Building. Each year, thousands of people are moving to SW Florida and every day we see and hear the sounds of construction crews building new homes in our neighborhood. Our NMSI’s office is in the process of being rebuilt after suffering severe hurricane damage. All of this reminds us of the main focus of our ministry - BUILDING. Every day we build into the lives of the people we serve.
In Fort Myers at the CGO
Bob has made a lot of progress in developing a process for new interns and missionaries in training to follow upon arrival here. It’s already helping new affiliates know what to do and what to expect when they come to the Center for Global Outreach to work.
Bob also helps missionaries develop a personalized spiritual formation plan as they head overseas. It’s a challenge since there are so many variables—personalities, needs, motivations, etc. But it’s important that individuals have a plan for spiritual growth that is a fit for them. Starting this summer he will be teaching a spiritual formation course that he developed as a part of the NMSI’s 12 week missionary training program.
Bob meets one on one with all of the new arrivals as part of their orientation. He also helps debrief missionaries on furlough or returning from the field. We have found that the NMSI community is very fluid—people are always coming and going on international projects, support visits, and recruiting trips. Interruption of routine is standard here!
Anne meets regularly with three women working at the Center for Global Outreach in a mentoring relationship. It has been a joy for her to get to know Angela, Trisha and Sarah and to offer help and encouragement in their spiritual and emotional growth.
Myanmar
Bob left for Myanmar on February 24 to teach a Spiritual Warfare course at a leadership conference attended by about 100 nationals. He was thanked again and again for coming to teach and told how the course was needed. Some of these leaders had traveled for over four weeks just to attend. Meetings with church leaders and officials also went very well. Our team distributed tsunami relief funds that are being used to rebuild over 160 homes and to purchase livestock and fishing equipment to help re-establish the economic base for at least 20 families. In addition, funds will assist three Christian families (nationals) who are moving into an unreached, hard hit, coastal fishing village to do evangelism and begin long-term development projects.
At the end of Bob’s first week in Myanmar, Anne got word that her mother's condition had gotten much worse (she was diagnosed with cancer in August), Anne flew to Iowa the next day, March 4, and arrived a few hours before she passed away. She was grateful for that special time to say good-bye and be with her as she departed to be with the Lord.
Confident the Lord was directing him to do so, Bob left Yangon early to be with Anne. Another leader on the project was able to teach the Spiritual Formation class he was planning to teach from the very detailed class notes he left behind. We are very confident that God was in control of this entire situation. Most of what the team went to Myanmar to do was accomplished in that first week. The Lord cared wonderfully for Anne and answered many prayers. The week Bob spent in Myanmar was supernaturally blessed.
Summer 2005
This summer will be a full one for the Krepps family. Michael is going to Costa Rica on a mission project with his church. James is going on an internship with New Mission Systems to Thailand. Bob will be involved with the orientation/training of new NMSI missionaries and the pre-field orientation and debriefing of NMSI summer interns going to Brazil, Bulgaria, Kenya, Malawi, Russia, and Thailand. Bob, Anne and Matthew are planning short visits to Arizona and Iowa. We are looking forward to seeing God at work in and through all of our lives.
Thank you for praying for us and for our ministry. Your support and your prayers make a big difference and mean a lot to us.
Bob & Anne Krepps
We greatly appreciate your prayer and financial support of our ministry. Thank you! We are responsible for raising all funds needed to cover our salary and ministry expenses. Contributions can be made payable and sent to New Mission Systems International, P. O. Box 547 Fort Myers, FL 33902 and designated for the "Krepps". You can also give online by following the link to this secure website and designating your gift for "Bob & Anne Krepps". We also need many faithful prayer "warriors" committed to praying for us as face the challenges of ministering throughout the world.
Bob Krepps © 2005 all rights reserved