Update on the accident

UPDATE

URGENT PRAYER
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
JANUARY 27, 2007

WEST AFRICA. "Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men," Psalm 107:19-21. Thank you for interceding for an 8-year-old West African girl who was accidentally hit by an IMB missionary's vehicle Friday, January 26. An IMB field strategy leader who visited the hospital Saturday morning, January 27, learned that the girl's mother had arrived and that the girl was awake,  responding to her mother and eating.  The local hospital staff had intended to transfer the girl to a hospital in the capital city but has decided that it is not necessary. Please continue to pray that this child will have a full recovery.  Also pray for the emotional recovery of the missionary family that was involved in the accident.  Ask God to provide opportunities in the coming days for IMB personnel in the area to have a positive Christian witness to the family of the injured child as well as to others in the community.

It is amazing to be here and see first-hand the Father's awesome answers to your prayers. When I arrived to Niamey yesterday I heard of two other accidents that involved our missionaries. But in each one, prayers were raised and the potential tragedies have turned to reasons to praise God! Everyone involved in these accidents is fine, recovering from a close call and a few aches and pains. It really cements in my brain what a HUGE part that you all have in our ministry here.

We will never know why these things happen, but God does!

Yesterday afternoon (14h00 EST) the H family, part of our Sokoto Fulani team, were traveling near the town of Maradi in Niger when their vehicle struck a local 8-year-old girl. The child is currently hospitalized with serious injuries, but no one else involved in the accident was hurt. Other IMB West Africa personnel are with the H family and at the hospital with the child at this time. Pray that God will bring healing to this child and be glorified in this situation. Intercede for the H family and for our other WA personnel who are with the family members of this young girl; ask God to give these colleagues sufficient strength, courage, and confidence to be His witnesses in these difficult circumstances. Ask God to give them spiritual wisdom and discernment to know how to respond in a culturally appropriate way that will bring honor to Him.

My friends were leaving from meeting with our team when we received the call about the accident. Yesterday evening and this morning I have been with this family and four girls who desperately need our prayer for peace in this difficult time. The latest news on the little girl is that she is stable but has sustained head injuries with possible internal bleeding. They were going to evacuate her to Niamey, the capital city, but have decided against it because she is showing progress and looking better each time. Please pray that she will be healed in the way that only God's power can. We have already seen His hand at work when at the scene of the accident the family was not sure if the child was even alive but is now stable and resting. Many prayers have already been lifted for this situation. Please join us as soon as you can.

Dust, dust everywhere and not a drop to...oh wait!

Experiencing harmattan last year was not enough preparation for the crazy weather patterns we saw this year. See this picture? It was taken by my good friends in Niamey last week. Would you believe that it is the 9 o�clock sun trying unsuccessfully to break through the dense dust that is everywhere? The dust has cooled things down well, but the eeriness of noon that looks like a dusky 6 o�clock sky is overwhelming.

My mom flew away from Niger at 6 am Monday morning, and should arrive back home sometime very early Wednesday. It was wonderful to have her here, but I know that by the time she left she was ready to go home. I loved having her here to experience part of my life, introducing her to my friends, and seeing her interact with everyone with whom we came into contact. It was neat to see the welcome she was extended in the Fulani villages and the respect she was given by everyone. She was called �mother� by everyone she met.

The highlight of the trip for me was one evening visiting with my friends, Maman* and Fati* in Niamey (*names changed). That day we went to their home to visit them and were warmly greeted. Then, after a bit of conversation the husband asked if he could bring his wife and children over that evening to visit us and asked specifically if my Mom would pray for him and his family. What an honor that was! It took three attempts for us to finally meet up with them that evening, but when we did I got to witness my mom being used by God, praying for God�s blessing on a Fulani family in Niger. It was such a special moment. My mom commented that she thought he could have chosen a more able person to pray, but I think that God knew exactly who He wanted to use!

Tomorrow I am headed out to my town and will be soon back in my villages. I am hoping to get some teaching time before the volunteers come from Maryland in February to continue the ministry. They will be doing discipleship and Bible teaching as their ministry grows among the Fulani.

This week I would appreciate your focused prayer on Rabi* and Belo* in Village D who both have made decisions to follow Jesus. They are not from the same family or social groups but I know one day they will worship God side by side. Please pray that they would be challenged to grow in their faith and empowered to share by the Holy Spirit who equips us to accomplish His will.

Secondly, I ask you to remember Maman* and Fati* my friends in Niamey. They are seeking the truth. Please join with us in prayer that God would confirm some things they have already learned and also give them the courage to step out of such a binding tradition of beliefs.

And last, but not least, the bittersweet countdown to my departure has begun. In less than three months I will be returning home to Florida. Please pray that these last three months would be manageable, emotionally and physically and that I would be productive and obedient to all the things that God asks me to do. My ongoing prayer is that I would be given the opportunity to share my faith wherever God asks me to go and be His ambassador among all peoples.

You are very dear to me! Thanks for holding the ropes!