Now what do we do?

We had a great weekend with the Glory Conference. Praise and worship was very free with banners and dancing, kneeling at the altars or whatever felt right for each individual in attendance. The teachings, given by Rev. Debra Zimmer and Rev. Raymond Graham were great. Rev Graham is from Jamaica and that man is quite a preacher! There was personal ministry for many in attendance with prophecy over Shannon and I. We met several people over the weekend who we believe will eventually have a part in our future ministry. One is a nurse, interested in working with us over there. Having a clinic/dispensary is a part of the ministry's vision. With an on-site nurse we would have a much easier time bringing in medications and getting the children treated quickly for various ailments. We also met someone that is interested in going over there to help us get the farming portion of the ministry established. Also a computer nerd who would love to help however he can. we met many many others who want to be there for us spiritually as they pray us into the mission field and once we are there. We are so excited about the new prospects!

Shannon and I also graduated from bible school on Saturday. Here is a picture of us with Rev. Debra. We both graduated with 4.0 grade point averages as did quite a few of the other 24 graduates.
Shannon was one of the speakers at the ceremony. He talked of how the bible school has not only made us more knowledgeable about the bible but it has also confirmed for us the call God has placed on our lives. We have seen repeatedly in the bible how God uses ordinary men and women-even murderers, thieves and prostitutes-to accomplish His goals. We have spent nearly every evening that we were both home together over the past 12 months watching the videos, testing, filling out worksheets and writing papers that we both hardly know what to do with ourselves in our free time now.

I'm certain we will find something to keep busy.

Glory Conference location change

Just a quick note to tell you that if you were planning on coming to the Glory conference this weekend there has been a location change. Due to some construction at the original location that the ministry was not aware of until today, the new location for the conference will be the Willmar Assembly of God church. It is located on south Hwy 71, just south of Wal Mart.

If you come, please find me and tell me that you read our blog!

End Time Glory Ministries Conference and Graduation coming up

There have been a lot of graduations in our family over the past few months. In May it was Brandon's high school graduation and Collin's 8th grade graduation. Now, next weekend is Shannon's and my bible school graduation. We have taken bible classes through Rev. Debra's ministry. It is typically a two year course but Shannon and I have taken it by correspondence and finished it in about 12 months. It has been a fast pace and we have both really had to cram hard these last couple of weeks to finish in time.

The ministry is also having their Glory conference this weekend, starting on Thursday night. If you go to this page you can get more info and download a registration form. It is free and if you are in our area and can get there it is sure to minister to you in one way or another. We really enjoy the praise and worship time. The teachings are always good and tend to stretch us. Even our children love to go to this each time it is held as praise and worship is so free. After some of the sessions there is personal ministry time as well. Last spring all in our family each received an encouraging word of one kind or another.

Graduation is Saturday afternoon. We will be together with students from several area classes as well as another correspondence couple. It will be nice to be with everyone and hear how the school has affected them. These classes are the same classes that are being taught by Rev Debra, by video and in person in several other nations. The Phillipines, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Guyana all have ministers whose only opportunity for bible school is through these classes.

We are also looking forward to hosting Anne Mugane from Kenya in our home during the conference. She has been here in the US for a bit now and will spend a couple of weeks in the area before returning to her home in Kenya. She is a native Kenyan who feeds and clothes street children in Nairobi. In fact, Anne is the reason that when I first looked at missions trips to Africa I was mainly interested in going to Kenya. Little did I know at the time that God put Tanzania on my heart why He did it. I remember before the trip, grieving a bit that I wouldn't be going to Anne's home. I am so glad that God made it perfectly clear to me at the time where I was to go, even though at the time, it wasn't the trip I was wanting nor was it at a good time, He knew His plans for our lives.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

A Home for the Children of Mwanza

End Time Glory Ministries most recent newsletter arrived in my mailbox today. I wanted to share with you what she wrote about what is happening for Mwanza. Every time Shannon and I see our names in print associated with this vision, it kinda makes it more real. The letter is rather lengthy but I want my readers to understand the vision we all have. Here it is:

We want to share a vision with you what we, as a ministry, are beginning to step into. It has been in our hearts for a long time to start a children's home in the nations. Over the last years there have been several opportunities to do this, but with each opportunity as we sought God's direction, He always closed the door. Then we were presented with an opportunity for a children's home in the city of Mwanza, Tanzania. As we have continued to wait on God, we have moved forward with a constant sense that God is in this, and we are moving in His will.

There is a serious need for a children's home in this city. AIDS and other diseases have turned many children into orphans with no place to go but to the streets. For them, survival means doing anything for some food to make it one more day and surviving means one more day of being unloved, unwanted and forgotten. But Jesus has not forgotten them. He desires a place of love for these children to grow and thrive and live. And He has called us to build such a place.

In addition to building a children's home, we will also be building and running a Christian radio station on the same land. In 2001, we had been offered air time for a radio program in Tanzania. But the cost was very high and we felt that we should lay it down and trust that God was planning something better. At the same time, God began to stir the hearts of Shannon & Christine *****, a couple from our area, to work with the orphaned children of Tanzania. As they opened their hearts to the vision God was building inside of them, they began to feel strongly that God wanted to start a Christian radio station in Tanzania as well. While there is a radio station in Dar Es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, it does not reach the whole country. Mwanza is the second largest city in Tanzania and it does not have Christian radio broadcasting. Shannon decided to talk with PRAISE FM (a Christian radio station that broadcasts in our area), about starting a station in Mwanza. They were very excited! They also have a vision for Christian broadcasting in Africa, and said they would be willing to work with us to see a station established in Mwanza.

Right now, we are purchasing a piece of land outside of Mwanza for $25,000. It is about 25 acres of rich, fertile soil with a view of Lake Victoria. Our plans are to build a children's home and radio station, as well as a medical clinic and Christian school. The clinic and school will be available for both the children in the children's home, as well as the public in the Mwanza area. Our vision is to be a self-sufficient home. To do this, we will raise crops and livestock, and those families who are able, will pay tuition for their children to attend the school, as well as modest fees for medical services. For those who cannot afford the expenses, we will offer medical care for free.

The vision is large, but God is a God of large vision. We are simply taking God at His word and running with Him in all of this. We want to share this vision with you, because we can't do it alone. We need people who desire to bring God's kingdom on earth, to join with us and help put hands and feet to the gospel of Jesus Christ. All we want is to see what our Father is doing and then do it. We see the heart of the father in these plans for Mwanza.

Will you pray about being a part of what God is doing in Mwanza? We are grateful for any way God would lead you to share in this vision. We ask that you please lift us up in prayer as we continue to move forward. May God bless you richly in all things as you fix your heart on Him and Him alone. We love you and look forward to hearing from you!

Wayne and Debra Zimmer

Happy News

A few things to share:

First, the car Shannon looked at on Tuesday evening ended up being the one we decided to buy. It was the same make and model as we had but 5 years newer. The engine is not the same but we knew that to get the engine we wanted we might have had to go two hours away to find one. We would not have had time to do that until at least next weekend and the car needed replacing now. Anyway, we now have a 5 year newer car with very little rust and only 82,000 miles on it-that's nearly 200,000 less than the one that got wrecked.

Second, Shannon just received approval today from his boss to go to Tanzania in September. They had told him no and Shannon spoke with them again on Tuesday. Today the supervisor came to him and told him okay. He needs to give up our week long vacation is August, which we had planned to do anyway and come back from Tanzania one day earlier than he had planned. That is a workable situation. The $1000 we had saved so far to go towards the trip we spent on the car but we are hoping the other driver's insurance company comes through with all or part of that money eventually. We know God is good and that if he could change the minds of Shannon's supervisors, he can certainly provide the funds for the trip.

We are at the "Sonshine Christian music festival" this weekend. It had been decided earlier this would be our family vacation this year as Shannon won't have vacation time for a trip to the Black Hills as we originally planned. It works. We are hanging out with family friends there and it seems we all end up scattered for most of the time but we are having fun. We come home to sleep at night as we both worked this morning and I work tomorrow morning but spend the afternoons and evenings there. I have discovered how much I really like Toby Mac. They are a mixed race band which is great for us with our mixed family. He puts a lot of emphasis on diversity and family(he is a dadddy to 5) and man can those band members dance! What a fun group they are and their music appeals to us as well as our kids.

Ouch!

What was that?! I thought. I wasn't sure if the world was ending and I was being raptured, just a little bit late, or what was going on. Last night, just as I was turning left into a driveway from off of a state highway(read 55 miles per hour) the driver of a pickup truck decided to pass me on the left. The truck hit my left front quarter and ripped the front bumper nearly completely off my car.

The end results are that our work car-the one I use for performing both of my jobs, and that Shannon drives to work, has been totaled. The pickup had a flat tire. No one was seriously injured although I have a doctor's appointment set up for tomorrow to check on some pain between my shoulders and in my left shoulder/arm/elbow/hand. Probably all caused by my body slamming into the drivers door at impact.

I was able, with help, to wire the bumper back onto the car and limp it home. I was 50 miles from home at the time. Shannon was able to make it daytime street legal until we can find a replacement so I can do the mail route this week. We are very disappointed in the loss of the car. It is an 89 Buick with a lot of rust but it has a strong engine and tranny and is perfect for the mail route. We bought the car about 5 years ago for $850 and have spent little on repairs. It has 276,000+ miles on it. Yes, you read that right! We were hoping for 300,000 at least. We figure it doesn't owe us anything. In fact, it almost deserves a memorial service!

Our intentions are to replace it with another just like it-either a Buick Century or Oldsmobile Cutlass Cierra-with the same engine and body style. Then we will keep the old one as a parts car. Being married to a trained mechanic has its advantages. Although he doesn't use his mechanics education for his career, he certainly uses it on our cars. Shannon is going to look at a diferent car this evening in fact. We hope it is the one.

Praise God with us for no injuries. If I had been 1-2 seconds further into my turn it could have been so much worse.

A quick prayer request, please

Things are not looking good for Shannon to get the time off for Tanzania. His direct supervisor thought it would work out but after talking to the manager, decided that he couldn't go for that long. Shannon talked to him again yesterday, telling the supervisor that he would give up the week he was planning to take off in August for a family vacation and explaining that it would only be three route days that would be difficult to cover.

We really do feel it is important for Shannon to be on this trip. He would be touring other children's homes in the Mwanza area and be developing relationships with those we would be working with in the future. The possibility of me going is very unlikely. Child care is the main issue as S's helper will be away for part of the time and Shannon's schedule so often starts at 4:30 AM. There aren't a lot of people pounding at the door at the hour to watch kids(including myself).

Anyway, Shannon is going to speak directly with the manager in the next couple of days to see if they can work out an agreement on this. Please pray for that conversation and for him to see the eternal value to the kingdom, of the time off. So often, we forget to look at the big picture. That is all we are asking the manager to do.

Happy Independence? Day

It has always been a joke around our home that Independence Day is the day that Shannon lost his freedom. It was 20 years ago, on July 4th, that Shannon and I were married. We were both in our Marine Corps dress blues and had fireworks at the reception. In reality, it is the day that God joined us together, knowing far more than we did at that point what He had in store for us. Twenty years later we are both Christians, have 5 wonderful children and are preparing to move into what will likely be the biggest adventure of our lives.

We plan to spend the day with extended family as they join us in celebrating not just Independence Day, but our anniversary and my sister's 29th birthday(on the 5th). It will be a fun time with the annual water fight between my dad, my sis, her boyfriend and all of the kids. There will be brats and burgers on the grill for lunch and sloppy joes for supper. Along with a couple of cakes, some ice cream, watermelon and s'mores we will eat well. The company will be great too and the boat will be put to use with tubers and knee boarders behind.

Happy Independence Day everyone and thanks for celebrating with us!

On the Job Training?

Well, we are currently experiencing something at our home we have never had to before. With us doing foster care for over 5 years we were always prepared for the possibility but it never happened...until today.

This morning I left home early to get to church for the first service as I sing in the choir and we had a special performance today for the 4th of July and to honor the veterans in attendance. Just before the service began I received a message to call home immediately. I called home and Shannon informed me that E's head was covered in head lice! What should he do, he asked. I told him there was olive oil in the shampoo cupboard, waiting for just such an occasion. He doused E's head with it and put a shower cap on him, leaving the lice to drown while the rest of us attended church. Anyway, the rest of the children seem to be lice fee though we are questioning the possibility of some eggs in M's hair.

We are using a shampoo and heavy salt mixture on everyone's heads in the home as that will kill both the lice and the eggs. Then we are shampooing with shampoo that has tea tree oil mixed in it as that repels lice. Hopefully we can kick this with those efforts as well as washing all bedding and vacuuming well. The kids are upset that their stuffed animals are being bagged up to suffocate any possible survivors. WE think the lice may have been contracted at summer camp so I will call there tomorrow to let them know of the possibilty of this being a issue for future campers in the cabin E stayed in.

I refer to on the job training as we are well aware that as orphans come into our care, this is one thing we will be doing a lot of.

On a fun note, this morning E had a bit of silliness. He found a bell and rang it and announced "Unclean, unclean!" as he walked around just as the lepers did during bible times. We all had fun with it.

Please pray with us that we can get rid of these things soon and not have a reinfestation in the next few weeks as is common.