The Ooms’ Prayer Request

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Lois J. Ooms

December 31, 2009
Newsletter

Dear Friends,

  • As I look back on 2009, I recall so many pictures of pain and suffering – those still displaced by post election violence in Kenya 2 years ago, those infected and affected by the HIV virus – the widows, orphans, the jobless, those caught in hopelessness of the slums of African cities, those living in cultures where the law is violence, prostitution, theft and drunkenness, those innocently caught in tribal conflicts, the refugees, those who live in fear of the ancestors; but then the pain and suffering is not only in Africa but it is also here in the West – only we have to look a bit harder as perhaps we have become better at hiding our fears, pain and suffering.
  • During the Christmas season we sang Joy to the World, the Savior reigns, as far as the curse is found, He rules the world with truth and grace. This is also the message of transformational development – sin’s distortion of relationships is cosmic; as children of God we are called to use our gifts and resources to begin to undo the effects of sin as we continue to live in a severely distorted world; but the Lord reigns.
  • As those in unbelievable pain and suffering understand this message of grace, there is a spark of light – young girls who used to live in the city dump begin to plant vegetables to sell; the internally displaced learn to make soap, shoe polish, yogurt to begin a small business; those who refused to cultivate in their gardens after 11:00 a.m. for fear the ancestors would send hail, are freed; those who are discouraged as they can’t pay their pastor, see they can plant a garden to support him; the widows begin to save $ .10 a week to begin a small business; the creativity is unbelievable when people are freed from hopelessness and fear that they can do nothing.
  • Looking forward to 2010 – more exciting challenges as on Jan. 21 I fly for a 7 ½ week trip to South Africa with many still in the after effects of apartheid; Lesotho – a mountainous country being washed away by torrential rains, and blown away by dust storms; Mozambique – a country emerging from war and socialist rule, Angola – a country torn by years of war, Namibia – a country with major deserts, several wars – gaining independence in 1990. All of these countries have major HIV/AIDS issues. I will lead 4 week long workshops in transformational development, another 3 day one – part 2, and have numerous discussions about current development projects and meetings to look at possibilities for future workshops.
  • There is a good possibility that I will have another major trip towards the end of summer to East Africa – Kenya, Uganda, and perhaps Chad, D.R. Congo, etc. In between the traveling, I have a lot of E mail correspondence with those in many countries; by the end of 2010 I hope to finish a draft of about 50 lessons that I use to teach transformational development.

Thanks so much for the lovely Christmas cards and greetings and also for your partnership through your love, encouragement, prayers, and financial gifts.

Lovingly, Lois

Contact:

Lois J. Ooms, 109 Swan Dr., Dyer IN 46311      219-322-1287     looms@att.net

December 2009

  1. Looking back 2009 has been an amazing year as I’ve seen the transformational development work gain momentum especially in Southern and Eastern Africa.
  2. Thanks very much for your prayers; I now have E tickets for 10 flights within Southern Africa plus 2 to get to Johannesburg and 2 to return.
  3. I plan to leave on Jan 21 and return to the U.S. on March 14. Pray for safe travel, a minimum of hassles with security procedures, carry on bags, etc. and good connections with winter weather in the U.S. and connections with airlines within Africa that are often “late and maybe”.
  4. Continue to pray that I will be issued with a visa for Angola before leaving. I am very thankful that for the other countries I will be visiting, I can get a visa at the airport.
  5. In Kenya, December is often a vacation month; January is the beginning of the new school year and also plans for ministry etc. Pray for Josephine and her team as they make plans to lead 8 week long workshops this year and also follow up many others.
  6. I have received encouraging reports from a group of people displaced by the post election violence 2 years ago in Kenya. They are beginning new businesses as they learned to make shoe polish, soap, yogurt, etc. rather than idly waiting for hand outs from the U.N. World Food Program.
  7. Pray for good health, physical strength and wisdom as I adapt material to people in a great variety of cultures. I will be leading 4 week long workshops, another of 3 days, and have several meetings to look at possibilities for future work.
  8. Also pray for times of fun, rest and relaxation in between the various meetings and workshops. Missionaries can be very creative in finding time to see of the sights of their host countries.
  9. Pray for those with whom I have a mentoring relationship – both in Africa and here in the U.S. Pray that especially in Africa I may find a couple more people who are able to learn to lead workshops on the international level.
  10. Continue to pray for those in Capetown, Lesotho, Namibia, Angola, and Mozambique who are making plans for the time I’ll spend with them. Especially pray that the Lord will make it possible for those whom He wants to attend the workshops.
  11. During December I made some progress on writing new lessons. I still have 2 or 3 more that I should write for the part 2 workshop.
  12. I have some good background material about Capetown South Africa and Mozambique and Angola. Now I still need to gather information about Namibia, and Lesotho.
  13. Thank the Lord that we can see His faithfulness throughout the past years; we know we are secure in the Lord’s hands as we begin a new year whatever may happen and this gives us a deep peace.

NOTE: In the coming months you may not hear from me as I will have a very full schedule and be in some remote places with uncertain E mail service. For those who are interested below is a draft schedule; I’m sure there will be many other meetings and discussions added.

  • Jan 21 – fly from Chicago to Atlanta and then a 16 hour non stop flight to Johannesburg.
  • Jan 22 – arrive in Johannesburg – late afternoon their time, spend the night with AIM missionaries.
  • Jan. 23 - fly to Capetown
  • Jan 25 – Meetings at Tokai church
  • Jan 26 – Discussion at West Lake Village – a very needy area.
  • Jan 27 Fly to Bloemfontein S. Africa, travel by landrover to Mafutseng Lesotho.
  • Jan 28 – 30 Part 2 workshop with those who attended part 1 in October.
  • Feb. 1 – 5  Workshop with those who could not attend the one I led in Lesotho in October. I hope to have a couple others begin to learn to teach a few lessons as I listen for essential points they may have missed.
  • Feb. 6 – 8 Meetings in Maseru, Lesotho to discuss possibilities for future workshops as well as advising on some established programs.
  • Feb. 9 fly to Johannesburg connecting to Windhoek Namibia.
  • Feb. 10 Travel 10 hours by car to Rundu in rural Namibia.
  • Feb. 11 – 15 – Lead a week long workshop
  • Feb. 16 Travel back to Windhoek.
  • Feb. 17 – Lord willing, fly to Luanda Angola; while in Angola I’ll be with a colleague from Johannesburg.
  • Feb. 18 – Fly to Kuito- Bie Angola.
  • Feb. 19 – 23  Visit programs on site and discussions about feasibility of a future workshop with friends whom I knew in Kenya.
  • Feb. 24 – fly to Luanda connecting to Johannesburg; spend the night with AIM missionaries.
  • Feb. 25 fly to Beria Mozambique.
  • March 1 – 5 lead a workshop in Beria.
  • March 7 fly to Nampula Mozambique
  • March 8 – 12 lead a workshop in Nampula.
  • March 13 fly to Beria; spend the night with AIM missionaries
  • March 14 fly to Johannesburg connecting to the 16 hour non stop flight to Atlanta and then connecting to a flight to Chicago.
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