(Dave and Becki are medical missionaries serving with The Alliance at the Bongolo Hospital in Gabon, central Africa)

January 23, 2006

Dear Friends,

AFTER THE CRASH

First of all, we want you to know that we're doing fine, thanks to the Lord's nearness, and the many expressions of support and encouragement so many of you e-mailed to us. Thank you for thinking of us, for praying for us, and loving us. You have made us feel very special.

The airplane is gone, but instead of closing the door on this aviation project, to our surprise God has kept it open and even encouraged us to believe in the impossible. If it is not just our wishful thinking, something will come of it. We'll keep you posted.

AFRICA AND BEYOND

We are just days away from setting out on a long trip through Africa and beyond. Here's our schedule:

- Jan 30: We fly from Libreville, Gabon, to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

- Feb 1: We drive 8 hours south to Soddo Christian Hospital for a four-day PAACS site visit

- Feb 5: We drive back to Addis Ababa from Soddo

- Feb 6: We fly from Addis to Nairobi for the CMDA CME Conference at Brackenhurst (Feb 6-16)

- Feb 20: Becki flies from Nairobi to Libreville

- Feb 20: Dave flies from Nairobi to Edmonton, Canada

- Feb 24-26: Dave speaks at the Edmonton Missions Fest

- Feb 28-Mar 2: Dave flies from Edmonton to Libreville

- Mar 3: Dave arrives back in Bongolo

During this time if you need to contact us, please DO NOT write to us at our <thompsond@cmalliance.org> address, since we will not be able to access it until after Becki gets back to Bongolo on February 21. Write instead to Larry Toney (<esi@snowcrest.net>), and we will try to keep in touch with him.

MANDJI-DIBWANGUI CHURCH PLANT

During the month of January, God began to speak to a few of the high school boys that were attending our little group that meets each Sunday in a small, open hangar in the middle of the village of Mandji. The message was about Lot and his wife fleeing Sodom and Gomorra, and how Lot's wife, who had begun the same journey from Ur as had Lot and Abraham, turned back in longing to a world in rebellion against God and was turned into a pillar of salt. Dave gave an invitation for those in the meeting to choose Christ, and five young men and two women raised their hands. We counseled and prayed with them afterwards. As we drove home, we wondered how much they had understood.

The next Sunday the five young men who had prayed brought some of their friends, and four more prayed to follow Christ. Yesterday three more came up after the service and asked us to pray with them. All thirteen of these young men, aged 14 to 20, gathered around Dave as he taught them, then prayed with them. Later he gave each of these young men a Gospel of John to read and study.

The average attendance in the group is now over 65. Pray that God will keep these new believers from falling. While we are away on our trip, the hospital chaplain will be preaching in the new church on Sundays.

Until Jesus Comes,