Dear co-worker
We are currently dealing with a key challenge when missionaries return home on furlough, especially when they are involved in a key ministry that cannot be put on hold until they return. The last time we left, we moved another missionary to Gbendembu to run the school. While that move solved the need for the Bible school, it resulted in bringing an end to the work they had been doing where they were previously stationed. In fact, the mission took another step and officially handed all the property there over to the national church.
The time had come. There was no real need for a missionary at that location. The work had advanced to the point where the national leaders were able to do the work and there was a long-range plan in place to start handing over more and more of the work to national leadership. They were not happy about receiving the documents for the property. It was a happy-sad moment. Happy that we felt confident in their ability to do the work, but sad about the end of the presence of the mission there.
Now we are dealing with transition issues at the Bible school. The church has communicated that they are not ready to fully take over this program. They have begun working on a plan and several people are in different steps of training to do so.
The problem is there is no one in the mission available to replace us and we are becoming a bit concerned since we will be leaving in about a month. And to be honest, there is more than the Bible school to consider. There is our house, the station, and all its employees. There are also other areas to deal with.
After much prayer, many meetings, and paperwork, we have been able to make arrangements to take care of a number of things. Each month the business manager will travel from Freetown to check on the house, the workers, assign future work, and pay their salaries. That will be a challenge because he is 140 miles away and the rainy season could make some of those trips interesting.
In regards to the school, the current District Superintendent of the district where the Bible school is located will become the acting principal for the next two months. He and his wife have a great heart for the school and have served as teachers in the programs. After that, one of the people who has been sent for further training will be returning. He was one of our teachers when we first came to SL.
This lifts a great burden from us as we finish our preparations to head home.
As always, thanks for your prayers.
Perry J