Hi Prayer Partners,

We want to take a moment to thank you for helping over the years. It has been a blessing for us and we have done our very best to reach others for Christ as well as develop a sustainable foundation.  Your gifts and prayers have been a part of that and Diana and I want to thank you for your prayers and help.

 

Over the last 25 years we have seen countless come to the Lord, 18 churches started and hundreds of kids get a better start in life and that starts with Jesus.  We have seen several businesses start that has helped the ones we work with to be more sustainable and not dependent on us but on the Lord Jesus. With your help we would not have been able to do this work that God has called us to.

 

Once again thank you for all your help and support.

 

The latest and up Date Movie is now available on Vimeo. You can view it at:

Kenya 2013

http://vimeo.com/70051592

God Bless,

 

Rick & Diana Wilson

https://worldventure.com/sslpage.aspx?pid=957

http://www.childrenofpromiseproject.com/home

Here's looking at you Sudan

DROUGHT AND TERMITES:

One of the purposes of the Sudan project is to create a farm, a sustainable green house and a fishpond. This type of farming assures durable economic benefits for the Women of Hope and for the entire project. Food will be more available as better agricultural techniques are used in our greenhouse and fishponds.

It is so sad to see loss in times drought. Termites and the use of traditional agricultural practices hurt the land and threaten the lives of farmers. When people who do not know how to farm correctly clear trees for new farms, it exposes the ground to drying winds. The erosion from intense torrential rains removes the rich topsoil and eventually the soil becomes infertile and farmers move to other land, clear trees, and the destructive cycle begins again.

We can solve the termite and water problem but we also need to solve the traditional agricultural practices. We have begun to reverse that cycle by introducing greenhouse and holistic farming techniques to our group. Our hope is to create farms that work with the land and not against it.

URGENT NEED FOR WATER:

This is an important project to provide clean water in the regular drought situation of Sudan. In many areas of Sudan where the Evangelical Church of South Sudan (ECSS) is strong, there has not been adequate rain since 2008. Rural families must struggle to secure water for their own survival. They need a source of water for agriculture and for their livestock. Early this year, the ECSS with TBC assistance, provided hot meals to school children threatened by starvation due to severe drought. However as the critical situation continues, it is clear that food aid was only a temporary solution. The ECSS has begun planning and praying for long-term solutions through the proposed project of drilling boreholes and the provision of clean water. There is a great need of significant funding for this project for the Sudanese communities. We will be extremely grateful for people willing to support this life-giving project. The wells will cost an estimated $9,500. We are hopeful that the price will decrease over 2011.

Our first wells will be operational in March. At that time we will initiate the greenhouse, Women of Hope Project and the fishponds.

Pray for this fund. "Let my heart be broken with the things that break God's heart." Bob Pierce, World Vision founder.

WOMEN OF HOPE MISSION CONTINUES TO FACE CHALLENGES

Women of Hope Mission (WOH), a women’s group ministry of the ECSS, has always been at the forefront reaching Sudanese women with the Gospel of Christ. In April of this year, WOH conducted a seminar on Bible training, evangelism, self-reliance (micro-entrepreneurship and management). Women have a great role to play in the church and community, especially to families, widows and orphans. Romans 12:4-8. ³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

WOH is training women for leadership in the local churches, families and communities. The hopes and goals of their leaders are to train 60,000 responsible, active women leaders by 2015 ( a five year plan). Many women are coming forward to be involved with the spread of the gospel. The WOH see that there is a need for training women in income generating activities. Our water, small farms and economic plans will help them do that.

"Women are critical to advancing economic development in their families and entire villages," said Albina Illam, WOH chairlady. “We seek to empower women to uplift living standards,” she continued. “Despite cattle raiding and inter and intra tribal fighting, WOH leaders continue to have hope that agriculture is the best way to lift their members out of the current economic quagmire. WOH seeks to provide women survivors of war, cattle rustling and other inter and intra tribal conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-reliance”

Albina explains that severe drought has worsened the situation in South Sudan hence the threat on food security that has often resulted into famine. She added that women remain in turmoil because of physical and psychological damage, lack of education, and social and economic exclusion, having survived this onslaught of violence. WOH proposed programs will target widows, children, orphans, single heads of household, returnees, internally displaced persons and the physically challenged.

Apul’s story: “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the right of widows” (Isaiah 1:17). The above pictured woman, Apul, with her two children. Apul is a widow from Lofi village, Ikwato County. She recently lost her husband to the hands of cattle raiders. Raiders had attacked a village in Ikwato County two days before Dominic went to visit the village. According to the report from villagers, the raiders came in the night. They went into one of the “Obore” and stole 20 cows. The following morning, thirty local people wanted to follow those who raided their village. They went and fell into an ambush set by the raiders. In that ambush, six people were killed including Apul’s husband. Nine were wounded and others were unharmed. Civilians in Sudan are causing these crimes because they still possess illegal arms. The local authorities tell us that plans to disarm them are underway.

Apul, her two children and the two children of her other husband’s wives, depend on her for food, school fees and a safe place to live. She struggles to feed them every day and to pay their basic school fees. After the killing of her husband, Apul resides with her children in Torit. We can help and are moving in that direction! “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” (James 1:27).

The proposed Water and Farm project is going to materialize! Agricultural practices will be modernized to enable farmers to grow a variety of crops on one piece of land in conjunction with the raising of livestock where viable. It means that a farmer can grow a traditional crop for local market demand coupled with a less typical, preferably higher value green house crop of vegetables. This will begin with training women in necessary skills and techniques and sustainable practices of commercial integrated farming.

WOH members will be provided with vegetable seeds that they will grow on their individual plots. It will enable them to actively earn a living and educate their children. We urgently need financial support to put this project in place.

REVIZED Financial Goals For 2011

Sudan:

1.) Farm Development and 2 Green Houses-- $12,000.

2.) Water for Life--$5,000

3.) Women of Hope-- $5,000

4.) Water wells WOH-- $20,000.00 (I believe we could put 4 wells in for this!)

Total 2011 prayer request and budget is $42,000

It takes a lot of help to get a Rig on its way

Here is a letter from John he has been working on the rig.

Hi,

Romans 15:5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Encouragement! What a wonderful thing that God blesses us with when we least expect it but when we most need it!

Approximately two years ago an old well rig was purchased for the purpose of drilling water wells in Kenya and Sudan. I put it in my back yard in RI and have been working on it for 2 years. I found out how little I really knew about well rigs. It sometimes seemed like I would take two steps forward and three steps back. I knew that each day that went by was another day that the people in Africa had either no water or had to drink rank, dirty water. I was getting very discouraged at times as the months went by.

Several months ago I received a call from a man in New Jersey asking if it would be ok if he and his friend came and helped on the rig. They had heard about it in their church Clayton Baptist a supporting church of Rick and Diana Wilson. Yes! My wife Dale and I had been praying for this rig for two years. Well, God turned those two men into seven! What a blessing! They were willing to take time out of their busy work schedules to come and help us. They each had expertise in specific areas. God sent experienced welders and even someone who was willing to do the tedious task of scrapping the rust off that old machine. These men were such an encouragement to me and it was all done to glorify God and to further His kingdom. They were only here for four days. I was saddened to see them leave, not because I would be back to working alone on the rig but because of the friendships we had created through Jesus Christ.


We had a common bond. It was so wonderful to see people from RI and people from NJ getting together to work on a project all for one reason---Spreading the Good News!

God had answered my prayers and I now can see a light at the end of the tunnel. With a new paint job and new engine it will go to Sudan by the beginning of December 2010. Just when God saw my need of encouragement, He sent these men from over three hundred miles away to help. I have been on seven short term mission trips but this was the closest one to my back door.

Dale and I have been to visit these men and their church---our new friends from New JOISEY! What a great time we have had together!

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Rick and Diana Wilson
http://web.me.com/rickdianawilson/SudanVenture/Dominic_and_Rejoice.html
rickdianawilson@msn.com

Support Update from Rick and Diana Wilson

We have been fortunate to be called to serve in the capacity of reaching so many different types of people. Yet one of the ongoing challenges is building our personal support base.  The last 9 years we spent most of our time building the Mayatima Project (Kenya), Phillip’s House (Romania), and Sudan Venture Project (Sudan) and connecting many people to these projects. These projects have been quite successful because of God’s help and the help of people like you. Many have gone, given and prayed.  But, some of our personal supporters have lost jobs, others have passed away and some churches are just struggling to make ends meet.

We now find ourselves under supported and it has become too much to bear. When I looked at the amount we lack each month it was $1,163.00. Just today I had a church say that they will have to decrease our support by $277.00 per month. This brings us to a $1,440.00 monthly shortfall. It has been a long time since we have asked for support but it is evident that we are going to need to begin raising our support level from new churches and new people.  When someone gives $10.00, $20.00, $50.00 or more a month it makes a huge difference because it all adds up. 

If you would prayerfully consider joining our team, please complete the online form https://worldventure.com/Give/Make-A-Commitment.html?id=4732 or fill out and send in the form below so that we can begin 2010 with the necessary support. We look forward to seeing whom God will add in the next month. If you would like more information, please send us a note: Rick and Diana Wilson, 2204 Roslyn Ave, NC 28208 or Ph. 704.910.0877 or email rickdianawilson@msn.com. If you are not able to support financially at this time please keep us in prayer.
God Bless,

Rick and Diana Wilson

Happy New Year

We feel so blessed as we look back at 2009. We want to share with you just a few of those ministry blessings.
The farm in Kenya is again producing vegetables that are helping the Mayatima Project become self-sufficient.
The Project in Romania is starting to pay back the funds that we lent them and now we can continue to help them become self-sufficient.
The Well Project in Sudan will becoming to fruition because all the funds were raised to finally send the well rig God willing by January 30, 2010.

We want to share with you just a few of our family blessings.

1. Channing Lucy Wilson
was born December 7,
2009 to Adam and Haven.
Siena is four and Hawkins
is two.
2. Aubrey Dean
(Rick’s middle name)
Stephan was born
December 21, 2009 to
Amy and Doug Stephan.
Alyssa is ten and Davis is
ten.
3. We celebrated our
thirty-fifth wedding
anniversary and looking
forward to many more
years together.
Our prayer Requests for 2010:

1. Pray for Rick as he will be gone almost the while month
of January speaking in four different churches.
2. Pray for Rick as he travels to Kenya and Sudan. He will
be gone from February 17 through April 1.
3 Pray for Rick as he gets things organized in Kenya to
build a boarding school this summer with the teams that
will be involved.
4. Also, pray for him as he puts in the wells in Sudan.

We want to wish you a very Blessed New Year and we want to say thank you for your prayers and support.

Rick and Diana Wilson

Monthly needed Support $1,440.00

Water needed

I have told you about how we need water on our land to create a farm in Sudan. The photo is a good way to see how dry and hot it gets there.



Keep pray for our partners and for our water project we are only $10,000.00 short at this time. I plan to put in two wells while in Sudan this Feb and March 2010.

Photo

Rick

Cool Water by Burl Ives http://www.bobnolan-sop.net/Weeds%27n%27Water/Water%20-%20Recorded%20mp3s/Ives.mp3

U.S. Says Sudan's 2010 Elections in Doubt

U.S. Says Sudan's 2010 Elections in Doubt

Sudan may be unable to hold credible elections in coming months because the ruling party and opposition cannot agree on ground rules for the polls, the U.S. State Department said on Friday.
28 November 2009
WASHINGTON, 27 Nov 2009 (Reuters) -At the end of a trip to Sudan by President Barack Obama's special envoy Scott Gration, the State Department said it saw little movement on issues such as voter registration and border delineation between Khartoum and the semi-autonomous South - endangering plans for national elections in April 2010 and a referendum on southern succession in 2011.

"Without immediate resolution of these disputes, we are concerned about the chances for conducting credible elections and referenda," it said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, the parties have not yet demonstrated the political will necessary to achieve resolution on these difficult and sensitive issues."

Gration's trip to Sudan was his first since Washington announced in October it would keep economic sanctions on Sudan but would also offer Khartoum new incentives to end violence in Darfur and the South.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), former southern rebels who are now junior partners in the governing coalition under the terms of a 2005 peace deal, have accused the North of stalling on a democratic transformation and undermining plans for free elections.

The SPLM and other parties said on Wednesday they would delay a decision on whether to boycott April's elections in part due to a week-long extension of the voter registration period.

The strains have raised fears the north-south civil war- fueled by issues including religion, ethnicity, oil and ideology between mostly Christian southern rebels and the Islamist Khartoum government - could reignite.

Gration visited voter registration centers and urged people to sign up for the polls "as it is the only way for the Sudanese people to maintain their right to participate in the national elections in April 2010," the statement said.

He also visited Darfur, where the United Nations says more than 2 million people were driven from their homes and some 300,000 people died in a crisis that saw non-Arab militias take up arms against the central government. Khartoum puts the death toll at 10,000.

Gration's meetings concentrated on the security situation along the Chad-Sudan border, with the State Department noting lawlessness and banditry were heightening tensions yet again.

"Addressing these ongoing security concerns is crucial for achieving a lasting peace in Darfur," the statement said.

(Reporting by Andrew Quinn; editing by David Alexander and John O'Callaghan)

AU Security Council assures to respect people’s choice in South Sudan referendum

Friday 27 November 2009 03:30.

By James Gatdet Dak

November 26, 2009 (JUBA) – The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has pledged to respect the choice of the people of Southern Sudan in the outcome of the referendum on secession scheduled to take place in January 2011.


AU Peace and Security Council ambassadors (R) meeting with South Sudan cabinet (L), Juba, November 26, 2009 (Photo by James G. Dak, ST)
Peace and Security Council is the body charged with the responsibility to deal with peace and security in Africa.

The Council’s delegation comprising 15 ambassadors of the African Union arrived in Juba on Wednesday to assess the security situation in Southern Sudan in particular and implementation of the 2005 North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in general.

They met with the Government of Southern Sudan’s cabinet in a meeting chaired by the Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

The Peace and Security Council delegation was headed by the organization’s ambassador for Rwanda, Professor Joseph Nsengimana.

The delegation was briefed by the cabinet about the current general situation in the country, urging it to be vigilant as the country enters into major political events.

The meeting mostly dwelled on the issues of elections, referendum for Southern Sudan and Abyei and popular consultations for both Southern Blue Nile and Southern Kordufan.

The delegation assured the government of the African Union’s position to respect the choice of the people of Southern Sudan in the referendum.

The meeting also stressed the need to bring peace to Darfur and participate in the democratic transformation in the country.

The people of Southern Sudan will choose between confirming the current unity of Sudan and creating an independent country in January 2011.

Kiir urges Uganda to lead recognition of independent South Sudan

Thursday 26 November 2009 05:30.

By Ngor Arol Garang

November 25, 2009 (JUBA) — General Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice-President of the Republic of Sudan and President of the semi-autonomous region of Southern Sudan, has on Wednesday 24, in both Moyo and Adjumani Districts of Uganda, urged Ugandans to lead recognition of the independent state of South Sudan if referendum votes favor secession.


Sudan’s First Vice President speaking at Moyo, northern Uganda on Tuesday 24 November 2009 (photo by Larco Lomayat)
"If referendum favors southern secession from the North to become an independent state, South Sudanese in Uganda expects Uganda to take the lead in recognizing South Sudan as an independent country if South Sudanese voted for secession in the 2011 referendum," Kiir said.

The Sudanese First Vice President, who left Juba for Uganda for bilateral talks on border dispute, after an official invitation from Ugandans President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, further said, Ugandans and Southern Sudanese are the same and one people.

"Ugandans and South Sudanese are people of one common objective; and that they have to work together so that they get set goals," he said.

Commenting on the issue of border disputes which necessitated his visit, he said misunderstanding arising from territorial rivalry should not divert us from the joint Southern Sudanese and Ugandan vision.

"I think we can find solutions to whatever misunderstanding that might have occurred," he commented saying South Sudanese in Northern Uganda and elsewhere in the country, should live with Ugandans as one people without giving in for ill separation, the President said. The same applies to Ugandans in any part of Southern Sudan, Kiir added.

Kiir is further said that the border conflict and insecurity in southern Sudan started after the peace agreement peace in 2005; it was not there during the war.

"Not only in Moyo (northern Ugandan near Sudan’s border) that we are having problems; there are also tribal wars in Southern Sudan; all these conflicts are happening because someone is behind them, their aim is just to create chaotic situations for reasons best known to them, that means there are some people who are working day and night so that there is instability in South Sudan. Let us not allow it. Let nobody agitate you so that you quarrel amongst yourselves," he stressed.

Kiir who seems turning his back on Sudan’s unity after four year of a peace deal signed with the National Congress Party in 2005, tried during his European tour to campaign in favor of separation and to draw EU support for southern Sudan independence.

However, last month his government dismissed remarks where he called for southern Sudan independence describing vote for a united Sudan as voting for "second class" citizenship.

Ugandan President, Yoweri Kaguta Musevesni, stressed that what is happening in the border area is not a dispute, "it is simply misunderstanding which will be handled and solved by the brothers and sisters of our two sister countries amicably." He is further reported having said misunderstanding

mayatima 2009

http://files.me.com/rickdianawilson/323394

My Sites and videos

H All,

I hope all is going will with you!

Here are other pages and videos you can look up:

http://web.me.com/rickdianawilson/WILSONS_PROJECTS/About_Rick_and_Diana.html

http://web.me.com/rickdianawilson/Mayatima/_MAYATIMA_.html

http://web.me.com/rickdianawilson/_PHILIPS_HOUSE_/Welcome.html

http://web.me.com/rickdianawilson/SudnaVenture/Welcome.html

http://rickdianawilson.blogspot.com/

http://www.worldventure.com/ads/cyclone_Nargis/Update.html


We thank you for your prayers and support.

God bless,

Rick and Diana Wilson

Islamic laws in Sudan

Sudanese girls including Southerners get 10 lashes for “provocative dressing”
Monday 13 July 2009 05:52.
July 12, 2009 (WASHINGTON) — A number of Sudanese girls including Southerners were arrested by police last week on charges that they violated the public dress code, one of them told Sudan Tribune today.

Photo showing Lubna Hussein’s clothing when arrested by Public Order Police

Lubna Hussein, a journalist and a public information officer at the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) was one of nine girls taken by the Public Order Police (POP) on Sunday from a ballroom in an area east of Khartoum.
The only thing in common between all those taken into custody was that they were wearing trousers, she said.
Hussein said they found four girls ahead of them waiting for interrogation by a judge in Al-Sagana court.
Among the detained were four from Southern Sudan, three of whom were under the age of eighteen, she added.
The Sudanese journalist said that no representatives from the Non-Muslims commission were present considering that the Southern girls were Christians.
The arrests took place under the Criminal Penal Code which states that anyone wearing “grossly clothing” shall be punished with no more than 40 lashes or a fine or both.
Ten out of the thirteen girls ended up receiving 10 lashes and fined 250 Sudanese pounds while the remaining three asked for their lawyers to be present and as such their cases were transferred to the deputy prosecutor.
Hussein said that some of the girls admitted guilt to the judge without appearing to be aware of its implications. She said that one girl told her that she just wanted to “get this over with”.
The Sudanese journalist said that the application of this section of the criminal penal code is damaging to a girl’s reputation in the Sudanese society.
She disclosed that one of the girls was “so terrified” before the judge that she urinated on herself.
Her case is yet to be heard before court.
Last year a senior police officer in South Sudan capital of Juba was sacked after he ordered a crackdown on young women wearing tight trousers.
Southern Sudan unlike the North is not governed by Islamic Shari’a law.

Sudan and China

China secretly sells Sudan multi launch rocket systems: report
Tuesday 14 July 2009 06:34.
July 13, 2009 (PARIS) — The Sudanese government managed to buy an unknown number of WS-2 multi-launch rocket systems from China, according to Kanwa Defense Review Monthly magazine.
This is the first time this system is exported by China to any country, the Defense magazine reported adding that Sudan now is in possession of the “most powerful long-range attack system” in the African continent.
The multi-launch rocket systems was never shown in any of the country’s military parades.
The report comes as the Sudanese defense minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein started today an official visit to China.
“The two countries have witnessed fruitful cooperation in such areas as politics, economy and culture since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago,” the Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie said after talks with Hussein.
Chinese state media made no mention of any proposed defense contracts between the two countries.
Kanwa Defense Review Monthly could not verify when Sudan received the WS-2 rocket systems but that several African delegates at the Abu-Dhabi International Defense Exhibition and Conference 2009 confirmed the sale.
Furthermore, sources told the magazine that the system’s effective range was upgraded to 200 km with enhanced accuracy and reduced launch time. The system’s warhead weighs 200 kilograms and it uses four types of ammunition.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) imposed an arms embargo that covers Sudan’s Western region of Darfur.
Human rights groups frequently accused China of supplying arms to Sudan for use in Darfur, in breach of a UN arms embargo and produced photographs of Chinese weapons in Darfur.
But Beijing insists that any weapons sales made to Sudan are not in breach of any UNSC resolutions.

End of an era

End of an era
Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
It was exactly one month ago when I reported about Joseph Kangi. He was the man that we had intervened and introduced to a hospital for the provision of ARV’s. Last Friday Joseph rested in the night.
It is a sad situation to see a young man die and so by the effects of the HIV/AIDS. We may go into debate as whether AIDS kills or not but the common denominator is there is death. The other day I saw Michael Erwin Johnson the former Lakers’ player and an icon before Jordan and was astounded. He has been HIV+ for so long. After the death of Joseph, my mind went to his 76 year old mother who has lost yet another child to the pandemic. I have come to learn that she has another daughter and can’t help but ask whose fault is it. How will this old God loving grandmother take in all this grief? What is in her heart? Is she bitter against God? Does she think that there is something that she didn’t do right? Do we blame this on God or the government or on poverty or is it time we said let everybody carry their cross?
We have no answers and as we continue in the preps with Joseph’s burial I have come to the conclusion Deuteronomy 29:29: The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. We will not have enough answers to satisfy us but have to rest in the knowledge that even though we do not know, we can have assurance that God has the best in store. The church led by George has lit a light in this village by serving the family. God has been glorified and a practical gospel of Jesus Christ is preached.
We have made this testimony because you were there to stand with us. People are hearing the good news and coming to the savior because you care to give and support the work of Mayatima project. We are doing this because you have come and partnered with us. We are praying for you that God will bless you. By Emmanuel Chege

Denial Kills!

Denial Kills!
On a sunny afternoon George, Jane and I went for George’s Pastoral visitation. It was a follow up for George and he and Jane wanted to take the next steps for intervention for Joseph Kangi. He was 38 and with Tuberculosis which was a result of HIV/AIDS.
Jane did the tests and Joseph read the results. Even though he knew that he was HIV+, Joseph wanted to live again. This however was the reality in him. After the tests Joseph was enrolled at a hospital for the continuance of the treatment of TB and the management of HIV/ AIDS. But on arrival to the referral hospital where he was directed and after Jane had filed his case, denial kicked in and Joseph lied to the doctors and what emerges after his death is horrible.
As people brought Joseph home, they knew that he had little time left. Joseph had in a long time lived in denial of his HIV status. He was on and off on the ARV and medication on the opportunistic diseases. The problem is that Joseph discontinued his treatment every time he felt better and strong. This ignorance got him kicked out of several HIV treatment programs.
On the day we visited, he kept talking of how he desired to be well again. Last Friday George was called early to take Joseph to hospital. His health had deteriorated fast in two days and he needed to be taken to hospital. On arrival at the hospital Joseph was admitted. Later George went with Joseph’s mom to some of her children and asked them to check on him. None of them took it seriously. 3days later when one of them went to check on him they found out Joseph died on the day he arrived at the hospital at night. He died through ignorance and denial and it is a pitty.
The serving of Joseph and his family By Mayatima project and the church is spreading like a bush fire. They are talking of the church that has shown concern for the sick and needy. We are starting to see converts: in this week alone 5 people have been saved after the death of Joseph reached the village.
Thank you for being a part of these happenings by partnering with Mayatima project in our call to reach out to our people. To God be the glory forever. Amen. By Emmanuel

Women Of Hope

Women Of Hope

In one village in Sudan, more than 867 women have been widowed by the unrest in the country. The mill-grinding project, Women of Hope, will assist women in becoming self-sufficient in their own business. Funds will be used to purchase Posho Mills that women will then use to grind grain which they will market in the community. It is hoped through this project that economic growth will be stimulated in the villages.

The one mill Women of Hope has developed has been a tremendous blessing to the women and to the village where it is being used. The mill currently employs 4 to 5 people, but benefits all the women. Previously these women had little hope of making it on their own. They would have been forced to marry relatives if their husband died. Some men already had one or two wives!! Consequently, their children would have been left out of any inheritance. In a male dominated culture many women are left without help or protection and little hope.

Our national partners and directors in Sudan are Dominic and Rejoice. Dominic is currently living in the house on 5 acres which we purchased with funds you have generously given. Rejoice is hoping to join him later this year. With the mill up and running we are now in the process of developing this farm. Now that it is the rainy season we will plant and harvest what grows. This farm will be the catalyst for Women of Hope as we employ them. It will also help support our pastors as they minister in the villages where we hope to plant 10 churches. Our goal for this year is to have a well on the farm by the end of the summer. It will enable us to provide fish and vegetables year round. I will send you a well brochure to show you our plans!

THANK YOU for your prayers and financial support for this ministry God has given us in Sudan! We desperately need your prayers as we try to raise over $40,000 for Women of Hope. What a help it will be for these precious women!

God bless,

Rick and Diana Wilson

Merry Christmas

December 10, 2008

We send our warm Christmas greetings to you. By looking at the picture below you can see how blessed we are to be celebrating this wonderful season with the most beautiful, intelligent and fun-loving grandchildren in the world. Alyssa, Davis, Siena and Hawkins all live close by, and when we are home we get to see them often. It is also a blessing to see their parents Doug and Amy, Adam and Haven living for the Lord.

Matthew tells about Three Wise Men from the Orient who came to where Jesus was staying after his birth in Bethlehem. The wise men first arrived in Jerusalem and reported to the king of Judea, Herod the Great, that they had seen a star heralding the birth of a king. Further inquiry led them to Bethlehem of Judea and the location of Mary and Joseph. They presented Jesus with treasures of "gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

As we celebrate Christmas let’s give to Jesus more than gold, frankincense and myrrh. Let us give Him our true treasures of devotion, worship and love. Don’t let this time be deflating, but instead let it be a time of rejoicing and renewing your commitment to our Savior.

This Christmas brings many challenges! We have just lived through so many in the last few months. Economic crises, the election, world events, wars, terrorism and who knows about tomorrow? God knows and He holds our future in His hands. This passage out of Matthew gives us the opportunity to honor Him with our true devotion and like gold give Him our very best we possess by recognizing that Jesus is our King. We bring frankincense to worship Him even in the midst of our brokenness and uncertainty. Like myrrh we see His love as He has identified with us in our pain and sorrow. He could do that because He was like us, human! We all face many challenges, but Diana and I believe in God and we trust Him for our future to help us with the challenges to come. How about you? So this is why this time of the year is special! It is CHRISTMAS, a time for renewing and recommitting ourselves to the Lord with hearts of celebration that we are His and He is ours.

Thank you and know that there are many lives that have been changed because of your prayers and giving. Your friendship and kindnesses shown to us and to our ministry over the past twenty plus years has been a real encouragement. Have a joyful Christmas!

Your servants in Christ,

Rick and Diana Wilson

Philip’s House helps orphans and abandoned children. It has turned out to be one of the best ministries we have partnered with. We have helped 18 children who were abandoned or orphaned. These children were taken in at different ages--some as young as 3 years of age.

I had mentioned a couple months ago that I would relate some of the children’s stories. I want to start by telling you of two children that I have known for 8 years. One is married and the other is working on the chicken farm that Samuel and Mihai (directors of the project) have in Romania.

Nicoleta and Vasilica were born into a good family, but when their father and mother died in a car accident they were given to the state and put into a state home. For years they were neglected and abused. They had one aunt who was able to take their older brother but not the three younger ones. Sadly, no one knows where the youngest is or what became of him.

The older brother who was raised by the aunt is a lawyer living and working in Timisoara, Romania and is normal in everyway. Nicoleta and Vasilica grew up in our small orphanage and are doing well, but they have never bounced back completely from the abuse and the neglect they experienced in the state home. They have suffered with issues of abandonment to almost total despair. Socially, they never felt a part of the group. They closed themselves off and were very withdrawn. However, as adults even though they still have some issues, they are doing quite well with jobs and are looking forward to a brighter future. Nicoleta is now married to Ioancy, but still has a very difficult time thinking and reasoning. Some would say she is mildly retarded, perhaps because of the harsh existence she had before coming to Philip's House and to the Lord. I have talked to her many times and I have seen her grow and interact more with others. She is not the same girl that she was before, and with her husband’s help, she is doing well. They have their own work and are living in a small village outside Timisoara.

Nicoleta’s younger brother Vasilica has many of the same problems and it hard for him to be around people because of his early years. He is working and living on the farm. His hopes are to have a wife and family one-day. They have had to work through many issues, the hardest being why the aunt didn’t pick them and why they were left to the state. Through you all and the work of God there, these young adults now have a future full of hope. Their lives have improved tremendously!

We have put Bettina (a young woman we met a few years ago and grew up as an orphan) in touch with one of the Vice-presidents of P&G. What a testimony of God’s grace for this young woman that a Christian in another part of the world is willing to lend a hand! She is currently working on her resume and is hoping to get a job with the company. She has some big decisions to make about this job and a move. Pray for her.

We also helped our fellow workers, Mihai and Samuel, by putting them in contact with the P&G logistics group in Romania and they are working on potential trucking routes that could possibly financially aid Philip’s House even more! So you see, our work in Romania is building the kingdom one person at a time with the help and support of people like you and Daniel Myers who works for P&G. Thank you Daniel!!! Pray that the trucking contract would go through.

Thank you ALL for being a part of our work through your giving and prayers. “I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.” William Shakespeare

God bless,

Rick and Diana Wilson

SudanVenture

Dear Friend,
I recently had a friend write to me and say, “When you write of the suffering in Africa I cannot imagine what you describe, I would not do well under that incredible stress and sadness.” Who can! You see people who have gone through things we only see in movies as we munch on our popcorn and slurp down a coke. Reality in Sudan is ugly, stressful, unmerciful and downright hard. It is even worse if you’re child or a woman. Emotionally, mentally and physically it takes so much out of you. They have so very little with almost no understanding of Christ at all. To understand how hard and dangerous it can be Dominic, the national that we work with in Sudan, tells of a recent event as he experienced God’s protection: “Several weeks ago, around 11 pm, on a dangerous road to Sudan, we came upon a roadblock. Six Turkana gunmen with their guns pointed at us ordered the truck to stop. Two of the gunmen walked slowly toward us and began to shout, ‘We want your money, phones and watches.’ So I grabbed my small bag and sat on it as they keep shouting. I took courage to talk to them as the others decided to lie down on their bellies. Just then one gunman hit me with his gun barrel on my shoulder of my left arm, shouting, ‘Give me your money, or die!’ But then to my surprise he passed very quickly to the next person. John (a Kenyan business man in Torit town, Sudan) leaving me alone because he was making so much noise he drew their attention as he was crying, ‘Oh leave us, oh leave us---we do not have money!’ I asked all the people to collect funds for these men, but John kept on crying out, ‘Oh leave us, oh leave---we do not have money!” As the gunmen became more centered on him I took on the role as a mediator. The two gunmen held John by the neck with both hands as one chocked him vigorously and said, ‘Utakimia ama tukunyamazishe kabisa.’ (Be silent or we silence you permanently). Turning back to me a third gunman was holding an AK47 to my forehead and then with his left hand he quickly checked my pockets to find very little money. Glory to God—he did not find the money Rick Wilson sent for the project, my digital camera or phone that I had in the small bag I was sitting on because he did not order me to stand up or get out of the truck! Because of all the crying they told us to be silent. I went into prayer just God and me in silent communion and prayer! I prayed to God, ‘God remember your servant.’ Remembering His promise in Psalm 121:1-8 then, I finally said, ‘God, be faithful to your words. Great and mighty is the Lord that I serve. He is faithful, able and true.’ And the ‘commander’ of the gunmen said to his fellow men, ‘Let them go.’ As I prayed a light appeared. It was an approaching car and they fled not knowing if it was the police or others. The Turkana gunmen did not get much from me because God kept me safe by blinding them. My watch was on my wrist but they did not see any of what I had on me except for a few shillings. God blinded them! I was left in pain where they hit me with their gun, but God protected me and the funds I had for the project. Psalm 125:2 says, ‘As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forever more.’ I can continue to testify that the Lord neither sleeps nor slumbers, for he watches over us,”

I have been on this road many times and can say without a doubt that God has watched over us as He has done for Dominic! Our hope is not in what we can do, but in what our God Jesus Christ can do. He can heal all these pains and right the wrongs. It will not be easy, but with Christ we believe all things are possible, do we not? We are not there by chance but by God’s Sovereign hand. It is His work, His people and He loves them and has a plan for them! If you would like to help here’s how:
1. Pray for God to guide us.
2. Pray for us, as we are overwhelmed with the needs of the people and for safety.
3. Pray that we would be wise in the use of our resources.
4. Pray about giving. Send funds to Rick & Diana Wilson #784 WorldVenture 1501 W. Mineral Ave. Littleton, CO 80120-5612 phone 800-487-4224 720-283-2000 Web www.worldventure.com

God bless,

Rick and Diana Monthly support shortfall ($850)

Mayatima Project

Dear Friend,

What a summer we had in Kenya! Our work went well! Things are starting to return to normal after the chaos during the election last December. With so many killings and destruction, our Mayatima Project had been affected---especially the farm. We had to sell all the chickens because there was no transportation during this time to bring food. Now we must buy new ones. Pray for the farm because it needs a little help to get jump-started. We also need to finish the well. This project will really help the people to help themselves.

We are pleased to report the school is growing and helping so many children locally as well as many of our orphans. Pray for 3 new classrooms that are needed and for a boarding school that will be built soon.

The churches were affected as well. Out of the 11 churches only 5 remain active because of the tribal clashes. This is a sad reality of the flesh and of prejudices that exist in Africa between the churches. I do not know if you heard about one church (not one of ours) that was set on fire with 30 people inside. When they tried to run out of the church, machete-wielding people killed them. Please pray that the 5 remaining churches will be able to grow and become one tribe in Jesus.

I also want to share with you several letters from 3 girls who accompanied Diana and me to Kenya this year. I was very impressed how these young girls adapted so well and did such great work with the kids. These letters express their experiences in their own words.

Thank you so much for your support. Diana and I would not be able to work in this way if we did not have your support. Thank you for your prayers because without them nothing would be possible. We have already seen God do some great things and we believe He is planning more good things that will lead many to his Son, Jesus.

God bless you,


Rick and Diana Wilson