Prayer Letter, September 2013

Dear Friends,

After experiencing the seasons; rainy-, winter-, and what I am told is a rare guest: a beautiful sunny summer, in England my tickets are bought, visa in hand and vaccinations scheduled it is time to return home to Bangladesh.

I have been privileged to study at Redcliffe College in England for a year. While others have finished their degree in a year, I will need more time to do so, and because I am scheduled to start work again from mid September it will be quite a while before I finish my degree.

It has been a privilege to study Justice, Advocacy and Reconciliation. The requirements have been that the students make their studies both Biblical and relevant to their work. This has helped maintain motivation for me as I have been able to work on how various challenges others are working throuh have relevance for us at LAMB.

Studying has been challenging in many ways, not least academically. The struggles have given renewed appreciation for those of our student at LAMB who find learning a challenge. Insights from many parts of the world on working for justice and reconciliation have also given me hope; hope that circumstances can improve for those who do not live the lives of freedom God intended.

A key passage from the New Testament is where Jesus claims that the Isaiah’s prophecy has been fulfilled:

Luke 4:18-19.

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. …

²¹ “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

A challenge for us today is to see how this is true for us today, and in what ways we are called to participate in making it a reality. Redcliffe has given me many questions; while the answers are few and weak the hope we have in Christ is strong.

When I return to Bangladesh I hope to work on my dissertation every week. There is much to learn but I look forward to the process of relating what I have learnt to our lives at LAMB.

Highlights from the past year includes bike-rides with former colleagues from LAMB; visiting and having visitors from all over the world and experiencing God’s provisions for people I care about and for me. Being away from LAMB has given me renewed appreciation for the work God is doing in and through us there: I count it a privilege to be part of a work which, while by no means perfect, has a focus and aims to be proud of.

At the school a new year has started, we continue to take on more students and new challenges. The Snowdons who have covered for me while I have been away have agreed to stay on at the school. I look forward to working with them on developing the school in new areas and to return to work with all the colleagues who have carried extra loads while I have been away.

Praise

A year of study and reflection

Competent cover at LAMB while I have been away

The opportunity to meet friends and family

The opportunity to return to LAMB

Prayer

Travel mercies

For good re-integration into work and community at LAMB

For wisdom to know how to use what I have learnt

For time and stamina to finish my studies

For LAMB to do justice to our focus and the God we claim to serve