Simeon & Mary Tuyizere, (Ghana, DPG Day 1)
On Sunday, Simeon was travelling in a group to a training conference when they were attacked and robbed by armed men. They stole his phone, money and cards. He sustained some injuries but decided to continue on to the training. Please pray for Simeon and the group he was with, apart from the financial loss, they will be feeling trauma and physical hurt. Pray they heal and are strengthened and encouraged today.
Herman & Belinda Lamprecht, (South Africa, DPG Day 2)
Herman has been offered, and accepted, a new ministry role with OM International, on the "Digital Architecture and Operations" team (that's fancy talk for developing computer apps for different countries and ministries in OM and providing support for the implementation of IT infrastructure across the OM world). This will enable him to serve missionaries and ministries not just in Africa, but in other parts of the world too. He has also been given some time/space to allocate working with a ministry of YWAM, which focuses on producing multimedia resources for children living in "least reached" communities around the world. Please pray as he takes on these new roles and responsibilities. Also, please pray for Belinda and the children’s’ home schooling as new laws around government registration are tightening and taking more control from the parents. Please pray as she must finalise paperwork by Jan 23rd or be penalised.
Simon & Dorcas Mubanga, (Zambia, DPG Day 3)
As a family we have had a time of testing lately. This has affected our own serving son, Trust. Pray for him as we need him to be in Ndola for mentorship and that he will be accepted to begin training at OM base in Kabwe. Tetekela Christian School ministry continues well. Continue to pray for the means to have a permanent solution for staff salaries. Pray for children and the staff. Pray for the two assemblies I have been involved with: Good News Bible Chapel and Shiloh Christian Assembly. I need ongoing direction concerning the two.
David & Mary Chapman, (Zambia, DPG Day 3)
David and I have been in Zambia for three months now. From the time, he’s been home here, he has not been feeling well. He's been depending on pain killers and his knees, and the leg muscles have been in pain constantly. He had his trigger points therapy done and this has worsened the pain. We sat down and discussed that if it can be possible, we have to get back home quickly to Australia. Pray that my visa is processed on time.
Liz Pfeifer, (Thailand, DPG Day 9)
This month I will complete the 14th subject towards the Bachelor’s degree which I started in 2021. There have been some changes to the course structure and schedule recently. I have been studying 3-4 subjects per year, but the course will now align with the Latrobe University semester schedule. My next subject (Data-Based Critical Thinking) starts in early March. Please pray for diligence and clarity as I study. I am coming back to Australia in June for a 6-9 month home assignment. While I’m based in Victoria, I will need access to a reliable car. Please let me know if you know of a car that I could borrow (even just for a short period of time) or purchase at a reasonable price.
Ben & Alice Warren, (France, DPG Day 18)
We are now settled to the east of Paris, in a region where most towns don’t have even a single protestant church they could go to, let alone a choice between different options! The team’s main project is discipling the people who are part of a small house church and praying for God to open doors of opportunity for all of us to share the gospel with people around us. Our team has been so patient and welcoming of us. Everyone else is French, so that has definitely been hard at times as we seek to communicate through language and cultural barriers. Also, both of us would love to make deeper connections with people who live nearby, whom we could see more regularly. Please pray for families for us to hang out with, to make deeper friendships with, and for our kids to develop friendships too. At times we feel a real need for encouragement as we continue to adjust to so many cultural differences and seek to connect.
John Harris, (Netherlands, DPG Day 19)
I am in Austria this week to lead a retreat for an ITeams Austrian refugee team. I am thankful for this opportunity to feed into the life of the team in this way. Updating you on my plans for the coming year - After a period of reflection, after 25+ years I have decided that the time has come to finish my missionary role and finish up with International Teams. I will continue to serve as a part of the leadership team until the end of June 2025. I will then head to Australia for a scheduled furlough from the end of July - October to catch up with all my incredible mission partners and supporters. Thank you so much for your years of support.
Ian & Leann Buckley, (Specialist, DPG Day 23)
PTL for everyone who came and worked on our house the last few weeks. We thank the Lord that the ceiling gyprock is finished, and we have begun doing the walls. We thank the Lord for the very encouraging Christmas outreaches and for the new believer in Christ who is now part of the Nepali church family. Keep praying for the Lord's provision to continue building the Dhulikhel church. We have nearly half of the funds for the next stage of doing the trusses. Please be praying for the meetings that we are doing before we return to Nepal on the 18th of Feb. We thank the Lord for finally being able to have a little break together. We have felt physically & mentally drained. Thankful to the Lord that He revives us!
Kevin Dyer, (Specialist, DPG Day 24)
Yesterday I received the sad news that we weren’t able to hold the Christmas dinners on the Island (Cu b a) this year. Over the past year, the country has come under the increasing influence of China and Russia, and it has begun to turn away from any western influence. However, we haven’t given up. Our goal now is to focus on Easter and have special dinners to celebrate this great Resurrection Day. Please pray that this can go ahead.
Tess, (Restricted Access, DPG Day 29)
Since my last newsletter I have also taken on a new ministry in partnership with the Turkish church, teaching English in the community. The entire class attended, with their spouses and children, the New Year and Christmas events that the church held. One of the spouses of the students said he was interested in attending church on Sundays as a result. Pray that this continues to be a positive connection in the local community. Pray for teachers while I am on home leave in the coming months (April- Aug).
Nara, (Restricted Access, DPG Day 30)
My current visa ends early March, please pray for the means to stay longer, a career/legitimate job means I can stay for visa purposes and will also establish trust. If this won't happen, I'll have to pack up bags and come home. Please pray God will raise up more partners, including. those I've spoken and met with last year. Continue to ask for new doors open and divine appointments as many contacts have left the country, personally aiming to at least make 2 students.
