Just wanted to let you know Marty and Larry Tomlinson, Jr. (our video-journalist) returned safely from Africa Friday afternoon. Thank you SO much for your prayers. All went well, and all the equipment came home safely. While in South Africa Marty met with field leadership, visited ministries, and spoke in BCM church and ministries. He met as well with one of two new couples who are planning to open Zambia as an official BCM field. They are already working there with HIV orphans, children's ministry and church planting.

 

Marty and Larry then went on to Swaziland, where they visited a number of the children's outreaches BCM missionary Assiena Maseko. There were approximately 1000 children in the first school release time Bible class they visited, 300 in a second, and about 70 kids in a neighborhood Bible club. This outreach alone by 'Auntie Seko', as the children call her and her co-missionary there, reaches about 6000 kids a week. One reason it's taken awhile to get this out is because we wanted to make available some of the pictures Larry took during the trip. We don't yet have them up on our website (www.windlemission.org; check this weekend), but you can check out the trip photos as a slideshow at the following link on Larry's website (if you have kids, they would be a great cultural and missions learning experience). The African woman teaching children is our BCM missionary 'Auntie Seko'. And if you've wondered whether Marty has addressed his new position as BCM president with proper seriousness and humility, check out the shot which has been entitled 'The Great Pumbah' (you'll know it when you see it!). Here is the link: http://flickr.com/photos/dcl/sets/72157600011289600/show/         

 

Meanwhile Steve is in his second week of navy bootcamp. We received a one-minute phone call letting us know he'd arrived alive and well, followed by a box with all possessions and clothing (very few) he'd taken with him, then a form letter with mailing information (and a one-liner from Steve confirming he's STILL alive (the navy clearly takes separating recruits from outside influence quite seriously). His 20th birthday is Friday, April 13th. If you are interested in sending him an encouraging note or card during the nine weeks of boot camp, his mailing information is below (NO food or package items allowed during bootcamp, just mail).