Glimpse of G0d's Gl0ry #5

“Though the L0rd gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:20-21

Greetings to you all and gratitude to our Father for your journey with us in 2012!!

Glimpse of G0d’s Glory #5

Peanut Gallery/His S@lvation

After our c0up refuge in S3neg@l and our return to M@li, the great debate was whether people should return to M@li or not, should volunteers come to serve alongside us or not. These questions can only be answered by those whom G0d is calling. These questions had to be answered by 4 women who had been called by G0d to come to M@li at the beginning of the year, they had been preparing, and the day the c0up happened, they had bought their tickets. By f@ith, their choice was to come, to continue to believe G0d and follow His call!

Because they came out of their love for G0d, for the sake of the G0spel, and the hope we have in J.s.s. Chr!st, G0d poured out His Sp!r!t and brought salvation. One Sunday afternoon as we sat on the street where O works selling peanuts, we sat visiting with others. O was attending a wedding. G0d specifically lead us to talk with a man who has been wishy washy and living a life where he talks like a M.s1mWe  when he is with M.s1ms and talks like a Chr!sti@n when he is with Chr1sti@ns. We had talked with him many times but his heart never seemed sincere. His name is S0. We had a powerful conversation with him as well as answering personal questions he had about following J.s.s. G0d's Presence was felt as G0d guided the conversation and filled our minds and mouths with the words He wanted to share.

Someone came and needed something and the conversation was stopped for a few moments while S0 took came of their needs. Behind us were 2 young men sitting in what we will call the peanut gallery. They were listening to our conversation even though they were not a part of it. While S0 was away, the 2 young men came around to sit in front of us and said, "Your words have touched our hearts." With that confession, we began a conversation with them listening to one young man (Lasi) share with us the experiences of his life and how when his mother was very sick nothing they tried (African Traditional Religion and 1sl@m) healed her. Then one day some Chr!sti@ns came to pr@y for her and talk to her. J.s.s healed her and she became a f0ll0wer of J.s.s. That day this young man said, "I have tried everything to find peace, to find help for my life. Your words have touched me and I want to choose to walk on the road of J.s.s. with my mother." Then he said, "It is not only me, but my friend wants to talk with you too." Then his friend, Ama, began to share with us how our words had touched his heart. We listened, talked, explained f@ith in J.s.s. and s@lvat!on. Both Ama and Lasi left that day, changed men, filled with joy and peace, hungry to know more about how to follow J.s.s.

We took them each a B!ble and each day  Ama would share with us what He was reading and we would talk about it. He would call his friend Lasi and tell him we were there on the street. Lasi would come to greet and sit with us for awhile. During the first week, Lasi came to us so excited. He had been looking for a job for a long time. He came and exclaimed, "J.s.s has changed my life and He has given me a job!" He even brought his friend who is a f0ll0wer of J.s.s and who has walked with Lasi through some very difficult times--loving him when he didn't deserve it, being J.s.s to him when he was traveling the wrong path. Together we all rejoiced at what G0d had done for Lasi!!

After only a few weeks, Ama returned to his country and to his family to help with the planting and harvest for this year. We miss him and pr@y for him daily. We look forward to his return and hope we will see him again in just a few weeks. We cannot wait for him to join us in w0rship and B1ble study!!

Glimpse of G0d's Gl0ry #4

“Though the L0rd gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:20-21

Greetings to you all and gratitude to our Father for your journey with us in 2012!!

Glimpse of G0d’s Glory #4

F@tith/ His Power

Two years ago as I walked by and greeted a vibrant lady who sells peanuts-- a lady I greeted many times in passing by-- G0d's Sp!r!t spoke to my heart. He spoke to me and simply said, "I want  you to come and sit with this lady." Just a few weeks later, C@therine came to M@li and we began sitting on the street with her. You know her as O, the peanut lady. We have shared many stories with you and there are so many more that we have not shared but longed to share. G0d has truly been at work in O's life as well as the lives of many of those we have come to know on the street who work beside her. When G0d spoke to me that day, I had no idea what He had planned or what His purpose was for our time sitting with O on the street. Today, I have a greater understanding.

In 2011, O began professing that she was the same as us--that she believed in J.s.s the same as us. In 2012 we have seen O grow in her faith and she has seen G0d's f@ithfulness to her. When the C0up D'Et@t happened in March, O was another reason my heart was broken that we had to leave M@li for a season. She was another reason I cried out to G0d begging Him to allow us to return to finish what He had begun. While O was strongly professing to be a f0ll0wer of J.s.s or one of "J.s.s.'s sheep", I was not sure she was strong enough or understood enough to continue f0ll0wing J.s.s if war, r3b3ls, or 1sl@mists challenged her bel!ef. During our time away, G0d taught me and prompted me to remain in close contact with O through this time of difficulty in M@li. We would pr@y together and share our struggles together over the phone. Through these times, G0d showed His f@ithfulness to her as she watched Him answer our pr@yers. One day she said, "Fanta, when we pr@y G0d answers us and does what we ask." Pr@ying and putting our f@ith in G0d has become the foundation of both of our relationships with J.s.s. Here are some of the glimpses of G0d I have seen as G0d has passed by to disciple and empower O this year:

• Seeing her face light up as she looked at the pieces of the nativity scene and heard the stories of each person in the story of J.s.s birth. Watching her contemplate those truths each time she came over and looked at the nativity.
  
• Upon hearing the stories and truths about J.s.s being the Good Shepherd, her confession that she belongs to Him, she is one of His sheep. G0d continues to use that story to teach her new truths about f0ll0wing Him and listening to His voice.
  
• Seeing the Presence of G0d's Sp!r!t teach her as she listens to His Word and sings songs of f@ith. Her hunger to understand the words to the Christian songs she listens to continuously. Watching her f@ith grow as she comes to understand the truths in those Christian songs.
  
• Watching O spontaneously share a song that spoke new truths to her heart with a friend on the street...totally lead by G0d's Sp!r!t in her. Then watching her explain what it meant to her friend.
• Driving down the road one day and the sun was not shining. It was very cloudy and looked like rain. O said, "Fanta, if the sun does not come out, my peanuts will be broken." So I told her G0d rules the sun and the rain. He is able to bring out the sun to dry your peanuts." At the time,  I didn't know exactly how to pr@y and ask G0d in Bambara to hold back the rain and send out the sun so O's peanuts could dry. So I mumbled through it as I talked with her and she taught me how to say it. So then we pr@yed together. Within the hour, the clouds were gone, the sun was bright, and the peanuts were not broken. At the end of the day, O and I had seen the realness of G0d's Presence and His response to our f@ith in Him. It has become a foundation stone in O's f@ith to pr@y and ask G0d to help her.
  
• Watching O wavering back and forth one morning about whether to do peanuts or not. Again the sun was not out and a DARK rain cloud was passing over. She could not decide what to do. I told her, "Either way you must believe G0d for what you need. If you wash the peanuts, you must have f@ith that G0d will give you the sunshine you need to dry them. If you wait until tomorrow, you must have f@ith to believe that G0d will send sunshine tomorrow." She stood up, looked to the sky, and said, "I believe G0d for the sunshine to do what I need to do today!" With boldness, courage, and f@ith, she went to get water, washed her peanuts, salted them, and put them out for G0d to dry them. By the time, she put the out to dry, the dark cloud was gone and the bright sunshine was warming their spot for drying. (One of my favorite glimpses of G0d's gl0ry...the empowering of His child with f@ith to believe Him!) She boldly told everyone what G0d had done for her because she believed Him.

G0d has given me many glimpse of His G0ry as we have watched O come to know Him, understand Him, and believe in Him...more glimpses to come...

Glimpse of G0d's Gl0ry #3

“Though the L0rd gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:20-21

Greetings to you all and gratitude to our Father for your journey with us in 2012!!

Glimpse of G0d’s Glory #3

R@dio K@ntiguiya/ His F@ithfulness

In October 2011 as C@therine and I spent time with many of you sharing about what G0d was doing in M@li, we began to see an increase and an orchestration of details for the completion of the radio station in B@ye. Since 2006, we had been watching, waiting, walking at G0d’s pace for the provision, development, and building of R@dio K@ntiguiya/ R@dio F@ithfulness. The name of this station is a living testimony to the G0d to whom it belongs and to the G0d whom it proclaims. As we returned to M@li in December, we had a renewed and bold confidence that 2012 would be the year that the radio station would broadcast its first messages and songs of hope, salvation, joy, peace, and love to the people who G0d had called us to serve.

For months the B@ye area had increasingly become more difficult for us to travel to due to the t3rr0r!st groups and r3bel groups who were bringing their activity closer and closer. C@therine and I were allowed to make one trip to the area just after Chr!stmas 2011. It was amazing to see the station, its equipment, and meet the technician who would work for the station. When the C0up D’ Et@t happened in March and we had to leave the country for a time, R@dio K@ntiguiya was one of the things so heavy on my heart. I cried out to G0d to finish what He had started, to not let the enemy keep us from not only the Gift of Grain but also from the completion of the radio.

F@ithfulness--I believe has been my greatest GLIMPSE of G0d in this year 2012 and I love that R@dio K@ntiguiya stands and broadcasts today! His F@ithfulness R@dio is broadcasting 8 hours a day proclaiming the Good News and the F@ithfulness of G0d to reconcile people to Himself…His salvation freely given to all who will believe and receive His S0n. He was not only f@ithful to complete and power up the r@dio to broadcast, but our G0d is empowering His R@dio so much that it is reaching far beyond the 60 mile radius it is designed to reach…it is reaching towns and villages double that distance at times. It has been described as second in that area to only the national r@dio station!!

Our greatest need for the r@dio station now is training for her workers. Again, G0d shows His F@ithfulness to His R@dio!! On December 6^th, His F@ithfulness R@dio will have its first meeting with her Mentoring station in Am3r!ca…H0uston’s KSBJ r@dio. We will be getting to know each other and developing a plan for mentoring and training the r@dio manager and all of the workers of the r@dio so that it can be the best station it can be for G0d’s gl0ry!!

Thank you to all of you who have believed with us for this r@dio station, who have contributed your financial resources, and who have come alongside us in so many different ways to see the gospel proclaimed in an area with little to no access to the s@lvation and h0pe that comes through J.s.s!! Thank you to KSBJ for their desire and willingness to walk the next steps with us to develop G0d’s best for the people who need him so desperately! We cannot wait to see how G0d is going to use His F@ithfulness R@dio for such a time as this in M@li!!

Oh Father, how we pr@ise you for your F@ITHFULNESS!! How I thank you for passing by us and allowing us to see your f@ithful Presence at work in an area where you alone can work and make yourself known! Father I thank you for your s3rv@nts who followed you to live among a people who did not know you and be your presence there. I thank you for your f@ithfulness in them to love and serve them, to share your truth with them and now to proclaim your word daily over the airwaves!! Thank you L0rd for continuing what you started there…what you said you have done, now we watch and wait for your Sp!r!t to be poured out and your s@lvati0n to be received!! You are F@ithful and True and we w0rship you!!

Glimpse of G0d's Gl0ry #2

“Though the L0rd gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:20-21

Greetings to you all and gratitude to our Father for your journey with us in 2012!!

Glimpse of G0d’s Glory #2

C0up D’Et@t/Sovereignty of G0d

In late March 2012, the M@lian President was ousted by a group of military soldiers. Immediate uncertainty flooded all of our hearts and minds. Questions flooded in about what would happen and what we needed to do. We sheltered in place for a time, and we sheltered in a neighboring country for a time. While in both places, G0d’s Presence became our true Shelter! He was very real, and His words of strength and encouragement came every day. His guidance and wisdom were before us! The truth and realness that G0d Alone is our Refuge, our Strength, and our Shelter dug its roots deep into our hearts and firmly planted itself in our lives as something we can know without doubt and cling to in all circumstances. The reality is that serving G0d requires us to stand face to face with all that we fear—the evil of this world, the selfishness of man, the results of this life without G0d, war, torture, and even death for His gl0ry—and respond by faith to trust Him, believe Him, follow Him, and continue to serve Him no matter what.

On that day when the President was overthrown and ousted, M@li became a country in turmoil and it remains a country with struggles greater than she can conquer on her own. In those early days, the power vacuum left the northern part of M@li (2/3 of the country) taken over by extreme !sl@mists, rebels, and t3rr0r!st groups. The question remains…”How will M@li regain her territory and what will it take to do that?” Other questions loom over us like…”How long will we be able to stay in M@li and share J.s.s? What happens if war breaks out to recapture the north? Will it just take place in the north or will it be throughout the country? Do we continue with our regular visits and ministry plans?” The questions go on and on if you spend much time thinking and pondering the situation and circumstances here.

From that day in March to this day, as we continue to live in the uncertainty of what the future looks like in M@li, there is ONE truth that empowers me like no other…MY G0D is SOVEREIGN! He alone knows the future of Mali as well as the future of my life, He alone has power over ALL situations, He alone rules over all the nations and their leaders, He alone has ALREADY won the victory over the evil one and ALL those who serve the evil one in  M@li and throughout this world! My faith is in HIM and HIM ALONE!

Our Father God, we thank you for your Sovereignty! We thank you that you are the ALL knowing, ALL powerful, and ALL Present G0d! We thank you that you hold the entire world—each and every nation in your hand. There is NOTHING that happens without your knowledge and your specific purposes being accomplished! We thank you that when we walk with you, when we follow you—even in difficult, dangerous places—we are not alone! You are our Shelter, Our Protector, Our Guide, Our Constant Companion, Our EVERYTHING! Thank you for the glimpse of your Sovereignty daily as we trust you, believe you, and put our f@ith in you!

Suffering and Gratitude...Glimpse of G0d's Gl0ry #1

“Though the L0rd gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:20-21

Greetings to you all and gratitude to our Father for your journey with us in 2012!!

When C@therine and I returned to M@li in December 2011, we had no way of knowing what the year 2012 would hold for HSI, for M@li, for the people we serve, for those we serve alongside, or for us individually. This week as I look back and take time to reflect and give thanks to our Father, I have come to understand that this year…the year 2012 has been the year of suffering for M@li. It has also been the year in which our Father has demonstrated His power, His Presence, His Sovereignty, His grace, His mercy, and His unfailing love!

As we spend this week giving thanks to our Father, I felt compelled to expressed to G0d and to you all how the sufferings of M@li lead us to sing a song of thanksgiving as we look at some of the glimpses of G0d’s glory in 2012. We will sing this song a little each day as we express our thanksgiving, pr@ise, and love for our G0d!

Glimpse of God’s Glory #1

Famine 2012/Gift of Grain

We began 2012 KNOWING without doubt that M@li and her people were facing an unprecedented famine across most of the country. We knew that only G0d could provide relief and only God could satisfy! The famine was magnified and became even more desperate as M@li experienced the C0up d’Et@t in March and the humanitarian organizations, non-government organizations, and those who were planning to help had to leave the country for a time.

 
G0d’s response and our Pr@ise: G0d answered our cries to come back into M@li and demonstrated His unfailing love and faithfulness to those who were hungry, fearful, and desperate. G0d ignited His compassion in YOUR hearts and you gave exactly what we needed for the Gift of Grain at just the right time to make the greatest difference in the lives of those who were literally searching and asking “Where can I find food for my family today?” God empowered the believers in B@ye to demonstrate His love and provision through your financial support…G0d distinguished His people from all other people by love and compassion in the time of suffering!

Further pr@ise, G0d allowed C@therine and I to join with another organization to work alongside and help distribute grain two times in v!llages where our friends and co-laborers are serving. At a time when most were required to be out of M@li, G0d allowed us to complete the work He had promised us to do.

Even more pr@ise, you pr@yed with us all this year for the rainy season and harvest of 2012. Just this last week as we traveled back to one of the v!llages where we distributed grain in May and August, my heart was amazed, filled with gratitude and my eyes were filled with tears as I looked at the grain growing and becoming ripe for harvest. As O and I were driving, I found myself saying over and over to her, “Look at the harvest, it is white and ready! The heads of grain are huge! Pr@ise be to G0d! He has heard us and He has answered!” This year’s harvest is plentiful!!

Father, we thank you for your f@ithfulness! We thank you that you finish what you start and that you don’t forget your people in their suffering…as a matter of fact in our suffering your show yourself in greater ways. Thank you that it is your desire for us to know you, to see you, to believe you, to live with you—in good times, in bad times, in easy times, and in hard times! Thank you Father for giving us a glimpse of you through this time of hunger and famine! Thank you for choosing to use us to demonstrate your unfailing love and f@ithfulness to the people of M@li so that they too received a glimpse of your glory, your presence, and your power.

R@dio K@ntiguiya...All G0d's Promises

F@ithful Ones...greetings to you from a grateful heart!!

My heart continues to sing "There is none like you! No one else can touch my heart like you do. I could search for all eternity long and find there is none like you!!" This song has flowed from my heart for over a year now. It is not something I think about and it is not something I listen to on a regular basis...it just fills my heart and mind and comes out of my mouth without effort. Like a spring of water refreshing my sp!r!t.

Over the last few months another song...a B@mbara song has found a place deep in my heart as well. It has become a spring of refreshment and a reminder of truth to my s0ul. The words to this song mean,

G0d's promises, ALL of G0d's promises are fulfilled in J.s.s.
G0d's promises,  All of God's promises for the world are fulfilled in J.s.s.
G0d's promises, All of G0d's promises for Isr@el are fulfilled in J.s.s.
G0d's promises, All of G0d's promises for M@li are fulfilled in J.s.s.
G0d's promises, All of G0d's promises for __________ (in the blank with a name or a place or a specific time) are fulfilled in J.s.s.
G0d's promises, ALL of G0d's promises are fulfilled in J.s.s.

Today, I am singing..."G0d's promises, All of G0d's promises are fulfilled in J.s.s. G0d's promises, All of G0d's promises for the people of M@li are fulfilled in J.s.s. G0d's promises, All of G0d's promises for the people in the North of M@li are fulfilled in J.s.s. G0d's promises, All of G0d's promises for the people in the B@ye area are fulfilled in J.s.s. G0d's promises, All of G0d's promises for R@dio K@ntiguiya are fulfilled in J.s.s  G0d's promises, ALL of G0d's promises are fulfilled in J.s.s."

Thank you so much for pr@ying for my time with KSBJ, a Chr!sti@n radio station in the H0ston area!! We met together to begin talking and planning for the training and mentorship of R@dio K@ntiguiya. Our time together was sweet to the Sp!r!t and empowering to the s0ul. Truly words do not express all that I am experiencing at this moment as I have watched G0d's faithfulness for the last 6 years not only bring R@dio K@ntiguiya into being but also to join KSBJ--MY R@dio station--in partnership with MY people...those to whom G0d has called me. Honestly, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude to the One, True G0d and to you His f@ithful servants who have pr@yed, given, supported in all ways, and believed alongside us for His promises to be fulfilled. Yes, it is true we are only at the beginning and we do not know what tomorrow holds, but today we cling to the Truth and the reality that G0d has done this, G0d is f@ithful, G0d does what He says He will do, and we believe in Him.

Please pr@y for us as we move forward...walking in the footprints our G0d is walking out in front of us! Here are some specifics for now:

• Assessment of training needs and the development of a plan to begin training and mentoring the staff of R@dio K@ntigu!ya
  
• The best location and ways for training and mentoring (R@dio K@ntigu!ya is located on the edge of the northern region that has been taken over by rebels and divided this country, travel there is risky at this point in time)
• For G0d's Sp!r!t to be pour out on us so that we may walk in His ways, work for His gl0ry, and make His name known
• For wisdom and discernment for those working in the r@dio station as they seek to proclaim the Good News of J.s.s in ways that will bring s@lvation to those who listen
• Protection for the staff of R@dio K@ntigu!ya as well as the property of the r@dio station...ask for the Invisible Army of our G0d to be posted on around each individual and station itself (remember that M@li is in a time of turmoil with w@r looming on the horizon...a w@r that opposes the w0rk of our Father)

Thank you again for your f@ithfulness!! You are the best because the BEST lives inside of you!!

Stand up and Walk

Hello to all!

Two months ago, I (C@therine) shared with you through pr@yer request how our Father gave me the opportunity to work with two girls, Ou and Ji, who have Cerebral Palsy and are not able to walk. When I first saw the girls I felt that it was going to be tough for the family to take care of these girls as they grew older. So, I saw this as an opportunity that Father gave me to be H1s light in this family, but also to help these two girls walk. At that time I had only been working with them for a couple of weeks and I thought it will take a long time for them to actually be able to walk on their own; however, I believed that one day they would succeed.

Now 2 ½ months later I want to share with all of you how our Father has improved these girls in miraculous ways, given H1s strength to the girls and continue to shine H1s light and unfailing love among this family.

When I first saw Ou, the oldest daughter, she could hardly stand up on her own strength and power, she wasn’t able to walk without having to grab on to something, throwing a soccer ball was challenging, and kicking a soccer ball was even more of a challenge.  Her younger sister, Ji, had little control of her arm and leg movements and she couldn’t stand up on her own.

Over the past two and a half months both of these girls have improved in unimaginable ways. As of yesterday the last day I have worked with them….

• Ou is able to walk with a walker around her house without any problems.

• Ou is able to stand up by herself, throw and kick the soccer ball with any difficulties

• Ou is able to stand up, keep her balance and catch, throw and bounce the soccer ball.
•  Ou is able to bend down in a controlled movement to pick up a ball, or any other thing
•  Ji  is getting better at controlling her arm and leg movements
•  Ji is almost able to stand up with help and keep her balance

• Ji is stronger than ever before, working hard and learning to focus

However, the greatest blessing to see from our Father yesterday was to see Ou walk without help 2 times in their family room. As I was watching Ou walk on her own, without help, I had goosebumps all over my body…for I knew if wasn’t from Ou’s own strength that in 2 months she could begin walking on her own. I pr@ise Father for the strength He has given to Ou to walk on her own and the courage to walk for the first time without help. I pr@ise Father for the incredibly ways He has healed, shown H1s power and strength to not only through Ou, but through Ji and all of their family.

Over the past two months, besides working physically helping Ou and Ji walk, Father has given D@n and I the opportunities to pr@y with the family, to share with them that it is only through f@ith in J.s.s that Ou and Ji will be healed and be able to walk; it is through the f@ith in J.s.s that we believe they have improved in miraculously ways. D@n and I shared with them that we love them and help them because of the love that J.s.s has shown to us.

I pr@ise Father for this time I have spent with Ou and Ji and their family. The time to be a light not only among this family, but in their community. Please continue to pr@y for Ou, Ji and their family!

Please pr@y for

• Encouragment and strength to continue to work hard in their exercises
• Father to continue heal these two girls in a miraculously ways  and to help them to be able to walk without problems
• Father to continue to shine H1s light and gl0ry among this family
• D@n and I as we continue to work with these girls, to be a Father’s vessel to shine H1s light and gl0ry among this family   
• Opportunities to share J.s.s among this family
• Opportunities to pr@y and encourage this family
• Ou and Ji to not only walk physically, but one day follow walk with J.s.s
• Ou and Ji mother and father, for them to see that J.s.s is the way, the truth and the light

Thank you for your pr@yers!