Micro Joint Ventures second country?

This is a post looking for feedback. Some regular readers know that I manage the work of Micro Joint Ventures. We support churches in poor countries by funding profitable Joint Ventures. The Micro Joint Ventures annual report is out. See the site microjointventures.org to read the report. We have 8 projects in Burundi, joint ventures with seven churches. We reach from the capital out to the Tanzanian border in the east.
Here are some questions I have, and they are not rhetorical.
What would be the right time to move to a second country? Should I let our Burndian national director decide when he is too stretched to take on more projects? Or decide myself? And what country should be our second? A country like Uganda, where our Burundi national director spends time and can oversee things? Or should I find a new national director through different contacts? What sort of poor country would really benefit from $1000 joint ventures with churches, where the church does all the work and keeps 45 percent of the profits?

Response to our donation to Anglican Parish of Riguyi, Burundi

Dear Mike! Greetings in the Name of the Lord. It is with great joy,that i am taking this opportunity to thank you very much.I deeply appreciate your heart of love you showed me.Not everybody what you did for me ! Through you Sir Mike, i would like also to thank you Church community.Please say thank you to them and the Almighty bless their work.I shall pray for you that God continue blessing you Ministry work. We really love you and we do not have anything to do for you ,but we can continue praying for you that God continue providing funds and blessing in order that you may succeed in you Ministry work. NB I ensure you that God is doing great things to us because the number of our Christians is increasing day by day ,even we are planning to expand our church building in May because the space is becoming too smaller. Thanks !Be blessed. Faithfully.

Annual Report from Burundi Business

                  Dear Pastor Mike,                                                                                                       Greeting in our Lord Jesus Christ.
First of all,my apologies are addressed you and Misigaro for having delayed to submit the annual report.Since I am not a direct manager,I had to wait for being provided some details.
The Income Statement is the following:
     Revenue: money received from bricks sales: 2 million 400 thousand Bu francs
                      :Cost of material to make bricks      : 500 thousand Bu francs
                      : amount paid for the men to make bricks : 400 thousand Bu francs
                      :Further expenses(tickets from countryside to Bujumbura or vice- versa and various spendings on internet): 440 thousand Bu francs.
                     :Investment in co op : 200 thousand Bu francs.
        The balance sheet is the following:
                       :Value of unsold bricks: 600 thousand.
                       :Value of the kiln            : 550 thousand.
                       :Cash                               :1 million 120 thousand.                  
                       : co op  value                  :400 thousand Bu francs
The total capital is  2 million 670 thousand Bu francs.
        Note : We have face a loss of  around 15 thousand bricks destroyed by the hard rain 
                    which surprised us on September 2010.This was equivalent to 170 thousand Bu francs. So, the whole dividend should be 1 million 120 thousand.
            May you have a nice understanding.

Emails from Bishop Justin, of the United Methodist Church

December 2nd, 2010
Dear Pastor Mike and Ally Russel,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I am Bishop Justin Nzoyisaba of the United Methodist Church, I was given your
name by Leonard Nyankuri so that we may know each other and share your program
which might take place in June or July 2011.


I am pleased to be available for any assistance to your side, so send me what
would be your program and what you intent to do and where to go in Burundi so
that we can extend to you an invitation.

We thank you for what you have done to our parish down in Ruyigi province and
Kinyinya District, we hope that you will continue and get other friends who can
visit us and see what we do.

Best regards,

Bishop Justin Nzoyisaba




December 6th, 2010
Dear Bishop Justin,

Thank you for your greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus, and your willingness to host us on our visit.  

At present, our plans are as follows:

I will come with a Burundian man named Jean Bosco Misigaro in June or July 2011.

We have 4 two hour teaching sessions and 1 one hour teaching session which we would like to deliver for pastors and others with interest.  Perhaps this could be in the late afternoons or early evenings for 5 days after the work of the day is over.

I would like to attend the church of pastor Alexis on a Sunday.  I would like to see how the honey co op works, which we have helped sponsor, and I would like to see the brick kiln - how it works, and to see a house made of bricks from the kiln.  I would like to take photos of these things.

I have a potential investor of A$5000 for an investment on a similar basis as the brick kiln business.  So if Pastor Alexis has another suggestion for a business with this size of outlay, I would like to talk with him about it, and see why it will be useful.  (This investor will only be interested after our brick kiln business has received a dividend, and after there has been a satisfactory annual report on the brick kiln business).

I would like to meet you Bishop Justin, and also the Anglican Bishop if possible (I am an Anglican pastor - I am trying to contact the Anglican Bishop at present)

With yourself and the Anglican Bishop, I would like to discuss problems I see Burundian Christians finding in Australia, as well as strengths in what many Burundian Christians bring over here.  I would like for you to suggest any ways we can help you.  When we come, is there anything you would like us to bring that will help you? I have an 'African Bible Commentary' in Swahili to give away, for example.

I would like the chance to preach if you are willing to allow that.  

I think this should take around 8 days on the ground.

There is much detail still to consider and confirm.

Best regards to you, and greetings to you in our Lord,

Pastor Mike Russell

December 7th, 2010

Dear Mike and Ally Russel,

 

I am very glad to read you and I see you have nice program and I will be happy to meet you and talk. I know all the Anglican Bishops in Burundi they are six bishops. In Bujumbura there is one and on your way to Alexis church there is another Dear Mike and Ally Russel,

 

I am very glad to read you and I see you have nice program and I will be happy to meet you and talk. I know all the Anglican Bishops in Burundi they are six bishops. In Bujumbura there is one and on your way to Alexis church there is another Bishop so let me know who you want to meet so that I inform him early. I will be glad to receive any gift from your side but in my daily work I am missing a camera to produce reports if you are able to bring me that is OK if not feel free to come with any gift. Let me how the seminar is organized.

Thank you so much for the information and your assistance to our church.

 

Bishop Justin so let me know who you want to meet so that I inform him early. I will be glad to receive any gift from your side but in my daily work I am missing a camera to produce reports if you are able to bring me that is OK if not feel free to come with any gift. Let me how the seminar is organized.

Thank you so much for the information and your assistance to our church.

 

Bishop Justin

Funeral for Sudanese man

Hi all, please pray for me as I go to a funeral for a Sudanese man on Sunday evening.  They are holding it in the Platform, because they could find no other venue.  They have asked me to pray.  Ezra, the man who contacted me, has lost three family members in very short time.

Email from Leonard in Burundi

Dear Pastor Mike ,I hope your family and the church are fine. I am very pleased to get this opportunity of writing to   you again. First of all, I address you my apologies  for having delayed to reply. My younger son was very sick and I was obliged to stay in country side.Pastor Alexis was very sick too.Praise God because both of them are now recovered.I pray you not to worry about the three donations usage.All what you sent to us have been affected to the church projects except a half of the third donation which was invested to the kiln business. Be aware that  till now 1,5 Million Bu frs are available here and around  fifty thousand bricks equivalent to 750 thousand Bu frs are ready to be sold .The later is expected as a global profit of the business.We have also the bees herding for honey production equivalent to 400 thousand Bu frs.Concerning an Anglican pastor close to the Anglican Bishop; I will chat wth him and tell you the result.
Thank you again for planning this fourth donation.We are very pleased of it too. Welcome.
I am in Bujumbura city now;I leave on 29th October 2010 ;I come back in two weeks to see my theses superviser.

Email from Burundi

Hello Pastor Mike;


I am glad to have this occasion for another talk.I hope you are well with your family and church.I want to express my thanks to Jesus because things are going well now.The electoral period is almost finished and killings are stopped;only some arrestations of journalists are still observed.The security is getting better in general.I also say thank you for the comforting message you sent to us through my requests.Concerning the trip program:some church leaders are just informed of it;before March 2O1O ;the bishop will write a letter to invite you.The Kiln Business has started and pastor Alexis is now selling the bricks.I passed some days without being near the native country to mean that I do not have details on me.still;I am in Buja city heading my native province.After three weeks ;if God wishes;I will be in Buja again to communicate with you what will be going on.we have a National Crusade from 26 to 29 August 2010. Have our best regards to your collegues. yours warmly Leonard.

A good thing happened today

I met an old acquaintance called Binga.  He has 8 kids if I recall rightly.  They're not at church anymore, but he's thinking about letting us pick them up and bring them to our church.
Please pray that would be the case.

Letter from Burundi - bad news of escalating tension

                          Dear Pastor Mike,
Have our warm greetings.Thanks a lot for the visit planning.We pray for the program to
be accomplished next year as you suggested it.This year, the security in our coutry is getting worse and worse.The ruling party CNDD FDD conjointly with the National Electoral commission are accused of being involved in the theft of the first scrutin done on 24th,May 2O1O.
Therefore,strikes,killings,violences and arrestations are increasing.
By the way, let me ask you few questions:
   Are Pastors or Christians allowed to attend political activities?
   May I get some Biblical references to support my understanding?
The answers could help me to solve some problemes and probably help others to
manage this electoral period.
We will tell you the situation at the end of each scrutin.we have 5 and the last one is
scheduled on October 2O1O.Concerning the donations usages,I am waiting for the recapitulations from pastor Alexis.Good bye.
                    Give our regards to your church

Encouraging kids church comment

Hi all,
It was great to hear Ally speak about kids' church on the way home last Sunday.  She said that for the first time Chanceline decided that she would listen and take part in the activities in kids' church.  Ally said it was really obvious how much of the bible (how many sung bible verses) the kids know.  So Ally said to Chanceline, 'Once you've been here a while, you can know the bible like they do.  Wouldn't that be great?'  Chanceline agreed.

Ally was encouraged too that when the kids were asked, 'So what sins did Jesus do when he was on earth?', the kids were shocked.... They protested strongly against the question, and some could even explain what the consequences would have been if Jesus had sinned - he could not have died for our sins.

This is a such a key part of our ministry, and I was encouraged by these stories.  Please keep praying for both kids and youth church.  There's a youth church event on tonight.  Please pray it will go well.

Core group minutes

St. Barnabas Core Group Meeting - seconds
28.4.2010

Attended: Lynn, Heather, Pauline, Katrina, Ben, Mike
Apologies: Bosco is sore from soccer but clean.
Jeffrey – at home doing his homework
Leanne

Isaiah 29,30. On plans.
God makes the plans. He is sovereign. 

Giving Group meeting planned to happen before Core meeting, but due to lack of attendance it is postponed. Only conclusion is that we will probably accept Alex’s recommendation that we will support a different church for a while other than Bosco’s church. 

Update from Mike:
Christine Lee’s funeral today.
Continuuing to evangelise at the TAFE. Particularly speaking with Robert.
We are doing well with our giving to churches in Burundi. Mike reminded from 1 Corinthians 16 that it was quite common to support churches in other places.
Ian McDonald from St.George’s Magill going to visit Elizabeth and shoot some video to help Magill people get more insight into our church. 
Claude and Bosco have become Australian Citizens. Mike went to Claude’s service, but we did not know about Bosco’s. 

Involvement at church:
Morning Tea roster, some of the ladies.
Get morning tea boxes out on Saturday setup.
Heather to ask Esperance to help with morning tea each week. 

Church pot luck lunch – 30^th May, after church. Ben to organize and promote so people understand how it works and encourage people to bring something. 
Ally to promote the Watoto childrens choir performance at Elizabeth Church of Christ on 4^th June. Inviting people to meet at 6:30pm to then go in and sit together for 7pm performance.  
Next meeting to talk about future plans. 
Finished at 9:15pm. 

Letter from Stafford and Rae Cowling

Dear Mike and Ally

Great to hear all of the news from you and the church and thanks for
sending it on. Over Easter we attended a conference for teachers in
Christian schools and there were two main themes: one to integrate
Biblical principles into our everyday teaching and the other to regard
children as of great importance (including in evangelism) so your
comments about the status of the ministry to children is along the
same lines. The man from ‘Compassion’ (Wes Stafford) pointed to many
Scriptural passages where children were used by God and the NT example
where Jesus was firm in his command to let the children come to him.
He estimates that 80% of Christians were converted by the age of 18.

Here the school year has less than 10 weeks to run, and for Rae’s
students it is only about 4 weeks to the beginning of Cambridge exams.
She is praising God that some of them are doing better than expected,
but asks for prayers for some others who need to work very hard on
their revision. She also has been teaching flute and clarinet to some
of the students in the school’s band program and helping to coach a
middle school soccer team. These activities give her the opportunity
to establish relationships with younger students.

Teaching English at the midwife college is also coming to a conclusion
for this year because in a few weeks time they will go on clinical
placement for several weeks before their long break. There will be a
new group of first year students in about September to teach, and
possibly some help with writing for the second and third years.

A family here has just unexpectedly lost their father/husband to
pneumonia so please pray for the two children, two boys age seventeen
and thirteen, and their mother, as they return to Zimbabwe for the
funeral and eventually to live because their father had the work
permit permission to live in Ethiopia. The whole school prayed in
their classes for the family. The students in Stafford’s class were
deeply touched by what had happened. They spontaneously got themselves
into a circle and each one prayed.

The photos are just for fun. The tall Eucalypt in the school grounds
was cut down by axe and rope and a nest containing a young Kite came
with it. One of the Australian teachers rescued it and gave it a nest
in a dish. It is much bigger now and with the Bennetts at the Fistula
Hospital. The small patch of garden is in front of our place and
further back (out of sight) are some cape gooseberries. A shot of the
Rift Valley Academy in Kenya as we were leaving.

Best wishes and love from us

Stafford and Rae

We will be back in Adelaide late June so we will be able to visit your
new church location. Praise the Lord for all he has been doing in your
part of the world.

Prayer notes from the Kleins

 Klein’s Prayer Group April 2010

Heri ya Pasaker (Happy Easter)

Yesu amefufuka (Christ is Risen)

Thank you for your prayers. God continues to look after us here and we are mindful of his daily hand in our lives.

What’s happened?

After returning from our brief trip to Mwanza we had word that our car was almost ready. In the last week of March, Nigel and Ken Chapman bused to Mwanza, met with the Diocesan Secretary, Canon Godfrey and flew to Dar Es Salaam. Having found a problem with the radiator- gearbox oil in it, and the fact that switches were missing, leaving exposed wires on the dashboard, they spent 2 days getting it fixed. Then they travelled another 4 days to collect our belongings, drop them off in Murgwanza and arrive back in Musoma, 8 days later. This quick summary doesn’t do justice to the amazing working of God so let me tell you-

It probably should have taken 5 days for the car to be fixed except that N and K were directed to the National Service manager who supervised the repairs. He is a ‘mzungu’ who they briefly met on the plane the day before! The parts ‘became’ available despite not being in country the day before.

N&K were able to follow in convoy the Bishop of Kagera from Dodoma to Murgwanza. Not only did this help with navigation but also gave a time for Nigel in a less formal setting to get to know the Bishop and Canon. It turns out that they all studied at Ridley College, and the Canon lived at St Andrew’s Hall – in our rooms!

Nigel was able to view our house in Murgwanza – so we have an idea of what we need.

They stayed safe on the roads! They passed serious bus accidents with multiple fatalities.

‘The girls’ stayed safe in Musoma and coped. Lesley Chapman’s back became ‘bad’ the week before the boys left and so schooling the kids by herself was looking bleak. However the Vink’s went on holidays leaving their home school teacher looking for something to do…. Yes she helped us! Our guard upped and ran away to Dar the week before as well. Unfortunately he didn’t say goodbye to his family leaving much grief and turmoil. Thankfully,  our Landlady was back THAT weekend and managed to find someone to fill his shoes – Mageta’s older brother ateneus – he is married with 3 kids and speaks no English but is a hard worker.

Lucy turned 8 on Saturday 10^th!!! We managed to have ea party with 5 misso families coming. The cake was cooked the day before which was a blessing as we lost power the day of her party. Also, we had been sad about packages not arriving – well they arrived Thursday 8^th, 5 packages and 2 letters. Lucy was overjoyed and so were we. God is SO good answering even these little requests!

Praise Points

For God’s obvious hand in the logistics of picking up the car and getting it repaired.

For the great first meeting with The Bishop and Canon and the chance that Nigel had to see Murgwanza, our house, the hospital and Nursing school.

For meeting Andy and Jenny Bennet, CMS-SA.

That we have been able to grow our relationship with Beata, our house help, and her family through the circumstances of Mageta leaving. Nigel continues to read the Bible with her.

For God’s provision in providing for “the girls” while the men were gone, including rain so we didn’t need to organize alternative water.

For Lucy and Sarah’s growing relationship with God – we had a Passover meal on Good Friday as we were up to Exodus 12. The girls are really enjoying reading the Bible. Sarah’s trust in God is such that when she prays for rain she has an eager expectancy of the answer. On Good Friday Lucy prayed that God would forgive her for being the type of girl who likes to have more despite what she’s got, in the face of so many around us with very little. God is working in their hearts.

For our growing relationship with God!

For the arrival of the packages that so many people prayed over!

For Lucy’s 8^th Birthday and the provision of missionary friends to share it with, and the encouragement and love of people back home to her at this time.

For the confirmation that we will have a STM, Sarah Boyd, joining us in Murgwanza to help with the girls schooling at NAPS and home.

That Nigel’s mum is remaining well.

Prayer Points

 That God would continue to refine and mould us for the ministry here and ahead, so that we may reflect him, and all glory goes to him.

We would continue to learn and grow in Kiswahili in these last months.

For patience for Nigel and good health – having seen Murgwanza he has an eagerness to get there but must still get through language school first!

For more restful and refreshing sleep to help ease some of our weariness – Sarah continues to wake with noises and the weather has been hot and humid.

For Ken and Lesley Chapman that they may have energy in this final stretch and that Lesley’s back would be healed.

For Sarah Boyd as she begins preparations to come to Murgwanza in June/July.

For relationships here in Makoko that they may be grounded in God and that the start of our goodbyes will go well.

For Rain.

That Lucy may continue to learn how to home school and that God would be preparing friends in Murgwanza and at NAPS (Ngara Anglican Primary School) for both girls.

Pray for Rose’s family in Hobart – that Rosalie, her mum, would continue to have good quality of life despite her ongoing motor neuron disease. Also that Thomas, her nephew would respond to medications. He was diagnosed with a bowel problem as we left. His family is Rosalie’s main support in Hobart.

Murgwanza

For smooth logistics as we look to the needs of the house, being mindful of our needs as a family and in that community.

For more financial input into the diocese – it has NO money and running on aid. The Canon and Bishop have not been paid for 2-3 months. The Canon was given $200 Aus from a friend in Melbourne  - he promptly spent it on 2 bicycles for 2 pastors to help them in their work!

The hospital is still in difficulties as well with the Government cutting supplies due to cost cutting.

However – Praise that the Nursing school has received a grant to enable it to function over the next 2 years.

THANK YOU for your love, support and encouragement and YOUR ministry here in Tanzania through CMS-SA/NT and us.

Philippians 4: 4 – 7.

Evangelism success at the TAFE

Well my evangelism lately is having more success with the 'Aussies' than with the Africans.  I'm having great chats with Robert and Glenn.  Please pray for them.  Today we talked at length about the evidences for Jesus' resurrection, about whether faith must mean commitment without evidence, whether there is absolute truth or meaning, and much more.  Pray that these guys will come to a true and lively faith in the Lord Jesus.  Nearly all the sound engineers are open to chat, so that's great... Praise God for that.

Launch a success

Well, I think our launch was big success.  Well done to all.  It was encouraging that many of the skater boys were willing to come over, take free stuff, take our card advertising us..... and one couple of boys even suggested they might come to church with us.  Also, Linda wants to join us.  (The lady that came with Rosemary found out about us through the Messenger article......Bravo!)

Listen to me on Life FM 10.10 Thursday 18th March

Yep, there's 15 minutes worth of Mike being interview.  Please pray I commend Jesus with what I say!

Money for Alina's family

Hi all,
Alina's family are struggling in Tanzania at the moment.  She has 8 brothers and sisters (4 brothers, 4 sisters) there.  Three of them are married, and some of those families have children.  Alina's Mum and Dad are also there.  There is no food anymore, because UNHCR have left and the Tanzanians want the refugees to go, so they are restricting further their freedoms.  For example, no more pet goats allowed.
Only 30000 refugees now remain, meaning that the majority have returned to Burundi.
Alina's father believes if he returns to Burundi, he will be killed.  This is because the man who is now staying on Alina's dad's land will not want him to return and claim the land which is rightfully his.  He will arrange for Alina's Dad to be killed, they are sure about that. Many of the Burundian refugees who have returned have been killed - not in public battles, but in quiet targeted killings of this sort, or of a political nature.
I have said we will get together $500 and send it over to help them eat for 3 months.  Please pray they will get refugee visas so they can come out of there.

Life FM interview

Good news, guys.  I'm getting an interview on Life FM, to be broadcast 10.10 Thursday 18th March.

I'll talk about our church and our launch and other things.

About 15 minutes worth, which is fantastic.

Minutes of Core Group Meeting

St. Barnabas Elizabeth core group meeting  - 24/2/10

1. Bible reading and opening prayer - 2 Cor 12 – “When we are weak then we are strong” – a call to humility and to realize that God works mightily through our weaknesses.
2. Report from Mike on things happening

• Continuing to meet new people at Salisbury Tafe. Many of them Christians and going to other churches. Not trying to pull them from their churches but encourage them, read the Bible with them, and they can be good contacts for other non-Christian people.
• Alina’s family in Tanzania not in a good position. Going hungry.
• Tuesday Biblestudy going well, Festus, Bosco, Alphonse, Russell’s and Cosfords coming. 3 meetings so far.
• Blog has begun, seeking to communicate to all people. Will think about how to print off blog occasionally for those who don’t have internet access.
• Finance Update – Ambitious budget set for 2009 giving at St.Barnabas. Magill support $2458 more than budget.  St.B’s budget for 2010 is 5% more than 2009 actual giving of $21,318.  Last year Mike said he would absorb the shortfall for giving, and later thought he shouldn’t have said that. Nevertheless, Mike intends to keep his word and make up the shortfall for last year, but not in the future.  Ben commented it is right for him not to absorb the shortfall but that we should pay the worker his wages. 
• Through Bosco’s contact Leonard and Pastor Alexus, have arranged a partnership in a kiln business. IS a business where they take 50%  and Mike takes 50% of the profit, to help them in teaching how to run a business, with partner expectations of reports, accountability. It needs to be clear that this is not the gift money given by the giving group.
• Next core group meeting have major focus on financial 5 year plan, including covering Mike’s wage, and other visions. 

3. March 14th Launch preparation
Archbishop, upon invitation, thought that Neil at Elizabeth may be offended that we are calling ourselves a church, not just a Burundian congregation. Archbishop can’t make it anyway.
Lyn Arnold sent his apologies.
Mike and Bosco having a photo Thursday 25^th for Messenger, to be included with story on church and launch.
BBQ after service.
Background music outside.
Need welcomers outside for service. Two on the road – Jeff, Kat and youth. Two at the door – Pauline, Festus.
Mike to get sticky labels made up (through Rosanna) to stick on the back of the photo cards already made up, to give out to invite people to launch.
Steve and Lyn on roster for kids ministry. Will combine efforts with them.
BBQ Food – Heather to buy sausages (gluten free).
Buy bread and sauce and serviettes. Get drink dispensers from McDonalds. Ben to call McDonalds about drinks.
Sat 6^th March – give out enviro bags and balloons to advertise church launch.
Ben to work on bags and balloons
Mike to speak to centre management.
Pauline and the bottomless tea jar to work on funds.
Jumping castle and face painting –  Harricks know, Ally to chase up.
Interview on Life FM – Mike. Ben to chase up

4. Should we have a termly 'ministry meeting' with the preaching
program in front of us to prepare stuff? Yes, will confirm date once preaching schedule from Magill is available.
5. Idea for social – Festus kill a lamb day.
6. Next Core Group Meeting – 28^th April.
7. Prayer

Days available to promote at Elizabeth Shopping Centre

The days available to use the free 'Community Stall' are 2,3,7,9,10 March.

That's Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday