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...