PRAYER LETTER NO.30.

 www.greatlakesoutreach.org

"Only those who risk going too far find out how far they can go."
"One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the
shore."

Dear Tigers, 30th June 2004

Greetings! I hope this finds you well. The above quotes are there because
I was talking to someone recently after preaching, and he said: "The
risk-takers in our land have gone to ground." Is he right? Isn't
risk-taking a prerequisite to faith? 'Is our faith respectable, moderate,
calculated, sober, with as little tension with the world as possible?' God
help us to live lives worthy of His calling.

Things have kicked off again in Central Africa in the last few weeks, and
an update was due anyway, so here's what my best Burundian friend wrote a
few days ago:

"The war in the Eastern Region of Congo resumed two weeks ago. About
thirty thousand people with majority kids and women are refugees on
Burundi territory now. Burundi which is just turning in a corner from
eleven years of civil war. Last year we were classified as the second
poorest nation of the world. I want to say that these refugees are in a
very critical situation. They have no food, no drinking water, no
blankets, etc. Last week, I visited one of the centers where these people
are gathered, I felt so sad and angry. Africa is dying just because of
poor leadership. Congo is a so rich nation with all kind of resources but
people are dying every day with guns and hunger. I cried to see them
fighting for water to drink. I decided not to go there again as I have
nothing to give them but I am praying, trusting God for a miracle."

The area affected is one I know well. I have preached there several times,
including a while back when I shared from Matthew 25 and the parable of
the ten virgins: Jesus is coming, no-one knows when, but are you ready?
Many of them responded, many others didn't. I drove in their direction two
days later on my motorbike only to be turned back by a group of soldiers
as killing was taking place up ahead. An undisclosed number died, so for
them the message they had heard was particularly relevant, and I wonder if
they were indeed ready to meet their Maker. All of us need to be ready,
whether we are living in a war-zone or not.

Lawlessness continues around the country. Another good friend wrote to me
today: "Bandits came for the 3rd time this year and took whatever they
wanted minus our lives, after a week I was down and admitted with
malaria++++. But they did good to leave one trouser which I used to go for
treatment. But I have forgiven them."

The SU team is still doing great things in schools, with churches,
seminars etc. The AIDS project continues to make an impact, as does the
work with the orphans and streetchildren. Hopes for lasting peace remain
high. The leader of the largest rebel faction which has recently been
reintegrated into the government has been going around churches confessing
and repenting for his part in the bloodshed. He is one of the favourites
for the presidency at the October elections if he wants it, so if his
conversion is genuine, that would be very exciting indeed.

Our appeal for the youth training and conference centre is progressing
well, with k already donated of the 0k required. Still a long way to go,
so if you have any contacts with trusts or foundations, or any bright
ideas, do get in touch with me. God bless all of you for your involvement.
I am also trying to increase our prayer base, so if you have friends on
email whom you think would be interested in praying for this part of the
world, do forward this to them or give me their emails - that is a very
real way of being involved in our work.

Meanwhile, in Darfur, Sudan, an estimated 3,000 people are dying every day
from government raids and forced starvation. If it takes you five minutes
to read this email, then that equates to another eight lives lost in this
horrific government-sponsored tragedy. Hundreds appear to have been
abducted into slavery. As many as 1 million are expected to die by
Christmas if the UN does not act to stop the Sudanese government. The
world sat by and watched the Rwandan genocide, and it looks like it will
do so again. So please check out www.iabolish.com/darfur and engage in
this issue in a practical way, as well as praying passionately for these
voiceless 'unpeople', who are just as precious to God as you and I, though
clearly less privileged. Indeed, we are surely not called for privilege
alone, but for responsibility. As Robert F. Kennedy said: "Few will have
the greatness to bend history itself, but each one of us can work to
change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will
be written the history of this generation." How much more so for the
people of God!

That's enough from me. Lizzie and I are on great form. We thank you for
your prayers. We continue to strive to be risk-takers, consenting to 'lose
sight of the shore' and knowing that 'the call of God will never take us
where the grace of God will not keep us'. May it be the same for you. In
Him,

Simon and Lizzie Guillebaud