In the December Prayer Letter, we brought you news about some of the projects that we hoped to see progress in 2019. Over the Christmas period we received significant donations, and we give thanks to the Lord that the generosity of His people has enabled the projects we described to move forward. These gifts will pay for translation and publishing that will place solid Christian teaching in the hands of those who yearn to know more of our Lord.

We have also seen our stock of books grow following some significant donations, including from the European Mission Fellowship, Grace and 10ofThose. The big empty space in the middle of our depot in Cricklade (near Swindon) is now gone, filled by another rack of books ready for sorting and dispatch!

If you are interested in getting involved, either in the Guildford or Swindon, we would always welcome volunteers to help sort and pack the books ready for dispatch. Contact Thys Storm (Swindon) or Mike Taylor (Guildford) to find out more.

There have been distressing images on the News in recent days from Southern Africa as the region tries to recover from the terrible flooding brought by Cyclone Idai. We have received the following news from one of our regular contacts, Joster Jumbe, who lives and works in the area.

We have experienced heavy floods this year. We are fine in Zomba, but most of the centres where we train leaders have been greatly affected to the extent that many of the people there have no shelter and food. Their properties were washed away by the floods. 

We went to Malawi to make an assessment, but it was very pathetic. I have also been receiving reports from Mozambique that our training centres there have been badly affected as well.

We are currently asking several organizations to assist them with food and seeds for winter cropping in case they may have nothing to eat for the whole year. The government and other organizations are trying their best, but there's a need for a joint effort to help them.

I'm now in Zambia distributing books and training pastors. I hope to go back to Malawi tomorrow morning.

Last year we sent a lot of books to a small group of churches in Sierra Leone. After a long delay at the dockside, the container containing the books eventually reached its destination. Here are some pictures showing the excitement that the receipt of the books brought.