Listening to Father's Word

As the team arrived back to B@mako from the village we knew that our time was not finished to share Father’s W0rd, declare His name and demonstrate His righteous among the people in M@li. The time that we had left we desired to spend with our friends, that we have come to love, on the street. Through all the time that L0ri and I have spent sitting on the street speaking B@mbara as well as selling peanuts and ice we have never had the opportunity to share with our friend, Ou, Father’s W0rd. Excited to have this opportunity to have a translator with us we all thought of certain testimonies, our favorite v3rses and stories of Father’s W0rd to share with her.

It had been over a week since we have seen or greeted our friends. Arriving on the street we saw their faces light up, eyes get big, excitingly waving embracing us in hugs. Always taking care of us Ou and friends seated us in the shade and out of the sun before beginning the introductions of our friends and catching up after being gone for so long. As we wanted for our translator to arrive, we joked around, sold some ice and peanuts and simply sat with her trying our best to formulate sentences so Ou can then translate to everybody else.

As the time kept passing and our translator did not show up, we realized we would not have an opportunity to share with Ou our t3stimonies, our favorite v3rses, or stories from G0d’s W0rd. So we decided that we would give Ou an mp3 player that had the N.T.  in Bambara. Not knowing exactly how to communicate with her we simply handed her the mp3 player, showed her how to place the ear phones into her ears and turned the mp3 player on as we attempted to explain how to use the device.  Once we turned on the mp3 player, she instantly began to listen intently to it. It was like Ou was in a different world and we did not exist anymore because she was listening to Father’s W0rd.  

Ever since we have given her the mp3 device she has listened to it every night. One day I have even saw her wearing her ear phones and carrying the device around while selling ice on the street. Father showed us that it wasn’t our t3stimonies or our favorite v3rses or the stories that we had planned to tell that He wanted Ou to hear. It was His W0rd starting with the book of M@tthew that He wanted to share with Ou.

This moment made us realize that all we ever need is Father’s W0rd…nothing more and nothing less. He tells us that My W0rd is all you need to know that I am G0d. It is not my testimony or my opinion on a particular v3rse or my opinion of a story of G0d’s W0rd that leads the people of M@li to Father. It is only our Father’s W0rd and nothing but our Father’s Word that guides them. This day Father wanted to lead Ou to Himself through His Word not through our words.  Pr@y with us as our friend Ou continues to listen to the N.T. every night. Pr@y that Father will open her mind to the stories that she is hearing from His W0rd.  Pr@y for the opportunity talk with her about Father’s W0rd.

c@therine

Ball of Fire by Night

Do you remember the property given by the chief to the believers in the village of S in June? We celebrate the Presence of G0d alive and well on that property. Since June, the young believer who has chosen to live among his people to demonstrate the life of J.s.s has been to school to learn to bake bread. After his training, his teacher came to the property to help him build the brick oven necessary for baking bread. Just as G0d guided the Israelites by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, the people of the village of S, can find G0d's presence in a ball of fire by night. In the distance as you look out from the village, you can see a great ball of fire burning in the brick oven. As you walk out closer and closer you can hear the pr@ises of G0d's servant being sung as he makes bread for the morning. The Presence of the L0rd inhabits his servant as he bakes bread and all who seek G0d can find Him there empowering this man...His servant to live and love His people all for the glory of our G0d!

Never Underestimate the Journey

We had planned and looked forward to taking our new used truck on her maiden voyage to the bush. We had given her the name Bush Baby because she seemed to enjoy the off road more than the good road. As time got closer and the journeys in the new truck got longer, it became apparent that she was truly not ready for a two day drive to the middle of nowhere. We could not be assured that we would spend most of our time dealing with the issues of the truck rather than doing the work Father had sent this team out to do. With disappointed but understanding hearts, we chose to hire a driver to take us to the village.
This driver was new to groups like ours. He was use to tourists and being their guide throughout the famous places of M@li. He knew all the great places to eat on the side of the road and the best deals in hotel accommodations. All of that was great and we enjoyed every new place we ate and slept.
As we began and drove the long journey of 7 hours the first day, the team took seriously our opportunity to get to know the new member of our team...the driver. We talked about his family, learned about his work, and just got to know him. After picking up our translator, we pr@yed for the journey and the driver as we traveled the sometimes bad roads. Then we began sharing stories with him. On the second day, we did our devotion in the truck, so that Ibra could be a part of Father's Word. As C@therine shared her story and gave questions to the group, Ibra answered first every time. After great discussion and sharing and after Father had truly used C@therine to guide our time of devotion and worship, one thing led to another and we found ourselves telling another story. Again Ibra was engaged with the story and understanding much from Father's Word. It was a powerful time of storying and giving testimony to a young man who has had little access to the Words of our Father. Throughout our time in the village, Ibra heard testimonies of M@lian f0ll0wers and how they came to know and trust in the One who came to live and die for us. He watched as we "loved and respected" the M@lian people as he described it.
On the way home from the village, it was very hot, the roads were deep sand, and the a/c caused the truck to struggle some. We traveled most of the first day without a/c. Then the second day two of our team members were not feeling well, so we felt the need to get them on into B@mako. We didn't share too many stories or testimonies with him. Then he asked the question: Are you not sharing stories today because of the sickness and tiredness?
Father, reminded me...never underestimate what I want to do? His ways and plans are not our ways and plans. Father adjusted my heart and mind, and we began sharing stories once again with Ibra. Father was not finished with this team in the life of the man he hand picked to be a part of our team. When I asked Ibra what he liked about our times of testimony and storying, he said, "I like that these stories teach me and show me how to make good decisions in my life and how to live in G0d's ways."
My way...drive our truck. G0d's way...hire a driver.
My way...take just the team. G0d's way...make His Word known to the driver. 
My way...enjoy the journey, your work is finished. G0d's way...keep sharing My Word, your work is not finished.
Never underestimate the journey Father has awaiting you. Trust His ways, His plans...they are higher than yours!!

Hydration 101

Every day I spent in the village I watched the women work constantly in the fierce sun. From sunrise to sunset I would see and hear the pounding of grain, I would see them pump gallons upon gallons of water and cook over a hot fire preparing three meals a day. Throughout the whole time they are working I hardly ever saw them drink water. My time spent there, almost always sitting down in the shade, I felt that my body was in a constant state of dehydration, always being thirsty. I cannot even begin to imagine how dehydrated their bodies become and how thirsty they feel after working all day.

One morning as I was sitting around visiting with friends, a woman came up with her child asking what she can do. Her child was sick. The only thing I knew to tell the woman was to keep her child hydrated and to show her an easy way to put electrolytes back into the sick child by adding sugar and salt to the water. Then G0d opened my mind to think why not show all the women how to make this easy solution and visually show them the importance of hydration realizing that all of them were probably dehydrated from working in the long hot days.

So that evening after a little preparation I waited for the time the women were able to stop working and come by to learn how to make the sugar/salt water.  At first only one woman showed up ready to be taught, but slowly one by one 6 to 8 women stopped by eagerly listening how to make the sugar/salt water. As I looked around at the women I saw on their faces the desire to know how take care of their children and themselves. The whole time they listened intently asking questions when they didn’t understand or wanted to clarify the type of water to use. Even the next morning as the team and I were packing up to leave the village, two women came by asking if we could show them how to make the sugar/salt water. These two women had heard about the sugar/salt water from the other women in the village and they too wanted to know how to make it themselves so they could take care of their families.

This day I was in the village G0d showed me this opportunity to share with the women the importance of drinking water, giving water to their children and a way to put electrolytes back into their body. A year ago I was an athletic training student in college where a lot of my days were filled with hydration, dehydration, and rehydration. I remember back to weeks upon weeks that were filled with the meticulous, mundane work of filling up water bottles, emptying water bottles, and cleaning water bottles so the athletes would not get dehydrated or become thirsty during practice or in games. Every day I would be reminded, even lectured on the importance of hydration, rehydration and preventing dehydration until I lived, breathed and dreamed about it. By the time I graduated I often wondered the significance of spending 4 years learning about how important water is to our bodies and how I would use that here were G0d was leading me to be.

G0d revealed to me that I spent 4 years learning about water because He was equipping me to be able to demonstrate His love and compassion among His people for this time. This time I spent with the women was about showing the compassion and care that J.s.s showed to us throughout G0d’s Word. It was a time to remember G0d’s Word when J.s.s says “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” Pr@y with us that one day these women will understand that they will never be thirsty again if they believe in our Father.

c@therine

A Seeking Son and His Dad

Sometimes in the village I just marvel at my G0d! He is amazing ...really! Have you ever just thought about that...how amazing the G0d of heaven and earth really is? Now there are many reasons to marvel at Him, many things that could cause us to stop and just say WOW...Look at my G0d! Here is one that happened to me while we were on our last trip to the village...
In February 2010, I told you about a young boy with a heart of pr@ise. We called him M, and he had heard a song about J.s.s and was singing it the next morning as he took the cows out of the village. With each visit to the village he has spent more and more time watching, listening, and learning about those who follow J.s.s. He has heard several stories from Father's Word and continues to remember them well enough to retell them. In June, M would come from the fields to spend his short lunch break with us...again just watching, listening, and learning. This visit M was with us almost 24/7. I can barely remember anytime that he was not with us...even during the night he would sleep in the area where the men were sleeping. I marveled as I watched Father draw M to Himself...as I watched Father connect M to the strong believer in the village. M is learning to make bread with this believer and without knowing it is learning how to pr@ise, worship, and live life as a f0ll0wer. I marveled as I watched this young boy come to spend pr@yer time with us in the evening and as I watched him sing new songs of f@ith as he walked through the village.
We had with us a young woman, 13 years old, and not much older than M. One morning she told the story Father had placed on her heart. The story about G0d calling Samuel at a young age to serve Him. M listened intently as he held his younger sibling in his lap. As we talked about the story and asked questions, M responded and retold the events of the story. Pr@y for Father to speak clearly to M and even to call his name. Pr@y Father will give M the courage to respond as Samuel did..."Speak, Your Servant is Listening."
On the last evening, I marveled even more. A man came and greeted us. When asked to sit with us, he responded, "I came only to greet." Then he sat down. I smiled and marveled...what might Father be doing. I felt we should do or say something but no one did. We all just continued to listen to the songs of f@ith and pr@ise that were playing on the boom box....I know it is a crazy thing sitting in a village with no electricity but the songs of pr@ise being lifted up through a boom box so all can hear... The song that was playing spoke of how G0d has given no other name but J.s.s through which we can be saved. The man asked a question about the song and everyone perked up...talked with him about the song and the meaning of its words, then resumed our sitting quietly and listening. This man sat and listened with us to several more songs. During the greeting, I found out this was the father of M. Please pr@y for him to understand and embrace the Truth and the message of the songs he heard. Pr@y he will allow M to continue learning and seeking to know J.s.s...the One of who he sings and seeks! Pr@y for this family to choose to believe in the name that saves. 

Grains of Praise

Greetings everyone from a hot M@li!

Hot season is truly on its way and we are experiencing the intensity of the sun with every new day as the temperatures range from 105 and above! A new phrase I learned on this trip to the village explains it well... "Tile ka farin!" It simply means "The sun is fierce." As it was explained to me..."The sun is being very mean to us!" If you are having cool temperatures where you are, give thanks to God and ask Him to give us endurance as we serve Him in the desert!

Even in the heat, we find incredible moments of pr@ise!! Father is at work and He is sustaining us! I have one grain of pr@ise I must share with you!

In G0d's Word, Isaiah wrote, " I,the  L0rd have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you...". These words have empowered and equipped us to live out the life of J.s.s for a watching world. They ring out in my mind every morning as I awaken as a reminder of what Father has called me to do...."to demonstrate His righteousness". He has been faithful during our time here to take us by the hand, guard us, and even guide us. He spoke to my heart one morning about the lack of food among many of the families in the area to which He has called us. As we shared that need with you, our supporters, our partners, our borthers and sisters, you have responded. This grain of pr@ise is to declare that God has demonstrated His righteousness through you! Through you, He has provided more than the 120 sacks of grain...HE HAS PROVIDED 150 SACKS! He will continue to demonstrate His righteousness through these sacks of grain as we begin to distribute them. While we were in the village the first delivery of grain was made--40 sacks delivered and put in the store house. We will be receiving another 80 sacks this week. Then another 30 sacks will be delivered in a short time. While we are awaiting the delivery, we will be determining the families in each village that  have suffered loss due to the rain and the birds--those who are suffering in the greatest way due to lack of food. Please pr@y for this process and for Father to spotlight the families who truly need this gift of grain. Pr@y for us as we prepare to distribute the grain and as we prepare to share with them about the God who has seen their need and provided for it.

Thank you for joining us in this project and for being a part of demonstrating His righteousness to those whose greatest need is to know and experience the One True G0d!

Another moment of pr@ise to Father for His work concerning the radio station. Many of you have been pr@ying with us for years about the building and development of a radio station in our work area. The radio name is Radio Kantigiya--Radio Faithfulness! We give pr@ise to Father for bringing World Vision alongside us to partner and complete the building and the equipping of the station. We are anticipating that the radio station will open sometime in July. Please pr@y with us for the reality of this station to be fulfilled so that G0d's Word will be heard daily among the people in this area. As partners HSI has some responsibilities to see this become a reality. I will send an email in the near future outlining those responsibilities and how you can join in this work. Pr@y for Father to provide all we need to meet those responsibilities.
tasting His greatness...
l0ri

The heart of a 7-year old

Yes, that same title was used for a blog entry back on February 25th.  You first read of Rachael there.  You read how this young girl was moved to raise money for missions.  She worked jobs around her home to earn money.  She saved.  She held a very successful garage sale that netted enough money to buy 24 bags of grain for the Gift of Grain project.  That, in itself, is a huge praise!  But there is more to tell.  And this is even better!  God was not only moving in Rachael's heart to give to His work, but He was drawing her to Himself.  Yesterday, Rachael prayed to receive Christ as her personal Savior.  And today she made that decision known to her church body.  Praise God!

As mentioned in the previous post, Rachael has obeyed the voice of God.  She has stepped out in faith and become a shining light in her community.  She has given her life to Him...the One who gave His life for us!  Simple faith....but a HUGE example.  Hearing.....obeying.....taking that step......believing God.  Rachael, you are an inspiration to us all.  Thank you....again!