Wayne and Joyce Raychard
55 High St
Hollis, ME 04042
207-286-7167 | wjraychard@aimint.net
Latest email:
Sent: Saturday, June 9, 2012 9:27 AM
Subject: re: June 2012 update
Dear friends and supporters;
Our June update is attached. We are looking forward to this new challenge in Kenya while at the same time knowing we will really miss all of those we leave behind here.
It has been a great nine months of home assignment time. Visiting supporting churches, a few new churches, and as many individual supporters as we could connect with has been a great encouragement. The course I was teaching on the Book or Romans at New England Bible College during the Spring semester finished well; what an awesome environment where one is able to teach and learn at the same time!
We will keep you posted regarding immigration documents and specific departure plans.
Be blessed as you enjoy the coming summer months.
Grace and peace,
W&J
Our June 2012 update (BOLD emphasis done by website editor)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ;
Every time I read this kind of greeting to the churches (this one is from Rom.1:7) I am reminded of all that we have as a result of our relationship with God through faith in Christ that is not available anywhere else, in any other belief system or world-view. Grace is receiving the good things we don’t deserve (and its corollary mercy: not getting the judgment we do deserve), and peace is that freedom from inner anxiety which we experience at all times and in all situations because in the sight of God we have been justified through what Jesus has done. On this foundation we build our lives.
We have a tentative departure date of 15 July. The destination is the coast of Kenya south of Mombasa not too far from where we lived 25 years ago when our children were small. We will be working among the same Digo people with whom we have spent many years, but this time we will be helping to equip new workers who believe that God has called them to minister among this Islamic-animistic tribe. We will be leading a curriculum based team composed of people willing to commit to two years of meeting regularly to study specific course materials dealing with Islam, world-view, cross-cultural communication, and several other relevant topics presented in six three-month sessions. Some the team members will have had experience in other areas of Africa, and some will be new. There are also two Kenyan Bible colleges in the coastal region that we could participate with if time allows.
As the cost of living in Kenya varies from that in Tanzania we need to raise an additional $300.00 in monthly support, and $15,000.00 in one-time gifts for household setup and a vehicle of some sort (not a motorcycle this time!). If you are able to help with either of these please let us know, but send any money to the address at the bottom of this page.
We have visited all of our supporting churches and many of our individual supporters. Thank you for hosting us. Some we have called or emailed have not yet responded; if we miss seeing you this time we hope that when we return in a couple of years we will be able to connect.
Thank you for praying for us as we prepare.
Please also pray for those we leave behind here in the US and those we are going to minister to and within East Africa.
Our son Greg has been deployed with his medical evacuation company from their National Guard unit in Bangor, Maine. Pray for him in Kuwait and for his wife Dominique at home with their four children; they celebrated their 9th wedding anniversary this month. Bethany and her husband Chad (3 children) celebrated their 7th also this month. Kara and Ben (2 boys) will celebrate their 5th later this year.
Thank you for your support, both material and spiritual. May the grace and peace given freely by God define your lives,
Wayne & Joyce
Wayne and Joyce Raychard
55 High Street
Hollis, ME 04042