What's next?

Beginning in late January - I have received the quite a few inquiries or requests for missionary architectural service;  in addition to the Church at San Luis, Mexico, and the Portland Rescue Mission work.  Some are likely to take shape in the next month or two, some may take over a year, and some may not be more than inquires.  Following is a list with brief description and comment:

Church & Discipleship Center in Sierra Leone: Pastor Michael Turray and I met at a conference in January - and began corresponding about the vision his church has to build a building for worship, training, and lodging for guest speakers. Following is an excerpt from an email Michael wrote last week: "I want you to know that we are very much interested in helping us out with the architectural design for our church. One of the biggest challenge we have right now is how to send the pictures to you, as our internet is very slow. But I will be in USA by July 2nd, 2013. So I will then be able to send you all the pictures you need of the land so that you can get started in approved by your organization. I just want you to know that you are the hope that we have to make this happen for us sir."

Saint Paul's Church in Singida, Tanzania: Evangelist Musa Njagamba, a guest at our house for two weeks in early March, noted that his home church was needing a new facility.  He put me in touch with his pastor, Benjamin Mbago, who wrote the following in April: "I'm glad to know that you met our brother Evangelist Musa in your country and that he shares with you on what we're doing at St. Paul's Church in Singida.

 

Among those good works done here, we're planning to build a new church for the one used now was built many years years and now can not accommodate many congregation members following increase number of them. Kindly, I'm writing to ask you on how you can join us in this planned work."

 

He wrote recently to note that though his church had intended to send me information earlier than now, his daughter, Beatrice is not well, and this has postponed things for short while:

"We're fine and doing well at St. Paul's. The Lord has been so good to us in many ways, and we're thankful to him. We planned to write you immediately and let you know our progress on our work, especially more progress plans on building our new church. However, as you're aware, since November last year, I've been facing many challenges on my daughter Beatrice's treatment. It has made to move from my place to Dar es Salaam, Moshi and Arusha for further treatment and check ups. Right now, my wife Sophia and I, we're in Dar es Salaam together with Beatrice for treatment at Muhimbili National Hospital. Please Edward, join with us in prayer as we continue with this challenging task." I ask those who read this to join me in prayer for Beatrice, Benjamin, Sophia, and his church family in your prayers during these difficult days.

 

Melita Youth Ministry in Singida, Tanzania: The Lord has laid on Evangelist Musa Njagamba's heart to develop a music and youth ministry for the youth of Tanzania.  I will share more about this very wonderful ministry vision in a future blog, but from an architectural standpoint, he envisions a Youth Music Center, performance hall for ministry, and the entire community of Singida.  He has recently been offered a wonderful piece of land for $9,000 (US), but with very little income; he has asked me to pray that God, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, provides.  Please also pray with me for Musa, and this ministry.

 

Hospital in Haiti: This is more of a consulting service for a young architect, Theodore Prophete (who goes by Kerby) who moved to Haiti shortly after the earthquake a few years ago and has been providing architectural services for orphanages, hospitals, and many other organizations. He was connected with me in February (while we were serving in Mexico), requesting some medical design assistance for a hospital he is designing in Haiti.  It has been a wonderful honor to provide help him, and it sounds like we might be collaborating on additional projects soon...stay tuned.

 

THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL PROJECTS ARE IN THE "INQUIRY" STAGE:

 

Baptist Church in Puerto Rico

  
Orphanage in Guatemala

 
Orphanage in Dominican Republic

 

 
Guest Missionary House in Uganda

 

 
Hall of Residence at St. John's University in Dodoma, Tanzania

 

As you can see - the Lord seems to be steering some wonderful opportunities this direction.  Please pray that He be glorified in every interaction through each project and inquiry as they develop. 

 

 

Ray and Carol Williams

Ray and Carol Williams opened their home to us when we were serving in Mexico a couple months ago.  This precious couple have spent all of their adult years actively serving our Lord as missionaries in multiple countries and in multiple ways. Ray shared that God called to "go to the nations" as a very young man, and relative newlywed.  He said he responded to this calling by making a deal with the Lord, that he would go wherever the Lord pointed, but that he would not seek to raise support; the Lord would need to provide.  Some 47 years later, they are still actively serving, sometimes they have needed outside employment to make ends meet and raise their family, most of the time Christians learned of their ministries and provided for their needs (even including airplanes).  They are based out of Yuma, AZ these days, but as a pilot, Ray is able to get around pretty easily - and boy does he! They really blessed us during our stay - and have been a blessing to so many others.  Following are some excerpts and closing reflections from their recent newsletter that you may enjoy.

 

We have spent most of the last couple of months in Mexico... Carol brought a beautiful message to a group of ladies on a Saturday morning. There were almost 80 women who were first time visitors. Many of them stepped forward to acknowledge their new found belief in the finished work of Christ.

The “Mother Church” in Mexico City (which they planted) has grown immensely. There are six daughter churches now. On Easter Sunday the Pastor baptized many new believers. Through the years they have baptized almost 1,000 new believers in that Church. Most of the leaders and elders now were babies in the arms at the dedication service of the Church sanctuary many years ago.

In April, together with CALO, Fundación Codett and Hospital El Buen Pastor, we took a volunteer medical team to the city of San Quintín, on the Baja Peninsula to do an eye clinic...The unity and the love of the entire team was so sweet to watch.

On Mother’s Day (May 10 in Mexico) Carol and I each taught a session and served lunch to the ladies of the Church David and Iracela Power are planting in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora (this is the church we've drawn Community Center plans for). It was sweet and really anointed. The young mothers were like hungry little birds. It is so much fun to minister to people who really want to learn and grow.

The faithfulness of people who love and trust us has allowed Carol and I to be a part of a world changing, sometimes battlefront and sometimes victory parade which has lasted since we were sent out to be full time servants in 1966. That is 47 years of faithfulness on the part of God and of God’s people. We have no plans or thoughts to quit or retire. No one has ever had a job that was more fun.

We have note been in Europe or on the African Continent for a couple of years, but we do stay in close contact with some of our dear friends and disciples there.  The young men and women we have trained and sent out over the years have planted more than 700 churches on five continents, and created schools, hospitals and feeding ministries all over the globe.  I always feel like I've never really had a job in my life, and that I just get to show up and watch the incredible things God is doing.

We love you. Thank you a 1000 times. Ray Williams

O. Ray Williams, D. D. Pres.
I CARE, Inc.
P O Box 1000
Yuma, AZ 85366-2345
928-580-1285

Skype: oraywilliams1
oraywilliams@roadrunner.com
www.icaretgc.org