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Dearest family, friends, cousins and colleagues,
I have good news to share and I can't wait any longer.
Last summer, in the Lord's timing and own way a dear couple whom I have known for over 50 years were brought
back into my life. Ralph and Dorothy Meurer were in Surrey, BC and I learned that for many years they have served at the
University of the Nations in Hawaii. As we shared the stories of our lives and the ways in which God has led us the Meurers
challenged me to think in terms of serving as a volunteer at the U of the N, to assist the Computer Services department.
As the days of summer wore on I kept coming back to their challenge and began to pray about it asking the Lord
if that is what He wanted me to do. To make a long story short I began to take steps in that direction in mid September and
then sent in my formal application on October 21. Since then I have had numerous exchanges with the Mission Builders office
with the result that I am now booked [one month to the day since I sent off my application] to arrive there on March 10th
and will plan to stay through the end of May. If a place can be found for me I may leave even as early as January or February.
The Mission Builders (volunteers) are boarded in keeping with the number of rooms available.
For next summer I have an invitation to go to Burkina Faso to do maintenance of computers at the Maranatha High
school in Bobo Dioulasso. If I can be of help I will stay on in Africa going on to other locations as needed. I am corresponding
with several other places.
The University of the Nations (YWAM) is situated on the big Island of Hawaii, on the west coast. The University
began in 1978 under the name Pacific and Asia Christian University. But it soon changed its name to reflect its expanding
global vision. There are now 400 University of the Nations branches in 110 nations. Nearly 20,000 students take registered
U of N courses each year. You may visit their web site and learn more here
http://www.uofnkona.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=control.main§ionID=163
The University of the Nations' Kona campus sits on a 45-acre site overlooking Kailua Bay, one of the most spectacular
and historic sites in Hawaii.
Many of you have asked what my plans were. So now you know. I want to serve in whatever way I can and just want
the Lord to lead. I promise to keep you posted.
Please know how deeply grateful I am for your love and friendship.
With warm regards, Don
November 21st, 2007 Donald I Dirks
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Dearest family, friends, cousins and colleagues,
In exactly two months (Monday, March 10th) I will be jetting my way across the Pacific ready to take up residence as a
volunteer worker at the University of the Nations. I plan to stay until the end of May and have signed on to assist the Computer
Services department at the schools.
When I will fly back to the mainland I will continue on to Columbia , SC. just in time for Steve's (Robin & Donna's
oldest) graduation from High School. I am looking forward to spending several weeks there.
At the present time the tentative plan is for me to leave for Africa around the third week in June, first to Burkina Faso
and after that to Benin. In Bobo Dioulasso the Maranatha Christian High school has a number of computers that need maintenance
and I am working on a basic training module that I hope to use to train several young people with aptitudes. At Parakou (Benin)
the SIM has a Mission Center where they have a Linguistics Lab with 25 computers that need repairs or maintenance.
So many of you responded to my letter of Nov. 21st and asked to be kept in the loop and also promised to pray. You don't
know how much that means to me so I want to express my very deep gratitude to each and every one of you.
Others have enquired and/or sent monetary gifts towards the expenses that I will have. In both instances, at the University
of the Nations and also in Africa I will receive board and room but my travel costs, out-of-country Medical Insurance, and
incidental costs will be my personal responsibility. I am confident the Lord will provide for all my needs. Thanks to all
of you and for your partnership with me as I move on.
The timing of all of this has been ordered by the Lord. I know now what I did not know in November when the date was
set by the Mission Builder Coordinator for my projected arrival date. The Lord had an assignment for me right here in the
building where I live. In early December the Resident Manager in the building where I live discovered that his body was
full of cancer. In the four years that I have been here bridges were built and a friendship established. Now the time had
come to test that bridge. The result was that before Bob went in for major surgery I was able to meet with Bob and Marie
to lead them in a prayer and to pray with them and for them. They took their first steps with the Lord and now need discipling.
Thanks for your prayers.
So lately I've had movin on my mind. Moving out of this apartment, moving on to Hawaii and to Africa. But most of all
moving on by serving to get ready for that heavenly celebration.
With warm regards, Don
January 10, 2008
Letter # 2 Don's late breaking news.doc
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