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Borthwick Report November 2008
Egypt & Sri Lanka

Greetings all,

We're writing simply to say THANK YOU for your prayers for us on Paul's recent ministry trip to Egypt and Sri Lanka. The trip itself took Paul literally around the world. Though physically exhausting, the trip has been spiritually and relationally quite rewarding. Thank you for praying!

CAIRO: meeting with co-workers Jane Overstreet (our President/CEO), Nagi Said (Middle East) and Nicholas Wafula (Uganda), we discussed key DAI issues regarding for the future including expanding the M.A. program, developing ministry centers in a dozen locations, and more. We planned for our DAI Staff team meetings in June 2009, and discussed the challenges DAI faces economically. We thank God:
  • For good health, alertness and concentration for all (Paul came in directly from the USA, Jane from meetings in Hong Kong, & Nicholas from ministry in Sudan)
  • For Suzi and Nagi's wonderful Egyptian hospitality and the chance for a dinner together with co-workers Hani & Tertia Morcos (Senior Consultant, Middle East)
  • For the ability to encourage our very hard-working president & CEO!
SRI LANKA: the course at Lanka Bible College on Culture, Ethnicity, & Diversity went amazingly well. When we first agreed to teach, we hoped the topic would be relevant to the Sri Lankan context, where ethnic-related tensions have run high for years. The students confirmed that this was indeed a "for such a time as this" course. Twenty leaders attended an intense course (pre-course reading, a 300+ page manual and classes from 9 am to 4:30 pm daily!) The class included denominational leaders, pastors, church leaders, youth, worship, & prayer leaders, a representative from Colombo Theological Seminary, a medical doctor, a staff member from World Vision, and a pastor from Peshawar, Pakistan. They came from the three dominant ethnic groups in Sri Lanka - Sinhalese, Tamil, and Burgur - as well as a Punjabi brother from Pakistan. Here they are:

We thank God:
  • For these dynamic students: please pray on for them as they seek to implement aspects of the course to foster the healing of Sri Lanka's ethnic wounds
  • For enthusiastic embrace of the main concept of the course - to build the culturally diverse-but-unified "new humanity" (Ephesians 2:19) of the Church.
  • For the chance to foster ongoing partnerships for DAI with Lanka Bible College, Colombo Theological Seminary and the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka; we're working towards a strategic partnership with them to sponsor the DAI "Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership"
  • For the chance Wednesday night to train and encourage 150+ youth leaders from Peoples Church, one of the largest churches in Sri Lanka.
  • For the chance to visit and talk with long-term Sri Lankan friends Ajith Fernando (Youth for Christ), Godfrey Yogarajah (Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka), and Ben Manickam (Lanka Bible College)
  • For good health and energy for Paul.
ON THE HOME FRONT: we never forget our gratitude that you pray for Christie too as we're apart. All was well at home: we thank God
  • For no emergencies as Christie managed home and DAI administrative matters alone.
  • For our ability to talk every day over Skype (daily communication really helps us stay connected!)
  • For her ability to share a testimony about the SELAH spiritual direction training program at the fifth anniversary of Leadership Transformations, the ministry founded by our good friend Steve Macchia who coordinated the SELAH training.
  • And - on the fun side - for the ongoing adjustment around the Borthwick household to our two newest residents. We're both animal lovers and two new kittens, Sophie and Zephyr, are providing us with a lot of joy - and some chaos!
SO... as we enter the week on thanksgiving, thank you - for prayers and partnership in this ministry.

Gratefully

Paul & Christie
A NOTE ABOUT FINANCES: with increased international ministry ahead comes increased expense. If you'd like to join us in financial partnership, tax-deductible contributions (designated "Borthwick Support") can be made payable and sent to:

Development Associates International
P.O. Box 49278
Colorado Springs, CO 80949		  
  Copyright Paul Borthwick