Dear MBC Saints,

Thank you again for your prayer coverage the past two weeks. Both weeks have been exceptional. Morris’ closing remarks to GR8 Leadership underscored the strategic value that he views the over-all Soroti training curriculum has to the long-term health of the Eastern Presbytery and its vision to plant churches in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and eastern DRC. He extended a special invite to Hermann to come back with GR8 Leaders to offer it to all of the pastors within the Eastern Presbytery.

Renal Mannikam, who has extensive experience in training and development in South Africa, shared his assessment of the curriculum thus far. He is excited, not only for his generation, but the legacy that courses such as Happiness Unboxed, Hope For Relationships and GR8 Leaders will have for his sons’ generation.

We showed the movie Fireproof, Friday night to this group and a number of the church leaders would like to have a copy to supplement the Hope for Relationships course. The reinforcement of the key biblical principles is astounding.

We have one last prayer request for this session. We would appreciate your prayers for a boring, uneventful trip home for everyone returning to South Africa, Malawi, Zambia and for Hermann, Cindy and James. :) We are scheduled to be back in Midland on Sunday night @ 7:30 pm.

In HIs Love,

Hermann, Cindy and James

As anticipated, the session on “Leaders Use Less, Not More Control” had the group very engaged. One of the key concepts clarified the importance of our response as leaders when the expectations agreed to upfront are not being met in actions and behaviors. Morris shared that there is a cultural resistance to being able to state reality and accountability without taking it personal. The response can actually be “Why do you hate me?”. What it encourages then is avoiding and ignoring the development of people, along with poor results. We also had a good discussion on the example God provides for us to follow in this area.

Since then, we’ve covered the following session with similar engagement from everyone present:
Leaders Encourage and Develop Teamwork
Leaders Help Teams Resolve Conflict
Leaders Facilitate Team Results

Today, we will be covering the sessions on:
Leaders Strive for Continuous Improvement
Leaders Catalyze Change
Leaders Persevere to the Finish

Please pray that we will persevere to the finish with this week of training and the follow-up that it is creating. Also, please pray for the health of the participants, include Pastor Stephen Wanda. His malaria has flared up and he received treatment from the clinic yesterday and is responding well to the medication.

In Him,

Hermann, Cindy and James

Dear MBC Saints,

We have had two very full days to kick off the GR8 Leaders training this week. In addition to the regular members of the Alpha team, we have been joined by several key Presbytery leaders and they are very encouraged by what is being offered through this curriculum. Please be in prayer about their invitation to offer additional sessions of GR8 Leaders to the pastors in the Eastern Presbytery to invite them to follow Christ’s example of leadership in serving His church in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

The sessions that we’ve covered thus far are:
- Leaders Value People AND Results
- Leaders Value Humility, Listening and Questions (we had a great discussion about adapting the principles of listening in our prayer life to truly be quiet before God and to listen)
- Leaders Communicate with Clarity
- Leaders Use Emotions Wisely

Today’s session will be:
- Leaders Seek and Share Truth
- Leaders Use Less, Not More Control (all of the sessions are important, but your prayers for this session are especially valued)

Also, please continue to be praying for Hermann. This is not our normal co-facilitating approach and it’s very demanding to serve a group of this size. Please pray for his rest, his energy and his continued dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

Today is the first anniversary of Bishop Stephen’s death. Please be praying for continued comfort and provision for his widow and children in Malawi.

In His love,

Hermann, Cindy and James

Dear MBC Saints,

Thank you for your prayers for energy to finish strong. We left it all “on the trail” of discussions with many, many questions around child-raising and divorce. The teachings from I Corinthians 7 addressed a wide range of scenarios that have happened in the last couple of years in the relationships that these church leaders are familiar with and they go back home with a different spirit of lovingkindness and hope to offer to the marriages and families in their respective churches and communities. We concluded the evening with a viewing of “Fireproof” which was enjoyed by all. As soon as it becomes available, we’ll bring “Courageous” to the training sessions and share its encouragement and challenge to fathers.

I just confirmed with Aidah that everyone came in last night, as planned, with their bags. Thank you for your prayers for journey mercies for Hermann, Ravi, Kitty, Mike, Tony, Richard and Renal. She dropped off David Curtis and Johnson Mbazi last night and the remainder this morning. Your prayers to accompany David, Johnson, Harrison, Harvey, Gama, Anton, Mwewa and Numbi matter.

This morning, I’ll be sharing some of the key truths/principles from Hope for Relationships with the combined Sunday School class in Mbale. It will give them a preview of what they will be receiving as Hassan Wabutwa starts his 2nd generation group next year in the Mbale zone of six churches and saints are equipped to take the Soroti Training curriculum to their respective churches and communities. Cindy and I will also have an opportunity to have lunch with Natalie Rolfe and catch up on her ministry @ the Children’s Home.

We also have a special addition to our training in Soroti this week. Several of the key Presbytery leaders will be joining up this week as Hermann is facilitating GR8 Leaders. The crisis in leadership in the body of Christ is universal and Hermann is offering Hope for Leadership with the course he has developed that casts a vision for servant leadership and seeking the best for others that is sorely needed but rarely understood and practiced. Please be praying for hearts and ears to be open to the leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit.

In His Love,

Hermann, Cindy and James

Dear MBC Saints,

We had an unscheduled session last night “For Men Only” where we discussed the root of sexual sins and the intimacy, joy and fulfillment of living life within God’s design in marriage. Many myths were dispelled (including “this part of your life is over when you turn 35″) and it was very moving to see the Spirit at work as these brothers in the Lord from various backgrounds were open and vulnerable with one another.

Our session on 8 Steps to Personal Transformation was very intense and was used by the Spirit to grow this group together closer in a united purpose to want to repent of doing ministry and good works in the flesh rather than following God’s design and provision for us to have dominion over this world by living in dependency upon Him.

Please pray for a good night’s rest for everyone tonight. Tomorrow is a full day as we wrap up our training in Hope for Relationships and prepare for our next session in March. Our session schedule includes:

Two Biggest Problems in Marriage (Money/Sex) facilitated by Numbi Ilunga from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Numbi participated in our summer intern ministry in Midland in the summer of 2008.

Damage to Children and Future Generations facilitated by Godfrey Siginyi, a pastor @ Kachonga Presbyterian Church and a father of 8 children. MBC hosted a mini-crusade @ Kachonga in the summer of 2005.

Divorce and The Bible facilitated by Gama Kachaso, who serves as the Southern Region Director for Harvesters International Ministries in Malawi.

Thank you for your faithfulness to provide prayer coverage. It has been obvious that the flesh and the enemy has been stirred up this week and God has graciously honored your prayers on our behalf.

Please be praying for journey mercies for Hermann and the other team members that will be traveling on Friday/Saturday to join us for the session next week on GR8 Leaders.

In HIm,

David, Cindy and James

Dear MBC saints,

Thank you for your prayers for our sessions with the Omega team on Hope for Relationships. One of the participants, prior to this session, believed that God’s calling was for him to minister as a single pastor. After understanding better the image of God and God’s design for males and females, he has changed his mind and is seeking to become a man that God would be pleased to bring a helpmate to. As Tim Dunn has pointed out in his SS class, “men are so clueless they don’t know they are alone.” Well, this young man now knows that it is not good for man to be alone. :)

Tomorrow’s session was very impactful on the group last year and I expect may be similar this year. Please be praying for the facilitators as we address the following chapters:

The Problem of Offense & The Solution of Forgiveness–facilitated by Charles Mukhwana, the pastor of Kidoko Presbyterian Church, a newlywed with an exceptional wife. (Her bride price was seven cows, but as we all know, she is priceless.)

The Problem of Deceit & The Solution of Confession–facilitated by Harvey Chabinga, a pastor from Malawi who also serves as the Central Region Director for Harvester’s International Ministries. Harvey participated in the Brother Timothy training in Mbale in 2006.

The Problem of Control & The Solution of Freedom–facilitated by Denis Omundi, the pastor of Siaya Community Bible Church in Kenya. He also is a newlywed and their fellowship has many young couples in it. He is very excited about introducing these biblical principles of relationship to his church family.

I’ll visit with Milly and Helen and provide an update on the Changing Me training tomorrow.

Please include in your prayers the wife of Johnson Mbazi. He was delayed because his wife, Pauline, was recovering from thyroid surgery. She is doing well, but prayers for healing and the follow-up treatment would be appreciated.

In Him,

David, Cindy and James

Dear MBC saints,

Thank you again for your prayers for journey mercies for Numbi Ilunga from DRC and Johnson Mbazi from Rwanda. They arrived in Soroti about 4:15 pm this afternoon and were able to join us for most of the afternoon session.

There were a number of spirited discussions today as we discussed matters where people live and again we are seeing how common the struggles are regardless of cultural and national backgrounds. We were definitely experiencing God’s Hope for relationships and families as our hearts and minds were renewed with God’s design and provision for relationships. Please continue your prayers tomorrow for the facilitators and the areas we will be discussing. They include:

The Problem of Reacting & The Solution of Choosing–facilitated by Rehan Khan, from South Africa. He is married to Charlene and is Tony Reddy’s, son-in-law. Charlene and Tony both attended summer intern sessions in Midland.

The Big Problem–”ME!” facilitated by Hassan Wabutwa, a deacon @ Mbale Presbyterian Church and The Big Solution–Love facilitated by Mwewa Esaya from Chingola, Zambia (where Ian and Marilyn Campbell live and Deborah McCurdy and Terri Dunn ministered in September with the Changing Me curriculum)

The Problem of Opinion facilitated by Michael Betto, a deacon @ Magada Presbyterian Church (a MBC church plant) and The Solution of Truth facilitated by Andrew Ochwo, a pastor @ Tuba Presbyterian Church

We would also appreciate your prayers for the Changing Me training that is being hosted @ the Soroti Presbyterian church (a MBC church plant) starting tomorrow morning. Helen Acuku and Milly Bukku were trained by Deborah McCurdy and Julie Green and will be serving as the facilitators to equip two women from each church in the Northern Region of the Eastern Presbytery on the Changing Me curriculum and ministry. I will be meeting with David Bukku, Vincent Ojanja, Fred Sande Omusolo and Morris Ogenga on Saturday to get a complete update on the Women’s and Men’s Mentoring ministry efforts to equip saints at each church to take the women and men of each church in the Eastern Presbytery through this material.

In Him,

David, Cindy and James

Hot off the press news. Please pass along that Numbi Ilunga from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Johnson Mbazi from Rwanda have just arrived. (Both of them share French as their native language.) Thank you for your prayers on their behalf.

Thank you for your prayers for journey mercies. We have everyone in Soroti (with luggage) except Numbi and Johnson and we are continuing to pray that both of them are able to join us by tomorrow afternoon.

In the morning, we will start our week with the Omega group reviewing the new format for Hope for Relationships. David Curtis and Hermann Eben have revised the HFR material to allow it to transition to the Internet Bible Seminary with BEE World. This will allow the impact of Hope for Relationships to continue to expand on a global basis. It is now 12 lessons that are framed around seven problems and solutions and will be the version that we will offer @ the Triple L weekends during 2012.

Please pray for tomorrow’s facilitators. They include:

Dennis Molira from Eldoret, Kenya who will be facilitating the “Introduction” to the over-all course

Anton Banda from Malawi will be facilitating “The Problem—God’s Judgment”

Johnson Mbazi from Rwanda is scheduled to facilitate “The Solution—Real Men and Women”. (In the event he has not arrived, David Curtis is prepared to facilitate the afternoon session.)

After dinner tonight, we viewed Hermann’s and Louie’s testimony on video. It was very powerful (especially with a 10’ Hermann Eben) and provided an excellent framing for the week as we explore God’s principles for relationships this week regarding Freedom, Choice and Love.

In His Love,

David, Cindy and James

James & Cindy Bobo & David Curtis arrived safely in Uganda today along with all of their bags. Praise God for answering our prayers for safe & uneventful travel!

Another praise…Numbi, our training student from the Congo, did receive his passport today & will be flying to Uganda tomorrow.

Johnson, our student from Rwanda, did not arrive in Uganda this morning as scheduled. James’ attempts to contact him were not proving successful this evening. We do not know why his missed his flight or if he was able to reschedule it.

Here is the prayer request from James:

Please be praying that we can work out the logistics for Numbi and Johnson to get to Entebbe by Sunday evening. We will leave a van driver to pick them up @ the airport and they will leave early Monday morning. That would put them in Soroti in time for our first afternoon session that starts Monday afternoon @ 4:00 pm.

Thanks for your prayers!!

James & Cindy Bobo & David Curtis are on their way to Uganda for the final equipping session of 2011. Right now, they are on the flight to Amsterdam where they will have a 3 hour layover before flying on to Uganda.

Tomorrow there will be 6 training students from Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda, & South Africa flying into Uganda.

Please pray for safe & uneventful travels for all.

We also need your prayers for Numbi Ilunga, our student from the Congo. He is still waiting to receive his visa in order to travel to Uganda on Sunday. Please pray that he will get his passport back tomorrow so that he can make this trip.