May 2016

With Nick and Jocelyn Frey Table Mountain – Cape Town

Freedom

Freedom is the biggest factor for reverse culture shock this time. That’s right; we are writing this newsletter from the cold country of Canada! It has been quite the adjustment to come back to the land of the north, but we are enjoying our time here as we catch up with you! The ability to be able to walk to the park and play with the kids, or just go for a drive whenever and wherever, has been almost overwhelming. We have freedom to (or not to) vote, freedom to grab a coffee anytime (with free wifi :), freedom of religion and just plain free open spaces. We can feel it in the cold air, that there is a sense of freeness and hopefulness in the western world in general. No walls around all the houses, no extra security guards with AK47s at every store and company, and no worries about supporting or not supporting certain political parties.

Then there is the freedom to work. Not only to have a job, but also to pick the job you want! I know not everyone has this luxury in Canada, but the differences with Congo are astounding. A quick Google search shows Canada’s Nelson Mandela’s cell at the prison on Robben Island unemployment rate at 7.1% compared with anywhere from 50 to 70% in Congo. Yes, a whole decimal place difference.

I don’t write this so that you think you take your freedoms for granted. I am just sharing what’s on my heart. Maybe it’s because when we were in South Africa for our annual Africa Managers conference we visited the prison where Nelson Mandela lived, and I purchased and am reading his book “A long walk to freedom.” Or maybe it’s because I’ve been thinking about our identity in Christ, because after all, no matter where we live, we as Christians know we have freedom. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). So whether physically, spiritually or emotionally, I just want to encourage you to seek and enjoy freedom. ☺

Missionary Pool Fund Update Though we are personally 100% supported because of your generous donations towards our Ministry with MAF, our support works on a pool fund system and that fund has taken a hit this year. Due to significant decreases in the value of the Canadian dollar, and significant increases in health insurance and the global cost of living our Missionary Pool Fund (from which all of our MAFC missionaries are paid) has been facing a monthly deficit of approximately C$30,000 for 2015/2016. Would you prayerfully consider how you might be able to help us to close this gap so the pool stays at a healthy level and allows those whose support has dropped not have to come home to raise more support until their scheduled home assignments.

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Half Way Home We have been in Canada for about a month now and we have stuff scattered at family and friends houses all over the place. We also have stuff in our house in Kinshasa. We don’t officially own much, but what we do have is divided up between these two countries. So because of this neither place really feels quite like ‘home’ anymore but it is great to walk the streets that seem familiar and visit the friends and family and churches that we know so well. This also makes me think of how we aren’t really home until we’re in heaven. That’s the home for which we were really created. This is just temporary residency on earth. “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). I think when we look deep down inside ourselves we know that nowhere really feels like “home” in a complete sense. We’re a bit like nomads and we’re all searching for permanent dwellings. On this trip as we continue to Celebrating Pascal’s 2nd Birthday be nomads in the traditional sense, we have officially finished our time in Ontario and we are traveling to Alberta. We would love to see as many people as possible so here is a quick rundown of where we will be over the next month and a half. May 20 - Arrive in Edmonton May 22 - Northgate Baptist in Edmonton May 29 - Bethal Union Church in Leslieville, Ab June 5 - Trinity Christian Reformed Church in Edmonton June 18-19 - Westlock Bible Chapel June 29 - traveling to Grande Prairie July 2 – Open house in GP location TBD July 5 – Board Presentation at CFA Please let us know if you are a part of a small group or church in GP that would like to hear about our Ministry with MAF. This is a short tour around Canada but an important one to be able to give you a face-to-face update about what life and ministry in Congo looks like then head right back. So while we continue our nomadic journey, physically and spiritually, we try to advance Heaven all around us...no matter where we are.

The PC-12 being loaded up for response to a recent Cholera outbreak

The

Show Must Go On

We are really glad to have a break from the daily grind of life in Kinshasa, but the grind continues even while we’re gone! It is great to have the team they’re keeping the mission propelled so the ministry of MAF can continue to serve those in need. Matthew Lind, who has been working alongside me since last July, is serving as program manager during our time away. He is a hard worker and very capable man, and I’m glad God brought him to our team and empowered him for leadership. The flights and IT work have maintained their steady pace and we try to respond, as we’re able. It’s exciting to hear about some of the flights we’re doing including a bunch of flights for the WWF (World Wildlife Fund). Their conservation work in national parks is really taking off. We also have several flights for the Covenant Church in northern Congo. It’s also really great to stretch the legs on our Pilatus PC12 for these long haul flights. Join us in prayer for the MAF operations in Congo. May God continue to provide safety and direction to all who are working day after day, especially during this time when the program is short staffed.

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