A Night of Worshipping

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)” Over a year ago this is the scripture Father gave to me, preparing me for what He had planned for my future. Little did I know that it would mean living in M@li. Father told me not to try to “logically” understand where He was taking me, but to trust in Him and my paths will be straight. Now, over a year later, my Father is taking me to a remote village in a foreign land to declare His name and to live among His people. Last Sunday, Keylife Fellowship Church held a commissioning service for me as I plan to leave in January. This was not night to “send me off” as I am leaving for M@li, but a night to worship our Father and to rejoice in what He is doing right now.  This was a night in which we sang praises to Him, talked with Him in pr@yer and rejoiced in everything that He is doing! How awesome it was to be a part of a night worshipping our Father in all the amazing things He has done! The commissioning service was an amazing time being with friends. Thank you for all your prayers during this time! Thank you all for supporting me as I continue my journey with our Father!

Catherine

Three Legged Stool

During my summer trip to M@li I experienced many new life skills…for example eating out of one bowl with many people, cutting onions for many hours and speaking 3 languages. But the one thing that I distinctly remember is attempting to seat on a tiny, little three-legged stool. This memory came vividly to mind while I was attending my H&H class learning how to teach the P@na people what our bodies need physically to grow strong. For the three-legged stool in the village to be functional, there needed to be three legs. If the stool only had two legs or one leg then it would fall down and not be strong anymore. Like the three-legged our bodies need three major sources of nutrients. Protein helps our bodies grow, carbohydrates provides us with energy and vitamins/minerals protect our bodies from sickness. But, beyond our physical needs our growth in our Father is dependent on three major things….His Word for us to grow strong, pr@yer for protection and the Spirit to be our energy. Like the three-legged stool if there is one or two legs missing than we are not strong anymore spiritually or physically. If we only eat energy providing foods then our physical bodies cannot grow strong and if we only pr@y to our Father then our faith does not grow strong. As I sat, learning how to teach this lesson, it reminded me of how important it is for our faith in Father to be like a three-legged stool!

Catherine

Health and Hygiene

Hand washing and feces were the major topics when discussing health and hygiene last weekend as I attended a health and hygiene training (H&H) in Houston, Texas. The H&H training was a class to help me understand how to go into a village and teach the women small tasks to improve their hygiene and health. Germs and bacteria are everywhere and no matter how hard we try to have the best hygiene bacteria are still plentiful. I went into this class hoping to find ways to help the P@na people improve their hygiene behavior to have better health. But the P@na people who live with latrines as bathrooms; ground covered in dirt and unclean water sources, good hygiene is not the easiest task to accomplish in these living conditions.  I learned many techniques to wash our hands and the importance of hydration when we are sick. I learned how to teach them the importance of using a latrine and not the open fields. I pr@y to Father to show me now how to go into the village and be an example of these ways. I pray not only to go teach them better hygiene behavior, but help them, show them and only be an example. 

 Catherine

Celebrating

Beginning October 9th, we will join with serv@nts of our Father for a time of test1mony and celebration of the work Father is doing all over the w0rld. A group of f0ll0wers are hosting a special week to focus on how Father is using His people to make Himself known in places and to peoples who have never heard. It will be a great time to give pr@ise, thanks, and test1mony of Father's greatness! Please be pr@ying for us as we share and celebrate!

Traveling, Speaking, Training

Fall is coming our way! Are you beginning to enjoy the changes of the season! It always amazes me how the changing of seasons brings a newness, a freshness, an excitement, and a joy that only Father could have known would happen. I love to sit and just take in the cooler air, the beautiful colors, and the reality that our Father loves change. He loves for His children to be changed by His Presence, by the incredible, unfailing love that He possesses for us, and by the surrender of our hearts to Him. I pr@y that as the season of summer changes to the season of fall that you too will move from whatever season you are in to the season Father has awaiting you in your walk with Him.

HSI is continuing to make the changes necessary to follow Father into all that He has prepared for us. We are excited about what He has shown us and are now seeking His timing, provision, and plan for each and every one of them. I will be traveling again for the next few weeks. Please pr@y for this time of speaking with others about Father's work and the times of training I will have with one who is preparing to go overseas and serve. Thank you--each of you-- for your p@rtnership with us on your knees!! We cannot do this work without you! You are our strength and your pr@yers infuse us with courage and perseverance in the work Father has called us to do! I give thanks to Him for you!

believing Him for ALL that He has promised...

And When He Comes

"...And when He comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. the lame will leap like a deet, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!" Is.35:5-6

One of the greatest joys of visiting in the village S is the welcome and daily greeting from a woman who is deaf! She is always one of the first to come and welcome us! She cannot hear or speak, but there is never any doubt about what she is saying or trying to communicate. "Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!" Every morning she comes to greet and say "May G.d give you peace today!" During our time with the college team, my heart was tenderized toward her and Father began placing an urgency in my sp1r1t to find a way to tell her about J.s.s. Join me in praying for Father to unplug her ears and to open her mouth so she can sing for joy just as she spread joy each morning! 

Give thanks to Father for His continued work in the woman who once was p0ssessed by dem0ns, had excruciating headaches, and had lost her sight. She continues to believe, to f0ll0w, and to declare her love for J.s.s. She continues to live in freedom from the dem0ns. Her headaches have gone away. She says she is beginning to see a little light in her eyes. Please ask Father to bring complete healing to her body! He has already opened her sp1r1tual eyes, now ask Him to open her physical eyes. 

To Him be the gl0ry!

Free Time from the Fields

My heart jumped when I saw him. A large group of young f0ll0wers had gathered to w0rsh1p, give test1m0ny, and hear st0ries from Father's w0rd. There, leaning on a pole, was a young boy, M,  who always seems to be in the background. He seems to find a way to listen, to hear, to learn songs and st0ries about our Father.  The next day, as we sat in the shade during the heat of the day, M came to sit with us. The team began sharing a st0ry with him. At the end of the st0ry, he told us thank you and then said, I have to go back to the field. His parents had given him a break from planting in the field, and he came to be with those who could tell him more. This young boy is drawn to the st0ries from Father's word. He remembers them well and can always repeat them back to us, even months later. Please pr@y for M. Pr@y for Father to pave the way for him to find who he is seeking and for protection when he chooses to f0ll0w.