Greetings,
The update this week brings us news from Cliff Veal in regard to Madagascar, Rwanda and Germany:
Most of you know that my wife, Connie, and I are living in the UK and from there are taking care of our small groups in England, Germany, Rwanda and Madagascar. It has been arranged that I travel down to Madagascar and Rwanda shortly after the Days of Unleavened Bread. (We will be in Germany for the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread.)
The brethren in Madagascar and Rwanda are very much looking forward to the visit — as indeed am I. (I will be travelling alone as it would double the cost to take my wife along.) We are fitting the trip in between UB and Pentecost. That is apparently a good time weather wise to go to Madagascar. In Rwanda, however, it will be the height of the rainy season!
Sermons given under the auspices of the Church of God — a Family Community are regularly translated into the local languages of Madagascar and Rwanda (Malagasy and Kinyarwanda respectively.) I plan to take cash funds with me to support the brethren there for the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles.
In Germany we are preparing to make an application for registration as an association. (There are only two officially recognized religions in Germany: Lutheran and Catholic. So we can only be registered as an association; as has been the case with the Churches of God in the country for the last several years.) One prerequisite for obtaining recognition and being registered is a physical address in Germany. Through a set of “fortuitous circumstances” (translation: God’s intervention), we have been able to find a small apartment to rent for a very modest sum. (What we would normally have paid out for hotel and meals while in Germany will just about cover the monthly rent of the apartment.) We should be able to take occupancy of the apartment by the end of March. Once that has happened and have a contract for the property in hand, we can register ourselves as living there, thus fulfilling the prerequisite for registration of the association. That process can then be started and, when finished, will enable us to open a bank account to accept tithes and offerings. Our primary residence will continue to be in the U.K. but the apartment in Germany will provide a base for us to work from in Europe. It is all very exciting! God is moving us forward one small step at a time.
It would also be good at this point to mention the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles in Germany. The announcement about the Feast was made a couple of weeks ago. We do still have space if anyone else is interested. If we have sufficient numbers (20-25), then we will get the use of the hall for free. We are not quite there yet, but hope to be soon.
The brethren in Madagascar, Rwanda, Germany and England appreciate your prayers for them. One step at a time, we are all learning to work with one another, submit to one another and submit to God the Father’s will for us.
Cliff Veal
Sabbath services will originate from Duarte CA.
