Financial Support

Hi loyal followers (of the blog, not us).

Just wanted to let you know that World Missions now has us set up so that you can donate on line. I am putting the instructions here in the blog but the link is at the side.

Click on the country you're currently living in and after the page loads, click on "Available Programs" and select "Rowaan, George & Susan" under the "Missionaries - Africa" listing. Fill in the other boxes as needed and you should be good to go.

Map

I am sure that some of you have a very good idea of what the continent of Africa looks like but I have discovered that many of us have little knowledge when it comes to where various countries are on the content. Do you know where Uganda and Kenya are? Without names on a map of Africa, would you be able to point them out? Give yourself high marks if you can. Give yourself a pat on the back if you did some research to find out when you first started reading this blog.

Uganda, where we will be spending the majority of our time, is located on the eastern side of Africa and sits right on the equator. It has no coastline on the ocean but does share Lake Victoria with its neighbours. Hope that helps.

While in Uganda we will be serving at a seminary in Mbale (M-ball-e) Here is a map, if the link works:
View Larger Map

Fundraising 2

The next post after this is a copy and paste of the fundraising letter prepared for us by CRWM. Obviously something is lost in the translation. Email me and I will send you the pdf file if you like. Many of you will receive a hard copy of it also but this helps you get a head start on a little more of the information.

Thanks for reading.

George

Fundraising

I (we) would like to support

Rev. George and Susan Rowaan (WMLA 803754)

by becoming their prayer partner

with a special gift of $ _________

Gifts are received with the understanding that CRWM has complete

discretion and control over the use of all donated funds. Unless it is noted,

no goods or services were provided to the donor. Every effort will be

made to use your gift for the designated ministry. Gifts to ministries that

are oversubscribed, or cannot be completed, will be directed to those that

have a similar intent or ministry location.

CRWM USA

2850 Kalamazoo Ave SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49560

800-346-0075

crwm@crcna.org

CRWM Canada

3475 Mainway

P.O. Box 5070 STN LCD 1

Burlington ON L7R 3Y8

800-730-3490

crwm@crcna.ca

donate online at

www.crwm.org/donate

Name: _____________________________

Address: ___________________________

__________________________________

__________________________________

Email: _____________________________

Please make checks payable to Christian Reformed World Missions and include WMLA 803754 on the memo line.

Rev. George and

Susan Rowaan

Volunteers to Uganda

Email

g.rowaan@sympatico.ca

Phone

(519) 688-2181

Address

31 Dogwood Drive

Tillsonburg, ON

N4G 5S5

“I long to see you so that I may impart to you

some spiritual gift to make you strong—

that is, that you and I may be mutually

encouraged by each other’s faith.”

Romans 1: 11-12

UGANDA

VISION

The church is much more than just a local congregation or a single denomination, it is a body

that spans the entire world and represents diverse languages, cultures and understandings.

As members of this one body we can learn from one another. We each have been gifted by

God in various ways and are called to use these gifts for the benefi t of the entire body. By

journeying from one area within the body to another there is a mutual benefi t of equipping

and encouraging one another. I feel God has called me to use the education and resources

He has provided me with for the benefi t of others within the body including those in

Uganda and Kenya. I believe He has also called me to learn from my brothers and sisters

there and everywhere.

MISSION

While in Uganda, George will be teaching a course on the fi rst fi ve books of the Bible at the

seminary of the Pentecostal Church of Uganda. This is an opportunity to share insights into

the beauty of God’s Word and to further equip others for the ministry God has called them

to. We anticipate learning more ourselves as we prepare for this assignment and as we

interact with students and others who read God’s Word from their own unique perspective.

In Kenya the focus will be Timothy Leadership Training (TLT), a program developed to help

equip those in leadership roles within the church who have received little or no formal

training for this task. Again this will involve interaction with brothers and sisters who

represent a distinct part of the body of Christ and will present another unique opportunity

to learn from one another and encourage one another.

Susan will be involved with TLT, administrative activities at the seminary especially with the

library and help organize Bible studies for children.

PARTNER IN MISSIONS

Ways you can partner with George and Susan include lifting them up in prayer, off ering

encouragement and providing fi nancial support. Please become a partner in missions with

CRWM and the Rowaans.

GOAL

$ 9,616 from churches and individuals

Beginnings

And so it begins, well, not really. This is simply the beginning of a blog that will attempt to keep friends, family and supporters connected with what we are planning and doing in preparation and during our time in Uganda and Kenya.

Much of the ground work has already been accomplished even though our departure is still some time away. (August 16, 2010 to be exact). We have gone through our orientation. Fundraising materials have been prepared. Plane tickets have been reserved. All these things make this whole experience very real and we are excited to experience what God is yet to do along this journey that will take us to two continents we have never visited before.

For those of you reading who don't know much about our plans, let me fill you in.

We will be leaving Canada on August 16 and flying to Amsterdam, The Netherlands. We have decided to extend what would normally be a four hour stop over into a tour of the country from which both Susan and my families trace our roots. Our first day, August 17, will be spent in Amsterdam (this just happens to be our 25th wedding anniversary. Isn't God good!). We hope to explore the city and enjoy some of what it has to offer. The next day we will travel to Achlem in Friesland. Susan's father, Harry Koopman, was born there. Susan still has some relatives there so we will spend a day and night with them. After that we travel in a big circle. We will go to Uithuizermeeden in Groingen (this is where my father Klass Rowaan, was born). Then it is on to Nijverdaal in Overiesel (I hope I am getting the spelling right). My mother's (Jennie Kippers) family is from this area. This year marks 100 years since they left for Canada. Our final stop will Pijnaker. If you are keeping track than you already guessed that this is where Susan's mother, Petronella Koornneef, comes from. Its close to Delft so we will also explore that city. And then its back to the Schipol. A hotel near the airport will allow us to catch our flight in the morning. We will be in transit for more than 12 hours as we fly to Entebbe, Uganda via Nairobi, Kenya.

In Uganda we will be traveling to Mbale where I will be teaching at the seminary of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Uganda for three weeks. One coarse, 3 hrs per day. The subject is Pentateuch or Torah (the first five books of the Bible). I am very excited by this opportunity to help my brothers grow in their understanding of God's word and in their ability to apply it to the lives of those to whom they minister. Susan will be doing what is called program support. That means she will help where ever she can but mostly in the library and main office. This will allow her to share her own unique administrative gifts.

After this we move on to Nairobi, Kenya. For the past few years I have been taking part in Timothy Leadership Training through the Timothy Institute. This training allows me to help equip people involved in ministry who have had little or no formal training and some times little or no education at all. We will be doing a week long training session. I don't have the details as of yet so I really can't tell you much more.

Susan will again be involved in support but quite likely more a part of what I am doing with TLT.

Well, that's a beginning. Much more will follow.

Thank you to all who are already praying for us and who have contributed to our costs or are planning to do so. The next post will highlight our funding needs.

George