Some of you know that in June I unexpectedly started rather intense work on the Lingala revision of CBCO’s lay pastor training program.

I told Mama Luti’s story in January 2011. Mama Luti Makunu Mayumbu was one of our very first literacy graduates in the Vanga area. She had started school, but was pulled out in early primary school to care for her sick mom, who subsequently died. Then she continued to care for her younger brothers and sisters, and keep house for her dad.

We joined nearly 16,000 others in St. Louis for the week of challenging messages, Bible studies and conversations encouraging participants to consider God’s call to global mission service.

It is with much joy that I share with you the great things for which I am so thankful for during this Thanksgiving season.

This is Roderick, a child who is only 1-1/2 years old, who is being raised in my house because his mother helps me with the housework. He came to my house when he was only two months old and so he is with me while I am operating the daily tutoring program at my house.

Trials and challenges are an inescapable part of this life alongside with pain. As John Piper quoted, ”Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf humanity.”