT
HIS CHURCH

LOOKING BACK

ooking back, its easy

to slip on those rose
tinted glasses and
present a picture of
history that is far removed
from the realities and
difficulties that were actually
occurring at the time. Saying
that, as we look back over the
last year (actually 2014) the
overwhelming sense is one
of wonder and praise as we
consider all that God has been
doing in Africa and through
the European Mobilising
Office.
As part of our Annual
Review its important that we
register the activity that we
were engaged in during 2014.
Its also important as we reflect
on that activity that we see
it in the context of the wider
picture of Gods plan for the
unreached in Africa that we
have been a part of since 1895.
Then, a young man called Peter
Cameron Scott was struck by
the words of John 10:16 written
on David Livingstones tomb
in Westminster Abbey: I have
other sheep that are not of this
4

I will build my
church, and the
gates of hell
shall not prevail
against it.
Matthew 16:18
sheep pen. I must bring them
also. Since then, we have had
the tremendous privilege of
seeing the Great Shepherd
reaching his sheep. We have
had the honour of seeing God
build his church.

GOD BUILDS HIS CHURCH

In 2014 that included new
work amongst two unreached
people groups, the Samburu
and the Lesotho Shepherds teams that are led by mission
partners sent out from the
European office and include
European mission partners.
Frazer Mayhew, who works
amongst the Samburu,
explored mission through
our short term programme
before going on to reach
the unreached in Kenya. It
has been a joy to witness his

calling and to see God working

through him to accomplish his
kingdom purposes.
Weve also had the privilege
of walking alongside mission
partners finishing their initial
term on the field but remaining
determined to return and
continue the gospel work that
they began. The Pugh family
have returned to the Alagwa in
Tanzania and is now reporting
local baptisms and seeing God
build his church. Kirsty, who
works in a Creative Access
context, has also returned,
longing to share with those
living in darkness the hope
that she has.
We also celebrated with Dr
Keith Waddell the milestone of
his 50th year serving in Africa
- a work that has brought sight
to so many and so much more.
One blind man attending the
celebration service for Dr
Keith commented, Dr Keith
could not restore my sight, but
instead he gave me vision and
hope as he showed me Gods
love and my value in him.
1895 to 2014. He has built
his church.

2014
IN
BRIEF

22

long term
mission
partners
sent out

15

of
these
amongst
unreached
people and
new
mission
partners
for the first
time.

35

short term
mission
partners
experienced
mission in
Africa.

Gilles &
Myriam
Bonvallat
became
mobilisers
for French
speaking
Europe.

Annual Review:

HE IS BUILDING
HIS CHURCH

PEOPLE SET APART

n Lesotho, Ntate Mosoang had a

powerful dream. He dreamt of a
painful thirst and a strange man
who sated his thirst with cool
water. Through this dream he knew
that God was revealing his plan to him
to send a missionary to his remote
village in the mountains of Lesotho. In
1994 a team was recruited and placed
in highland areas of Lesotho, including
into Ntate Mosoangs village. Mosoang
opened his home to the new team
whilst they learnt Sesotho and took
their first steps in preaching.
Because of this work, many in
Lesotho have come to know the good
news of the gospel. But one group
remains largely unreached - the
shepherds. While some shepherds
live close to villages and have access
to schools and churches, most do not.
The majority live in remote chains of
cattle posts in the mountains where
the living conditions are sparse
but grazing is best. Some men will
spend 10 to 15 years in these small
communities of five or six men,
visiting their home villages once or
twice a year for a weekend. These are
a people set apart from mainstream
village life marginalised and
stereotyped as thieves.

REVEALED BY GOD

When Christ was born, God chose

to reveal himself first to shepherds
the marginalised, illiterate and

God chose to
reveal himself first
to shepherds the
marginalised
poor of that time. In 2014 we sent
out a Training in Ministry Outreach
(TIMO) team of men to do the same,
to reveal God to the shepherds of
Lesotho. Looking back over this first
year of ministry, one of the team, Mark
Eekhoff comments: We have not
had any baptisms or conversions; nor
have we seen any shepherds give their
lives over to Christ. What we have
seen, though, is enough to give us the
hope that the fruit will come. Several
instances show that the shepherds are
starting to receive the gospel.
God is building his church amongst
the Lesotho shepherds. But there
is still work to be done. The team
members are sharing their lives and
the gospel with the shepherds but
they long for support from the church
in Lesotho. Ntate Mosoang dreamt
of strange men coming to share the
gospel. Our prayer now is for the
church of Lesotho to carry on that
vision - that their passion for sharing
the gospel would see them working
with our team to reach the shepherds
and be part of a church planting
movement across the highlands and to
the ends of the earth.
5

There are around 400 unreached people

groups in North Africa. Workers there need
to be creative in how they proclaim the good
news of Jesus as traditional missionary work is
not often possible.

REPLACING THE
MYSTERIES OF THE SAHARA

eter Cameron Scott described the vision

that God had given him for Africa as a
line of mission stations passing through
east Africa and on and on - into the mysteries
of the Sahara desert. In 1889 when Scott began
talking about this calling, his plan for the new
mission included nothing less than a work that
would finally reach the very heart of the great
unevangelised section known as the Soudan.

Today there are still over 1000 people groups

who have never heard the gospel. Of these
1000 groups around 400 are in North African
countries. Our calling today remains the same
as that given to Scott; to reach those who have
never heard the gospel, to share the good news
in the great unevangelised sections of the
continent of Africa and to replace the mysteries
of the Sahara with the hope of Christ.

To find out more about opportunities to serve amongst Africas people visit:
6

eu.aimint.org/go

2014 IN
POUNDS
Income:
Annual Review:

HE WILL BUILD
HIS CHURCH

FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

s we look forward, our

passion is for Christ to
be glorified amongst the
remaining unreached and
unengaged people groups of Africa.
We long to see these people groups
surrounding the throne of the Lamb,
worshipping together with all the
peoples of Africa. Our call is to advance
the cause of Christ in Africa, specifically
amongst those people groups where
he is not known, working towards the
vision of seeing Christ-centred churches
among all African people.
Youll notice throughout this issue
of Connect, and through previous issues
that our concern and desire is to pray
intentionally for those people groups
who dont yet know Christ. Were so
thankful for the way you have partnered
in prayer and been able to see teams go
to people like the shepherds of Lesotho.
We will continue to pray for more
people groups, and by Gods grace help
churches send people to share their
lives and the gospel with them.

THINKING
ABOUT
GOING TO
AFRICA?

We long to see
these people groups
surrounding the
throne of the Lamb
PART OF THE BUILDING WORK

Our heart is for the African church

and so we recognise that part of our
calling is to sustain and support the
church where necessary. This can mean
AIM being involved in theological
teaching, training pastors, supporting
youth and childrens ministries in
African churches. But it doesnt just
stop there. We want to see the African
church passionate about reaching the
unreached in their communities, in
their countries and to see the African
church mobilising and sending mission
partners to reach the unreached across
the continent.
In 2015 and beyond we believe that
God will build his church. Our joy is to
be part of that building work.

re you thinking about

Christian ministry in Africa,
but arent sure what to do
next? Why not consider one of
our Into Africa? day seminars,
designed for those considering
long or short term service amongst
Africas people?

General
Fund:
502,112
Mission
Partners:
1,684,369
Projects:
247,262

Expenditure:

General
Fund:
711,685
Mission
Partners:
1,562,040
Projects:
339,891

Hear about the work of AIM in

Africa, check out current needs and
opportunities for service, discuss
your personal situation with mission
leaders and serving mission
partners, with lunch included!

eu.aimint.org/go/intoafrica
7

October 1-3

PEOPLE FOCUS:
THE DIDINGA

WHO ARE
THE DIDINGA

radition has the Didinga

arriving in their present
home during the 16th
century, as part of a group
migrating either from Lake
Turkana or Ethiopia. The
East and West banks of the
Nile were divided during the
British period into Protestant
and Catholic influence spheres,
which put the Didinga into the
Catholic area. Amongst some
older people there remains a
bit of Catholic influence, but
not genuine faith. The Didinga
accept the existence of a
supreme being, and the sphere
of spirits interacting with
the living. They worship and
sacrifice to spirits and gods
and place great importance on
the worship of dead ancestors,
living in fear of spirits. The
rainmaker is an important
person in the community, who
performs certain rituals and is
seen to carry great influence
and power.

Download a prayer sheet:

eu.aimint.org/pray/didinga
8

Our vision is to see Christcentred churches across

South Sudan; mature
churches that are passionate
about mission, reaching out
to people groups like those
in the Didinga hills who
have yet to hear the gospel.

A DIFFICULT PLACE

outh Sudan is a difficult

and challenging country
to live and work in but
as we become more involved
in Gods mission to reach
the people groups of this
country its also an exciting
location with huge potential.
Because of the protracted civil
wars, remote locations and a
reluctance to hear the gospel,
there are many people that are
still unreached.
Sixty thousand Didinga
people make up one of the
larger unreached people
groups in South Sudans
Eastern Equatoria State (EES).
They form two distinct groups,
those living in the lowlands
to the west of the Didinga
Mountains and those actually

living in the mountains.

Access to the people living in
the lower regions is relatively
easy, whereas those in the
mountains are spread across
30,000 square kilometres,
with many communities
located in difficult-to-reach
valleys, slopes and plateaus.
Across the hills there are
no roads, poor public radio
coverage and a very limited
cell phone network.

TO THE HIGHLANDS FROM

THE LOWLANDS

Its this inaccessibility that

means many of the Didinga
mountain people have never
heard the gospel. Whilst
villages in the lowland areas
are evangelised, the churches
are not proclaiming the gospel
to the lesser reached locations,
particularly on the mountains
where an estimated 30,000
people live without a single
church that declares Christ as
Lord.
Our vision is to see
maturing churches planted on
the mountains, encouraged

WEEKLYFOCUS

ray for the Didinga people

currently living in fear
of the spirit world, unaware
of the hope of the gospel.
Please pray for people to go
to them to release them from
their fears, and bondage to
ancestor worship. Pray too
that they would have open
ears and hearts to receive the
message of salvation.

NAGISHOT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Access to the Didinga can be obtained via a small
airstrip at Nagishot. This 1km grass runway is perched
on top of one mountains where the Didinga live.

IN THE HILLS
The Didinga
live in the
region of the
Didinga Hills in
Southern Sudan
and raise cattle and
farm at an elavation
of 2000m!

and equipped by the Africa

Inland Church South Sudan,
as those in the lowland areas
begin to reach their own
people. However, until now,
the mountain people have
been resistant to receiving
the gospel. Therefore our
strategy is to support the
South Sudanese church
through placing a Focus team
amongst the lowland areas in
the summer of 2016, to help
the lowland Didinga churches
reach the Didinga mountain
people. To do this effectively
the team will spend six months
learning language and culture,
and from then on seek to
engage with both the church

and the Didinga mountain

people, sharing practical
skills, as well as the gospel.
That could mean developing
agricultural practices in this
fertile region where there is
huge potential for growing
fruit, vegetables and grain. It
could also mean using medical
skills in an area where child
mortality is high or teaching
literacy skills ready for the
day when the Didinga have
their own Bible. But ultimately
this team will be working to
evangelise, train and equip the
local church with a vision to
see Christ-centred churches
planted amongst the Didinga
mountains.

Go & make disciples amongst the Didinga, visit:

eu.aimint.org/go/didinga to find out more.

OCTOBER | THURSDAY

Please pray for Didinga

believers attending the lowland
churches. Pray that they
would grow in maturity and
understanding of the gospel and
through that development, be
challenged to reach out to their
own people. Pray too for church
leaders, that they would receive
the necessary training and be
filled with enthusiasm about
mission.

this inaccessibility
means many have
never heard the
gospel.

OCTOBER | FRIDAY

Pray for the practical

logistics of sending a team to
the Didinga as building houses
in this terrain can be difficult.
Pray for team leaders Pat &
Geoff Hartley as they liaise with
logistics personnel, that between
them preparations for this team
would go smoothly and even be a
witness to the Didinga people.

OCTOBER | SATURDAY

Pray for those God is calling

to be part of this team, that
they would be supported well
by their churches as they begin
exploring mission. Pray too for
AIM mobilising offices around
the world as they work with
prospective candidates and serve
them as they discern their calling.

October 4-10

COUNTRY FOCUS:
MADAGASCAR

We are looking to establish

a new Focus team in
Madagascar, reaching out
to Muslim youth through
English language clubs and
sports as well as engaging
with young Muslim women
through teaching English at
a university.

There are over

30 mosques in
the town and
Comorian and
Gujarati people.

and police chief. There are

over 30 mosques in the town
and distinct communities
of Comorian and Gujarati
people. Many needs associated
with women and youth are
present in this diverse Islamic
community. Despite the
presence of several church
also have plans to work with
denominations, there is very
THE SECOND LARGEST BAY
the University, to teach English
little outreach happening
iego Suarez, also known
to predominantley Muslim
in the city, and churches
by its Malagasy name
female students and begin to
have requested training and
as Antsiranana, was
share the gospel with them.
assistance in developing
named after a Portuguese sailor
In the distinct Muslim areas
strategies to reach their
in the mid 1500s. The town
of the city, we hope to reach
Muslim neighbours.
borders a natural harbour,
out to the community through
which is considered the second ENGAGING WITH THE
sports clubs. We long to see
largest bay in the world, and
COMMUNITY
the church in Madagascar
allows Diego Suarez to serve as
It is in response to this need passionately engaged in
a major port for Madagascar.
that AIM is sending a team
outreach, and through sports
Diego is Madagascars
to live, work and minister in
clubs we believe that church
seventh largest town (pop.
Diego. Working with the local
members can be involved in
83,000) and considered by
Malagasy church we hope to
working together with AIM
some to be the most modern
place team members within the mission partners to build
in terms of culture, lifestyle
central business area of Diego,
relationships within the
and entertainment. The people working alongside Malagasy
Muslim community. Our prayer
are a mix of Antakarana and
Christians to set up English
is that these relationships will
Sakalava along with significant language teaching clubs and
then develop beyond sport and
foreign influences of Indian,
through these clubs develop
that conversations about faith,
Arab, Creole, Comorian and
relationships whereby Jesus
church and Jesus will become
French.
can be declared. Similarly we
natural.
Approximately 60% of
Go & make disciples amongst those in Madagascar, visit:
the population of Diego is
eu.aimint.org/go/where/madagascar to find out more.
Muslim, including the mayor

10

OCTOBER | SUNDAY

THE GUJARATI
OF MADAGASCAR

he Gujarati, or Karana, of
Madagascar are generally
descended from immigrants
from the western Indian province
of Gujarat, arriving in Madagascar
around a hundred years ago.
Currently, there are around
60,000-70,000 Gujaratis living in
Madagascar, known throughout
the country as resourceful business
people. In fact, some estimates state
that Gujaratis control 50% of the
economy of Madagascar through
their import/export, retail, hotels,
travel, and textile businesses.
The majority of Gujaratis would
call themselves Shia Muslims
and retain many of the cultural
traditions, food and language
of their Indian homeland. To
date there has been very little
evangelistic work amongst them
with statistical data stating that
0% of Gujaratis in Madagascar are
Christians. One reason for the lack
of outreach is that many Malagasy
Christians dont believe that Asians
can become followers of Jesus. On
top of this misguided belief there
are some who feel a hostility toward
the Gujarati, seeing their control of
business as a means of exploitation
of the Malagasy people.
The team living in Diego
will have opportunities to forge
relationships and minister to the
Gujarati communities. Please pray
that in doing so they will be able
to change the perceptions of the
Malagasy church and that together
great work will be done amongst
this people group, with many
turning to Christ.

Please pray for the

practicalities surrounding a
new focus team to be based
in Diego Suarez, a port
town in Madagascar. Pray
that Malagasy churches
will be keen to be involved,
and catch the vision of
reaching those who have
never heard the gospel
within their community.

OCTOBER | MONDAY

Please pray for Graeme

& Eli Mallett and their
children, Joe, Jessica,
Naomi and Ester as they
work in Mahajanga. The
Malletts are partnering
with local Malagasy pastors
with the aim of catalysing
the local church into
reaching the unreached in
Madagascar.

OCTOBER
TUESDAY

Please pray for Karin

Mende, recently returned
to Madagascar following
home assignment. Pray
that she will quickly
adjust and settle back into
Malagasy life. Pray for
her work with the local
church in training them
to support those with HIV/
Aids. Pray this will be
effective outreach to those
marginalised by society.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

ray for our mission

partners serving in
a wide range of roles
and ministries across
Madagascar. The
Malagasy language is
known to be difficult
to master so please
pray for their language
abilities as they seek
to share the gospel in
various locations.

OCTOBER
WEDNESDAY

Pray for Mat & Katy

Linley and their children
Phoebe, Jonah and Barnaby
currently finishing their
home assignment. Give
thanks for the time theyve
been able to spend catching
up with family and friends.
Pray too for safe travel back
to Madagascar at the end of
this month.

OCTOBER
THURSDAY

There are still ten people

groups in Madagascar
that have never heard the
gospel; people without a
church or a Bible in their
own language. Please pray
for opportunities to engage
with these people groups,
and for ways in which we
can work with the local
church to reach them.

OCTOBER | FRIDAY

A recent Focus team

amongst the Bara in
south-central Madagascar
has recently drawn to a
close. Please pray that the
seeds sown by the mission
partners would continue
to grow and that the Bara
people who have come to
faith would grow in love
and depth of insight.

10

OCTOBER
SATURDAY

Pray for the Gujarati of

Madagascar, living without
any knowledge of the
gospel and with only a few
people willing to share it
with them. Pray that the
through the team based in
Diego Suarez that many
would come to know Jesus
and demonstrate his love
through their businesses.

See People & Places p12

For mission partners working
in Madagascar.
eu.aimint.org/pandp

 Pete Halestrap with some

of his work colleagues.

October 11-17

MINISTRY FOCUS:
OUTREACH & EVANGELISM

Pete & Libby Halestrap seek to

serve the people attending
and working in Kijabe
Hospital Kenya. Here they
share about the role the
hospital has in outreach and
evangelism.

DEMONSTRATING GODS
LOVE AND COMPASSION

s we read through the

gospels we cannot
help but be struck by
Jesus compassion: for the lost,
the mourning, the sick, the
blind and the possessed. Jesus
commands his disciples to

11

OCTOBER
SUNDAY

Please pray for the

hospitals outreach
ventures, both locally
and in more distant
areas of Kenya. Pray that
as the hospital works in
these regions it would
able to demonstrate and
proclaim Gods love to a
broken world.

12

OCTOBER
MONDAY

Please pray for the

hospital Chaplains as

behave like him and says that it

is through such actions that his
followers will be recognised.
As Kijabe passes its 100th
year it continues to strive to
follow this command as it
practically demonstrates Gods
love and compassion. It is a
huge privilege for us to be part
of such a ministry. We witness
the blind seeing as the hospital
performs cataract operations;
we see the lame walk after they
undergo surgery; and we see
the almost dead(!) return to full
health as they receive care.

they co-ordinate the

daily activities in the
hospital, for example
sitting with patients
or giving talks in the
waiting areas and
supporting families
through sickness and
bereavement.

13

OCTOBER
TUESDAY

Pray for the discipleship

programmes occurring
at the hospital, in
particular for the
Clinical Officer Bible

FROM FEAR TO HOPE

Many of the patients who

attend the hospital come in
desperation. They have tried
other facilities, they have used
all the resources they have, and
yet they remain sick. As they
are treated in the hospital it is
wonderful to watch them be
transformed from fear-filled
individuals to people of hope.
Yet the benefit of the
hospitals activities does not
end with the restoration of
physical health. People of
many different faiths come

Study that occurs on

Tuesday mornings.
Pray that Gods word
will encourage and
challenge those
attending. Ask that
these meetings will
equip believers with
understanding to apply
the Bible on their own.

14

OCTOBER
WEDNESDAY

Please pray for the

Kairos course which
runs regularly at Kijabe.
This course aims to

show Gods heart for

his gospel to go to the
ends of the world. Pray
for those attending
the course, for the
graduates who are now
training as facilitators
and that God may
use this as a means to
mobilise individuals to
work for him.

15

OCTOBER
THURSDAY

Please pray for the

many medical training
programmes occurring

to Kijabe, including those from

an Islamic background and
those from areas hostile to the
proclamation of the gospel. They
attend primarily because of the
good medical care that they have
heard they will receive, yet as
they spend time in the hospital
meeting believers, hearing the
gospel proclaimed and receiving
loving and compassionate care,
some also find Christ.

LIGHT TO A BROKEN WORLD

The hospitals reputation has

also resulted in invitations to
work in Creative Access regions
of Africa. It has been wonderful
to see local leaders of areas
opposed to the gospel inviting an
explicitly Christian hospital to
come and partner with them.
The hospitals motto is
Healthcare to Gods Glory and it
longs to be used by God as a light
to a broken world. Please pray
this may be the case.
You are the light of the world.
A town built on a hill cannot be
hidden. Neither do people light
a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand,
and it gives light to everyone in the
house. In the same way, let your
light shine before others, that they
may see your good deeds and glorify
your Father in heaven. Matthew
5: 14-16

WEEKLY
FOCUS

ray for those in

great need who
attend Kijabe hospital
in Kenya. Pray that
God would use Kijabe
to bring hope; that
through the activities
of the hospital,
patients might find
physical and spiritual
healing in the work of
Jesus Christ.

DEVELOPING DISCIPLES

imon* recently joined

an internal programme
developing clinical
officers with additional skills
in emergency medicine
and critical care. As part of
his training programme he
attended the Kairos course,
a compulsory element of the
curriculum that encourages
attendees to focus on Gods
mission for his world. At the
end of the course, as Simon
stood up to share his testimony
to the rest of the class, he was
visibly shaking.
Simon shared how he
had been encouraged and
challenged by the course,
and particularly how he had
been convicted that if he was

at the hospital. Pray

in particular for the
new four-year Masters
in Family Medicine
which commenced in
September 2015. Pray
this programme will
create graduates with
good medical skills and
a desire to use them by
serving the most needy.

See People & Places p15

For the index of mission
partners working in
Outreach & Evangelism
eu.aimint.org/pandp

16

to serve God and witness

cross-culturally as he felt he
should, his life should be one
of integrity and honesty. He
confessed that he had a secret
that he had never shared,
specifically that he had a oneyear-old child and that he was
not married to his girlfriend,
both of whom were in another
part of Kenya.
Shortly after the course
Simon and his girlfriend
were married and his new
family moved to live with him
locally. He has also committed
to being part of a planned
outreach trip to a closed region
of Kenya later in the year.
*not his real name.

OCTOBER
FRIDAY

Pray for strength and

compassion for the
hospital staff in dealing
with great suffering and
need on a daily basis.
Pray that through the
care the staff provide,
people will see the love
of God in action and
know they are made in
Gods image.

17

OCTOBER
SATURDAY

Pray for the leadership

team of the hospital.
Pray that they may have
wisdom to know how
to make the hospital
financially stable for
the long term while also
ensuring they are able
to cater for the needs of
the poorest and most
vulnerable in society.

For opportunities in Outreach & Evangelism:

eu.aimint.org/outreach-evangelism
13

October 18-24

PEOPLE FOCUS:
THE SAN

WHAT ABOUT
THE TEAMS
ARRIVAL?
Team leader Zeka Avelino
shares the thoughts of a San
builder hired to help with
the team members houses.
asked Kgao what he
thought of our arrival.
He responded by saying,
You are different because
you treated me as an equally
important person. For many
years, the San have been
overlooked and treated as
inferior. He said, We dont
know what to expect from
team members coming
to live among us yet we
cant predict the future!
The community knows that
language learning is going to
be hard for the missionaries
but they have faith that they
can make it because other
Europeans and Westerners
(Anthropologists) were able to
learn and speak it. There is a
general appreciation of people
(from other people groups or
races) thought by the San to
be superior to them coming to
socialise and mingle together.

14

The San (or Bushmen)

are the oldest inhabitants
of Southern Africa and
renowned for their survival
and hunting skills, and rich
cultural traditions.

WHO ARE THE SAN?

he San live in clans,

and village settlements
often consisting of
20-100 people who are
loosely-connected family
groups, traditionally following
seasonal game migrations.
They have a formidable
reputation as trackers and
hunters and vast knowledge
of flora that they use for
nutritional and medicinal
purposes. They have
numerous dialects known for
their characteristic clicks.
Colonialism and settling
of Bantu tribes throughout
Southern Africa have largely
destroyed their migratory
way of life. Unfortunately,
their recent history has been
one of poverty and social
rejection, as well as decline
of cultural identity and the
discrimination of their rights
as a group. Few modern San

are able to continue as huntergatherers, and most live at

the very bottom of the social
scale. Their loss of identity
has contributed to low selfesteem, apathy, promiscuity,
and alcoholism, particularly
amongst the youth. The San
have been marginalised in
Namibian society and largely
overlooked by church and
evangelical mission over the
years.
The San of the Tsumkwe
area traditionally believe in a
distant and good creator god
known as !Khu, and a near but
not so good god, Gaua. Gaua
is often revered and called
upon via dances, ceremonies,
and shaman consultations
for village problems such
as sickness, hunger, and
drought. !Khu is viewed as
too distant to care about the
problems of everyday life. In
the past missionaries have
equated the God of the Bible to
!Khu and Satan to Gaua. This
has contributed to syncretism,
confusion about Gods
character and his concern for
them in their daily struggles.

18

22

19

23

OCTOBER
SUNDAY

DAY TO DAY LIFE

few San people have

government jobs but the
majority dont. Most people
wake up early in the morning and
make fire outside with firewood.
The mother wakes up early and boils
water for tea. Sometimes the water is
boiled in a 4 litre tin can because they
do not own a saucepan. Often there is
not enough tea for everyone so then
one cup is shared between five people
or more.

After tea, children go and play and

adults continue to chat. If one of the
adults happens to have something to
do, such as doing laundry in the case
of ladies, then the rest will try and
help while they continue to chat and
spend time together.
Men usually sit around together
and talk about anything that comes
up. For those who drink, they are
always found at Sheebens (illegal
liquor shops). Most of them do not
have money to buy the liquor but
they nevertheless get drunk from
sharing with their friends.
There are no set menus in the
San communities. People eat what
is available, when it is available.
Sometimes when a family has food,
there is a non-stop cooking till there
is no more food.

Download a prayer sheet on the San people:

eu.aimint.org/pray/san

Please pray against the

self-esteem issues that
many of the San people
struggle with as a result
of living in poverty.
Pray that although the
majority of San people
are materially and
spiritually poor, that they
would realise that is not
their identity in Gods
eyes.

OCTOBER
MONDAY

The San people in

Tsumkwe live believing
that they are poor
and bear the social
consequences of this
belief. Please pray that
development iniatives
in the area would not be
held back by jealousy
and envy but that
whole communities
will embrace and see
the benefits of NGO
and mission initiated
projects.

20

OCTOBER
TUESDAY

Pray for a timely issuing

of work permits for
the Tsumkwe team
members. Application
forms were submitted
and accepted in June and
the team are due to arrive
this week.

21

OCTOBER
WEDNESDAY

Pray for the Tsumkwe

Team leader Zeka Avelino
and his family as they
finalise preparations
for the arrival of team
members. Pray for
wisdom as Zeka seeks to
implement the church
planting movement
principles hes learnt in a
contextual, cultural and
reproducible manner.

OCTOBER
THURSDAY

Pray for the Tsumkwe

TIMO team members
support. Pray that they
will be supported well
both financially and in
prayer. As they arrive in
Namibia pray that they
would be conscious of
prayers upholding them
and support surrounding
them.

OCTOBER
FRIDAY

Pray for more San

people to be willing to
host team members in
their homes. Pray that
these homestays would
have immediate gospel
impact and that some
of these people will be
language helpers for
team members.

24

OCTOBER
SATURDAY

Please pray that the few

San people who claim
to be followers of Jesus
Christ will live in truth
and lead exemplary lives.
Pray that they will be
courageous to stand for
the truth even if it means
being persecuted.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

his week a
Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO)
team will begin living
amongst the San
people in Tsumkwe,
Namibia. Please pray
for the San to be open
to receiving strangers
into their community.
Pray they will have
open and receptive
hearts as they hear
about the gospel from
the team members.

October 25-31

MINISTRY FOCUS:
BIBLE & THEOLOGY
For opportunities in Bible & Theology:
eu.aimint.org/go/theology

Steve teaching at The Institute of Bible & Ministry.

The Institute of Bible

& Ministry (IBM) is a
theological programme
designed to enable, mobilise
and inspire the 140 pastors
and evangelists of the Africa
Inland Church (AIC) in
eastern Tanzania. Steve &
Ruth Lancaster share

347,000 SQUARE MILES

t IBM we want pastors

and evangelists to
grow in their walk
with God and be effective in
their ministries as they serve
their congregations and seek to
reach out to those who havent
heard the gospel before. Each
year IBM organises seveneight regional conferences
within the AIC Pwani (Coastal)
Diocese, which covers over
half the country and includes
14 different regions. In fact
the diocese covers just over
347,000 square miles which is
seven times the size of England!
IBMs headquarters is based
at Sanga Sanga near Morogoro.
The 13 acre site currently
comprises a pump house, a
13-bed retreat house, a football
pitch and a volleyball court, a
16

couple of container-type offices

and a number of agricultural
plots. Building work is
currently underway to build a
200-seater conference centre.

WHERE DO WE FIT IN?

So where do we fit into all of

this, and what exactly do we do?
Ruth is the Communications
Officer for IBM and her role
thus far has involved helping
to manage the staff at Sanga,
payment of wages, guest-house
management, accounting
and budgeting, fundraising,
publicity and marketing,
keeping the website updated,
and the teaching of two English
courses to the Sanga staff.
Steves role at IBM is that of
a Bible teacher and so he is
involved in the planning of the
various regional conferences,
the preparation of some of
the teaching material, and
the teaching itself. To a lesser
degree he is also involved in the
management and development
at Sanga, preaches at a number
of other churches in the area,
and also undertakes the AIM
role of Unit Leader for eastern
Tanzania.

In terms of outlining a
typical day, its hard to pin it
down! Ruth might be wrestling
with the project accounts
or visiting Sanga to pay the
staff wages. Steve might be
on the road visiting other
missionaries, or preaching at
a small AIC village church.
Ruth might be working on a
publicity leaflet for Sanga or
picking up supplies in town to
take to the retreat house cooks.
Steve might be at home at his
desk responding to emails and
pondering how best to handle a
member-care issue, or refining
his Swahili notes for the next
seminar. Or we might both
be on the road journeying to
and from a conference venue,
dodging the potholes and the
many crazy drivers that seem
to travel these Tanzanian roads.
One thing is for sure, there
arent many dull moments, and
theres always something to
do but through the challenges
and the opportunities that we
have, we trust that God will use
us as we seek to help the AIC
pastors and their churches to
become truly Christ-centred.

25

29

26

30

27

31

OCTOBER | SUNDAY

MY TOOTH
IS STEVE
Steve Lancaster shares about
the humour, joy and perils
of sharing the good news in
Swahili.
ften, my limited mental
energy is sapped simply
trying to pronounce
a word correctly, which is
vitally important when youre
preaching, and when one
mispronounced letter can make
a huge difference. Consider the
following examples: bariki
= to bless, birika = teapot,
bikira = virgin. Think what
fun I could have from the pulpit
in trying to say God bless you!
In fact one of our teammates
learnt this lesson the hard way
during a Sunday School class
when she repeatedly talked
about the teapot Mary. A few
years ago, whilst introducing
myself at a school assembly
here in Tanzania, I couldnt
quite work out why there was
so much sniggering going on
until it was pointed out that I
had said Jino langu ni Steve
instead of Jina langu ni Steve.
Only one letter out, but it made
all the difference between My
tooth is Steve and My name
is Steve. And what about the
verbs kuonyesha - to show,
kunyesha - to rain, and
kunyonyesha - to breastfeed!
And finally, what can go
wrong with a casual greeting?
Jambo = hello but Jamba
= to break wind. Oh, the joys
of making mistakes in these
situations. Please continue to
pray for me, for clarity and a
decent memory!

Pray for Steve

Lancaster and the IBM
team as they teach pastors
and evangelists. Pray that
Steve will have the energy
and fluency he needs as
he preaches in his second
language, Swahili. Pray for
safety in travelling as they go
to different parts of Tanzania
to hold teaching seminars.

OCTOBER
MONDAY

The subject being taught

at this years conferences is
the Holy Spirit, a topic on
which many have differing
opinions. Please pray that the
Spirit himself will bless the
word being taught and bring
a deeper understanding of
Biblical truth.

OCTOBER
TUESDAY

The construction of the

Conference Centre at Sanga
Sanga has commenced and
foundations are currently
being laid. Pray for building
manager Matt Dixon as he
oversees this project. Pray
that it will proceed safely.
Pray too for Amy, Matts wife,
as she looks after their three
small children and supports
Matt in his role.

28

OCTOBER
WEDNESDAY

Praise God for those who have

been using the Retreat House
and Campsite. This helps to
make Sanga Sanga financially
self-supporting. Pray that
word will spread and that
bookings will increase over
future months. Praise God
for Fran and Felista, our two
Tanzanian housekeepers at
the Retreat House, who work
hard to look after our guests.

See People & Places p15

For the index of mission partners
working in Bible & Theology.
eu.aimint.org/pandp

OCTOBER
THURSDAY

Tony & Cath Swanson have

just returned from home
assignment. Give thanks for
this time with family and
friends. They were busy most
weekends with preaching and
presenting the work of AIM
to different churches. Pray
that they will be encouraged
by seeing God raise up new
supporters of the ministry.

OCTOBER | FRIDAY

Ruth Lancaster has

been dealing with the day-today management of Sanga
Sanga Retreat Centre. Pray for
good relationships with the
workers, for fluency in Swahili
and for wisdom in areas that
she is unfamiliar with.

OCTOBER
SATURDAY

Praise God for his financial

provision through a very
generous donation. This
will provide 60% of the
funding needed to complete
the construction. Ask God
to provide the balance that
is needed and to raise up
those who will commit to
supporting the ministry of the
Institute of Bible & Ministry
regularly.

WEEKLYFOCUS

he Institute of Bible
and Ministry is a
department of the Africa
Inland Church (AIC)
Tanzania which is providing
pastors, evangelists and
their wives with ongoing
Bible teaching and
theological development.
Pray that the teaching
will help deepen these
ministers understanding
of Scripture and that the
Church in Tanzania will be
strengthened as a result.

November 1-7

PEOPLE FOCUS:
THE FULANI

As part of AIMs call to reach the

unreached across Africa, we are
partnering with Serving in Mission
(SIM) to send a joint team to the
Fulani peoples of Niger.

WHO ARE THE FULANI?

he Fulani are a people that live

throughout the Sahel. They are
a cattle herding agrarian people
who stretch from Senegal in the west
to Sudan in the east. In Niger the
Fulani make up approximately 10%
of the population, numbering about
1.5 million. They are spread across the
country along the southern one-fifth
of Niger which is arable land. North of

NOVEMBER
SUNDAY

Please pray for unity

and a God-given
commonality of
purpose between AIM
and SIM as we work
together to send a
Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team
to the unreached Fulani
of Niger. Please pray
as details are worked
out in practice, both in
mobilising offices and
on the field.

NOVEMBER
MONDAY

these lands, the Sahara desert occupies

the remaining four-fifths of Niger, with
some oasis towns and trade routes
going through the desert. Due to rebel
activity in recent years, the north of
Niger is considered a no-go zone to
foreigners, yet we are able to enter
southern Niger as mission workers.
The Fulani are a predominantly
Muslim people group. They first came
in contact with Islam as early as the
1500s, but the majority did not adopt
Islam until the 1800s. During this
period Amaadu Lobbo Bari, a Muslim
Fulani leader, grew in influence and
established the Massina Empire,
a theocratic Muslim Fulani state

The Fulani people of

Niger are a people
living in darkness with
very little hope for the
present and no hope
for the future. Pray
that they would have
open hearts to hear
all the team share and
come to know a hope
for the present and the
sure hope for eternity
through what Jesus has
done.

NOVEMBER
TUESDAY

Pray for the team

leaders Warwick &
Natalie Short from
Australia. Pray
that they would
demonstrate Jesus
through their servant
hearted leadership and
relationships with the
team. Pray too for their
children Hudson (9),
Sahara (7), Japheth (4),
and Annie-Mae (2).

Nearly 20
million Fulani are
spread across 19
African countries
in an area
stretching from the
shores of Sngal
to the borders of
Ethiopia.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

ive thanks for

the opportunity
we have with SIM to
send a team to the
Fulani of Niger. In
this Muslim-majority
country, visas are still
issued for Christian
mission workers.
Pray that the team
would be able to
learn the language
quickly and share
the good news of the
gospel.

throughout the Inner Niger Delta region

and extending to both the ancient Muslim
centers of Djenn and Timbuktu. Today the
Fulani are only nominally linked to Islam,
with animal sacrifices instead playing an
important role in the ritual celebrations of
fatherhood, deaths, marriages, and other
formal ceremonial occasions.

the majority of Fulani

have never heard the
good news that Jesus
died for them
A SCATTERED PEOPLE

Over the past 40 years there have been

a small number of workers reaching out
to the Fulani, leading to a small number of
believers scattered across the country. Despite
this, they remain classified as an unreached
people group as the majority of Fulani have
never heard the good news that Jesus died
for them, and even fewer have heard this
news in Fulfulde, their own language. Thats
why were sending a Training in Ministry
Outreach (TIMO) team to live amongst them.
The team will be living in a rural setting and
we hope to use an interest in agriculture
and life on the land as a way of building
relationships with the Fulani, both as a way of
demonstrating improved land management
and as a bridge to the gospel. We hope to help
the Fulani come to know a God who loves
them and wants to bless them and make their
land fruitful again.

NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY

Pray for James King as

he begins the process
of raising support to
go to Niger. Pray for
opportunities for him to
speak to the right people
and churches so that the
necessary finance and
prayer support to allow
him to go, would be
raised.

NOVEMBER
THURSDAY

Pray for the rest of the

team, recruited from
mobilising offices
across the world. Pray
for unity, patience and
understanding even
before they meet as
they seek to put aside
cultural preferences for
the sake of the gospel.

For Training In Ministry Outreach teams, visit:

eu.aimint.org/timo to find out more.

INTRODUCING
JAMES KING
Following short term trips with AIM, James
has been accepted to serve long term on the
Fulani TIMO team

y journey to believing that God wanted

me to become involved with mission
began in 2012 when I was privileged to
be taken on a trip by my church, Corsham Baptist
Church, to serve at an AIM conference in northern
Africa. There I was able to speak with many mission
partners and hear about what God was doing in that
part of the continent. Having these conversations
and experiences set my heart ablaze with the
passion of seeing the world reached for Jesus sake.
In the following months and years I was able to
partake in a few small trips locally in the UK to work
with foreign refugees as well as attend another AIM
conference in Kenya. All of these opportunities
have increased my zeal for mission. In 2014 I
worked in northern Kenya for three months with
the Gabbra people. This time confirmed my calling.
God showed me my giftings and flaws, and his
perfect strength. I am serving with AIM because
they share my passion: to see Christ exalted among
all the nations of the world.

NOVEMBER
FRIDAY

Life amongst the Fulani

will be very basic,
sometimes with no
electricity or running
water. Pray for the
whole team as they
adapt to living in this
kind of environment.
Niger is also very
hot, with the coolest
temperatures hotter
than a British summer.
Pray for the teams
ability to cope in the
heat.

NOVEMBER
SATURDAY

Pray that the team will

be able to support the
few existing Fulani
believers and disciple
them. Pray that these
men and women of faith
will go on to reach out
to their neighbours and
families and be the first
members and leaders
of a Fulani church in
Niger.
19

November 8-14

MINISTRY
FOCUS:
HEALTHCARE
For opportunities in healthcare:
eu.aimint.org/go/healthcare

What does the ministry of

Derek & Narina Harborne,
serving in Mbarara, Uganda
look like? Here they share a
brief snapshot of their day

7:45AM

erek: Emergency
Department ward
round with surgeons.
An 8-year-old child has now
had neurosurgery for his head
injuries, but yet again the
hospital has run out of oxygen.
Help an intern with difficult
placement of intravenous line.

9:00AM

Derek: Ward round with

physicians. Half the Emergency
patients have HIV. One patient
dies during ward round,
followed by an opportunity to
advise and pray with attendants
of sick patient after deliberate
overdose of insecticide poison.

10:00AM

Derek: Teaching ward round

with nine third-year medical
students. Rewarding medical,
cultural and ethical discussion.
Two of the group I already
know well through St. Lukes.

10:00AM 12:00PM

Nerina: Molecular Biology

lecture to 130 Medicine,
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical
Science first-year students.

20

Use videos to try to help

them understand biological
processes. Pleased that many
seem engaged and ask good
questions, but worry about the
students at the back can they
hear and see?

2:005:00PM

Nerinas classroom with 130

first-year students!

12:00PM

Derek: Meeting with Dr. Ttendo

(Senior Anaesthetist and my
Ugandan boss) and Dr. Barigye,
Hospital Director. Discuss
detailed plans to pipe oxygen to
Emergency Department from
new oxygen concentrator plant
using atmospheric air. After
three years on staff, Ugandan
colleagues no longer see me as
a Western donor, supplier of
hand-outs.

2:30PM

Derek: Greet colleagues in

Physiotherapy department on
way home, including our AIM
colleague Zillah Whitehouse.
Late lunch. E-mails. Teaching
preparation.

Nerina: Computer lesson with

the four girls Im teaching. Open
Facebook accounts for those who
want them. Talk about internet
safety, and good and bad uses of
time online.

6:00PM

Derek & Nerina: Attend

Vineyard, the St. Lukes
postgraduate fellowship.
Bible study on Acts leads to a
discussion on the importance of
cross-cultural work in allowing
the gospel to spread.

Bible study at St. Lukes.

We hope through all the

activities of the day that we
are able to demonstrate Christ,
through words and actions, and
bring more people into a deeper
relationship with him.

NOVEMBER | SUNDAY to cooperate in changing

After three years

of planning, Mbarara
University of Science &
Technology (MUST) has
now been requested by
the Ugandan Ministry of
Health to start postgraduate
training in Emergency
Medicine (EM) this year.
This will use a curriculum
designed by Derek Harborne,
and he will be the only EM
specialist teaching on the
course. Please pray for him
as he plans for this teaching.

NOVEMBER | MONDAY

Please pray for the

right pioneer doctors to be
recruited to train in EM, as
the first EM specialists in
Uganda. Pray for funding
for the course, scholarships
for the trainees, and for
the practical arrangements
as different medical
specialities work together
to provide appropriate
training.

10

NOVEMBER
TUESDAY

An equipment allocation of
$100,000 has been promised
by the Ministry of Health
for the EM department at
Mbarara. Please pray for the
money to come, to be spent
wisely, and for hospital staff

WEEKLY
FOCUS

e give thanks for

the opportunity to
work with students and
young professionals in
both their studies and
through church. Please
pray that we can both
model and teach a
holistic attitude to faith
and work, and that we
can encourage them to
seriously apply the Bible
to the way they live out
their lives.

practice to benefit the

patient.

11

NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY

Please pray for the MUST

Faculty of Medicine, as
the University is greatly
understaffed for its student
numbers. We are pleased
that we are both able to
teach in Medicine and
Biochemistry. Please pray
for our fellow lecturers,
under pressure to both teach
and work in the hospital or
carry out research.

12

NOVEMBER
THURSDAY

Please pray for St. Lukes

University Anglican
Chaplaincy, where we attend
church. This semester,
we will work with the
student leaders to improve
their skills in Bible study
preparation and leadership.
We hope that some new
first-year students will also
join these training sessions.

13

NOVEMBER FRIDAY

Please pray as we plan

for the future. We seek to
avoid creating dependency
on us but instead teach
others, to pass on
knowledge in a sustainable
way. We ask for wisdom
about how long God wants
us to remain in Mbarara,
and where he wants us next.

14

NOVEMBER
SATURDAY

Please pray for all the AIM

team in Mbarara currently
Zillah Whitehouse, Keith
Waddell and Derek and
Nerina Harborne, that we
may be mutually supportive
and ready to welcome new
long or short term members.

See People & Places p15

For the index of mission
partners working in Healthcare
eu.aimint.org/pandp

MEET OBED
Obed is a third year
physiotherapy student as well
as a Runyankore language
helper for Derek. He writes:

glorify God for the work that

AIM is doing to extend the
gospel to unreachable places
and train disciples to fulfil the
great commission and serve God
within their professions.
I have known Dr. Derek,
Nerina and Zillah Whitehouse for
the last three years. Zillah, who
is one of my lecturers, linked me
to this wonderful couple to help
Dr. Derek learn Runyankore, but
since that time my Christian life
was straightened up. Weekly
Bible studies after language
lessons, school evangelism and
local church ministry with Dr.
Derek showed how zealous he
is to see the gospel preached.
The couple have also raised up
disciples in St. Lukes chapel
through the Bible studies that
they hold weekly.
Zillah is a very hard working
young lady, so loving and taking
Christ Jesus to be the centre of
everything. The first time I met
Zillah she encouraged me to be
an active member of the church
and other fellowships. The
Christian love displayed to her
students, friends and clients have
caused many to become stronger
in Christ Jesus.
Without Dr. Derek, Nerina and
Zillah, my life would be still in
the world. Useless, hopeless and
with no future. May God bless
them for the great work they are
doing in Africa, serving Jesus
within their professions.
21

November 15-21

COUNTRY FOCUS: TANZANIA

ABOUT TANZANIA

anzania is an east African nation sharing

borders with Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda,
Burundi, DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi
and Mozambique. Its the home of Mount
Kilimanjaro, as well as boasting vast open plains
and long sandy beaches. Tanzania is a land of
beauty and diversity, with the people of Tanzania
belonging to some 125 different people groups,
each with its own language and culture.
As well as the beautiful scenery though, there
are struggles. Over 40% of the population of
the population of Tanzania is aged 14 or below.
Approximately 5.6% of the population are
living with HIV/Aids and 36% of Tanzanians
currently live below the international poverty
line. Tanzania also plays host to over 500,000
refugees, mainly from their neighbouring
countries, which is more than anywhere else in
Africa. It is also home to an estimated 437,500
street and working children.

Find out about opportunities in Tanzania:

eu.aimint.org/go/where/tanzania
22

Safina Street Network is an outreach

service working with vulnerable children
and young people in Dar-es-Salaam,
Tanzania. Safina aims to help these
children come into a relationship with
Jesus Christ as well as assisting them with
shelter, food, medical treatment, education
and life skills. We asked a few of the
children and young people some questions
about themselves and their lives:

HOW HAS SAFINA AFFECTED YOUR

LIFE?
SUMA (AGED 8): When I came I could not
write and read but now I know.
SAIDI (AGED 13): Safina is taking care of my
needs like food, clothes and a home but also
helped me that I can go to school now. They
also helped me to know Jesus.
DANIEL (AGED 16): When I came I could not
read but now I go to school. Safina also helped
me to know God more and more and gave me
a desire to help others when I am grown up. I
also learned to work and help with different
tasks at home together with my fellow
brothers.
ELISHA (AGED 23): I thank Safina for all the
spiritual, physical and educational support I
have received over many years.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU LIKE

DOING THE MOST?
SUMA: To play with my friends and to
read the Bible.
SAIDI: To play with others, to tell others
about God and to help people.
DANIEL: To play football and to sing in
the choir.
ELISHA: Praise and worship, outreach to
others in need, to read the Bible and other
books

WHAT THINGS DONT YOU LIKE?

SUMA: Quarrels, fighting, to be
challenged to do bad things.
SAIDI: Bad peer pressure/influence,
fighting, arguing.
DANIEL: Peer pressure, stealing, lying.
ELISHA: I really hate sin and in particular
hypocrisy, lies, fighting and gossip.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD?

SUMA: Rice, ugali [stiff maize porridge]
I like any food.
SAIDI: Ugali, potato fries, rice with peas in
coconut sauce.
DANIEL: Casava, potatoes, ugali, rice and
meat, roasted maize.
ELISHA: Fish, chicken, meat with ugali
or rice.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN

YOU ARE OLDER?
SUMA: I want to help people children,
grandmothers and grandfathers.
SAIDI: I want to be a pilot but also help
Safina.
DANIEL: I want to be a cook/chef.
ELISHA: I want to be an auditor but also
help the community.

HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU?

SUMA: For God to make me strong and
provide for my needs.
SAIDI: For God to give me wisdom.
DANIEL: For Gods help in reaching my
goals, to help me to be a blessing for all
people.
ELISHA: For a clean heart, wisdom and
deeper fellowship with God.

15

18

16

19

17

20

NOVEMBER
SUNDAY

In Tanzania the problem

of street children is a big
issue, particularly in urban
areas. Sometimes the
children have left home
because of abuse or death
or departure of parents and
other times to supplement
family income. Please pray
for all of those living on the
street that they may find
shelter and safety.

NOVEMBER
MONDAY

Significant numbers of the

boys and girls living on
the streets seek temporary
relief from their situation
through substance abuse.
Pray for those who are
desperate for relief and
escape that they would be
able to find hope in Jesus
rather than through drugs.

NOVEMBER
TUESDAY

Pray that the word of God

sown out into the hearts
of many street children
every day at the Safina
Street Network will bring
forth fruit of repentance,
salvation, transformation,
restoration and freedom in
Christ. Pray for those who
accept Christ to be deeply
rooted in him and become
his disciples.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

lease pray for the

country of Tanzania
and specifically for the
work done by the staff
at Safina Street Children
Network. Pray that more
children would come
to know Christs saving
grace and that they
would go on to have a
gospel impact across all
Tanzania.

NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY

Pray for Safina staff

that they would be
ambassadors of Christ in
word and action. Pray for
love and patience to help
former street children in
the transition from street
life back into family life.
Pray for wisdom on how to
act and help when being
confronted with anger and
rebellion.

NOVEMBER
THURSDAY

Pray for understanding of

the will of God in regards
to future plans and projects
for Safina Street Network,
including building of a
Technical Secondary School
and more foster homes.
Pray for the provision of our
daily bread for our growing
family and responsibilities.

NOVEMBER
FRIDAY

In the 2012 census, under

15s represented 44.1% of
the population of Tanzania.
This volume of young
people means that schools
and healthcare services
are often stretched. Please
pray for those across
Tanzania seeking to equip
and support children and
deliver a brighter future.

21

NOVEMBER
SATURDAY

Whilst Tanzania has

experienced national
economic growth, the
benefits of this have
been experienced by
relatively few, whilst
large percentages of the
population experience
poverty and hunger. Pray
that those in leadership
would begin to put in
practices to distribute
wealth and benefits more
evenly.

November 22-28

AREA
FOCUS:
NORTHERN
REGION

344 million people are living

in North Africa without
knowing Jesus. 200 million
are living and dying without
even hearing of his offer of
salvation. Thats why were
hoping for members to join
us on a team in North Africa
from next summer, seeking
to share both the gospel and
their lives with those they
are living amongst.

REACHING THE HARD TO

REACH

slam is the dominant

religion of North Africa,
to the extent that most
countries in that region
describe themselves as
Muslim-majority nation states
and declare Islam as their
national religion. The result of
having a state backed religion
means that the teachings
of Christianity are not only
unknown to most, but great
barriers to investigating
Christianity have been erected.
Governments control many
aspects of day to day life and
whilst a few of these countries
24

We want to see
local people
come to faith
and become
Christ-centred...
have an official freedom to
exercise religion, in practice
that only really applies to
foreigners. This is why so many
in this region are unreached
with the gospel, simply, because
its so hard to reach them and
the potential costs are high.

SEEKING TO SERVE

Whilst we recognise
these barriers and accept the
potential dangers and risks of
sharing the gospel in North
Africa, we believe our call
remains to go to those living
without hope. Therefore, next
summer we are looking to send
a Training in Ministry Outreach
(TIMO) team to share the gospel

Working in a local business is

a great opportunity to intergrate
with the local community.

and their lives in ways that

benefit the local community and
demonstrate Gods love in action.
We want to see local people
come to faith and become
Christ-centred as a result of
the Christ-centred business
people they have come to know.
Team members will undergo
a period of intense learning of
local language, cross-cultural
communication and culture
with the aim of becoming part of
an existing business or finding
other ways of doing business
in this setting. The more likeminded businesses succeed, the
greater will be the gospel impact
as more witnesses for Christ are
in contact with the community.

Go & make disciples amongst those in North Africa. Visit:

eu.aimint.org/go/creativeaccess to find out more.

22

NOVEMBER
SUNDAY

THE GREAT
GOSPEL BAKE OFF
The Christmas season is upon
us. But what does that mean for
our mission partners serving in
Creative Access locations?

hristmas equals food. For

mission partners serving in
contexts where it is difficult
to talk about the real meaning of
Christmas, baking can open doors
that could otherwise remain closed.
Last year one couple serving in North
Africa commented, Im not sure we
can remember any Christmas being
so exhausting. Maybe it was the
heat (33c) as we made various cakes
including fudge and shortbread for
30-odd people. But it was through
baking these gifts that they had the
opportunity to retell the Christmas
story in the local idiom.
Another mission partner shared,
Last week a few mothers from
school had a coffee morning to which
I took along cranberry scones. After
discussing baking at length, and
cultural specialties (like cranberries!)
a friend and I were able to steer the
conversation to the real meaning of
Christmas. I had the opportunity to
tell the Christmas story, focussing
on how Joseph obeyed the Father
unquestioningly even though he
faced shame by not divorcing Mary.
This Christmas please pray for
our mission partners serving in
countries where Christmas is not
celebrated. Pray that they would have
opportunities to share the Christmas
story and point many to the love and
hope that Jesuss birth declares. Pray
too that they would be able to follow
Josephs example and follow the
Father unquestioningly in these often
difficult and dark places.

Give thanks for the

provision of a building
to be used for a business
and that it is in a strategic
location to reach the
local community. Pray
for a good relationship
with the landlord and
that through even that
first relationship that
Jesus would be made
known and the gospel
shared. The nature
of this business will
naturally entail lots of
relationships.

23

NOVEMBER
MONDAY

Pray for the team leaders

hoping to lead this team
in such a difficult context.
Due to the security
constraints we are unable
to share names but please
pray for wisdom, grace
and patience as they pull
together all the various
elements for this team.

24

NOVEMBER
TUESDAY

Please pray for team

members. Pray that those
whom God is calling
would be willing to trust
in him and to follow
his leading. Pray for
those seeking to support
candidates on this
journey, that they would
be able to walk with them
well as they consider
serving in this way.

25

NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY

Language learning is
critical to the success of
this team. Please pray
for supernatural abilities
for both team leaders
and team members as
they seek to learn the
local language. Pray that
frustrations would be

quickly overcome and

understanding gained
easily.

26

NOVEMBER
THURSDAY

As the team leaders

learn language ahead of
the team, pray that they
would be able to explain
clearly the hope that they
have in Christ. Pray that
as they converse with all
those around them that
they will be able to find
openings to talk about
their faith.

27

NOVEMBER
FRIDAY

For people to be reached

with the gospel, the
business needs to be
successful. Pray for good
business decisions, for
wise heads and adoption
of best practice. Pray that
God would be glorified
through this work.

28

NOVEMBER
SATURDAY

Pray for those living in

the community where
the team members
will live. Pray that God
would work before the
team arrives, softening
hearts to the gospel and
prompting those open
to the truth to come into
contact with the team.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

ext summer we
are planning
to send a team to
work in North Africa.
Please pray for all the
planning required to
allow that team to go
ahead. Pray that Christ
would be at the centre
of all that is done and
that this team would
lead many to him.

Nov 29 - Dec 5

PEOPLE FOCUS:
THE LAARIM
AIM are seeking to
strengthen the work which
has begun amongst the
unreached Laarim in South
Sudan and to fulfil their
request to have the word
of God taught to them. Phil
Byler shares;

WHAT WE NEED

he visibly agitated
Chief of Police declared
emphatically, This
man [visiting AIM leader] has
said they are not coming to
build schools for our children,
they are not coming to build
hospitals for us, and they are
not coming for development.
They are only coming to
teach us the word of God. My
anxious ears waited for his next
sentence to be translated, to

define his intent, and to set the

stage for AIMs welcome, or not,
into the Laarim communities.
That is exactly what we
need! he continued, our
young people do not know
the word of God and we need
someone to come and teach
them.
My huge relief quickly
shifted back to concern as
he concluded, It does not
matter if you are Catholic, or
Protestant, or Muslim, you
come and teach us the word of
God.
This Police Chief request
happened seven years ago.
Further research revealed an
identical plea from a Laarim
chief reported by a Wycliffe
survey team from 25 years
earlier. War-induced insecurity

over the intervening 25 years was

the primary reason for failure
to fulfil the request. Two young
men are currently on the ground
beginning disciple-making work
among the Laarim and AIM is
redoubling efforts to mobilise a
team of ten adults to join them
in 2016.

29

NOVEMBER relationship will

model Jesus Christ.
SUNDAY

begin language and

culture learning and
Pray for language and preparation for the
Pray for Laarim
culture learning and
rest of the teams
men, women and
arrival. Pray for their
young people to have their ability to share
the gospel story. Pray leadership ability to
receptive and eager
for good health, and
be Christ-like.
hearts toward Jesus.
the ability to find the
Pray for good soil
DECEMBER
joy of the Lord in their
to be prepared for
WEDNESDAY
routines.
sowing the seeds of
Pray
for the
gospel truth.
DECEMBER
remaining two single
TUESDAY
men and three young
NOVEMBER
Pray for the team
families preparing to
MONDAY
Pray for Jacob Borgelt leaders, Phil & Linda join the team in mid2016. Pray for support
and Andrew Wallace Byler finishing
raising, emotional,
currently ministering Home Assignment
and returning in
and spiritual
to the Laarim. Pray
January 2016 to
preparation. Pray
that their lives and

30

WEEKLYFOCUS

he Laarim unreached
people group of South
Sudan have been begging
for decades for the word of
God to come to them. By
Gods grace and through
your prayers this request is
on the verge of fulfilment as
two mission partners have
begun work amongst them
and a team will join them in
2016.

 The Laarim
often have
very distinct
scarification on
their skin.

Religion believing and fearing

the spirit world who controls
their lives. How can they believe
in the one of whom they have
not heard? How can they hear
without someone preaching
to them? How can they preach
unless they are sent?

LONGING FOR THE DAY

ISOLATED FROM OUTSIDE

The Laarim live much as

their ancestors have lived for
generations, keeping livestock
and living from the land, isolated
from the outside world, devoid
of modern development and
without resources other than
word-of-mouth communication
to broaden their horizons.
They practice an African Tribal

Jacob is already teaching Bible

Stories in the Laarim mother
tongue. The rest of the team will
devote themselves to learning
the language while modelling
Christ-likeness and love through
relationships. Through these
they will learn and develop
culturally appropriate ways
to make disciples of Jesus and
teach them to obey all that he
has commanded, while believing
that Jesus, will be with you
always, even to the very end of
the age Matthew 28:20.
We envision the day when the
Laarim are no longer unreached
and when the Police Chiefs
request will be fulfilled by the
apostle Johns prophetic words
of: I write to you, young men,
because you are strong, and the
word of God lives in you, and
you have overcome the evil one
1John 2:14

in advance for team

unity to exemplify the
unity Jesus earnestly
prayed for in John 17.

experienced builders
and labourers. Pray
for the completion of
a local airstrip.

DECEMBER
THURSDAY

Pray for the huge

logistics of building
houses, drilling
wells, setting up solar
power and preparing
communication
technology for this
team. The task is
daunting due to
remoteness, distance
from developmental
resources, and lack of

DECEMBER
FRIDAY

Pray for South

Sudans government,
politics, economy and
the security needed to
enable this team. Pray
for godly wisdom
for the government
leaders to end the
civil war and to align
their authority and
the national resources
so that the people

may lead tranquil and

peaceable lives in all
godliness and dignity.

DECEMBER
SATURDAY

Pray these words

of Jesus from John
7:37-38 would be a
reality for this team
and for the Laarim.
If anyone is thirsty,
let him come to me
and drink. Whoever
believes in me, as the
Scripture has said,
streams of living
water will flow from
within him.

MEET
ANGELO

was once walking along

a path in Loryok where I
lived, when a young man
approached me. I expected
him to beg from me like
many other strangers
frequently did. The young
man introduced himself
as Angelo. He said that he
heard I was doing the work
of God so he wanted to meet
me. I invited him to my place
and we sat and talked about
the gospel. Angelo said that
he had been learning about
the Bible from some Kenyan
missionaries in the town
where he attended school.
A few days later, Angelo
left the area to go back to
school. When we met again
the following year Angelo
was beaming with joy. He
told me that during his
first visit he did not really
know what it meant to be a
Christian, but now he had
been born again. Ever since,
Angelo has remained active
in the church where he
attends school, and during
holidays he comes and
joins with me to reach out
to his own people. Angelo
frequently talks about how
he looks forward to finishing
school so that he can be a
missionary.
By Jacob Borgelt
Download a prayer sheet on
the unreached Laarim:
eu.aimint.org/
pray/laarim
27

December 6-12

MOBILISING MISSION

Although the Hong Kong

mobilising office is small,
their focus and that of
their members is for the
unreached in Africa. Here
they share office and mission
partner news.

HEART FOR THE LOST

ur position of
Mobilisation Officer
had been vacant for
over one year. The Lord heard
our prayer and led a veteran
missionary, Eman Wong, to
join our team in May this
year. Eman and her husband
had served in North Africa
for 18 years with another
mission agency. Her heart
is still connected to Muslim
and unreached people groups
in Africa. Her passion is to
mobilise more people to have
hearts for Africa and to go
forward into the mission field.
By Gods grace, after several
years of intensive preparation,
our first missionary pilot,
Franky started his missionary
service with AIM AIR in July
this year. Praise the Lord! A
young university student,
Esther, also had the courage
from God to participate in the
28

TIMO Quest team in August

serving the Samburu seminomadic people in Northern
Kenya. Our first missionary
from Taiwan, PinHsuan, is now
serving in this Samburu TIMO
team and she serves as Esthers
mentor. This is a great support
to Esther.

Her passion
is to mobilise
more people to
have hearts for
Africa and to go
forward into the
mission field.
Both Franky and Esther
are young and we hope that
through their testimonies they
will connect well with other
young people. We pray that
their experience will challenge
more young people to follow in
their footsteps. The university
students and students in
seminaries are always our
target groups to share with
them the crying needs from
the unreached people groups
in Africa.

FAITHFUL IN MINISTRY

Our missionary couple

Matthew and Belinda with
their three children have been
in Kenya for more than seven
years. They are working among
the refugees in Nairobi by
teaching English. It has been
difficult to reach out to this
unreached people group but
their calling from God has kept
them faithful in this ministry.
Silent and Lilian are
our most experienced
missionaries. They have served
for twenty years with the last
two years in North Africa. Now
they are based in Hong Kong
because of health issues but
they are still leading small
short term teams in Northern
Region. At other times they
conduct training in Muslim
ministries.
Our newest appointee Siu
Yuk is a pastor in her home
church, which will become her
sending church when she goes
to the field in 2017. She has
been in Africa several times as
a short-termer with AIM. God
finally called her as a long term
missionary and her passion
is to bring the gospel to the
unreached.

DECEMBER | SUNDAY

MEET PINHSUAN
PinHsuan comes from Taiwan,
but came to faith in Germany
whilst studying for her Masters
in International Economics
and Finance at the University
of Tuebingen. Here she shares
how her life has changed.

ntil recently, I planned to

get a well-paid job after I
had attained my degree.
Now I am living amongst the
Samburu in Kenya, hoping to
share the gospel with them. What
started the dramatic change in
me? Simply, it was hearing about
Kenya and missionary work there.
At the time I heard about
the work in Kenya I was amazed
and attracted by the wilderness
presented, but I didnt give it a
second thought. After all, at that
time, I wasnt even a Christian.
How could being a missionary be
part of my plan? No. No way. But
somehow, a couple of weeks later,
on a whim, I visited AIMs website.
Then, being part of AIM, being
part of this very meaningful and
beneficial team started to root in
my heart. After much prayer, and
the conquest of both the fear of
heading in the opposite direction
to Taiwanese tradition and the
fear of unknown future, I started
to take action. The first thing I
did was to accept Jesus into my
life and to submit my life to God.
Contrary to my own perspective
that Id be working in a renowned
corporation, instead, God has
called me to the Samburu, leading
a very primitive life so that I may
share the hope I have in him.

We have a small
office: Dr. Jack Hung is our
Honorary General Secretary,
Crystal is our part-time
Executive Officer responsible
for administration and
accounting, and Eman is our
full-time Mobilising Officer.
Pray for them as they reach
out to churches, seminaries
and people interested in
African mission.

DECEMBER | MONDAY

Praise the Lord! We have

four ladies joining the newly
started fellowship group for
serious enquirers, seeking to
understand Gods guidance
on possible missionary
careers and where God will
lead them. Pray that they
will know more about the
spiritual needs in Africa.

for the past ten years

has been a very fruitful
experience. One of the first
batch of medical elective
students have returned to
do short-term medical work
in Kijabe Hospital. Pray for
more suitable opportunities
for new medical electives in
the coming years.

11

DECEMBER
FRIDAY

Thank God for leading

Eman to join our office as
Mobilising Officer. She has
a passion for Africa and
Muslim ministries. Pray
that through our newsletter,
monthly prayer meeting and
training we can motivate
more Christians to reach out
to Muslims.

12

DECEMBER
SATURDAY

DECEMBER | TUESDAY AIM has a very resourceful

We want to be
connected to local churches
in Hong Kong with a heart
for mission. Pray for more
invitations for our workers
to preach in their Sunday
worship, fellowship groups
or prayer meetings so that
the congregations will
hear the need to reach the
unreached in Africa.

DECEMBER
WEDNESDAY

Praise the Lord for Esther

who joined the TIMO
Quest team in Samburu
in northern Kenya for the
month of August. It has
been a very challenging
experience living among
semi-nomadic people. Pray
that her testimony will
encourage more people
to join the TIMO Quest
teams or other short-term
opportunities.

10

DECEMBER
THURSDAY

Sending medical elective

students to AIM hospitals

video library but it is mainly

in the English language.
We hope to make better use
of these videos by adding
Chinese subtitles so that
more of our local people can
understand them. Pray that
we can find the right people
to help, and the funding to
support the project.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

e in the small AIM

Hong Kong Office
celebrated our 30th
Anniversary last year,
and continue to grow
under the support of the
Australian Mobilising
Region. We now have six
active members and one
appointee. Pray that we
can be more proactive and
creative in reaching young
people, university students
and the over 50s.

December 13-19

PEOPLE FOCUS:
THE SAMBURU

For the past year or so, the Samburu Training

in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) team have
been working among the Samburu people
and have grown to deeply care for them.
Here are some of their stories of people they
have met.

JACOB WRITES PRAY FOR APAIYA

(FATHER)
LESINGERAN

e visits our
home daily to
have a cup of
tea with us and then
we either read the
Samburu childrens
Bible or listen to a
recorded Bible story
and discuss it. He
seems interested in
Gods word, but it is
hard to tell since he is a
quiet and soft-spoken
man. Pray that God would open his eyes to the
grace found in Christ. Pray that he would come
to faith and be an example to his household
drawing the rest of his family to Christ as well.

MIRIAM WRITES PRAY FOR LINA

Sitting in my friend Linas house after

showing the Jesus Film at her compound, I
found her full of good questions. As we talked
she asked me, Miriam, what does it mean to
murder? I cast about for recently learned words
30

in Samburu as I explained that God commands

us not to kill, that he hates war, and in fact says
if we hate another in our hearts it is the same as
murder. This brought a thoughtful pause. Pray
for Lina and others like her who desire to know
God, that they will come to know the God of love
who is actively seeking after their hearts and
lives.

COURTNEY WRITES PRAY FOR SABINA

Sabina returned the day after wed studied

the Beatitudes to ask if Id help her remember
them. So I grabbed my Samburu version of the
Gospel of Matthew and we headed for the river
bed. Like a sponge she soaked in each word and
in 30 minutes shed successfully memorised
half (vs 1-7 of 12.) Worrying shed lose her zeal
for memorising I asked if she wanted to stop
for the day. To which she responded, I will stop
memorising only when I remember all of what
Jesus said! Praise God for hunger and eagerness
to know him. Pray that she would grow into a
woman rooted in Gods word, captivated by his
voice, and yearning to follow after him.

JOY WRITES PRAY FOR MAMA LENKOYO

Ive come to church. This comment from

Mama Lenkoyo preceded our first Sunday
worship service in Lchakwai. Her determination
to have church, to worship God in song,
prayer, and listening to his word, pushed us
all into starting a worship service in Samburu
long before we felt ready for it. Mama Lenkoyo,
recently widowed, is just a few years older

13

DECEMBER
SUNDAY

Pray for continued

perseverance in
language and culture
learning, that we would
keep going when it can
be hard to be motivated
sometimes. Pray that
we would see this work
in the right way, as
key tools for reaching
people with the gospel.

14

DECEMBER
MONDAY

than I and we have become friends. She

believes in Jesus and knows that he died
for her sins. Pray that she will grow in her
understanding of what it means to be a
follower of Jesus, even when that means
doing things differently than her culture
prescribes.

Praise God for the

women and children
who come to the
church service every
Sunday morning. Pray
that as we study Lukes
Gospel they would
come to know Jesus
more and more.

FRAZER WRITES PRAY FOR

LTODOKA AND KULALO

15

At his request, I started studying

Matthews Gospel with Ltodoka, a young
school boy, and not long after, his friend,
Kulalo, joined us. One week, we were
looking at a passage where Jesus heals
many sick people. If we are sick then we

DECEMBER
TUESDAY

The church service

is not attended
by men or moran
(warriors). Pray for
creative ways to bring
the gospel to them.
Pray for meaningful

WEEKLY
FOCUS

P
must pray to Jesus, Ltodoka said. And
if we arent healed straight away, what
should we do? I asked. We must keep
praying to Jesus because only he can heal,
came the reply. I am amazed by these
boys simple yet profound faith they
have a lot to teach me. Please pray for
them and me as we study together, that
Jesus would make himself known to us.

Download a prayer sheet on the Samburu:

eu.aimint.org/pray/samburu

raise the Lord for

many different
ways to engage
the Samburu with
the gospel. We
have Matthews
and Lukes Gospels
in Samburu, the
Jesus Film, and the
One Story project
(a set of audio
Bible stories). Pray
that men, women
and young people
will engage with
Gods word and
respond in faith and
repentance.

engagement with the

gospel for the men
of Lchakwai, some of
whom struggle with
alcohol addiction.

16

DECEMBER
WEDNESDAY

Praise God for the One

Story project, a set of
audio Bible stories in
Samburu. Pray for the
team as we play these
with different groups
of men, women and
young people, and that
these people would
respond positively to
what they hear.

17

DECEMBER
THURSDAY

Some of the team are

studying Matthews
Gospel (in Samburu)
one to one with school
children. Pray for clear
communication and
understanding of the
gospel. Pray that these
young people would
share what they learn
with others.

18

DECEMBER
FRIDAY

In our TIMO studies

we are looking at
discipleship. Pray
for the team that we
would be able to put
into practice the things
that we learn from our
studies.

19

DECEMBER
SATURDAY

As the team comes to

an end early next year,
many team members
are considering their
future; whether to stay
among the Samburu
or serve the Lord
elsewhere. Pray for
wisdom and clear
guidance from the
Holy Spirit.

December 20-31

SHORT TERM
Back in July, a TIMO Quest team joined
the Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO)
team working on an Indian Ocean Island.

One of our short termers

who is considering
long term ministry in a
creative access nation
shares her TIMO Quest
experiences (name
withheld for security).

o, how was it?

This is a question
I have been
answering since returning
home from a month spent
living on an Indian Ocean
Island as a TIMO Quester.
Of course I am overjoyed
and excited to be asked
about my experience, but
before I prepare to speak,
my pause is unusually
long, the thought racing
through my mind at
that precise moment
is Where do I even
begin?! I want to tell
them about all the things I
have observed, learnt and
endured before, during
and after my experience
of TIMO Quest. I want to
tell them about the people,
customs, traditions,
colours, smells and
sounds that make up the
Island I called home for
a month. I want to share
it all. Although in reality
I know it is impossible
to ever share it all, I am
excited that one special

32

It was such
a privilege to
see God at
work on the
Island
way I can share about my
TIMO Quest experience
is when I reflect on what
I observed, learnt and
was reminded about the
person and character of
God during this journey.

GOD THE CREATOR

Seeing and hearing

the ocean every day and
enjoying views of the
horizon from balconies
and rooftops on the
Island was breathtaking.
The greenery along
the mountainsides
felt like the finishing
touch to an already
beautiful masterpiece.
Opportunities to sing
and pray with such a
backdrop made me feel
Gods presence and his
awesomeness. When the
locals asked us what we
thought of the Island
we could truthfully and
joyfully say how God
had blessed them with a
beautiful place.

GO ON A TIMO
QUEST TEAM?

n tandem with AIMs Training in

Ministry Outreach (TIMO) teams we
offer a short term programme called
TIMO Quest, which normally lasts for
around four weeks. This programme
gives those considering long term
service with AIM a real taster of crosscultural ministry in Africa as they
shadow and support the established
TIMO team normally working amongst
an unreached people group. Its not
the only way you can get involved in
short term mission though. We run
other team opportunities as well as
individual placements so if you feel
that God is calling you to short term
service (between one month and a year)
please get in touch with Tom at the
Nottingham Office.
If you are interested in TIMO Quest, get in
touch with Tom at:
stc.eu@aimint.org

20

DECEMBER | SUNDAY

Please pray for those short

termers who are out in the field for
Christmas. Pray that they wouldnt
miss home too much at this time of
year, and that they would feel the
presence of the Lord strengthening
them as they serve him.

21

DECEMBER | MONDAY

Tamsin Drew has been in DR

Congo since the start of October
2015. She has been working
alongside Annemarie Boks as a
medical doctor in Adi. Tamsin is
working in the hospital alongside
two permanent doctors who treat
those living with Aids. Pray that
she would continue to be a good
support to the doctors, and for
opportunities for her to share her
faith with those she meets.

GOD THE PROVIDER

Right from the start

God reconciled my
heart and mind with my
concerns about the cost of
the trip and the call to be a
good steward of resources
(in this case, money). He
provided situations and
people to remind me
about the vast number
of unreached people in
the world and the fact
that God has called us to
live a radically sacrificial
life. Through these
conversations I concluded
that no financial cost is
too much to bear; if God
calls me to a task, he will
provide.

GOD THE PROTECTOR

Thank God for

peace in the Island we
visited. Despite other
hardships facing the
Islanders, we were able
to comment on the peace
and lack of crime with
locals, pointing to Gods
goodness and care for the
Island. Spiritual warfare is

something we felt, learnt

about, prayed against and
were protected from!

GOD THE SUSTAINER

It was very humbling

to share in the life of the
TIMO team. They didnt
pretend to be sorted but
shared their brokenness
and modelled for us their
reliance on God as they
continued to learn the
language, culture, work
and share their lives in the
different communities
God has placed them in.

GOD THE WORKER

It was such a privilege

to see God at work on
the Island, to meet and
worship with local
believers and to hear
about people who had
come to accept the Lord
during our time on the
Island. It was encouraging
to see God working in the
lives of those seeking to
know him. God clearly
demonstrated that he is
at work but that there was
work still to be done!

22

DECEMBER | TUESDAY

Our Area Mobilisers have

visited Christian Unions across
the UK over the last few months as
they highlight the work of AIM to
students who may have a heart for
mission. Pray that the Lord would
be working in the hearts of those
who have heard this message and
that they would be bold in stepping
forward to give their time and
skills to serving the Lord through
mission in Africa.

23

DECEMBER
WEDNESDAY

There is a great need for short

termers to support long term
mission partners by helping in
teaching and homeschooling.
Please pray that we would see more
short termers willing to serve our
mission partners in this way.

24

DECEMBER | THURSDAY

Pray for Tom and Rosemary

in the Nottingham office as
they continue to support the
short termers the best they can
throughout the whole short term
process.

25

DECEMBER | FRIDAY

Praise God for the

opportunity of our short termers
to share the good news of our
Saviour and King at this time

 Hijabs and burqas are outer

garments worn by women in most
Islamic traditions to cover their
bodies when in public.

THE IMPACT OF
RELATIONSHIPS
Josie* recently spent three weeks in a
Creative Access Nation following several
short term trips to different parts of Africa.
Here, she chose to utilise her physiotherapy
skills to build relationships, as well as to
consider where God might be calling her to
serve long term in the future.

FOCUSED ON THE GOSPEL

his trip was my first to this country but

the plan is that Ill return regularly to the
same place to build relationships with
the people there, with the hope of reaching
them with the gospel. On this visit I spent time
working in the Physiotherapy department in
a local hospital and some time helping with
training and care for a girls running group.
Sometimes we can get so focussed on the skills
we have gone out with that we miss the really
important parts. My lack of language there meant
the physiotherapy I could offer was limited but
it also meant I spent all my time with one of the
local physios. Despite the language difficulties,
this gave me a chance to build a relationship
with her. Along with a couple of others, we
went shopping and for dinner together, pretty
similar really to hanging out with girls at home.
One of the most surreal experiences of my time
away was sitting in the home of a local Muslim
family, wearing a traditional outfit for guests to a
wedding, getting my makeup done by my friend.
These activities, although so simple, meant so
much in terms of relationships. I believe its these
interactions that are the most effective way of
us sharing Christ, following his commands and
example - to love others.
34

I believe its these

interactions that are the
most effective way of us
sharing Christ
CONSIDERING THE FUTURE

Please pray for me as I hope to continue my

friendship with this girl, and as I try to learn
more of the language from here in the UK.
Please also pray for me as I look to the future
and what God wants me to be doing. I love
Africa and at times its tempting to leave life in
the UK and just go and live in Africa. But I dont
think the time is right for me to go, at least not
yet. I want to be a wise woman of God, so please
pray for wisdom for me. I am considering future
trips but ultimately I want to follow Gods plans
and not my own.
If you get the chance, Id encourage you to go,
experience Africa for yourself, see what God will
do in you and through you. And experience the
people of Africa, and you might just find that
the place and the people capture your heart, the
way they have captured mine.
*name changed for security

 Caroline Bell (right) spent six

months in Adi, DR Congo, working
as a doctor in a local hospital.

This time has

really confirmed
my desire to be
involved in long
term mission in the
future.

THE LONG TERM

IMPACT OF SHORT TERM
Caroline Bell shares about the
impact of her short term trip

have been interested in

mission for many years
and decided to take a year
out of my medical training to
investigate what involvement in
mission in the future might look
like. I didnt want my horizon

of year when we
celebrate his birth. Pray
for opportunities to
go deeper than simply
scratching the surface
of the Christmas story.

26

DECEMBER
SATURDAY

Praise God for the lives

of those that the short
termers have touched
over this last year. Pray
that those who have
received the gospel
would grow strong in
their faith even though
the short termers are no
longer among them.

27

DECEMBER
SUNDAY

Please pray for each of

the receiving regions
as they prepare and get
ready for a new year of
hosting short termers.
Pray that there would
be plenty of diverse
opportunities for short

to switch from involvement in

mission to buying a house and
settling in the UK. So I went
to Adi, a rural village in the
Democratic Republic of Congo
to work in the local hospital
alongside the Congolese doctors.
This time has really confirmed
my desire to be involved in long

termers to serve in over

the year ahead.

28

DECEMBER
MONDAY

Pray for the short

termers who are just
about to leave the UK
and go out to serve the
Lord in Africa. Pray for
their preparations in a
physical, mental and
spiritual sense. Pray that
the Lord will use the
short termers mightily
in their witness to him.

29

DECEMBER
TUESDAY

Please pray for the

short termers who
have returned from
Africa during 2015 and
are now considering
whether to serve on the
field long term. Pray for
wisdom and guidance
as they make these life
changing decisions.

term mission in the future. I

dont know what this will look
like, or when it will be, but Im
excited to see how God will lead
me. I learnt so much during the
time I was away. I learnt what it is
to rely on God, desire him more
and really depend on him day by
day. I definitely love Jesus more
as a result of my time in Africa.

30

DECEMBER
WEDNESDAY

Please pray for potential

short termers who are
currently considering
serving the Lord with
AIM in Africa in 2016.
Pray that the Lord would
guide them to the right
place at the right time.

31

DECEMBER
THURSDAY

Thank you for all your

prayers over this last
year. Mission without
prayer often fails, so
thank you for joining
with us in praying for
all of the short termers
who have been out to
Africa. We ask that you
would continue to pray
for the short term work
for the coming year and
that the Lord would do a
great work amongst the
short termers serving
in 2016.

WEEKLY
FOCUS

frica can be
an exciting
but a strange and
unfamiliar place for
short termers who
have never been
before. Cultures,
languages and
experiences are often
extremely different
from anything new
short termers have
ever come across.
Pray for sensitivity
and the willingness
and ability to adjust to
life in a cross-cultural
context.
See People & Places
for the current short
termers in Africa:
eu.aimint.org/pray
/peopleandplaces

Opportunities to serve

REACHING THE
DIDINGA

Africa Inland Missions

OCT-DEC 2015

MAGAZINE & PRAYER DIARY

Christ-centred churches among all African peoples

European headquarters
Aim International
Halifax Place
Nottingham NG1 1QN
United Kingdom
0115 9838 120
admin.eu@aimint.org
@aimeurope
fb.com/aimeurope
Scotland
0115 8242202
scotland.eu@aimint.org
South England/Wales
0115 8242205
south.eu@aimint.org
Ireland
0115 8242203
ireland.eu@aimint.org
North England/Wales
0115 8242204
north.eu@aimint.org
French speaking
france.eu@aimint.org
Netherlands
netherlands.eu@aimint.org
Editor | Lindsey Davies
communications.eu
@aimint.org

re you passionate about seeing Christcentred churches planted amongst

unreached people groups?
AIM is looking for men and women to work amongst
the Didinga in South Sudan. If you, or someone you
know, is interested in long or short term service, visit:

EU.AIMINT.ORG/DIDINGA

Design | Joe Morgan

graphics.eu@aimint.org
AIM Europe | October 2015
Africa Inland Mission International, a company limited by
guarantee (04598557), a registered charity in England
and Wales (1096364) and a charity registered in Scotland
(SC037594) Registered Office: Halifax Place Nottingham
NG1 1QN.

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