It seems like SIMGo at Charlotte NC was so long ago.  The memory of the Lord confirming our call to South Sudan with such clarity, now seems to have been buried in the day to day business.  After SIMGo there was Thanksgiving and immediately following I (Deane) was sent to New York City with the Red Cross to work on hurricane Sandy.  Ruth had her semester of school to finish and of course work.

We have been reminded of where our focus should be lately, so here I am with new life pushing forward to begin the process that is going to teach us to walk in faith in the midst of the seemingly insurmountable task before us and the daily disasters that go on around us.

We have begun building a Prayer Team.  We need so many more though!  Please ask friends, churches, anyone willing to pray for us and give us their email so we can communicate specific needs on a regular basis.

Ruth has only one more semester and she will be done with her Associate Degree in Business Management.  She recently received her Microsoft Certification in Excell!  Deane is continuing with Red Cross and learning more all the time.  My time in New York was spent working with FEMA and local organizations to begin developing a long term recovery plan.

Very soon we are going to begin setting dates to do presentations to groups and individuals in our area and just about anywhere we can.  So if you would be willing to put together a small group or a large group that would be interested in hearing about our ministry in South Sudan please give us a call and we can set that up.  We may be calling you.

Deane and Ruth Valkenaar

660-956-0480

GREETINGS ONE AND ALL!

Last night Ruth and I returned from SIMGo in Charlotte NC.  SIMGo is a program for those looking to go into missions with SIM. SIM is an international mission organization with more than 1,600 active missionaries serving in more than 60 countries. SIM members serve God among many diverse people groups in Africa, Asia, and South America.  SIM workers are "international" themselves, representing more than 30 nationalities—including nations that in the past only received missionaries. They also serve in a wide variety of career fields.   Yes, We are going back into missions.  For some time now we have been feeling the call to go back to Africa.  However it has not been a call to return to Nigeria.  Ruth and I are going to be heading to South Sudan.  This is a country that has been at fighting a civil war for sixty years and war has left this country decimated.  I am going to serve as a Base Manager, which means I will be coordinating several projects, including getting a main SIM base established in Malakal South Sudan.  Ruth is going to be a Short Term Coordinator / Project Manager.  Exact details of this is yet to be worked out, so stop back.                                        
PRAYER.  Right now we are looking for people willing to partner with us in prayer.  If you are willing to bring us before the Lord at least a couple time a week, please send me an email at deane.valkenaar@sim.org Please include your contact information, email, snail mail, and phone please.

Thank you for your prayers

To Know Him and Him Alone

Deane and Ruth Valkenaar