Category: Update

Dear Prayer Partners,

After red tape delays, we finally received our visas and were able to arrive in the Congo in time for our annual Congo Bible Camp. . We had a little over 100 leaders from 15 different deaf churches studying the book of Ephesians. It’s bittersweet to hear so many say “Thank you for providing such excellent deep teaching”, only to be followed by “we don’t get this kind of teaching at our church.” Pray that as these church leaders grow in their faith, they will continue to lead their congregations in solid teaching “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Eph 4:14.

As a result of kidney failure, my brother John is now adjusting to life on dialysis 3 times a week. Keep him in your prayers as his doctors explore options for a permanent remedy.

In Him,

Tim Foster
Director

Dear Prayer Partners

The visa process for our trip to the DR Congo this year has been fraught with red tape and delays. We leave on July 11, Lord willing, and the Congolese missionary family we partner with (Tom and Kathy Lindquist) are leaving a week before we do. If we don’t get our passports and visas in time, it will be very expensive to reschedule everything. Pray for a quick resolution to the process.

John, my older brother, has been a faithful CMD office staffer since 1988. Last week, I took him into the hospital for what turned out to be appendicitis. While in the emergency room, he had a seizure and his heart and breathing stopped. He was resuscitated in short order, but due to complications in the appendectomy, he’s still in the hospital. He’s feeling much better, and will soon be released. Keep him in your prayers.

In Him,

Tim Foster
Director

Dear Prayer Partners,

The Congolese government has dramatically changed the visa preparation process, adding layers of bureaucracy and cost. Pray that these issues will be resolved quickly so we can depart on time. Unfortunately, Cliff and Sherri Bodiford are not able to join us this year for our Congo Bible Camp. They’re eager to go next year, so pray that the Lord will work that out.

As construction on our new Nigerian campus continues to take shape, ambitious plans to establish a university are being set forward by some deaf alumni. Clement Abonyi is working with our director, Emmanuel Ilabor, to bring this vision to reality. Pray with us that God’s wisdom and glory will prevail on this ambitious project.

In Him,

Tim Foster
Director

Dear Prayer Partners,

We’re excited to announce that John Linus, an aspiring Nigerian deaf pastor, is the 2017 recipient of the Andrew Foster Memorial Scholarship Fund. In August, he begins his college and Bible training at SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf in Big Spring, Texas. The fund was started by Jim Walterhouse and Danny Campbell, faculty members at SWCID. After his studies, Linus will return to Nigeria to help lead the deaf churches. We thank God for this wonderful scholarship and pray that God will use Brother Linus to serve Him well. For more information about the fund, please visit http://afmsf.cmdeaf.org. Pray that we can raise the funds for his travel needs.

Lord willing, our annual Congo Bible Conference will be joined by newcomers Cliff and Sherri Bodiford, both of whom are deaf. Cliff is an elder at New Life Deaf Fellowship, in Fort Worth, TX, and has a passion for deaf missions. Pray that God will meet their financial needs for this upcoming trip.

In Him,

Tim Foster
Director

Dear Prayer Partners,

We’re saddened to hear of the unexpected death of Madam Machozi in Bukavu, DR Congo. She has been instrumental in securing the facilities we’ve used for our annual Congo Bible Camp. Pray for her family as they adjust to this sudden loss. At this point, our plans for our 2017 summer camp are a bit uncertain.

In Chad, our teacher Deborah continues to recover from her motorcycle accident, and now has about 70% use of her right arm. It’s slow progress, but much better than the amputation that the doctors originally recommended. Continue to pray for her full recovery.

In Him,

Tim Foster

Dear Prayer Partners,

Jim Walterhouse, a deaf pastor in Texas, has put together a scholarship fund to help bring deaf Africans to the USA for college and Bible training, and then send them back to impact the African churches. They have asked us to be involved with the project and have named it the Andrew Foster Memorial Scholarship Fund. We praise God that so far, they have raised $75,000 towards this project. Learn more at http://afmsf.cmdeaf.org.

Reconstructed classrooms in N’Djamena nearing completion.

In Chad, reconstruction of storm-damaged buildings is nearing completion, and Agnes Beosso, our director’s wife, is the proud owner of a new wheelchair and crutches, thanks to the love and support of CMD’s friends in the USA. We thank God that your love has impacted their lives for His glory. 

In Him,

Tim Foster

Dear Prayer Partners,
We are extremely grateful for the love and support of our friends who rushed to the aid of Agnes Besso, wife of our director in Chad. Her need for a wheelchair and crutches has been abundantly met by the generosity of God’s people. We await further word regarding Deborah, a teacher who was facing amputation.

Our Congo Bible Camp will meet in July instead of the usual Easter. Visa requirements have changed drastically in the past months, so we covet your prayers as we begin our plans.

In Him,

Tim Foster

Dear Prayer Partners,

Praise God for some financial assistance to purchase a wheelchair for Agnes, the wife of the director of our Chad school. It’s not enough to pay for the wheelchair she needs, but it’s a great start. Pray also for continued wisdom as they seek out medical remedies to avert an amputation for Deborah, one of the teachers.

The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to be in turmoil as president Kabila refuses to step down at the end of his 2nd and final term. We support 3 schools for the deaf in Kivu, the least stable region. Pray for peace.

In Him,

Tim Foster

Dear Prayer Partners,

The national teacher’s strike continues to affect our teachers in Chad. Many parents cannot afford the increased costs, and are not sending their children to school. Some generous American donors have helped with their salaries, but the long-term resolution is still a long way off. Pray for guidance as we seek to find a wheelchair for Director Yves Beosso’s wife. Pray also for Deborah, a teacher who broke her arm in a motorcycle accident. The doctors are recommending amputating to manage blood loss.

In Nigeria, our campus chaplain Victor Ajayi is looking for better resources to help train his Bible students. We’re trying to get new DVDs for him and his class.

In Him,

Tim Foster

Dear Prayer Partners,

Director Yves Beosso reports that the widespread university protests and rioting in Chad has resulted in a national strike, and the government is now withholding teacher salaries. For a normal public school, the teachers could still make do with tuition fees. But since parents rarely pay tuition for deaf children, our teachers have to get by with only our financial support. As a result, the families of our faculty are now going hungry. Pray for an end to the violence, and that their government salaries will be restored soon.

Pray also for our Bukavu school, as we are in dire need of an assistant teacher.

In Him,

Tim Foster