Give me the News

"Give me the news" is one of the questions you frequently hear in Mali as you go to visit and greet people in the village. They want to know what you have come to give them or tell them. Many times you can just say "I've come to greet you" and they are satisfied. One afternoon,the new follower, old Jen, came to visit us. She sat with us and joked with us as she always does. She loves to laugh and play together. Then she said, "Give me the news." We joked some more, then again she said, "Give me the news." After doing this several times, Yaya said, I can tell her a story. So he began telling her the story of the Lost Son. Old Jen listened intently and became very involved in the story. She expressed her disbelief that the son asked his father for his inheritance before the father died. This is a terrible thing in her culture and should never be done. The story went on and she continued to understand the news. Normally we ask questions at the end of the story to make sure the listener understood the truths from the story. Well, Old Jen took over. She began asking each team member one by one, "Give me the news." One by one we each shared with her the things we liked and understood from the story. This not only pleased her, but allowed her to add her own thoughts about the story. Father used this time with Old Jen to grow her in f@ith and understanding as well as teach us new ways to give out HIS news to those we meet along the way.

Progress of Radio Kantigiya

God continues His Faithfulness toward the building of the radio station. Since our visit in March, construction has begun and the blocks now stand as a building. It is exciting to see the progress of this project with every visit. What a joy to spend time in each room pr@ying for the work Father will do through Radio Kantigiya. We look forward to the day when Father's Word will be broadcast throughout the region and those who have never heard will hear. "So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Chr1st." Romans 10:17

Highway of Holiness

"And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in G.d's ways, fools will never walk there. Lions will not lurk along its course, nor any other ferocious beasts. There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it."      Isaiah 35:8-9

A great road now goes through the once deserted land of the P@n@. About 5 years ago, Father made known the name of a small people group way out in the bush of Mali. He called a small group of followers to begin pr@ying for someone to go and make J.s.s known among them. As a result of those pr@yers, a fellowship of followers began sending volunteers to walk, serve, and share G.d's story among them. The P@n@ are hearing about the road to the Father through J.s.s., and they are experiencing the Highway of Holiness as the Redeemed walk through their land. They are learning G.d's ways and recognizing the protection of the Father for those who walk on this great road. Several have chosen themselves to walk on it and others are seeking to understand.

When He Comes

In Isaiah 35, the words of Father's spokesman described what to expect when G.d comes to the wilderness, the desert, and the wasteland. He promises to open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. He says the lame will leap like a deer and those that cannot speak will sing for joy. As I read those promises, the faces of specific people who live in the village of S come to my mind. There is the old woman who struggled a few months ago with demon possession, terrible headaches, and blindness. After pr@yer and her demonstration of faith, she has been set free from the power of the demons and her headaches are no longer a part of her days. During this visit she talked about the great peace that surrounds her. She no longer experiences spiritual blindness...she believes in J.s.s and calls out to Him for help daily. We are still believing Father for the demonstration of His power to open her eyes physically...to completely heal her of all that ravaged her body when they asked us to pr@y. There are 2 deaf people--a young man and a delightful lady. The young man has expressed interest in being a follower, and the lady comes with joy to greet us daily when we are in the village. We are believing Father for each of these to truly understand His message--for their ears to be unplug and for their voices to sing for joy! Then there is the old man of the village... the gr@ndf@ther of one of the young followers. He is unable to get around and most often is found in his bed. He doesn't understand the faith of his gr@ndchild, but we are believing Father to demonstrate His power in this man's life and bring joy and peace and life when He comes! We are believing Father for all of this and more when He comes to dwell among the P@n@!

News that Strengthens, Encourages, and Saves

In verses 3-4 of Isaiah 35, Father's spokesman says, "With this news". With the news of the coming gladness, rejoicing, singing, joy, and life to the wilderness, desert, and wasteland, Father says to strengthen those with tired hands and encourage those with weak knees. He also says to  tell those with fearful hearts, "Be strong and do not fear for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you." This is exactly the work and the message Father sent us to do among the people who live in the wilderness, desert, and wasteland surrounding the P@n@. Our time together with the followers was a time to strengthen and encourage us all to continue the journey of following the ways of J.s.s. We encouraged and taught the old woman who confessed she was following J.s.s. We spent time sharing stories and singing with the old woman who was delivered from the demons several months ago. His message is being made clear to those who live in fear..."Be strong and do not fear for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you." Through this message a young woman chose to be strong and put aside her fears...she chose to receive the salvation that comes from our Father!

Promise of Life

In the first few verses of Isaiah 35, the writer speaks of the wilderness, the desert, and the wasteland. When traveling to the land where the P@n@ live, you will experience all of these--the wilderness, the desert, and what looks like a wasteland. As I read those first 2 verses, my heart rejoiced as I read the promises Father was giving through His spokesman Isaiah. He promised that in the wilderness, the desert, and the wasteland there would be gladness, rejoicing, singing, joy and LIFE. He promised that the splendor and glory of G.d would be displayed there!
As we were pr@yer walking through the fields and enjoying the late African afternoon, we walked through this area that perfectly fit the description of the wilderness, the desert, and the wasteland. While walking through it, I was reminded of Father's promises in Isaiah 35. I began pr@ying and asking Father to fulfill each of His promises for the P@n@. I got to the tree that was in the center of this circle of deadness. At first glance, it looked as dead as the others. As I looked up to examine the tree further, I saw these tiny green leaves shining on the branches and the tiniest little yellow flowers beginning to bud out. Just as Isaiah 35 had said-- the gladness, rejoicing, singing, and joy was described as green, blossoms, and flowers--LIFE! Life would be seen in the wilderness, the desert, the wasteland--all to display the splendor and glory of G.d!! LIFE was before me as I looked at this seemingly dead tree!

Promises from the Father

On the morning our team was to turn our focus toward the work Father wanted to do among the P@n@, my devotion was about Isaiah 35. As I read the whole chapter, Father's Spirit spoke to my heart. My ears were in tune with the promises Father was making in these verses... promises He was giving me for the work He was doing among the P@n@. My spirit was encouraged and my heart filled with hope! I could hardly wait to make the 2 day drive and begin to watch Father at work among the people He has given as my inheritance.