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E-mail Edition - March 12, 2005 |
KEVIN AND MINDY HAVE SEPARATED! Temporarily. And only in the sense that she has returned to the US while he remains in Mozambique until late July. That giant smooching sound you heard this past Monday night was Mindy greeting the tarmac at the Louisville International Airport. Thus begins what we hope will be the last lengthy period of time we spend apart. 4½ months is a long time, and Kevin's newfound freedom to leave his socks in the floor will be of only moderate comfort while he awaits their summer reunion (expect a louder smooching sound then). Plans now are for Kevin to remain in Nampula (northern Mozambique) through the end of May, dividing his time until then working on his simplified John commentary for under-educated preachers in remote areas, visiting Mozambican churches to preach and offer encouragement, and teaching in the Mustard Seed evangelism and discipleship center. In June, he'll return to Machava (southern Mozambique) to stay for several weeks before returning to the US. The purpose of this time near the capital is to more closely oversee the commentary's translation into Portuguese, investigate in-country printing options for same, make new contacts for its eventual distribution around Mozambique, make final visits to churches he's worked with in the past, do some teaching in the Bible training center where he worked previously, and eat as much peri-peri chicken as humanly possible before it becomes forever unavailable (having it mailed to the US is said not to be an option). INTRODUCING..."MOUSETRAP MINISTRIES" When Kevin returns to the US, besides trying to find a position as a preaching minister or a teacher in a Christian school, he hopes to be very involved in a ministry he's in the process of forming: Mousetrap Ministries. The purpose of this organization will be to ultimately and finally rid the world of pesky disease-ridden rodents. Not really. Actually the ministry will be non-vermin related, but "mousetrap" does make a nice acronym for: Materials Offering Understandable Scriptural Education To Remote Area Preachers (Normally, the word "to" is not included in acronyms, but it was feared that "MOUSERAP" would conjure images of Mickey and Minnie talk-singing over mind-numbingly repetitive music.) As stated in the name, the objective of this ministry will be to put basic books of Bible teaching (such as, say, a simplified commentary on John) in the hands of church leaders, primarily preachers, who have little Biblical education or hope of receiving such. The importance of preachers in thousands of churches worldwide in remote areas (an estimated two to three thousand in northern Mozambique alone) having a solid understanding of what the Gospel is, as well as other basic truths, cannot be overstated. The initial focus will be Mozambique, with hopes of providing materials eventually for such other Portuguese- and English-speaking countries as Angola, Swaziland, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Guyana, and others. We'll see how far the Lord and his people take this project. Since Kevin and Mindy will be in the US, working to support themselves, all donations made to Mousetrap will be used directly for production and distribution of materials, and occasional travel to targeted areas. (Non-profit status for tax-deductibility is being sought.) More information will be forthcoming at mtmin.org (though there is nothing there yet). Many of you reading this will be subject to direct Mousetrap-related communication (ahem). WE CAN'T SAY IT LOUD OR OFTEN ENOUGH Thank you thank you thank you thank you. The responses to our announcement that we're returning to the US were very encouraging. We're grateful that so many of you will continue your support through July. And your prayers have been helpful both in ways we know and ways we don't. His and yours, Kevin and Mindy |