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!