To All of You and Each of You who are our Wonderful BESI Team,
Kathy and I want to express our great appreciation for your Faithfulness in 2007 and for the recent 16 years of Radio Kahuzi…and for the 35 years of our marriage and beginning of our new life together as young missionaries to the Congo, (formerly Zaire) in 1972.
This year of 2007 has been a wonderful affirmation for us of His Great Love and Sustaining Grace and a tremendous confirmation for us, as HCJB Global and the BESI Team continued to help us, working so hard to keep us in the black and on the field.
They both met with us regularly to systematically follow up, “so that nothing was lacking for us” (Titus 3:) -- especially for our working visit to the States in February and our medical tour in July.
We are so thankful to be part of a ministry that helps others preach the Word, and even reprove, rebuke, and exhort the fellow members of the Body of Christ in such an exciting, but desperate age of Salvation.
We see more and more of our beloved partners called to receive their Crown of Righteousness, because they lovingly looked forward to His Appearing! What a blessing to us who continue on with their remembrance!
Pray for us as we continue to trust the Lord Jesus Christ for the future of this work, as we seek His Grace and Wisdom and Guidance, as surely He has to be raising up the dedicated servants who will come along side, and ultimately continue on after us in this vital ministry. They will have to be able to endure hardship and do the work of an evangelist in power, love and good discipline.
We praise the Lord for doubling our radius of outreach across the heart of Africa, with listeners now calling in by cell phone from as far away as Kinshasa (1,000 miles) from Bukavu, and much further away after sunset from our short-wave listeners.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will empower the pastors and programmers to entrust His Wonderful Truths to others far and wide who can and will teach others, bringing Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel.
Though our radio staff had been reduced to three, the work of Radio Kahuzi has continued to blossom, and 2008 is bringing better and better tools to get the job done.
Lord willing, we will soon receive another thousand GALCOM solar fix-tuned short wave receivers to fortify the outreach further and further into the jungles and mountains of Central Africa and the D R Congo. Over 10,000 have been distributed.
Kim and Jared’s new BLOG is a tremendous treat for us. You can find it at www.radiokahuzi.blogspot.com.
Our team in Bukavu is beginning to receive new equipment to make the transition completely into digital recording, editing, and broadcasting. Please remember to pray for the teachers and training needed.
Remember us in prayer as we have been frustrated with technical details in placing new repeater sites with solar panels and battery storage to power FM Translators / transmitters in distant territories some 500 miles from Bukavu.
Meanwhile, the Lord has encouraged us with many FM radio stations volunteering to rebroadcast our different programs in the four provinces where they are! This has been a real shot in the arm for us, as many of these stations are in the center of present day military confrontations. This gives us the means of giving radios to the combatants and getting the gospel to them in FM as well as short-wave.
Pray for the battered and violated women and children in our provinces that fall victim by the thousands every month because of the lack of control and lack of discipline everywhere. Sadly, today the 12 year old daughter of the coordinator of the seven Kahuzi Radio Clubs and their Health Center at Kazaroho / Panzi is in the Panzi Hospital because she also became a victim two days ago. Please remember her and so many others like her.
Radio Kahuzi has had a unique ministry role in this period of years, for which we trust the Sovereign Direction of the Lord that He will complete what He has begun.
Kathy and I trust the Lord to graciously guide us in this new year as we come home for my eye surgery and hopefully the opportunity to fellowship with some of you that we have not been able to see during these last 16 years or so.
Grace, Mercy, & Peace to you and yours and to us each one in 2008.
Keep Looking UP! And Keep On Keeping ON!!
In His Love, Richard & Kathy McDonald
A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
We are beginning now to prepare for Richard’s eye surgery in June or July of this year. The medical costs are not covered by Christian Care Medi-Share, which is possibly the only organization that will cover missionaries living abroad, or with any pre-existing conditions.
Richard’s vision has been increasingly poor as the result of a car accident in 1981, which caused torn retinas -- both eyes were repaired in 1983. Last year his doctor found he has rapid forming cataracts, which are rapidly decreasing his vision.
The cost of surgery is $4,000 for both eyes. The approximate cost of airfare for Richard & Kathy is $6,000. We have started a “Medical Flight Project,” and would ask that you prayerfully consider helping as God directs your heart.
Total need: $10,000.
Thank you for your steadfast love and sharing in 2007!
“God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think.”
Keep Looking Up!
Harold Smith, President
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