For One for ALL

Last Monday, I went to visit O at her house to spend time with the family and work peanuts with them. When I first got there a huge storm blew in, which meant delaying working the peanuts. This delay in roasting the peanuts meant time to listen to her mp3 player. For the next 2 hours O sit listening to the mp3 player of G0d’s W0rd…sometimes even turning to me amazed and rapidly asking a question I could not understand!

After the rain ended, it was time to roast peanuts. Personally, I have never seen or taken part of this process. While O was setting up the roaster, she sat down her mp3 player in a chair. A servant girl, who lives with the family and helps the old woman do the work, picked up the mp3 player, put in the earphones and pushed play. At this time O did not get mad, jealous or unhappy not to listen to the player. Instead she was happy to give it to her to listen. For hours, this servant girl listened. Then I asked, “O, does she normally listen to the mp3 player?” O said, “Yea, every day when I am working on the street either the girl, her daughter or son listens to the mp3 player.” 

Personally, I have my own Ipod and if people want to use it, they always ask first. However, this is simply not the case within O’s family and passing around the mp3 player filled with G0d’s W0rd is everyday occurrence.

How wonderful it was to see that a small mp3 player was being passed around from one person to another person in the whole family. There were no jealously, no signs of anger, no unhappy moment. They were all smiling while one person listens to it and then the next person listens to it. 

Pr@ise G0d for this small little device filled with H1s W0rd being passed around O’s family. People in the family that I would never even consider to give a B1ble or another mp3 player to is hearing G0d’s W0rd. How BIG our G0d really is!!! Seeing, knowing and loving all of H1s people.  Knowing the people that I would overlook and count as not being interested in H1s W0rd, I see He is taking care of and showing H1mself to them daily!!! Pr@ise the L0rd for H1s unfailing love to reach all of H1s people! 

Please pr@y for all of O’s family…I’m not just saying her immediate family (her 7 children and her husband), but all of her family that she lives with right now. I am talking about the 2 old women, another family of 1 mother and 5 children, the old man, another family of 1 mother and 3 children, her son’s wife and small child, all of their servant girls and boy and all the small children that wonder in the family compound daily playing with all the other kids. All of these people live within O’s compound…ALL are either hearing or seeing G0d’s magnificent character! Will you to pr@y BIG with me right now for all of these people…not only for them to see G0d daily, but for each one of them to believe that J.s.s is their personal S@vior! For God has shown me how BIG He is and how BIG He is working not only within O, but with her whole family. Our pr@yer is truly needed!

Expect the Unexpected Part 2

As I was spending the day with O she suddenly turned to me and asked “Do you have another mp3 player of G0d’s stories?” I responded “Yes, I have another one. Why?” She explained that every night her son comes home from work listening to Chr1st1an music and he wanted to have an mp3 player to listen to. The next visit I was able to give O the mp3 player to give to her son! 

After my time with O, I thanked G0d for the interest of H1s W0rd to her son, P@p@. The week that I stayed with O and her family, this son was very distance. He would barely greet me and he would never stay around where I was sitting. It didn’t bother me at the time, this was the first and only time a white person stayed with their family. However, every visit in the last 2 weeks P@p@ has come and sat by me. He would greet me initially and then he would sit down and greet me again. Every time he sees me, he has a smile on his face (unlike before) and is usually playing Chr1st1an music on his phone. 

Whenever I have talked with O in the last few weeks, she always tells me that P@p@ listens to the mp3 player at work. Specifically she says, “K@dia, everyday P@p@ is sitting at his sewing machine, he has his earphones in his ears listening to the mp3 player and then starts working.” 

I am excited to see how G0d is specifically working within each of O’s family one by one. Thank G0d for the work He is doing and pr@ise H1m for walking with us day by day so H1s gl0ry is being seen to all!

Please pr@y for P@p@ as he continues to listen to the mp3 player filled with G0d’s W0rd. Pr@y for his ears to be open, his heart to be filled, and his mind to understand. But MOST of all pr@y that P@p@ will come to believe that J.s.s is the One and only S@vior, so we can all celebrate together that one more person will be going to live with our F@ther.

Expect the Unexpected

Week after week I have visited our friend O either on the street or at her house. Some days we work peanuts, other days we listen to music and some days we simply sit by each other. Over the past 5 weeks I have come to learn to expect the unexpected….

On the days I have planned to tell O a story from G0d’s W0rd or go over a story we have previously told her, she always says “K@dia, can we talk about this another day?” 

On the days where I go there thinking, “I am only going to visit Oumou to help her.” She says, “K@dia, did J.s.s really do this? No REALLY, did J.s.s really do this? HOW, I want to know?” 

This is exactly what happened last Friday, a day of unexpected events. It started after making plans with Joke to study the B1ble together on Friday, O called unexpectedly and said “K@DIA, K@DIA, there is A LOT of peanut work tomorrow. Are you coming?” “Yes O, I will come to help you work peanuts.” 

So instead of studying the B1ble together, Joke and I went to sit on the street with O to work peanuts.

After eating lunch, a trip to the market and working all the peanuts, Joke asked, “Hey O, can we tell you a story from G0d’s W0rd?” O responded her normal response, “K@dia, can we talk about this another day?” Without giving up we asked her, “O, what have you been listening to on you mp3 player?” Again she responded “K@dia, can we talk about this another day?”

Confused and discouraged we then stopped asking and sat there wondering why she wants to believe in J.s.s., but never wants to hear a story from G0d’s W0rd. However, just as Joke and I began to leave the street, Joke turned to me and said “You ask her if you can tell her a story from G0d’s W0rd. Maybe she will accept if you specifically ask her.” So I asked O and she accepted and G0d opened the doors wide. That day I told O the story the S@maritan Women. And every time O was amazed she would stop me and Joke and say ““No wait, J.s.s had never met this woman before? No wait, I’m not ready to move on with the story, J.s.s knew the past history of this woman? No wait, J.s.s did what?” Amazed and flabbergasted her face would always light up at every question she had and our response to her question. 

Once we finished the story Joke and I then walked her through the story of J.s.s Walking on Water (a story she had previously heard). Joke and I would often help her by asking her questions like “Did J.s.s leave Pete to drown or did he help Pete?’ and ‘Where was J.s.s when his closest followers were in the boat in trouble?’” Every question she asked she knew the answer and always answered the question correctly and then she would continue with the story as much as she could.

After walking her through the story of J.s.s Walking on Water Joke and I were going to stop, but O all of a sudden began sharing with us what she had been hearing on her mp3 player. O went into the detail of how Jud@s betrayed J.s.s.; how J.s.s. predicted that Pete would deny him 3x’s before the roster crows and how J.s.s died and rose three days later. Then she went into the details of how a woman poured her expensive perfume over J.s.s and how she remembered something about a farmer sowing seed and then vines and branches. 

Never before has O had the confidence to tell us what she had been hearing. She has always said, “I cannot tell you a whole story, but another day I will be prepared to share a story with you.” But that day G0d opened up her heart and mind to share the small specific details surround J.s.s death for us.  

Oh, how I pr@ised G0d after visiting O that day. A day full of unexpected events only G0d could have put together. I pr@ised G0d for Joke who understands the M@lian culture to not give up on our opportunity to share a story with O, but realized maybe we could tell O a story if I asked her directly. I pr@ised G0d for O wanting to hear a story after we ask her a second time and the amazement that brightened her face throughout the whole story.

I pr@ised G0d how amazing it was to see O being able to tell us G0d’s W0rd, specific details from G0d’s W0rd when neither Joke, L0ri or I have asked her specifically and to be a part of that. 

I ask you to pr@ise G0d with me for the opening up O’s mind and heart to understand H1s W0rd! Pr@ise G0d for our relationship with O and her family who is hearing His W0rd daily! Pr@ise God for the sweet time Joke and I spent with O! Pr@ise G0d for the work He is doing daily within her heart!

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."