Prayer Requests for the week

I am thankful that you are there as prayer support and moral support. Everyday I'm reminded to draw close to the Lord in order to be close to you all, as distant as we may be. I know He's working all things to the good and I can't wait to see what God will do in the coming days. Here's some news and prayer requests to lift up to Him:

 

-Tara's mom's surgery and recovery from ovarian cancer: We got some scary news when Tara's mom Carol was diagnosed with ovarian cancer with a large mass. She had surgery on Tuesday but is now resting at home. We truly praising Him for His intervention, for His love and healing. She is clear of cancer at the moment, please continue lifting her up!

-Tara and Seng will be heading home for 2 weeks in April, the same day that I leave for Florida. Please pray for safety during travel. Tara and I will be stopping in NYC to spend a few days finding Fulani in the Big Apple. Please pray that we would be able to be an encouragement to people so far away from their home.

-Fulani Believers Conference March 15-17: Fulani from across Niger will come together to fellowship, worship and learn from His word. Please pray for accepter/believers of Konni and surrounding villages to feel the desire and need to go, that we too will go with faith in the Holy Spirit and joy in the body of Christ, and for the Fulani leaders who are seeking to serve the Lord and their people at this time.

Last but not least, please pray for my emotional and spiritual preparation as I go back to the states. I am already mourning the loss of this beloved country and people, but as each day passes I get more excited to return home. I am already saying goodbye to very dear friends!

Praise and Requests; Read On..

I am thankful that you are there as prayer support and moral support. Everyday I’m reminded to draw close to the Lord in order to be close to you all, as distant as we may be. I know He’s working all things to the good and I can’t wait to see what God will do in the coming days. Here’s some news and prayer requests to lift up to Him: -Tara’s mom’s surgery and recovery from ovarian cancer: We got some scary news when Tara’s mom Carol was diagnosed with ovarian cancer with a large mass. She had surgery on Tuesday but is now resting at home. We truly praising Him for His intervention, for His love and healing. She is clear of cancer at the moment, please continue lifting her up! -Tara and Seng will be heading home for 2 weeks in April, the same day that I leave for Florida. Please pray for safety during travel. Tara and I will be stopping in NYC to spend a few days finding Fulani in the Big Apple. Please pray that we would be able to be an encouragement to people so far away from their home. -Fulani Believers Conference March 15-17: Fulani from across Niger will come together to fellowship, worship and learn from His word. Please pray for accepter/believers of Konni and surrounding villages to feel the desire and need to go, that we too will go with faith in the Holy Spirit and joy in the body of Christ, and for the Fulani leaders who are seeking to serve the Lord and their people at this time. Last but not least, please pray for my emotional and spiritual preparation as I go back to the states. I am already mourning the loss of this beloved country and people, but as each day passes I get more excited to return home. I am already saying goodbye to very dear friends!

Celebrating an Explosion

Celebrating an Explosion!

Here is an excerpt from some recent correspondence that I received from our regional prayer team:

"There are times that the results we see far exceed our expectations.  That's the case with the Wickland Baptist Church (PRAYERplus Partnership with the Sokoto Fulani of Niger) story in the 2006 International Missions Emphasis materials. This simple story of a small church praying for an Unengaged Unreached People Group is impacting our daily workload.  Last year we had (a total of) 26 new PRAYERplus Partnerships.  Since returning from Christmas break, we have been contacted by 27 churches who want to establish a partnership!  We rejoice in the response and look forward to hearing from these congregations as God opens the hearts of the Unengaged Unreached People Groups of our world.  Our office has often prayed for the PRAYERplus Partnership program to increase and today we celebrate this explosion!"

Sarah's note:  When I visited with the prayer office last week, a worker said that six different churches had called the Prayer Office that day wanting more information about PRAYERplus Partnerships.  This month (February), our region has gained three new PRAYERplus partnerships:  one church adopted the SONGHAI of Nigeria, and two other churches chose the Tukulor of The Gambia.  We now have several PRAYERplus partnerships of this type in which the actual partnership is with a population segment of a people group in a country other than the one/s where we have IMB personnel.  Other churches are involved in PRAYERplus partnerships with people groups that are not engaged in any location.  If you have any questions about PRAYERplus partnerships, please contact me."

My own involvement in this whole deal is simply obedience to a call that God put on my life. When I arrived in Niger I had no idea that I would get to encourage churches all around the United States. I am very awed seeing all that God is doing around the world! 

UPDATE ON THE ACCIDENT

Last Monday evening, my supervisors went to the hospital to check on the 8 year old, Zenabou, again.  To their joy she was being released!  She is now walking, talking, and eating normally.  They were able to take her, her father and mother, and an aunt back out to their village, Bamo, about 7 PM.  Again the villagers received them well. 

We praise the Lord for prayer support which we believe has accomplished this miracle.  Now help us pray for emotional equilibrium for the H family, and for opportunities to share Christ with this family and village.  We appreciate your standing in the gap for us!

Please join our missionary colleagues in Niger in praying that God will continue to open doors for a Christian witness in this area.  Also remember to lift up the H family  to the Lord in prayer in the coming days.

Getting a chance to write an update is always good. This time I am writing
it and sending it by my friends who will be traveling to an internet
connection. Such is the life in Africa J
I wanted to update you all on the progress of the volunteers here in Konni
this week and in the ministry among the Fulani.
1) One of our close friends, a Chief of a local village has decided to
follow Christ. He has been thinking and praying about if for a long while
now and even though his choice could adversely affect his family, village
and position he has chosen to follow. He has shared his decision with his
wife who has also stopped doing the Muslim rituals and is wanting to learn
more about Christ.
2) Kar, a night guard, after meeting a Fulani Christian asked to begin
studying the bible with me each afternoon. We have read through the book
of John and just yesterday began Luke. Right now I am taking advantage of
John, the team leader's, theological knowledge, instructing and conversing
with Kar, helping me to better understand personal discipleship. Kar is
growing daily in his understanding. He amazes me with the things he pays
special attention to and the things that he does not bother with. His
favorite word picture is the dichotomy between light and darkness. He
talks about his friends that are still in the dark and how he desperately
wants them to know what it is to be in the light. What a blessing!
3) In Village D, our believers are encouraging to us, showing joy, peace
and patience even through their trials. Barti enjoys each time our team
comes and the men visit with him and disciple him each time. Socially it
is not common for a young woman to visit in his home, so my visits with
him are not frequent. This is why our volunteers are such a vital part of
our team! On the night our team slept in the village Barti's daughter had
been in labor for two days and we were asked to take her to the hospital.
She gave birth early that next morning to a baby girl! We were blessed to
be able to help the family in that way. Laya, the other believer in
Village D went to the hospital to help the young girl through her
experience. We are praying that God would be glorified through this
relationship and that those believers would feel the call of God to share
their faith with their brothers and sisters.
4) In Village RZ we are telling Bible stories weekly, orally and also
testing stories crafted by the OneStory team. That is one of the major
groups of men that we get to share the stories with. Two of the men are
especially interested in the stories, telling them back to us in detail
with great care. Please pray for them that they would understand the
eternal significance of these stories.