Tumekutana Update

Dear Friends of Tumekutana,

I wanted to write to you on the eve of my leaving for Kenya. God has been so gracious and has brought many things together for the conference. I'd like to share a few of those things to update you, as well as list a few prayer requests. I plan on sending updates each day of the conference, though I don't know if the email access we'll have, will allow us to send photos. But if they do, I will. Thanks so much for all your prayers, for the notes that many of you have written to the participants to encourage them, and for all the other kinds of support that you have shown. Tumekutana -- "we have come together".

We give thanks for these things:

• There are now 51 African participants from 17 countries with 3 speakers. There are 18 of us from the US coming in different capacities. That gives us 72 people, the exact number of beds we had reserved (the limit) some months ago when we didn't even know who these women were. There are also at least 2 women from every country which was a goal.

• Funding has come in from many people and places, and seems to be going hand in hand with what we need. Now we're praying that we'll even exceed what is needed so we can follow up!

• Money has been wired to almost everyone. A few will be reimbursed at the conference.

• The 3rd speaker confirmed that she'll be able to speak = just about 2 weeks ago. So now there will be 3 very significant African women leading the conference. (Mercy Oduyoye, Isabel Phiri, Agnes Aboum)

Please pray with us for the following:

• Critical right now, is that the women from Nigeria and Cameroon receive their visas. They will not be allowed to board Kenyan Airways without a letter of invitation from Kenya, stamped by immigration.

• Those letters have not yet been received.

• That all the women (US and African), travel well, safely and in good health. A number of the women have expressed fear about air travel.

• That all the women enter Kenya without immigration troubles.

• That all the women are able to get to Savelberg Retreat Centre, the conference venue. We know some of their flight plans, but not others. So, as we're able, we'll pick them up at the airport. But the others will need to find taxis and make their way alone. This may be very new to some. And non English speakers may have real difficulty!

• That we all rejoice in meeting each other, and being together.

• That the room situations work out.

• That all the details remaining will be worked out as well.

• That God is honored and praised in all we do.

We will add more to this list in the days ahead. But please do pray with us around these issues now.

Click here to view list of participants for Tumekutana (8/31/07).

Thank you again.

Yours Faithfully in Christ,

Caryl Weinberg, Director of Missions