October-December 2016
Prayer Needs
2016...2017 Two thousand sixteen has been a big year for us and has seen a lot of progress, excitement & plenty of change. Two thousand seventeen looks to be full of a lot more. Read on to see what 2016 held & about the big moves ahead of us in 2017.
2016
Work Permit/Future work in Namibia
One of the best things about this year was experiencing a bit of what it is to work as a team. In 2016 that team included Rayin Uirab, Immanuel Hengari, Nathan & Umoyo Holland & ourselves (David & Sandy Echols). In addition to our local team, we were blessed with two great interns this year: Melissa Faraci & Sharon Klingemann.
Spiritual growth for the members of our Thrive communities
The greatest focus of 2016 was again our Thrive communities. We saw some great spiritual progress in the members of our established young adults community, it has been such a joy sharing our lives with each of them for the past few years.
Preparation for Restoration Seminar in Opuwo
In addition to that we saw three more groups started during the course of the year. Raylin is leading another group of young adults (ages 18-21). They are beginning to discover their identity as a community, but still have a long way to go. Sandy is meeting with a group of young mothers who she's been working with as part of the Young and Pregnant programs. Nathan began another group in September for people of all ages. They met for a while, but RAYLIN'S YOUNG ADULT THRIVE Nathan has been unable to continue the group & we are currently trying to figure out how to best move forward with them. Hope Café, our free internet café for University students around Katutura is busy renovating a new space that will be the new home of Hope Café. The project is progressing slowly, but is moving on the initiative and funding of the Thrive communities.
Sandy's Green Card application
Special Dates
Early 2017— - Restoration Seminar postponed after key person in Opuwo passed away. New date TBA
March 4— - Avi's 3rd Birthday
July 31— - Work Permits Expire
RENNOVATING THE NEW HOME OF HOPE CAFE
Some of the most exciting things to come out of 2016 came from our training programs. Sandy's Young & Pregnant and Young Mothers programs were a great success and opened up a lot of opportunity for personal ministry. Throughout the year we have also hosted training in Community Health Evangelism, Sign Language, Photography, Cake Decorating and Alcohol & Your Health. David & Sandy Echols – 3940 Oberding Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80911 –david@3measur.es
Keep up with us between these newsletters! Like us on facebook or visit our website and blog:
www.3measur.es
2017 As you all know by now, our current work permits were deemed "non-renewable," leaving us with a lot of questions about our future. After considering all of our options, we realize Home Affairs has left us little choice but to leave Namibia when our permits expire at the end of July. We will need to be out of the country for about a year before applying for a new permit. We have decided that this year will be best spent in the United States with the following objectives: 1. Recruiting 2. Strengthening relationships, reporting back and serving our supporting churches 3. Getting Sandy US citizenship 4. Raising support Central Christian College of the Bible (CCCB) recently offered us a volunteer position as Resident Missionaries for the 2017-2018 school year which will help us work toward those goals perfectly. We see this as an excellent opportunity for us to recruit for and promote the work in Namibia, all while serving CCCB, their missions students & churches across the United States. Over the last couple of years we have run into a wall, desperately needing a missionary team around us in order to keep up with the work. Our 2016 team will not continue into 2017; the Hollands will return to Angola in May, Immanuel has found a job and is no longer available & Raylin is going back to school in February. While it will be very hard to leave Namibia after seven years here, this season away is probably necessary for the ministry and we are looking forward to what could be a very fruitful year. Our first step in getting to the States is to get Sandy another green card. Even though she has had one before, it is still quite a daunting process. We have submitted everything for the first step, but how long it takes lies in the hands of US Immigration & could delay us being in Missouri by the start of the school year. Please pray with us for everything to be completed as fast as possible. As for now, we are very busy with our usual programs, praying for a fruitful seven months and are doing all we can to make sure that, God willing, things can carry on in our absence. It may be important to mention that while the second half of this year will look very different and you'll see us around your hometown more often, our overall purpose will remain the same and our intention is to return to Namibia at the end of one year. Furthermore, the position at CCCB is not a paid position and we will continue through this year to rely on the support we are currently receiving. Thank you so much for all the sacrifice you have made to be a part of what God is doing here in Namibia!
Thanks for your prayers and support, David, Sandy, Reese & Avi Echols
Support Since September's newsletter, we picked up an additional supporter. With the additional rent and school fees we now have to pay each month, this is helping us cover our family's expenses and ensuring there is money in the budget for our Thrive communities. We will eventually need to increase our budget further, but for now we are continuing to make it work. If you would like to join the work of Three Measures in Namibia through a monthly commitment or one-time gift, simply go to www.3measur.es/donate OR return the included response card OR contact us at support@3measur.es.
Budget
Personal (including food, housing, etc)………..….$1,500 Ministry……………..……$1,250 Benefits (Health Insurance, Savings)…………….……….$500 Administration……….….$150
Total Monthly Need $3,400 Current Monthly Raised $3,500 Contributions are solicited with the understanding that YWAM-SF has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds. Please make checks payable to Youth With A MissionStrategic Frontiers, or YWAM-SF. All gifts are tax deductable and are requested and/or received with the understanding that YWAM-SF has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds