We are M@lian!

Over the last few days I have been making the journey from our apartment to sit on the street with our friends as L0ri is out of town. The first day I was sitting with them I was listening to them speak, attempting to catch phrases that I might understand when I saw a white person walk past. Using my limited language skills to formulate a sentence I said “ HEY...He is a white person, I am M@lian.”  We all laughed together, but instead of correcting me they said “He is a white person, C@therine is M@lian.” Holding my arm up to their arms I compared skin color and said “Our skin is the same.”  We continued to laugh as everybody around was told that “I am M@lian and I have the same skin color as they do.” And even though L0ri was not present this day they didn’t forget about her…as soon as we could catch our breath they said to me “Lori is M@lian, not a white person. Her skin is the same as ours.” The next day as I made another journey to sit on the street with them another white person drove by in a car.  Immediately our friend turned to me and said “Look white person, you, Lori M@lian.” The laughter starts up again as we continue to repeat “I am not a white person, I am M@lian. L0ri is not a white person, she is M@lian."

Our friends on the street no longer look at L0ri or me as a white person but as one of them. No matter the color of our skin or the limited language that can be spoken. We have become a part of them and they have become a part of us. As I look back on these moments I am reminded of Father’s W0rd that shows us and teaches us to live like the people around us…to find a common ground with everyone, doing everything to spread the W0rd of J.s.s and bring the ones around us to J.s.s. Father has opened the doors for our relationship on the street to deepen every day that we are out there selling peanuts and ice. Every day I go sit out on the street hoping to learn more of their heart language, to help them put their peanuts in small baggies, to load up ice, to yell “Hey Glace” (after they yell it of course…for I am still learning what cars to yell at) just hoping that they will see beyond my physical being and see a glimpse of Father’s gl0rious character. How amazing it was to hear from them this day agreeing that L0ri and I are M@lian now and not white people anymore. I give pr@ise to our Father for lowering the barriers of language and skin color to have this friendship and to find a common ground with our friends.  Pr@y as L0ri and I spend more time with them that each day they will see past our physical presence and see our Father’s gl0rious character. Pr@y for us for our time is close that we will be able to share stories and Father’s W0rd with them. Pr@y for their eyes to be opened to see Father's gl0rious character and ears to hear the truth of Father's W0rd. 

C@therine

Sitting on the Street Corner

Since the second day I have been in B@mako, L0ri and I have been sitting out on the street with our friends. Now you might ask “What does sitting out on the street consist of?” I admit it does sound a bit odd that we keep referring to “sitting on the street”, “sitting on the street talking with our friends”, and even “sitting on the street stuffing raw fish” like it is something everybody does here in B@mako and it is a completely common every day task. Well for L0ri and I this has been an everyday adventure! There is a lot to learn to be a part of “sitting on the street!” For instance we have to be able to spot just the right car or moto or cart to put you hand up at and yell “Hey Glace”, “Glace wa” so we can sell ice! And to sell peanuts we have to make sure to say the price twice for that is the rhythm of their language. We cannot just say “mugon” we have to say “mugon, mugon”.  And of course they make sure we don’t forget to greet everybody first multiple times just to make sure we continue to practice the language.

More importantly, every moment that we have to spend with them counts to demonstrate the character of Father. There is no time to waste to display His character of unending love, His perfect patience, His overwhelming compassion, His kindness and His goodness so it may be revealed to our friends! Every day Father has provided us these moments and times to truly sit on the street, to allow His character to be revealed to our friends and gl0rify His name. Father’s presence and love has been evident every day that L0ri and I have sat down with them. Through every moment of teaching, laughter, tears, pr@yer and attempted conversation of pieced together sentences Father has guided our steps to deepen the relationship that we have with them.

Over the next few blogs I would like to attempt to give you a picture of what Father is demonstrating to us every day as we sit on the street with our friends; for I want you to be a part of what Father is showing us every day and how He is revealing His character on a street corner here in B@mako. 

C@therine

A Visit to the Hospital

All through Father’s Word He promises us that He will give us strength when we are weak. Father promises that he will guide our footsteps He has set before us holding our right hand. Father promises that each day He will carry us in His arms. How comforting these words are to me throughout each day here in B@mako realizing all I have to do is trust Father.

During the middle of February Lori and I both had become sick with allergies and sinus inflammation. With our previous weeks consisting of long days and long nights running around the city breathing in dust, smoke and oh yes massive clouds of exhaust fumes our nasal passages and sinuses had had enough! Our nasal passages became congested, our sinuses became full of pressure, our throats became sore and the cough started to creep in during the night. Quickly our bodies became weak, our strength diminished and our sinus sickness was here to stay with us. As the sickness continued we realized we needed a day full of rest and relaxation with as little smoke, dust and exhaust fumes as possible. So we planned one day to be restful and to do as little as possible; however, Father had other plans for us on this day!  

In the afternoon, we ventured out to greet our friends and spend time with them on the street.  Immediately we saw and was told several times that Baby S0l0, 9 months old, was very sick.  Baby S0l0 from the very first day didn’t have a problem being around us white people. Baby S0lo’s eyes were always bright, full of life, his smile lit up his face and every time the women would start singing, Azuzu Agitiya, his whole body would shake from dancing.  Every day he would bring a smile to our faces and have us clapping with the women’s singing and his dancing. 

However, this day Baby S0l0 didn’t smile, his eyes did not stay open for long and whenever the women would sing he would not dance. He was lethargic, his breathing labored, he was not eating and his eyes were rolling back into his head. Baby S0l0’s mother was very upset, crying realizing she could not do anything to help her son. After sitting with Baby S0l0, his mother and the rest of our friends we decided to take him to the hospital.  S0l0’s mother, Baby S0l0, L0ri and I jumped onto a sotrama heading to the hospital. Four hours later after seeing multiple doctors, getting a chest X-ray and blood culture, buying medication at the local pharmacy and Baby S0l0 receiving his first dose of medication we were finally walking out of the hospital. As we were walking we saw that Baby S0l0’s eyes were open, heavy and tired from the sickness, but bright with life.  Two days later Baby S0l0’s face was bright with life, he was smiling and as we all sing Azuzu Agitiya his body was dancing and his hands were clapping.

A day planned full of rest and relaxation to strengthen our own bodies turned into a day of helping a little baby fight pneumonia. This day Father demonstrated His strength, His presence and His comfort as He carried us in His arms. We give pr@ise to Father for this day…for this opportunity for Him to show Himself, to demonstrate His love to our friends on the street and all other people that heard this story!  

C@therine

The heart of a 7-year old

Coincidence?  No!  God has moved in the heart of a 7-year old, Central Texas girl, leading her to raise money for missions.  She has explained her plan to her parents, posted a “reminder” note on their refrigerator and is cleaning out her toys for a garage sale.  She has already gathered two bags of “precious” toys. 

All of this happened prior to last Wednesday night, when I happened to sit down by her mom.  As we talked about the “Gift of Grain”, mom saw the connection.  She exclaimed, “Maybe this is what Rachael can give her money to!”  Then she proceeded to tell me of Rachael’s desire to raise money to give to missionaries and told me of her plans and actions to date. 

Now don’t you know that God is going to make an impression on this young one’s heart…..one that she will remember for years to come.  It’s that simple faith.  Stepping out and following Him BEFORE we know the end result.  Rachael didn’t know where that money was going to go, but she followed the desire in her heart and was obedient.  God knew His plan for that money…..and when we are obedient (even before we know the outcome), we will see the glorious happen right before our eyes.  His plan will unfold before us and we will be captured! 

Rachael knows about the “Gift of Grain” project now.  She will get to see the fruits of her labor and how they will reach halfway around the world to touch hearts and lives with the love of Christ.  Won’t you be obedient too?  Step out in simple faith and follow the desire that He has put in your heart.

Thanks, Rachael.

Gift of Grain...for a harvest of S0uls

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat....Matthew 25:35a
Dear friends,  One of our partners in the region where we work shared that the harvest in this region was not good and the villages are lacking an adequate food supply.  He suggested that if we could bring grain to these villages, that it would be a "grand gesture to show the love of Chr1st".  We are expecting a team here in March that will be traveling to this area.  We would like to purchase 120 bags of grain and distribute it among 4 villages.  Would you consider buying a bag of grain to help feed those who are hungry?  The cost is $30 for a bag of millet (~200lbs).  We would purchase the grain and take it to the villages that we visit on our trip.    If you would like to participate in this effort, you may 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".  Otherwise, you may mail a check to the address listed on the web page.  Please join us in praying for those who will hear, that they will be fed spiritually, as well as physically.
Demonstrating His Compassion... Giving Him the Glory...

Momma Taught Us Well

L0ri and I would like to give a big thanks to all the mommas that teach their children well! Our time here has been filled with countless days and hours on learning the life lessons on how to live our life here. At first glance living in M@li seems to be completely different than from living in the States…for instance there is no such thing as pedestrian right away; driving is a chaotic tribulation on a good day; lounging around consists of sitting in the hood of a car watching TV, the way to bring in dry laundry off the line is by folding it and placing it on your head, actually the only way to carry things is on your head, to count on your fingers you start with your pinky, one way to get some tires from point A to point B is to put it around your body and jump on a Moto and the list goes on! However the more days we live here the more we come to realize that our day to day living is not all that different than any other place that we have called home.

As L0ri and I tackle a new skill or learn a new responsibility we catch ourselves saying “huh…momma taught me well” for the responsibilities that we have to do were not so new after all! As we hang our clothes on the line to dry we catch ourselves saying “huh…momma taught us well”. As we break and freeze green beans we say “huh…momma taught us well again”. As we wash the dishes by hand, as we wash/cut up our vegetables and fruits, as we make our beds every morning, as we keep our room clean, as we count to ten with our fingers and as we wash our feet before bed even making sure to clean out the toe worms in between our feet we keep saying “huh…how about that momma taught us well.”  So we give a special thanks, love and appreciation to our mommas that have taught us so well when we were growing up, for the responsibilities of living here consists of tasks that we have learned from our mommas. We give pr@ise to Father for this time of simply learning how to live life here and that He has prepared us long before now to live in M@li.  We give pr@ise to Father for guiding us each step of the way as we continue to be His hands and feet. 

C@therine and L0ri

Pr@ises and Pr@yers

Thank you for your f@ithfulness, your support, and the courage you give us as we serve!!

Pr@ises:

Father has provided us with an apartment in the city. We have determined we will need a base home in the city from which we can work and live. He has provided us with an amazing opportunity and we will move into this place on February 12th or 13th. It is a two bedroom, one bath apartment and perfect for what we need. Only Father could have worked that out in just the right way and timing!!

Father is opening our ears and our mouths to speak a new language and to communicate little by little with the M@lian people.

Father is giving  us courage and faith to step out and do what seems impossible, overwhelming, and sometimes even completely crazy.

Father is building relationships through which we are able to demonstrate His love, power, and s@lvation.

Father is taking us by the hand and guiding us, protecting us, and fulfilling His promises to us.

Pr@yers:

SPECIFIC WEEKEND PR@YER!!!
Wisdom and discernment about the right vehicle, the right price and the right timing. We had opportunity to look at and consider a vehicle today (2/4). It is a 2008 Toyota 4x4 truck with 18,500 miles. The price is a little more than we feel we can spend based on the budget we have received. We still need about $6000 to have the amount we need for this vehicle. Please ask Father to show us His will and power concerning the provision for this vehicle. Please pr@y for Father to speak to all of us about His will concerning this vehicle. Pr@y for wisdom and F@ITH to follow if this is Father's provision for us.

Father to completely heal the ankle of a man for whom we have been pr@ying and helping with medicine. Ask Him to demonstrate His power and His compassion as well as use this as an opportunity to bring s@lvation.

Father to continue opening our ears to hear B@mbara and our mouths to speak it. Connections with a language teacher who can help us move forward in our language skills.

Preparations for our apartment so we can move in and get settled into life, community, and work here. We need to add electricity along with a few other things as well as determine what kind of furnishings we need.

Sp1r1tual and physical preparations for a team coming to serve with us March 10-22. Ask Father for guidance in planning and preparing the message He wants to share through this team.