Celebrating A Birthday!

Throughout the week before Chr1stmas day, Lori and I have invited our friend J0ke over to participate in some of our @meric@n Chr1stmas traditions of baking, singing, and even making a navity set. As we were showing J0ke our decorations we put up in our apartment I asked her if her family put up decorations to celebrate Chr1stmas. She replied “yes, we put up decorations on Chr1stmas day.” 

It made me think twice on why they would put up decorations on Chr1stmas day and not before. After several days of pondering this M@lian tradition, it hit me that the bel1evers here are celebrating a birthday! Just as I would put up decorations on a birthday, the bel1evers here put up decorations to celebrate the birth of our S@vior on H1s birthday. 

On Chr1stmas day L0ri and I traveled to J0ke’s house to w0rship at her ch.rch. As we walked into the small ch.rch we saw many decorations, but not the decorations we would consider to be part of the Chr1stmas season. Instead we saw many streamers and balloons that filled the place of w0rship. A day to celebrate the birth of J.s.s was truly a day to celebrate H1s birthday here with our M@lian friend. This day L0ri and I spent 3 hours singing, dancing, singing some more and listening to a message in this ch.rch filled with many children and young bel1evers of the birth of our S@vior. 

I thank Father for this opportunity to be able to w0rship in M@li on Christmas day with our friend J0ke and for a refreshing new look on how to celebrate Chr1stmas day!

Please pr@y for this young and youthful ch.rch that our friend J0ke is attending. The ch.rch is small, but filled with a youthful group of bel1vers that love to w0rship our S@vior.

A Baby Worthy of Worship.

"Come, let us tell of the L0rd's greatness; let us exalt His name together."

Ps@lm 34:3

Exaltation #10- A BABY WORTHY OF WORSHIP

What a great time to be in M@li and what a GREAT message we have to share at Chr1stmas!

In M@li, holidays are celebrated with big parties, lots of food, and cloth. People buy the new celebration cloth and have an outfit made for the day of celebration. At Chr1stmas it is no different. The ch.rch here designs a Chr1stmas cloth that proclaims the message of J.s.s birth. Since we were going to worsh1p and celebrate with our M@lian friend J0ke, we too purchased cloth and had new outfits made. Our friend "O" had expressed her desire to go with us so we bought some of the Chr1stmas cloth for her, and on Tuesday before Chr1stmas we gave it to her. As we sat on the street holding the cloth, her mom began looking at the picture of the nativity on the cloth. We asked if she knew about it and she said no. She agreed for us to tell her about it, so we began. After selling some ice, "O" joined us listening intently to every detail. At the end, she sat pondering as she always does, then simply said, " If all these things are true, then He truly is a baby worthy of worship."


On Friday before Chr1stmas, we invited "O" to our house for a Chr1stmas celebration. We had created characters in the Chr1stmas story out of sticks and African cloth. We had them all...Mary, Joseph, baby J.s.s. in a watering trough, Gabriel, the host of angels, the shepherds, sheep, the wise men, their gifts and a camel, and the star. We set them all up on a little table and created a visual story to be told. "O" arrived and we showed her the characters and briefly explained who each one was. Then we went on with making cookies and candies to take to our friends who work on the street with "O". After creating the cookies and nibbling on a few, I put lunch on to cook. We shared a meal together using the common bowl and a rice dish that was similar to an African dish. It was delicious! Then we told the stories of Mary, Joseph, the birth of J.s.s, the shepherds and angels, and the wise men to "O". She listened intently to each part of the story and in her usual way, she sat pondering and looking at each set of characters. She acknowledged the miracles in each part. 

Please continue to pr@y for O to understand the truth about J.s.s. and to see that all of these things are true...that He is truly a baby worthy of worship...that He is so much more than just a baby...He is the s@lvation of every person, He is Lord of all Creation, He is the Light of the World, He is the Word made flesh, He is God with US, and the list goes on and on...

Owner of the Cows

"Come, let us tell of the L0rd's greatness; let us exalt His name together." Ps@lm 34:3

Exaltation #9- God owns it all and Supplies our Needs
A sacrifice of pr@ise is due our G0d this week!! He continues to show Himself and His activity on behalf of R@dio K@ntiguiya. I went into the city to take care of some paperwork for our truck when He showed up again and demonstrated to me that He owns all things and He is the One Who Supplies our Needs. As I talked with another servant in the harvest here, he told me of another man I needed to talk with about the r@dio. As we were talking about this, in drives a car carrying the man we were just talking about. I smiled...just like our G0d I thought!

As I talked with him, he already knew of the R@dio K@ntiguiya and was even working to find and provide for us the necessary equipment for the solar power. He had done an estimate of the cost of the equipment he has. I sat in amazement as he described each piece to me and showed me the difference in the cost based on a previous estimate. He told me of batteries and pieces of equipment that were of much greater quality and would be much more effective in production for our purposes.He told me how God had blessed His work in other areas and how because of that he had committed this equipment to be used to help the next r@dio station in M@li. R@dio K@ntiguiya came to his attention and will now receive this equipment at a much reduced rate.  I watched as the previous estimate went from $18,500 to the new estimate of $11,500. Then told me that his organization was willing to commit approximately $4000 toward the new estimate. So again, I watched as my G0d continued to supply all of our needs. Now we need only $7500 to complete the r@dio station. This man said to me, "I have everything here in M@li and we are ready to install it. We can have it put in and running by the end of January." Tears fill my eyes as I type this email of pr@ise to our Father. I know we still need $7500, but I am confident that G0d owns it all and that He will supply. I know He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and He has just sold one to provide for us. He will sell another one to provide the rest.

Another amazing moment was when this young man told me we would not need the generator with this new equipment he was providing. The power that will be produced by it will be enough to power the r@dio from 7am to 10 pm. That means we will be doubling the amount of time we can be on the air and all of that without the cost of a generator and the gas to run it. The generator was another $7000. I stand amazed! I bow in gratitude to the One who is F@ithful!!

Would you pr@y diligently every day for G0d to reveal His provision for the remaining funds for R@dio K@ntiguiya? Would you ask Him to do that according to His time, His way, and through His chosen servants?

If you would like to join G0d in this work and be apart of something Only G0d can do, you can make donations to
Harvest Seekers via the website or send it to

Harvest Seekers International
PO Box 1975
Cleveland, TX 77327

Please designate to R@dio K@ntiguiya.

Thank you for your pr@yers and your f@ithfulness to make sacrifices of pr@ise to our G0d for ALL that He is doing!!

watching Him...
Ps@lm 50:10-15

A Drawing G0d

"Come, let us tell of the L0rd's greatness; let us exalt His name together." Ps@lm 34:3

Exaltation #8-In our poverty, G0d draws us to Himself.
I love the economy of our Father! It is so different from our own way of thinking, planning, and doing life. The world beckons to us and says seek wealth, seek to own and possess. It lies to us and says, in your wealth you will have all you need. Yet J.s.s taught us, "G0d blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of He@ven is theirs." The greatness of our G0d exalts the poor because through their poverty they realize the NEED Him. The poor find themselves in a place where this life cannot be lived alone--absent from the Presence and Power and Provision of The One Who Satisfies. In our poverty, we confess our inadequacies and call out to Him--The One Who is More Than Enough for ALL we need.

Gift of Grain
For months we have been praying for the rains to come and the harvest to be enough. In G0d's economy, I believe He has answered. The rains did not come. The harvest is not enough. The people of the B@ye region are experiencing the lack of food. The prices of each bag of grain are going up because there is not enough. As we have prayed, many of my daily readings in our Father's Word led me to the times where G0d used drought and lack of food to draw people to Himself. I believe our Father is doing the same thing here...drawing people to Himself through the drought and lack of food.

Last year, G0d demonstrated His power and provision, His unfailing love and compassion through The Gift of Grain project. He used you--His people--to demonstrate in a very real way that He is the One Who Provides. As you heard of the need, His SP1r1t moved through you to provide more than we had asked for Him to provide.

As I talked with P@stor D@o just before leaving to return to M@li, I could hear the despair in his words as he said, "I would like to inform you also that the price of millet hit a high point in this week. One bag of grain is at 20 000 FCFA. This year the food crisis will be worse in the locality of B@ye. I do not know how the poor family will eat this year. I know one thing-- it's to pray for them."

Our goal and desire is to have at least 200 bags of grain for distribution. The cost per bag is estimated at $45.

Words of Life
Along with the lack of physical nourishment, there is a sp1r1tual poverty among the people with whom we work. They have a need for not only food to eat, but food that will nourish their soul. As we prayed through the Gift of Grain project, we began asking our Father how we can also meet the sp1r1tual poverty...the lack of access to Him, the One on Whom they must depend. We had seen how He used the MP3 player last year, but we knew that batteries in this remote area would be hard for the people to find or afford. I had seen the impact of a solar device with G0d's W0rd on it among the people group with whom a friend of mine works.

As we began researching, we found a solar powered radio/recorder. This device is called a Diplomat. It can be preset to a radio station and oral recordings of G0d's W0rd can be downloaded on them in various languages.  With the opening of the radio station coming soon, these radio/recorders are perfect for not only getting G0d's W0rd into he ears and hearts of the people but also give them access to the radio station. Our goal and desire is to give out 100 of these and to ensure that each chief in the villages surrounding the radio station receives one of these radio/recorders. The cost for one radio/recorder is estimated at $40.


God has placed before us an even greater need--an even greater opportunity to demonstrate Him this year. As you go into this Christmas season, would you consider how you and your family, your small group, or your church could be a part of The Gift of Grain  and Words of Life Projects this year.

If you would like to provide a Gift of Grain or a Word of Life Radio/Recorder, you can make donations via mail or online. You may mail a check to

Harvest Seekers International
PO Box 1975
Cleveland, TX 77327

You may also visit the Harvest Seeker's website at http://www.hisharvesters.org/support.html and click on the "Make a Donation" button at the bottom of the page.  This will open a page for you to donate via PayPal. 

Please designate the funds as "Gift of Grain" or "Words of Life". 

Would you pr@y with us for G0d to draw the people of B@ye to Himself through the difficulties they are facing and through the W0rds of Life they will hear?

Isaiah 42:6

The Great Orchestrator of Details

"Come, let us tell of the L0rd's greatness; let us exalt His name together." Ps@lm 34:3

Exaltation #7-The Great Orchestrator of Details
Greetings from M@li!!
Thank you so much your pr@yers! We immediately saw our Father at work as you pr@yed for C@therine's flight! We saw Him begin orchestrating a song to smooth out the way for us to keep our itinerary and plans moving. It reminded me of a scr1pture that has continually been filling my mind since I received word that C@therine was on the ground in NJ and our flight from NJ had been delayed.

"Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the gl0ry of the L0rd will be revealed, and all the people will see it together." Isaiah 40:4-5
Rejoice with us and give pr@ise to the Great Orchestrator of Details!!

We traveled a new route to M@li and it was a very good one! It is always fun (for me) to travel to new places and go on adventure with G0d into new things. This journey allowed me to see even from the sky a new part of the w0rld. I discovered a new place for my bucket list as I looked out the window of the plane and saw this island. The beaches called out to me to come and sit still and swim in the water. Now I just have to find out the name of it..smile!

Please continue to pr@y for us as we adjust to being home, get the apartment cleaned, and get moved in. Give thanks to our Father for a friend who picked us up from the airport, took us to dinner, took us around to get some necessities, and went the extra mile to bring my purse back to me after I left it in her car. Thank you Sh@ri! Also give thanks to G0d for C@rol, J0sh, Just1n, D@ryl and G1enda who have taken care of our apartment and are providing us with a place to stay until our apartment is ready.

grateful to be home and ready to hit the bed...smile

Dep@rture Day

"Come, let us tell of the L0rd's greatness; let us exalt His name together." Ps@lm 34:3

Exaltation #6-Called and Sent out

Today we begin the journey back to the people and the place our Father has called us to go! He continues to prepare the way and walk out in front of us! Again, we have each counted the cost, and declare, "I will follow!" As I w0rshipped on Sunday, a flood of emotions overwhelmed me the whole time I stood before the Father. He led me through a series of remembrances, costs, and potential things I might face as I follow Him. As He would have it, together with my family of F@ith we sang the song Walk By Faith by Jeremy Camp. I experienced the vanishing of my emotions and the steadfast Sp1r1t of Chr1st fill me. He became my courage, my focus, my strength, and the One in whom I trust. A calm strength and determination consumed me and then I was able to lay it all before Him...laying everything at His feet...oh He is worthy of laying everything down for!!!

Please pr@y for C@therine and I as we each follow Him and travel behind Him to all the places and through all the situations and into all the relationships He leads us through each day!!

C@therine will be leaving from Ch@rlotte, NC and I will be leaving from H0uston, TX. We will meet in NJ and fly on to B@mako through Be1gium. We should arrive in B@mako on Wednesday @fternoon.

Thank you for walking this journey on your knees with us!!
Talk to you from the other side...
His servant...His witness...

The F@ithfulness of our F@ther

"Come, let us tell of the L0rd's greatness; let us exalt His name together." Ps@lm 34:3

Exaltation #5-The F@ithfulness of our Father
As we come to the close of 2011, we bow before our Father and our G0d! We can declare nothing greater than His f@ithfulness! Since the moment He called this m1ni1stry into being, He has been f@ithful to do ALL that He has said He would do!! He has been f@ithful to guide us, walk beside us, and provide for us! He has done all of those things in ways that cause me to stop, bow down, and declare..." You alone are God! There is none like you! There never has been and there never will be!"

God's f@ithfulness to us has been demonstrated through you--His people! Your support in every way--your prayers, your financial gifts, and your face to face encouragements both here in the states and those who have walked on M@lian soil with us--has empowered this m1n1stry and work of our Father. To Him we give pr@ise and to you we stop to say "Thank you for believing in the G0d who does this work through us, and thank you for your gifts of support to His servants!"
We have had an amazing year in 2011, and we have seen the hand of our Father preparing an even greater year of opportunity for demonstrating Him and making Him known in 2012.

Some of the things we have already seen Him preparing the way for are

• Gift of Grain- The harvest did not produce this year due to lack of rains. Our goal is to distribute at least 200 bags of grain. Each bag costs $35.

• Words of Life- The lack of physical nourishment is also a reminder of the same lack of spiritual nourishment among the peoples with whom we work. This year along with the Gift of Grain project, we believe it is important for us to provide spiritual nourishment as well. G0d has directed our steps to a solar powered device called a Diplomat. It is tuned to a set FM radio station plus you can record oral stories and scr1ptures for the listeners. Our goal is to distribute at least 100 of these in conjunction with the opening of R@dio K@ntiguiya. Each Diplomat costs $40.
  

• R@dio K@ntiguiya- Launching the radio station for evangelism, d1sc1pleship, community development, and health education

• Village house- In order to have a place among the peoples with whom we work, we will be building a simple village home from which HSI servant teams can live and work.
  

• Community Center- The development of a place for outreach, training, and community development among the many villages and peoples groups with whom we work.
  

• Sewing Outreach- The first outreach project through the Community Center. We will teach 20 women to sew while also demonstrating and teaching about the love of G0d as we build relationships with these women. 

• Development of Harvest Seekers Mali- An organization run by M@lian believers to model, mentor, and mobilize f0ll0wers of J.s.s to fulfill the m1ss1ion of our L0rd J.s.s Christ.

• Servant Support/Operating Expenses- The funding needed to provide, protect, and encourage those serving in the harvest field of M@li.
  

Pr@ises:

• For the gift of J.s.s given to each of us
• For the work of our Father in your own heart in 2011
• For the work of our Father through HSI in 2011
• For the lives that have been impacted through the demonstration of His righteousness and love
• For ALL who have joined our Father in this work

Pr@yers:

• For the people of M@li to hear, know, and see the Truth--J.s.s.
• For complete obedience and f0ll0wship of HSI to complete what our Father has planned for us
• For each of the provision from G0d's people for each projects listed above
• For G0d's guidance, wisdom, and Presence moment by moment as we seek to walk in His footprints
• For f@ith to overcome every fear
• For protection from the evil one and those who serve his purposes on earth
• For the ways in which you can join us in accomplishing G0d's purposes and plans

Estimated Budget Needs for 2012: $106,850

 Attached you will find a breakdown for individual needs.

Ways to Support HSI

 Option 1-Check, Cash or Money Order:

1.    Make checks or money orders payable to H@rvest Seekers Intern@tional.

2.   Please mail your contribution to:

      H@rvest Seekers Internation@l

      PO Box 1975

      Cleveland, TX 77327

Option 2-Online Giving:

1.    Go to www.hisharvesters.org

2.    Click on the link “Through Your Gifts” on the right side of the page.

3.    Click on the “donation button” and fill out the online giving form to set up your online donation(s).

All contributions to H@rvest Seekers International are tax deductible and non-refundable.

If you give throughout the year, contribution statements will be sent out by HSI at the end of the year. One time gifts of $250.00 or more will receive acknowledgement from HSI at the end of the year. One time gifts less than $250 will be the responsibility of the donor to keep track of their tax deduction.

As a Non-Profit Organization, HSI reserves the ultimate control over and complete discretion concerning the use of all donations received by Harvest Seekers International.

Consider His Blessings

"Come, let us tell of the L0rd's greatness; let us exalt His name together." Ps@lm 34:3

Exaltation #4-His Great Gift and Giving Back to Him
This season we celebrate the greatest gift ever given-- God With Us through His Son J.s.s alive and living among us! This gift is the fullest expression of the L0rd's greatness!!  It is also during this season that we give to others in celebration of the gift that was given to us on that first Christmas morning. In October, I received one of these gifts. No, it wasn't Christmas yet and the gift was not meant as a Christmas gift. It was simply a love offering made by Mrs. Betty to her G0d. I want to share the story with you because it continues to ring over and over in  my heart and mind as I think of Christmas and how I may give back to G0d this Christmas season.

Mrs. Betty's Story (As told by her teacher friend)It was the end of the first wonderful day of L0ri and C@therine's visit to the Spartanburg High School French and AP Human Geography classes.  We teachers had looked forward to their visit, having seen the effect that it had on our students in the previous year.  Even in a public school, G0d's message cannot be hidden.  It can touch human hearts regardless of any restrictions that man may set set into place.  L0ri and C@therine had shared the story of M@li's people with four class periods filled with students from several classes.  They planned to return the following morning to speak to more classes and students.

As we were leaving the building, sweet Mrs. Betty, our precious hard-working custodian stepped from the girls' restroom she had just cleaned.  With her broad smile, she greeted us and wished us a good afternoon, just as she does to everyone she sees each day.  I introduced her to our visitors and told her that they were m1ss1onaries in M@li and had come to share with the students about the country where they worked and the people there.  Mrs. Betty was delighted to meet them and to know that they were able to come to our school and to talk to "our" children. We invited her to come join the classes the following morning, and she said that she would plan on doing just that.

After walking them out and returning to my room, Mrs. Betty stopped by to tell me that she might be running late in the morning.She had to drop her car off to have some work done on it.  She told me, "I will be there though. Im looking forward to hearing them talk to "our" children. We need to use of every opportunity to make sure that those children know about the L0rd's work."  Then Mrs. Betty went on about her cleaning--meticulously cleaning and taking pride and giving her best to care for "her" teachers.

The following morning came, and once again the lives of our students were touched as L0ri and C@therine spoke about M@li.  I had hoped Mrs. Betty would be there, but she did not show up.  I didn't worry too much, because she had said that she would be running late.  L0ri and C@therine said their goodbyes about mid-day, and the rest of the day passed quickly with students still talking about their visit the previous day.

After school, I sat at my desk, finishing up some plans for the following day.  I heard a little tap on my door, and in walks Mrs. Betty, smiling as always.  She said, " I bet you didn't think I was coming!"  She had been delayed at the mechanic's shop waiting on her car to be fixed, and then had found out that other repairs had to be done.  Mrs. Betty walked over to my desk and pulled from her pocket an envelope that she told me that she wanted me to give to Miss L0ri and Miss C@therine, if I didn't mind. She opened it to show me that there were 4 $5 bills inside, 2 for Miss L0ri and 2 for Miss C@therine.  My heart felt like it would burst with love and humility at that moment.  I said, "Mrs. Betty, you don't need to feel like you have to do this...I know that have had a lot going on lately with your daughter being sick and having to take care of her and her children. You've had trouble with your car and just a lot of other things going on."  "No, no, I want to do this!" Mrs. Betty exclaimed.  "This is my love offering, you see.  God has blessed me with more than I need this week, and I am just giving it back to him!"

Oh, the many lessons that G0d teaches us each day through his children who allow themselves to be vessels of the H0ly Sp1r1t!  As we consider how the L0rd has blessed us, let us open our hearts to give back to him in love and gratitude.

Because of Mrs. Betty, I ask myself these questions:

• How has G0d blessed me with more than I NEED this year?
• What will my love offering be to Him?
• Where can I use my blessings to give back to Him in a way that will bless others?
• To whom will I give my excess so they may know the GREATNESS of my G0d?
  

How about you?

Crevices and His Presence

"Come, let us tell of the L0rd's greatness; let us exalt His name together." Ps@lm 34:3

Exaltation #3-The Quiet Place of His Presence
For two days as I prepared my heart, mind, and sp1r1t to meet with the radio station yesterday, I was filled with excitement, joy, peace, and anticipation. I spent time just pr@ising and marveling at the way our Father has orchestrated events to even bring me to the place of meeting with the mentoring staff at the station here in H0ust0n. My pr@yer was to see Him, His glory, and His Presence. For those 2 days, our Father kept reminding me of the story of Moses when he asked to see the glorious presence of the L0rd. I kept telling G0d this must be how Moses felt as He waited in the crevice of the rock...excitement, anticipation, joy, peace yet not knowing what He was about to experience.

As I pondered and read the story these words of G0d stuck out to me...
"As my gl0rious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind, But my face will not be seen." Exodus 22:22-23

I thought. "Wow! How cool that G0d hid Moses in a quiet place and protected Him from what would surely be more than He could bare, while revealing the most important part...His back. G0d told him He would let Moses see Him from behind. As I thought about that,  I was like "Yes L0rd, let me see you from behind. Let me see you walk in front of me. Let me sit still in the crevice of this Rock, protected by Your hand covering me, until You walk by. Then let me see your back so I that I and those I work with, so that this ministry, so that this work in Mali can be accomplished as we follow behind you! Wherever you go before us, whatever you do through this meeting, whatever your plans, we will follow."

About the meeting with the radio:Thank you for praying for me while I was meeting with the Houston radio. The meeting went really well. We talked for an hour and a half and I found in them some people I can learn from, go to for answers, and be connected to other organizations that can walk beside us as we figure out how to do this new radio work. They shared encouragements and warnings...things to do and things to be aware of...it was great to benefit from their experience. I was able to share the story with them and help them see the vision, purpose, and hand of God at work. The coolest part for me was to just be sitting with them and finding that quiet place of God's Presence through the connection with MY radio station. Even before I left my house, I knew in my heart that I would see G0d's Presence and it would not be in a BIG event--in the ways I might desire or expect...it would be in the quietness of something I did not yet understand. That is exactly what it was...it was in the beginning of a relationship that would provide encouragement, experience, wisdom, connections with others who are doing what we are doing all over Afr1ca, connections with those who can walk with us and help us, an open door to ask anything, a place of pr@yer support, and a relationship that will grow. As I sat there I just took in the BIGNESS of God and the way He has orchestrated the details of my meeting with them. One of several great moments was just sharing the connections God has made over the last 3 months with different radio stations and then hearing from them their involvement with each of those stations. The one in Sp@rtanburg that began when i was in Jr high school was launched on air by the man I was sitting across the desk from yesterday. I just saw God tying connections and weaving His tapestry throughout the time we visited together. It wasn't an earthquake, a big storm, a big anything...it was just in the quiet workings of God hand to make connections. It was His beginning for relationships that will demonstrate His power on behalf of the people in M@li. It was in seeing Him from behind and how He has passed by us to show us the way.

Pr@ises and Pr@yers:

• The privilege of seeing G0d from behind and seeing His footprints in front of us
• For the relationship with the Houston radio station and for the development of that radio station as we walk together
• For the upcoming relationships with MANY organizations they are connecting us with to help us grow, understand, and accomplish this work better
• For the courage to make contact with these organizations and pursue G0d's plan as we follow behind Him
• For patience to sit still in the crevice of the Rock, to prepare ourselves for the work ahead, and implement the development of a strong foundation
• For G0d's continue provision to launch R@dio K@ntiguiya

Thank you for your Presence with me in the crevice of the Rock!

Pecans, Ponderings, and Perspectives

"Come, let us tell of the L0rd's greatness; let us exalt His name together." Ps@lm 34:3

Exaltation #2--Viewing things from God's Perspective

Yesterday, I was picking up pecans and pondering. It was a BEAUTIFUL day...cool temperatures, a chilly breeze, and the bluest Carolina sky! I had walked around the tree and picked up a few pecans...enough to fill my hand space. My dad saw me and asked if I needed a basket. Just as I had finished my search around the tree, he brought me a small basket. Since I now had a basket, I decided to go around the tree one more time even though I had picked up all the pecans. As I walked, more pecans were spotted and I picked them up. My dad had joined me, so we were both picking up pecans. We continued going around and around the tree and with each circle around the tree more and more pecans were picked up. I began to recognize that it took a different perspective to discover the pecans. Some were laying lightly on top of the grass, fully exposed and just calling out to be seen and picked up. Others were hiding in the pod in which they grew just peeking out a little saying I'm here too. Then there were those pecans that had covered themselves in the grass hiding and seemingly hoping to not be found. Lastly there were pecans that had been stepped on or driven over by the tires of the lawnmower. They were buried deep into the soil barely recognizable.

As I pondered all the positionings of the pecans I had picked up and discovered, I began to understand the importance of perspective. When I first began picking up pecans I was only looking at the surface of the grass...discovering only those that were laying lightly in the open just calling out to be picked up. The longer I walked around the tree the deeper my perspective and my searching had to go to discover the nuggets of tastiness for which I was searching.

At that point I began to realize that the situations and circumstances I face in life require different perspectives to truly understand what is going on from God's perspective. Some things I can grasp and see quickly, they are easily understandable and discovered. Others are buried deep and require me to dig deep within myself to uncover the truth about what God is doing in my life and around me...what He may be asking of me. Just as it took time walking around the tree discovering more and more pecans, understanding G0d's direction, perspective on my situation, and the truths I need to guide my choices require focused attention and time for discovery.

The greatness of our L0rd became evident as I realized there is not just one perspective...there are many perspectives! Yet there is only one perspective that will work to find the nuggets of Truth in each situation we face and that perspective comes only from G0d. I may want to just stop with the easy perspective ...the one that lays lightly on the surface calling out to be embraced, but G0d may have something much deeper to reveal. I exalt Him today! He alone is the All KNOWING, ALL UNDERSTANDING, ALL SEEING, ALL PRESENT, ALMIGHTY G0D!

still pondering...and giving thanks...

The Greatness of Our G0d

"Be still, and know that I am G0d! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." Ps@lm 46:10

 This is one of my favorite times of the year!! It is a time to ponder...something I love to do, but often find myself moving too fast. Constant moving is very detrimental to pondering, to being still, to truly knowing G0d. So this season...this time of THANKSGIVING and this time of pondering ALL our Father has done by sending His S0n to live among us...becomes life to me. It is time to truly be still and KNOW that He is G0d--my G0d, the G0d of all creation, the G0d of those who know Him and those who do not know Him. HE ALONE IS G0D. He WILL be honored by every nation...He will be honored throughout the world. It is a time to consider His GREATNESS, to remember ALL He has shown us, taught us, and done for us!

"Come, let us tell of the L0rd's greatness; let us exalt His name together." Ps@lm 34:3

Over the last few months, I have seen the L0rd's greatness. These glimpses came as I watched our Father use some of you to direct and guide this organization along His best pathway. I have marveled at how He spoke to you, how you shared that with me, and how He has shown His faithfulness to HSI as we have followed Him together. I cannot help but exalt Him for the way He brings His people together to accomplish His plans and purposes. He has shown me that each person on this team is important, that He desires to use each of us to complete His work, and that the things He shows you as you pr@y for this ministry are vital.

Exaltation #1-- Radio Kantiguiya After receiving word that the funding for the radio station had been depleted and after asking you to pr@y, a member of our Harvest Pr@yer Net sent me an email encouraging me to speak with several Chr1stian radio stations. This began a continual series of our Father opening doors and us walking through them. Shortly after that email, we saw a friend and decided to share a hot drink together to catch up on what G0d had done since we had seen each other. As we talked, we discovered that this friend was now working for one of those radio stations that our pr@yer team member had mentioned. This began a series of events that has opened doors for us to not only talk with 2 of the radio stations, but also to talk with a radio station in Ark@nsas. The doors have also opened to talk with another station in my hometown on November 29th. G0d used our friend, her husband, her boss, and the radio station she works for to walk alongside us to teach us more about radio, how it works, and how we can connect with stations here in America. They pr@yed with us and for us as well as encouraged us as they became the very Presence of G0d guiding us! I give HIM--OUR G0D-- great pr@ise for being so real and so personal. We do not know the end of this journey or exactly how HIS plan will unfold...yet He has shown us He is at work, He has a plan, and He is fulfilling it as we follow Him! Thank you for being a part of this work!!

Over the next few days, as I sit still and ponder the GREATNESS of our G0d and how He has demonstrated Himself, I will exalt His name with you! Share your glimpses of His greatness with me. Come, let's tell of the L0rd's greatness together!

Fulled Up

"Always be full of joy in the L0rd, I say it again--rejoice! " Phil. 4:4

BEING FULL OF JOY comes as we give pr@ise to our Father! When we take our eyes off of the temporary trials, the seemingly unending struggles, the constant confusion about how to live in this w0rld, and turn our eyes toward the incredible G0d who sent His Son to do life with us, then we can rejoice...We can see the constant companionship of the One who loves us with His unfailing love and the faithfulness of His work on our behalf!!

Our time in Tex@s has continued to FILL us with joy as we watched the hand of our Father work on behalf of His people in M@li and those He continues to call to Himself there. Our joy was made complete as we connected and reconnected daily with people who believe along with us for the fulfillment of His promises in M@li.

We rejoice in Him, because He:

• has joined our hearts--yours and ours-- with His heart for the peoples of M@li
  
• demonstrated His love for the people of M@li, for His work, and for us through many of you
• opened the door for us to meet with a local radio station on November 29th to learn about the possibilities of that radio station mentoring the workers of Radio K@ntiguiya in M@li
• guided our hearts and minds to understand His plan for the upcoming months
• is calling and speaking to many of you about joining Him in M@li so He can pour out His life and love through you
• is the ONE we follow...we do not do this...He does and we get to follow in His footprints
• has given us peace about the next steps
• empowers us, encourages us, and strengthens us!

There is truly so much more...my list goes on and on...how's your list? As we start this week of focused pr@ise and thanksgiving, I ask you to begin your list and daily rejoice in Him and be filled with JOY and THANKSGIVING!! I would love to rejoice with you, so feel free to send me some of your JOY FULLNESS!


Don't worry about anything, instead pr@y about everything. Tell G0d what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience G0d's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Chr1st J.sus." Phil. 4:L6-7

We are traveling back to SC and NC today and tomorrow. We will spend this week of THANKSGIVING with our families.

Pr@y with us

• for protection
• G0d's presence as we drive
• for the vehicle to do its job without any problems
• for us to be attentive to the ways we can demonstrate our Father's love along the way and throughout the week to our families.

May you turn your worries, struggles, concerns over to G0d and tell Him what you need. Then thank Him for all He has done! Experience HIS PEACE!! He is guarding you, your hearts and your minds as you live in Chr1st J.sus.

WE GIVE THANKS TO HIM FOR YOU...

A Dream Coming True

R@dio K@ntigiya

In November of 2006, I sat listening to the dreams of a man who had moved his family to a very remote area of M@li...a place where there were no others who walked the same road with him and his family. There were no other f0ll0wers of J.s.s, and there was no community of encouragement for the day in and day out of living in a new place. He was certain of G0d's call on his life and the life of his family that he followed in spite of the challenges. Today, he and his family has impacted the whole region for the gl0ry of G0d and the dreams Father placed in his heart are being fulfilled. They are no longer the only family of f0ll0wers, as a matter of fact a new ch.rch has just been built and the building for a Chr1sti@n radio station has just been completed. We celebrate the dream of G0d's family being expanded to include the many people groups living in this difficult and remote area...the uttermost parts of the world!! R@dio K@ntigyi-- R@dio F@ithfulness will receive all of the equipment and the tower will be built within the next couple of months and we are bel1eving our Father for it to be on the air declaring His Gl0ry by October 2011!! Give pr@ise to our G0d...the One who does what He says and fulfills all His promises!!

back in Tex@s

Greetings everyone!!
Thank you so much for your pr@yers for me and for my travel back to Texas! I had a great trip with special gifts from our Father along the way. I was able to spend the night with a friend and her parents. As only our Father can plan it and orchestrate the details, the changes in my plans to stay in SC to be with my aunt allowed me to arrive at my friend's house just a couple of days after her m1ss1ion trip to H@iti. Her parents had also spent time serving in the Northeast Un1ted St@tes recently. We had a great time of sharing about all that Father is doing in all of these places and how He has been impacting our lives personally. My friend and I had hoped our travels would allow us to spend some time together in pr@yer...I'm pr@ising Father for making that possible. It was a blessing to bow before Him together and seek His face. I left early the next morning and began the next leg of the journey...usually I drive the whole 10 hours so getting started early was vital. Things were different for me this time. I had a lot on my heart and mind as I processed all that Father had done in SC with my family. I spent some time pr@ising and pr@ying and just enjoying the company of my Constant Companion! That has always been my favorite thing about G0d...He is constantly with me and He longs for me more than I could ever long for Him. I found myself longing for Him on the journey back to Texas. I found myself affirming my commitment to Him saying, "I will follow!"
I decided to break my trip up into 3 days of equal driving and I took a short detour through Gulfp0rt, MS. Since I left early, I arrived there with the whole afternoon to just enjoy the Gulf coast. I found a place to stay, then rested during the heat of the day. After a nap, I took G0d's W0rd and drove to the beach. I was amazed and found myself pr@ising Father again for all He has done to repair and restore this area after the devastation of recent hurricanes. I had been there just after the hurricane serving with a combined team from Texas and SC. It was great to see how things have been restored and cleaned up. I was able to eat at a restaurant that was completely destroyed and rebuilt, as well as just enjoy sitting on the pier reading Father's W0rd. I drove along the water's edge singing pr@ises and giving thanks to G0d for the beauty of all He has created. One of the most impacting things was to see some trees that had been devastated by the hurricane...dead, yet alive. An artist had come to the coast and carved the dead trees into beautiful works of art--dolphins jumping out of the water, eagles flying, pelicans perched side by side, and other ocean birds sitting in a tree. It reminded me of how our Father takes our lives...our dead to sin lives and creates something beautiful and useful for bringing Him gl0ry.
I slept long and hard but woke up early enough to go and sit on the pier again to seek our Father and His W0rd. It was a beautiful morning with fish jumping all around and men wading in the ocean pulling them in with ease. I set out again for the last leg of the journey with plans to spend lunch with friends in B@ton Rouge. We had served together when I first became m1nister of m1ss1ions, and our time together was just fun and encouraging. I love how our Father connects our lives and continues to use us to strengthen and support each other. I made it home and began the process of adjusting to all that needs to be done here on this side of the ocean. I had a GREAT day of w0rship and reconnecting Sund@y. I spent the early morning with a group of women who support and pr@yer for HSI. Then I joined my f@ith family at KeyL1fe Fell0wship for worship! It was great to be with them and celebrate our G0d with them again.
Now I am getting organized and figuring out what is what after being away for 8 months. Please pr@y for me as I focus my heart and mind on all that needs to be accomplished while I am here. Pr@y for our board as we meet together and make plans for 2012. Pr@y for us as we seek Father regarding the budget and the work He has for us. Pr@y also for C@therine as she spends her last 2 weeks in M@li before coming home for her brother's wedding. Ask Father to empower her to finish well in all of her relationships there as well as close up the apartment for our absence. Ask  Father to prepare her family for her return and prepare C@therine for her re-entry into a culture so different from M@li.
Thank you all for your f@ithfulness to hold the ropes for us, to support us, and to be there for us!! You are the best and for you we give G0d "THANKS!!!"
your servant...
l0ri

For One for ALL

Last Monday, I went to visit O at her house to spend time with the family and work peanuts with them. When I first got there a huge storm blew in, which meant delaying working the peanuts. This delay in roasting the peanuts meant time to listen to her mp3 player. For the next 2 hours O sit listening to the mp3 player of G0d’s W0rd…sometimes even turning to me amazed and rapidly asking a question I could not understand!

After the rain ended, it was time to roast peanuts. Personally, I have never seen or taken part of this process. While O was setting up the roaster, she sat down her mp3 player in a chair. A servant girl, who lives with the family and helps the old woman do the work, picked up the mp3 player, put in the earphones and pushed play. At this time O did not get mad, jealous or unhappy not to listen to the player. Instead she was happy to give it to her to listen. For hours, this servant girl listened. Then I asked, “O, does she normally listen to the mp3 player?” O said, “Yea, every day when I am working on the street either the girl, her daughter or son listens to the mp3 player.” 

Personally, I have my own Ipod and if people want to use it, they always ask first. However, this is simply not the case within O’s family and passing around the mp3 player filled with G0d’s W0rd is everyday occurrence.

How wonderful it was to see that a small mp3 player was being passed around from one person to another person in the whole family. There were no jealously, no signs of anger, no unhappy moment. They were all smiling while one person listens to it and then the next person listens to it. 

Pr@ise G0d for this small little device filled with H1s W0rd being passed around O’s family. People in the family that I would never even consider to give a B1ble or another mp3 player to is hearing G0d’s W0rd. How BIG our G0d really is!!! Seeing, knowing and loving all of H1s people.  Knowing the people that I would overlook and count as not being interested in H1s W0rd, I see He is taking care of and showing H1mself to them daily!!! Pr@ise the L0rd for H1s unfailing love to reach all of H1s people! 

Please pr@y for all of O’s family…I’m not just saying her immediate family (her 7 children and her husband), but all of her family that she lives with right now. I am talking about the 2 old women, another family of 1 mother and 5 children, the old man, another family of 1 mother and 3 children, her son’s wife and small child, all of their servant girls and boy and all the small children that wonder in the family compound daily playing with all the other kids. All of these people live within O’s compound…ALL are either hearing or seeing G0d’s magnificent character! Will you to pr@y BIG with me right now for all of these people…not only for them to see G0d daily, but for each one of them to believe that J.s.s is their personal S@vior! For God has shown me how BIG He is and how BIG He is working not only within O, but with her whole family. Our pr@yer is truly needed!

Expect the Unexpected Part 2

As I was spending the day with O she suddenly turned to me and asked “Do you have another mp3 player of G0d’s stories?” I responded “Yes, I have another one. Why?” She explained that every night her son comes home from work listening to Chr1st1an music and he wanted to have an mp3 player to listen to. The next visit I was able to give O the mp3 player to give to her son! 

After my time with O, I thanked G0d for the interest of H1s W0rd to her son, P@p@. The week that I stayed with O and her family, this son was very distance. He would barely greet me and he would never stay around where I was sitting. It didn’t bother me at the time, this was the first and only time a white person stayed with their family. However, every visit in the last 2 weeks P@p@ has come and sat by me. He would greet me initially and then he would sit down and greet me again. Every time he sees me, he has a smile on his face (unlike before) and is usually playing Chr1st1an music on his phone. 

Whenever I have talked with O in the last few weeks, she always tells me that P@p@ listens to the mp3 player at work. Specifically she says, “K@dia, everyday P@p@ is sitting at his sewing machine, he has his earphones in his ears listening to the mp3 player and then starts working.” 

I am excited to see how G0d is specifically working within each of O’s family one by one. Thank G0d for the work He is doing and pr@ise H1m for walking with us day by day so H1s gl0ry is being seen to all!

Please pr@y for P@p@ as he continues to listen to the mp3 player filled with G0d’s W0rd. Pr@y for his ears to be open, his heart to be filled, and his mind to understand. But MOST of all pr@y that P@p@ will come to believe that J.s.s is the One and only S@vior, so we can all celebrate together that one more person will be going to live with our F@ther.

Expect the Unexpected

Week after week I have visited our friend O either on the street or at her house. Some days we work peanuts, other days we listen to music and some days we simply sit by each other. Over the past 5 weeks I have come to learn to expect the unexpected….

On the days I have planned to tell O a story from G0d’s W0rd or go over a story we have previously told her, she always says “K@dia, can we talk about this another day?” 

On the days where I go there thinking, “I am only going to visit Oumou to help her.” She says, “K@dia, did J.s.s really do this? No REALLY, did J.s.s really do this? HOW, I want to know?” 

This is exactly what happened last Friday, a day of unexpected events. It started after making plans with Joke to study the B1ble together on Friday, O called unexpectedly and said “K@DIA, K@DIA, there is A LOT of peanut work tomorrow. Are you coming?” “Yes O, I will come to help you work peanuts.” 

So instead of studying the B1ble together, Joke and I went to sit on the street with O to work peanuts.

After eating lunch, a trip to the market and working all the peanuts, Joke asked, “Hey O, can we tell you a story from G0d’s W0rd?” O responded her normal response, “K@dia, can we talk about this another day?” Without giving up we asked her, “O, what have you been listening to on you mp3 player?” Again she responded “K@dia, can we talk about this another day?”

Confused and discouraged we then stopped asking and sat there wondering why she wants to believe in J.s.s., but never wants to hear a story from G0d’s W0rd. However, just as Joke and I began to leave the street, Joke turned to me and said “You ask her if you can tell her a story from G0d’s W0rd. Maybe she will accept if you specifically ask her.” So I asked O and she accepted and G0d opened the doors wide. That day I told O the story the S@maritan Women. And every time O was amazed she would stop me and Joke and say ““No wait, J.s.s had never met this woman before? No wait, I’m not ready to move on with the story, J.s.s knew the past history of this woman? No wait, J.s.s did what?” Amazed and flabbergasted her face would always light up at every question she had and our response to her question. 

Once we finished the story Joke and I then walked her through the story of J.s.s Walking on Water (a story she had previously heard). Joke and I would often help her by asking her questions like “Did J.s.s leave Pete to drown or did he help Pete?’ and ‘Where was J.s.s when his closest followers were in the boat in trouble?’” Every question she asked she knew the answer and always answered the question correctly and then she would continue with the story as much as she could.

After walking her through the story of J.s.s Walking on Water Joke and I were going to stop, but O all of a sudden began sharing with us what she had been hearing on her mp3 player. O went into the detail of how Jud@s betrayed J.s.s.; how J.s.s. predicted that Pete would deny him 3x’s before the roster crows and how J.s.s died and rose three days later. Then she went into the details of how a woman poured her expensive perfume over J.s.s and how she remembered something about a farmer sowing seed and then vines and branches. 

Never before has O had the confidence to tell us what she had been hearing. She has always said, “I cannot tell you a whole story, but another day I will be prepared to share a story with you.” But that day G0d opened up her heart and mind to share the small specific details surround J.s.s death for us.  

Oh, how I pr@ised G0d after visiting O that day. A day full of unexpected events only G0d could have put together. I pr@ised G0d for Joke who understands the M@lian culture to not give up on our opportunity to share a story with O, but realized maybe we could tell O a story if I asked her directly. I pr@ised G0d for O wanting to hear a story after we ask her a second time and the amazement that brightened her face throughout the whole story.

I pr@ised G0d how amazing it was to see O being able to tell us G0d’s W0rd, specific details from G0d’s W0rd when neither Joke, L0ri or I have asked her specifically and to be a part of that. 

I ask you to pr@ise G0d with me for the opening up O’s mind and heart to understand H1s W0rd! Pr@ise G0d for our relationship with O and her family who is hearing His W0rd daily! Pr@ise God for the sweet time Joke and I spent with O! Pr@ise G0d for the work He is doing daily within her heart!

F@ith Comes By Hearing

On our last visit to B@ye, we were excited to see the construction of Radio K@ntigiya progressing! How fun it was to see the men working and to see the progress happen daily. We have believed this radio station to be the center of Father's plan to declare His gl0ry and His desire to bring f@ith into the lives of those who have never heard of His Son.
In Romans 10, the writer tells us that if we confess with our mouths that J.s.s is L0rd and believe in our hearts that G0d raised him from the dead, we will be saved. He continues, "it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with G0d...it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved...Everyone who calls on the name of the L0rd will be saved." Then he asks a series of great questions, "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?" He goes on to explain, "So f@ith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Chr1st."
Most of the people do not read and write and they continue to live in a culture that values oral communication. Radio K@ntigiya will soon be on air telling the story, proclaiming the Good News, and communicating Father's love daily among the people who live there. It will also provide daily nourishment for the people who do not have access to the written W0rd. 
We anticipate that Radio Kantigiya will be complete with the building, equipment, tower, and the staff by the end of September or beginning of October. We wait with eager expectation for ALL that G0d has planned to do through this ongoing project. HSI, along with the believers in this area and World Vision, look forward to the the day Radio K@ntigiya goes on air and begins declaring the Gl0ry of our Father to the B@ye region!
We thank you and value your partnership with us in every way. Together we have seen God do amazing things already this year--the demonstration of Father's compassion through the gift of grain project, the establishment of a home base for HSI in M@li, the sending of C@therine to live on the field in M@li, open doors with village chiefs and elders as we prayed for the upcoming planting and harvest seasons, the demonstration of G0d's righteousness through the relationships C@therine and I have been able to make among the people in M@li.
We ask you to look over the following needs and ask our Father to show you how you can join us in making J.s.s. known in ways that people in this region can hear, believe, call on, and confess J.s.s. and be saved. We  welcome your partnership, and we will keep you up to date on what Father is doing and how He is at work.
Needs for the start up Radio K@ntigiya:

Start up Salaries for 3 Staff                       

Computuer                                              

Generator/Installation                               

Contingency Fund                                   

Motorcycle                                            

We are believing G0d for these provisions by the end of September. If you would like to partner with us to provide these needs, you may do so my making donations to HSI. Please go to our website and follow the instructions there  www.hisharvesters.org/support.html  Please designate funds as "Radio K@ntigiya"

"Pr@y for my Son"

Our time of sharing with the chief and men of Village S was over...we had shared the reason for our visit, the story of J.s.s feeding the 5000 men with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, and we had pr@yed together for rains this year that would produce a plentiful harvest. A man in the crowd spoke up and said, " My son returned from Sen, a neighboring country, and while he was there he became very sick. He can no longer walk. Please pr@y for my son." The man's heart was tender for his son and reaching out for help. We agreed we would go with him to see his son, talk with him, and pr@y for him. Together we walked, following behind the father, until we reached the family courtyard. The young man was lying there on the mat. He sat up and greeted us. The family greeted us. Many had followed us to see what was happening. Our M@lian partner asked the young man to tell us what had happened. He told us he had been walking in a river and he had the sensation of something biting him. It started in his feet and moved up his legs. Sometime later, he became sick and lost the feeling in his legs. He became paralyzed and unable to walk. He came back to the capital of M@li and nothing could help him. He had returned to his village and his father's home. P@stor D we shared some truths about J.s.s and the power of His name for those who believe, for those who accept the pr@yers offered in His name, for those who have f@ith to believe he can heal them. The story of the Paralytic and his 4 friends was shared with him and with those who were standing by. The young man agreed and accepted our willingness to pr@y for him in the name of J.s.s. We gathered around him and together we asked our Father in the name of J.s.s. to demonstrate His Power over this sickness, to remove the paralysis, and to strengthen this young man's legs. We are believing Father for the healing of this young man physically and spiritually. We are believing Father for the demonstration of His power to this father who came seeking pr@yer on his son's behalf. We are believing Father to continue showing Himself to the people of Village S. They have already seen Him free a woman from the power of demons. Join us and earnestly pr@y for our Father to bring healing and restore this young man's ability to walk all for the sake and glory of J.s.s name.

A Man and His Flute

After our time with the Chief, His counsel, and the men of Village GO, we were just sitting around talking. One of the men said, "Have you ever heard an Africa flute? Can I play my African flute for you?" Without hesitation we replied, "Of course!!"  There was much laughter among those gathered, most of which I didn't understand, but together we all got up and went to the public area for the flute playing concert. All the people began gathering as 2 men started the concert with drums. The elderly man with his flute was joking and preparing himself to play for the visitors. With joy on his face and a song to play, he put the African flute up to his mouth and began to play. It was an interesting instrument...cross shaped with holes on each point and one in the center of the cross. It made me think of the cross of J.s.s. I thought of the joy this flute gave to this man, and then asked our Father to reveal the true joy that comes through the life and death of J.s.s. I asked Father to put the song of salvation in this man's heart...along with all of the people in the village of GO.

They ALL Came

Its been 3 years since I have been to the village of GO. Through the Gift of Grain, Father gave me the opportunity to reconnect with the chief and His 1st Counselor. It was great to see their smiles as we recognized each other and began greeting. As always, they ask about everyone they know from Amer1ca and I was able to give greetings from each one. Oh the smiles as they hear that and oh how they want to know for sure that everyone is doing well. As we sat with the chief and told him why we had come, he said we must send the Grio around to call everyone. We agreed and we could hear the man playing the drums and calling all of the men to come and sit with us. One by one the men began coming to sit and talk with us. Continually greeting as each one arrived. The whole courtyard was filled with men...We heard someone coming and I turned around to see an elderly man...maybe the oldest man in the village...coming with a walking stick and another man helping him find his way to the chief's courtyard. My eyes filled with tears as I sat and watched this man come to be a part of this meeting...I was humbled as he greeted me and blessed with blessing after blessing! Again my heart was captured...I longed to honor him in some special way. I longed to hear his life story, to know all that made up this precious man. With this man's arrival, we began our time of sharing that we had come to pr@y together with them for the upcoming rainy season and this year's harvest. We wanted to spend time together asking God to protect the people of GO from the same struggles of last year. Each man who had come shared words of thanks and words of blessing as we talked together. The old man was no exception...Pr@y for this elderly man...the struggles of the elderly here are many and very difficult!! Pr@y for Father to send the proper rain to produce a good harvest like they have not seen before. Ask Him to demonstrate His power and provision in ways that they can only say..."It was God who answered our pr@yers in the name of J.s.s."

Village Exams

Night had come as all the young students in the village of M1nta gathered together to hear encouraging words and a time of pr@yer before they began their 3 full days of testing the next morning. The school year ended and the exam period began as L0ri and I spent time in the B@ye area. This night L0ri and I had the opportunity to be a part of a meeting with all the young students both believers’ of J.s.s and non-believers. The meeting was a time to give encouraging words to all the students, to share J.s.s and to pr@y for their upcoming days of testing. Their test is very difficult and long. Even worse, if the students do not pass then they cannot continue in school the next year. Some of the students confessed of their anxiety, fears, concerns of taking the test and even their uncertainty of their future. 

Driving to the village I remembered the long nights of studying and the anxious moments before my big exams.  It was only a year ago I was still taking exams at the end of the school year. A year ago I was right where they were that night….staying up late to study, having my own anxiety, concerns and fears of taking my exams. It was during this time I was able to share a few encouraging words that always stayed with me when I was taking exams….

J.s.s told H1s d1s1ples…“Don’t be afraid. It’s me. Take courage. I am here.”  

I explained to them that from these words that J.s.s spoke I was always reminded that J.s.s tells us not to be afraid of the circumstances around us…in our case it was a big exam that was important to our future. J.s.s tells us to take courage and to have confidence that J.s.s. is with us through everything that we do. Through every moment in the test, through every question that we are faced with, J.s.s is always with us. 

This night was an awesome time to be with the young people.  To sit among them knowing their anxiety, fears and concerns that they face, having faced them only a year ago. How amazing it was to lift them up to our Father, to pr@y for them to feel H1s presence around them as they sat in the classroom taking their test just as I remember Father seat with me during all of my exams I have taken. How amazing it was to pr@y for Father to put H1s peace in their minds and hearts and for them to put their confidence in H1m alone. 

Please pr@y for all the young students as they anxiously await the results of their tests. Depending on the teachers and the government they are hopeful to get their results in one month. Pr@y for their f@ith to continue to be strong in G0d rather they pass their exam or if they do not pass their exam. Pr@y for their confidence to be in G0d through all of their future endeavors.

Gift of Grain Continues to Open the Way

With our Americ@n mindset, we went with the intentions of seeing each family that received the bags of grain. Father had a different idea...a great lesson for me in culture as well as just trusting Father to do more than you imagined. Instead of going house to house to visit the families, we went into each v!llage and met with the chief. We explained that we had come to pr@y with them for the upcoming rainy season, planting time, and harvest and that we would like come together with all of the elders of the v!llage to seek G0d's blessing for this upcoming harvest. Each chief then sent someone out to call all of the elders...men of the v!llage to come and sit with us, to give blessings, and to pr@y together for Father to meet the needs of the families of each village. In one v!llage, they sent a man out with drums singing to call everyone to the chiefs courtyard. As I sat and watched, learning the culture and how to enter into the worlds of those with whom we long to share and show J.s.s, I was amazed at my G0d. Only G0d could have arranged for us to speak to all of the heads of families at the same time...to pr@y with them and share with them how J.s.s can take the little that we have and multiply it...how only J.s.s meet our needs. We were able to share the story of J.s.s feeding the 5000 men and their families with each v!llage chief and the elders of the v!llage. At first, I thought how can we meet each of the families...then our friend and partner reminded me...these men represent each family and they will go home and tell their families of our message. Please continue to pr@y for these families and pr@y especially for Father to demonstrate His Power to the people in these 5 v!llages by providing rains so the harvest will be plentiful...in both physical and sp1r1tual ways.

Together Again

Do you remember the old woman who captured my heart? I will never forget her! As we made plans to follow up on the Gift of Grain project and revisit those who had received sacks of grain, my heart filled with excitement about seeing S@li again. I had a wave of fear come over me as I thought...will she still be alive...will I see her again...was that my only chance to share with her the love of J.s.s? The answers ...yes, yes, NO!
One morning before going out to the villages to meet with the chiefs and elders, C@therine, our translator J0ke, and I walked over to greet S@li. It was great to see her precious face and it was great to be recognized by her. When she saw us coming onto the porch, she made a place for us to sit, then got up and found her shirt. She began the difficult process of putting it on and straightening her head wrap. My heart continued to be tenderized for this precious woman who reminds me so much of my grandmother Sm1th. When I look at her, I see my grandmother. We greeted and then she began talking to us. Her son was not there to translate for us. His wife tried to communicate some things to us, and then finally she said, " She is speaking of deep things, and I do not have the words in Bambara to share them with you." We agreed to come back when her son was there and could help us know what she was saying. We went back that afternoon and the next morning but AB was out working. They told us they would send for us when he arrived. Not too long after we left, they called for us. We went to finally hear the words of this precious 88 year old lady. Her son AB began telling us her words. She spoke of creation, Adam and Eve, and J.s.s. She said she knew some things about J.s.s but she is confused. All of her life her family has followed another way, has practiced a different rel1gi0n, pr@yed a certain way. She talked of the difficulties of changing what you know when you are old. She continued to say that she believes what she knows about J.s.s, yet there was confusion by what she has known all her life. As we talked with AB, he too confessed that he knew J.s.s was the only One who can save us, forgive us, and make us right before G0d. He has not yet chosen J.s.s as the Way, the Truth, and the Life and with sadness in my heart I felt he saw no real opportunity for his mother to make that choice at her age. I continue to pr@y that our Father will give S@li the opportunity to make that choice. She continues to think about what she knows of J.s.s, and we know that J.s.s can come to her, speak to her, and show her the way. Will you join me in pr@ying for S@li and AB? Ask Father to reveal His Son to S@li in dreams and visions. Pr@y also for the other women in their family as many of them gathered with us when we were talking and sharing stories with S@li and AB. I give thanks for the time we had to be together again. I will not see S@li or AB for another 5-6 months. Much can happen during that time--physically and sp1r1tually. Pr@y with me for s@lvation and peace for S@li and her family!