The Arts and C@bo V3rde

Greetings to you all!!

Thank you so much for your pr@yers for us! R!ta, T0m, and I saw the hand of G0d orchestrating and leading us every step of the way. Our purposes in C@pe V3rde had many facets and we experienced G0d clearing the surface of each facet so that we could see Him and the purposes for which He sent us to C@bo V3rde.

T0m is an ethnomusicologist. Some of you may not even know what that means or what they do for the K!ngdom of G0d. Truly it was a blessing for me to watch and to learn myself how they go about their work. In the development of G0d's work among different ethnic groups, a key element is music. Think about it...where would your f@ith be if you did not have songs and music that allow you to express your love, your beliefs, your need, your surrender to G0d? Where would you be in those dark hours of life or those moments of jubilation if  you could not express your heart to G0d in song? How would your w0rship be impacted if the only songs you had to sing were in a language that you do not truly understand in the depths of your soul?

Part of the work we were doing was researching the existence and the need for the development of songs in the heart language of the C@bo V3rdeans--Kriol. In the ch.rches throughout the islands, the songs they sing to w0rship are primarily sung in Portuguese, the messages are given in Portuguese, yet the majority of C@bo V3rdeans speak Kriol as their heart language. We spent time learning about the C@bo V3rdean music, art, dance, and theater and how those avenues could be used to present the G00d News to those who have never heard of Jss. T0m was able to talk with many different people--f0ll0wers and non-f0ll0wers--about how using C@bo V3rdean music, art, dance, and theater could influence their desire to know and understand G0d. We had many opportunities to experience the different arts C@bo V3rdean style since each year during this time they have a Jazz Music Festival with all kinds of art displayed throughout the city. One huge moment during our time there was when we experienced a complete change in w0rship during the first Sunday. The w0rship had been powerful and the most of the people were engaged from the beginning. Yet when one man came to lead 2 songs in Kriol, the whole body of Chr!st began to move. In an instant, their hearts came alive as they w0rshiped in heart, mind, soul, and body! Truly we were watching people "Love the L0rd their G0d with all their heart, with all their mind, with all their soul, and with all their body."
Please pr@y for the development of Kriol songs, art, drama, and dance that will tell the story of G0d's unfailing love and f@ithfulness in ways that will engage all C@bo V3rdean people with the opportunity to know and w0rship G0d in heart, mind, body, and soul.

Pray for direction, leadership, and clear vision to engage the Kriol f0ll0wers of Jss and the church of C@bo V3rde in the development of the arts for the glory, pr@ise, and w0rship of G0d.

Another purpose for which we were visiting C@bo V3rde was to pr@yer walk and seek G0d direction for reaching the many West African who have moved to C@bo V3rde to work. Many of them go there thinking they will find their fortunes but they find themselves living very difficult lives and longing for home. G0d orchestrated every detail for R!ta and I to travel to the island B0aVista where the largest pocket of West Africans live. We were able to pr@yer walk through the streets of the shanty village where they live and to greet some along the way. It was a taste of home to be able to speak Bambara to some. I had experienced the struggle of not being able to speak to people since I do not speak Portuguese or Kriol. My heart became full as we were "home" among the West Africans. Many of the sellers in the tourist market are from S3negal, M@li, Gu!nea Bissau, and other countries in WA.

The greatest moment was when we were able to connect with M0di. Two years ago R!ta met him in the capital after overhearing him speak Bambara. R!ta greeted him, they talked, and he was so helpful to her in doing the research she was there to do. He was moved by her work and told her that the work she was doing was good. They talked about G0d's Word and R!ta bluetoothed some stories from G0d's Word in his language to his telephone. She tried to find him on her last visit but they missed each other. When R!ta called him this time, he was so excited to see her. He approached from behind R!ta and I could see his face. He was radiant with joy and continued throughout our visit to say, "I'm so happy! I'm so happy today!" He took us to his home, gave us a cold soda, and invited 2 of his best friends to come. One is from L!beria where R!ta lives now. We talked a lot with them and they were amazed we could speak some in their language. After his friends left, M0di told us he had listened to all the stories R!ta had given him and how much he loved them. We called D@n in M@li and the two of them talked. M0di told D@n how he wanted to f0ll0w Jss but there were no Chr!stians here who speak his language or who speak French that can help him understand and learn about f0ll0wing Jss. At that point, my heart became heavy. He told us that he had lost phone and lost all the stories. I felt this desperation come over me to figure out how we could get G0d's Word to him as soon as possible. This desperation just in my heart throughout the afternoon. Then M0di told us of his work and took us to see his work place. He drives the big Catapillar machines and is helping to build the port for B0aVista. He walked us home, then left to shower and eat. He came back later and we sat together and talked. He told us again how he had listened to all the stories, but one day he was working and his phone fell out of his pocket and into the ocean. UUUGH....was all I could think! There is no finding that phone...smile. I shared a verse of scripture I had recorded on my phone in B@mbara...verses I share with my friends on the street. He listened and smiled. Then he began to talk into my phone thinking he was recording a message. When I realized what he was doing I asked him to do it again and I did record it. It was a message to the church asking them to pr@y for him to have G0d's Word, to learn, and to know how to f0ll0w Jss. That he could share Jss with his friends and share G0d's Word with them too. Again, my heart was overcome with desperation...how could we get G0d's Word to him SOON!! Then R!ta opened her phone and took out her own microSD card with stories from G0d's Word in several languages. She handed it to him and his face lit up...while tears filled  my eyes. My heart was at peace and I felt a huge sense of rest come over it. This man was thirsting and longing...and he was satisfied. He immediately began listening to the stories going from language to language...he didn't seem to care that he didn't understand them all. He told us he would be listening and that he would invite his friends to listen with him. The great thing is there are many languages on the card...so of which other W African on the island speak.
Pr@y for M0di as he listens to the stories, as he seeks to know and understand what it means to f0ll0w Jss. Pr@y for him as he shares these stories with his friends. Ask G0d to send His H0ly Sp!r!t to teach them, to give them understanding, and to reveal deep truths to them.

Pr@y for G0d to show us how He wants us to join Him among the W Africans in C@bo V3rde. From the first time R!ta told me of them, my heart was quicken and my mind wondered if G0d might mobilize some M@lians to go and tell His G00d News among them. Please pr@y for G0d's direction, timing, and leadership in this work.

Tomorrow, I head back to M@li! I am super excited to be going HOME to be with my people there. I cannot wait to celebrate EASTER together with them. Please be in pr@yer for us as we celebrate both Friday and Monday--as we remember on Friday the suffering of our Savior and as we celebrate on Monday the victory we have because HE IS RISEN--HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!

Your Son and Daughter

The big wedding celebration did not end in B@m@k0!! What a privilege and joy it was to present D@n@ya and his bride R3bek@ to his mom and his v!llage!!

D@n@ya's mom and many from the v!llage were not able to attend the wedding because of the distance between the v!llage and the c@pital city. As we sat with his mom and watched her look at pictures, my heart filled with joy as I thought about the privilege we had of bringing the greatest gift to her...Her Son and Her Daughter!! What a sweet, sweet moment to watch her take in every picture, to enjoy her baby boy and the greatest event of his life...an event she said, "I did not know if this day would ever happen."

You see, D@n@ya's dad died when he was just a very, very young boy. He does not remember his dad at all. His mom was chased away from his father's family and she was own her own with 4 small children. By the grace of G0d and a faith that was unwavering, this woman and her 4 children thrived and were blessed by G0d. She said she didn't know if her children would survive and certainly didn't know if they would grow up to be married and begin families of their own. All of her children have a strong faith and are powerfully serving the kingdom of G0d here in M@li.

Again I found myself watching intimately, the cultural joys of weddings, the joining of lives, and the welcoming of new people into a family and a v!llage. I watched as women came to greet us each one saying the same thing, " D@n@ya went to the big city and threw me away for this new woman." It was one of the funniest things I have ever watched as these women--all OLDER women, all described as D@n@ya's grandmothers--came to meet and joke with his new wife. The funniest moment was when we were walking through the v!llage greeting and we met up with one of these "grandmothers". She looked at R3bek@ in the eyes and said to her, "Do you know THIS man? Do you know THIS man? He has 14 wives and  you are the 15th one!" We all burst into laughter as this grandmother looked at us with the most serious face. I watched all of these interactions and saw the grace and peace of G0d displayed in R3bek@ as she enjoyed the joking and participated in every way with these women who were claiming her husband as theirs and not hers. It was such a joy to see her join in with the v!llage and become a part of it with her husband by her side.

I spent the evening and the early morning hours thinking about what it must be like to be in R3bek@'s shoes. We drove 8 hours to get to the v!llage, we greeted and all of these women came to joke with her, and then after it was dark, she was expected to cook supper for her new family and all of us. I could not imagine the intimidation of that task--entering another woman's kitchen not knowing where everything is or what is expected. Then to awaken the next morning and be expected to cook every meal for the family--your new family.

I was amazed by the grace, the joy, the peace and the fun that R3bek@ was having. She displayed a great love for her new family and became a part of them in a way that only G0d could have done through her. I was equally amazed by D@n@ya and the way he walked beside his new bride and encouraged her, helped her, and cheered her on. It was evident they were in this together!!

A Beautiful Celebration

On January 25th, we celebrated the wedding and the joining of 2 lives for the gl0ry of G0d!! One of our M@lian partners, D@n@ya, got married to his beautiful bride, R3bek@. It was a celebration filled with joy, excitement, and hope for all that G0d has planned to do through the lives of His 2 children, D@n@ya and R3bek@.












It was my first time to be intimately involved in the planning and preparation of a M@lian wedding and what fun it was!! We helped get the loads of tomatoes, onions, cabbage, egg plant, and rice needed to feed all the guest. We loaded up the cow in the moto taxi to be taken to be slaughtered and prepared for cooking. The moto taxi delivered a cooler for the drinks, the sodas, ice, chairs, tents, and everything needed for the big event.









Then the day of the event, the church was packed with people until it was overflowing. Tents were set up outside for those who could not fit inside. There was much singing, celebrating, and sharing of G0d's word with those attending. Then a sweet, sweet ceremony where D@n@ya and R3bek@ united their lives, making commitments to each other before a crowd of witnesses that were moved and touched.








You see, many in attendance had never experienced a Christian wedding. They had never seen the joy and love expressed in this celebration and they had never understood G0d's plan for One Husband and One Wife...the uniting of 2 to become ONE! As they bowed together before G0d, uniting their previous 2 lives into ONE life for the Glory and purposes of G0d, EVERYONE was touched!!

 To finish off the day, we transported family members back to their gathering places where the celebration continued!! This is one of my favorite parts of wedding celebrations here...load up and declare the fun and celebration to the whole city....

When I asked my friends who had seen a Chr!sti@n wedding for the first time what part they liked the most, the response was unanimous...

• When they made their alliance, giving each other rings, and committing to each other to love in all things...whether there is money or not, whether there is health or not, whether there is good or bad...
• When they knelt together before G0d to surrender their lives as 2 to become 1...one husband, one wife...D@n@ya is now R3bek@ and R3bek@ is now D@n@ya, if one hurts the other hurts, if one rejoices the other rejoices!

With My Own Eyes and Ears

His F@ithfulness R@dio...the fruit of all that G0d had placed in my vision 8 years ago!!! It became a reality in 2013, but this year 2014, I saw it and heard it with my very own eyes and ears!! I have longed for and waited for this time to actually see and hear His F@ithfulness R@dio on the air and to stand beside those who serve their community through this work.What a joy it was to peer in the doorways to see it in full operation.


On that first trip to the village 8 years ago, my friend, R!ta, and I were traveling to a remote part of M to see what G0d was doing among 3 different people groups. We were doing the study Bel!eving G0d together as we traveled. In that study the writer asked the participants to place a blue string around their wrist to remind them of the 5 statements of beli!eving G0d. We looked in the markets that day but could find no blue string. but G0d had a more lasting plan for providing us with a reminder.

Along that journey we saw this incredibly beautiful bluebird. One like I had never seen and one like I have never seen since. Every day as we journeyed to the village and while we were in the village, we saw this bluebird. It became our Bluebird of Bel!ef. To this very day, on every trip to the village and during every stay in the village, this Bluebird of Bel!ef has gone before us and flown beside us all along the way. Even when it was evident that our work was moving to the city because of the trouble in the n0rth, G0d brought this Bluebird across my path to show me He was indeed going before me and preparing the way for this change. This 2014 journey back to the village was no different. On the first morning when I woke up after staying the night in the r@dio station, I went outside to spend time with G0d. I looked up and there sat the bluebird on the tower watching the station. Pr@ise filled my heart and joy consumed me as I experienced once again the very REAL and PERSONAL Presence our our G0d affirming His work, His plans, His purposes!


I had fun looking at all the equipment and seeing how it all works to proclaim the G00d News of Jss throughout this remote area. The workers told me of how the children would come every Saturday morning to be on the r@dio. They would each have a chance to greet their parents and their friends on the r@dio. This is just one of the many creative ways the r@dio is making itself a part of the community.



On Sundays, the whole day is dedicated to Chr!st and making Him known through music, G0d's W0rd, and other Chr!sti@n programs.

After spending a couple of nights at the r@dio station, we headed to the P@n@ v!llage. The chief told us how he listened to the radio every day and how he no longer listens to anything else except His F@ithfulness R@dio!! It was a double blessing to be able to personally sit and listen to His F@ithfulness R@dio while we were there!! While we were eating or while we were just sitting around visiting, the r@dio was playing ...just like it was playing in compounds all over the 80 kilometer radius to which it was broadcassting!! Fullness of Joy!!!!

The Year to Return...2014

Two years since I have been to the villages and the peoples to whom G0d sent us... two years pr@ying for their protection through the difficulties their country faced... two years believing G0d to be the S0verign L0rd over all things, all situations, all peoples... two years knowing He loved them and was with them more than I could ever imagine!!





 

2014--the year to return... the year to see what G0d has been doing... the year to rejoice in HIS F@ITHFULNESS!! I cannot express to G0d how grateful I am for the opportunity to go back and see those I have missed so much!

For me and for my heart, it was a full circle experience. I was with all the people who began this journey with me.  I was seeing the lives of those He had changed as we w0rshipped together. Where there was once only one f0ll0wer choosing to live the hard life of Chr!st in front of those in his v!llage, there were now close to 20 worshiping together. We spent the day talking about G0d's Word and looking at how to live that out in the culture of !dol w0rship.

It was a great discussion and the levels of f@ith were evident as we struggled through what f0ll0wing Chr!st looks like as a P@n@ f0ll0wer.

A favorite moment was when the f0ll0wers wanted to sing a song where they had changed the words into their own language. To see their response to that...instantaneous dancing and praising G0d in ways they can only do in their heart language!! What a joy to witness!!

A hard moment for me was the news that one of my precious friends I would sit with under the tree and learn language with had passed away 2 months before our arrival. She died giving birth to her 5th child. The child also died. My heart was and is still heavy for her husband and the 4 children she left behind. As we sat with her husband, he expressed his emotions in ways that are rarely seen here. Please lift him up to our Father and ask Him to comfort and bring salvation to this man and his whole household.

He Shall Be Called

"The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine...

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: 

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace...

Isaiah 9:2, 6

"And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
"...and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God with us.'" Matthew 1:23

Greetings to YOU ALL and Merry Christmas!!!!

Like many of you these past few days and weeks have been full of activity and experiencing the joys of this season!! In M@li, our weather has changed drastically with morning temperatures in the 50's and the afternoons in the 80's. I spend each morning in my favorite spot--meeting with my Savior by a little fire to heat up some water for hot chocolate and keep my toes warm. These days are always number and can never last long enough...of the joy of the cool mornings with my Best Friend, Immanue!! I pr@y you are having precious moments with Jss these days and that your time with family and friends will be full of the Light He brings to life!! Know that I am thinking of you and giving thanks for the joys you have brought to my life!!

As always, I have spent time thinking about Chr!stmas and what it has meant for me. I have considered what this baby and His purpose in life, death, and r3surrection has meant for me. I have pondered how to express my love for Him to those around me. This all began while sitting at a Baby Naming ceremony for a friend's grandchild. As I took in all the cultural things they do here to present a child to its family, friends, and the world, I began to think about how Jss was presented.

Even before the creation of the world, our Father knew His Son would be sent to us and all throughout the history of mankind, our Father was preparing for the presentation of His Son to the world. All things that happened were orchestrated and put together so that we as His special creation would recognize the gift of His Son and the S@lvation that He would bring to us. Even before He was born, His names were being spoken. they were being given, so that when He was presented to His family, friends, and the world, they would recognize Him. He will be called:

WONDERFUL

COUNSELOR

WONDERFUL COUNSELOR

MIGHTY

GOD

MIGHTY GOD

EVERLASTING

FATHER

EVERLASTING FATHER

PRINCE

PEACE

PRINCE OF PEACE

JESUS

IMMANUEL

GOD WITH US

These were just some of the names He was called before He was born and they are only a drop in the ocean of names we have come to know Him by after His birth. He is so much, so much, so much more than words or names can describe!! What do you call him? Take time to call Him by name and to express to Him who He is to you...after all we are celebrating His baby naming celebration and G0d's presentation of HIS SON to us and to the WORLD!!

Please pr@y for those living in darkness!! May they see the GREAT LIGHT and may JSS--that LIGHT shine on them this Chr!stmas!!

i love you all!! May G0d fill you will JOY, HOPE, PEACE, LOVE, and HIS PRESENCE as you spend time with family and friends this CHR!STmas!!

Beginning from V!llage to V!llage

"One day Jss called together his twelve d!scipl3s and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then He sent them out to tell everyone about the K!ngd0m of G0d and to heal the sick..." Luke 9:1-2

"The L0rd now chose seventy-two other d!scipl3s and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places He planned to visit. These were His instructions to them, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pr@y to the L0rd who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves." Luke 10:1-3

 Yesterday I drove 3 young men  to the village of Da and left them with the chief of the village and another man. As I left the village I cried and gave thanks to G0d for His grace and mercy, His call and His f@ithfulness!! I sang pr@ises to Him at the top of my lungs!! 

You see, the three young men (our first Harvest Team) I dropped off had been chosen by G0d to spend the next 3 days in this village--sharing the Words and life of Jss with the people there. They are 3 young men from 3 different ch.rches in B@mak0 who desire to spend some time with people they do not know in order  to share with them the ONE they DO know. As Jss sent His 12 d!scipl3s, the 72 d!scipl3s, He is now sending these 3 young men. They are D@n, B3n, Yu5. 

G0d had placed the village of Da on the heart of D@n and about 3 weeks ago sent D@n with a couple of friends to see the village, meet the chief, and look for how G0d might be working. The chief welcomed him with open arms, told him he would have a place to stay, and said he looked forward to time with him. D@n also met one Chr!sti@n woman and a man who had just become a b3li3ver. He saw that they had no one to help them grow or w0rship with them. He came home excited and looking for the next step with G0d to go to this village. 

After our arrival yesterday, we went straight to the chief's house where he changed my last name to Doumbia...smile. He welcomed us and explained with whom and where the three men would stay. The man was there with us, so he took them to his house and we unloaded them there. He wanted his picture made with them beside the house they would be staying in. Then he went into his house and brought out a laminated piece of paper. We looked at it and it was his certificate of baptism. He was so excited about it. When I read it all, I saw the date on it. This man had just been baptized November 17, 2013. He too was a new f0ll0wer.

Pr@y for them as they spend time with the chief, with the f0ll0wers of Jss in the village, and as they share with other the G00d News of the K!ngdom of G0d. They plan to have a time of w0rship with the f0ll0wers there as well as anyone else who would join them. Pr@y for G0d to pour out His Sp!r!t empowering these three men to accomplish His purposes as well as empowering the people He is drawing to Himself to b3li3ve. Pr@y for them as they learn and seek to know how we can develop and move forward with sending teams into the harvest from V!llage to V!llage.