October 31, 2012

Spotted yesterday in an East African grocery store. A missionary’s reaction: Never seen this in our part of the world AND it is on the shelf at the right time, not around another ‘holiday’ which usually happens!
Her next thoughts: Thanks to TV/DVD’s and travel, people are learning of others' special days. Another tool Believers can use! The shop owners and those of other faiths love to discuss American culture, which can easily lead to more important discussions!

October 27, 2012

Still taking a break from posting daily Nudges from East Africa, but look for new ones beginning on November 1st.  But I will share a status post found today on Facebook with a photo taken recently in a Nairobi shopping centre.  A shopping centre which some have called Little India where a Muslim prayer room, as well as a Hindu prayer room is located. There is no Christian prayer room, though the whole place provides an opportunity for a unique prayer walk - a shopping-prayer walk!  The items in the photo were for sale during a special Muslim holiday.
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"I could skip the burning incense in the businesses owned by those of other faiths, but spotting their altars (corners/ decorated boxes housing their favoured gods) always leaves me challenged. Do they see me expressing my love and adoration for my God?:

Time for a bit of replanning/restructuring - thus no new daily nudges for a few days as I seek better ways to share what God is up to in our part of the world!

October 18, 2012

“God is Faithful!”  What the couple you prayed for on October 14th says.  After months of researching Unreached Peoples in South Sudan, it was time to leave, “If all goes well and the creek don't rise.”  But the creeks/rivers where rising and other dangers lurked along the required 450 mile drive. During two days (12 and 9 hour stints) of travel, they saw lots of water submerged roads and lots of armed men, but God guided them through passable and safe spots and they made yesterday’s flight to their home country.  They also say: “THANK YOU for praying with us.” 

October 17, 2012

"Why do you need volunteers?"  The question missionaries asked a pastor in Sub-Saharan Africa last week.  His answer, “People are drawn to volunteers, they will take time to listen to them, to learn from them and we still have things to learn. Volunteers can open ‘new’ doors for us and help us build relationships with people in our community.”  Pray that more Believers will respond to our Father’s call to go and work in His Harvest Field.  Pray for physical, spiritual and emotional strength for those who come and serve.

October 16, 2012

Mid-morning class break and time for a bit of soccer on the flattest ‘playing field’ in the village – the floor of a deserted building.  Pray for open eyes, minds and hearts for Believers in Sub-Saharan Africa as they strive to Be their Father’s Heart, Hands and Voice.  Pray for ‘creative inspirations’ as they use what is available and what catches the attention of others to share their Father’s love and salvation.
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Have you spotted the ball?  The boy on the left (blue school uniform) is using his hip to keep the home-made ball in play.

October 15, 2012

Walking through the village, the missionary spotted babies tied on the backs of young kids in school uniforms.   She watched a sick toddler move to and from the village ‘potty’/trash dump.  Were these orphans cared for by older siblings or ailing grandparents?  Were their parents away working for money for school fees, rent, water, and medicine?   Then the overwhelmed missionary received two gifts – the wave was a reminder that her heavenly Father also saw the problems – the shy smile was a challenge to continue seeking His guidance as she serves as His Heart, His Hands and His Voice.

October 14, 2012

Remember the September 14th-16th stuck nudges from South Sudan? If you don’t, reread these!  A couple who have been researching unreached Peoples of South Sudan need your prayers.  It is time to leave and begin new work, which requires moving their vehicle to the nearest safe place. Their plan was to drive 12 hours tomorrow and 12 hours on Tuesday, before flying on Wednesday to their next work, “If all goes well and the creek don't rise.”  Yesterday they heard, “It is still raining and the 'creeks' are rising, plus one road can get dangerous with bandits."  Today’s revised prayer request: “Pray for wisdom as we make travel plans for tomorrow and for safety as we carry though the plan God provides!”
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1st Update: Join the couple in praying as they "try to think of other options."
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UPDATES WILL BE shared in the coming days!

October 13, 2012

Modern sculpture or archaeological ruins? Neither, these are the steps used by students to get to an upper story classroom – students who live in an East African 'informal settlement' where life is as risky and rough as these steps.  Claim Psalm 37:23,24 for these kids and for their teachers – teachers  who do more than teach their students to pass scholastic exams, but to know and accept the love and hope of the One who can make firm their steps and uphold them with His hand.

October 12, 2012

“On the Move” or “In Transition” – Hard to choose a title for this photo!   Pray for Believers in Sub-Saharan Africa as they move towards completing their Father’s work.  Pray for a clear sense of the Holy Spirit’s guidance as they choose where and where not to go; when to go or move on, and when to stop; whether to travel alone or with others and if with others, which others; what preparations to make or new skills to learn; and during all of this, imitating the little boy (white t-shirt) and keeping balance in their lives!

October 11, 2012

A slightly different way of sharing today's nudge.  Take a few moments to view "Being His Heart, His Hands, His Voice in Mathare Valley".  Psalm 84 will be your tour guide as you visit a church along the edge of a slum of Nairobi, Kenya and see what one team of missionaries in East Africa saw last Sunday!
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 "Being His Heart, His Hands, His Voice in Mathare Valley" can be viewed at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151431015930130.585938.685050129&type=1&l=21b4786662

October 10, 2012

The family rope is free, so when your best friend returns from school, it is used for fun!  Views such as this sometimes drive missionaries crazy!  They see so much that they want to share with others, but there is never enough time or words to share all that touches their hearts.  What touched the heart of the missionary spotting this scene?  First: The rope now leading to laughter was used earlier to haul water for the family of the little girl in red.  Second: Why had the girl in red been at home all day and not at school in a uniform?

October 9, 2012

What risks will I take today?  Many Believers in our world must answer this question daily.  Some must answer a second question: What risks am I asking others to face?  Pray today for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as Believers in Sub-Saharan Africa choose what risks to take.  Pray especially for protection for those facing risks if they are willing to hear and respond to the Good News of the One who risked His life for us!

October 8, 2012

"You said you didn't know where we were going, yet you knew where to turn." The missionary laughed as the volunteer spoke. She had done it again! Without even realizing it, she had communicated in a language used often in the country where she serves – A silent language relying upon a few raised eyebrows and moments of eye contact with those she passed! Pray for insight for missionaries as they learn to communicate in their place of service. Pray for the boldness and sensitivity needed to look directly into the eyes and hearts of the people they encounter!

October 7, 2012

A Missionary Kid was asked what she wanted as a high school graduation gift.  “A trip to a game park in one of the ‘tour’ vans for me and my best friend!”  The parents became suspicious when she added, “We will need the tourist safari hats, jackets and slacks to wear.”  The girls didn’t want to go game watching; they wanted to view the antics of the tourists!  As Believers in Sub-Saharan Africa are watched, pray that their observers will be impressed by what they see and desire to know more about their Saviour and His Good News!

October 6, 2012

Sub-Saharan Africa… Where powerful trucks hauling costly goods and donkey carts hauling water pass under power lines and communication towers… Where one can buy the colonel’s American fried chicken in malls or a bag of peanuts from a woman on the side of the road… A woman needing enough profit to purchase sufficient water for preparing an evening meal, as well as a bit of kerosene to light her home as her kids do homework. Pray for Believers in Sub-Saharan Africa as they strive to BE their Father’s Heart, Hands and Voice in their world of contrasts.

October 5, 2012

She was too short to see above the crowd. There was a nearby tree, but its tender limbs were filled with boys, so she wiggled below the older kids until she could see the Christian volunteers who had come to visit. Praise God that Believers have visited this little girl’s village in Sub-Saharan Africa and salvation has come to her village. There are still houses, villages and cities in our world where no one has visited, where no one has come to seek and save the lost. Pray for Believers who will go to these Unengaged/ Unreached Peoples.

October 4, 2012

AMAZING!  Many Peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa desire access to the amazing information and entertainment provided by satellite television (ZUKU). Even more people desire to be AMAZED by accessible water, including this village where selling jugs and ropes for hauling water is big business!  The AMAZING gift of communication is also desired – even if you must pay to keep phones charged!  But the greatest need of too many Peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa?  They need to hear the AMAZING information about the one who offers Living Water.  They need this Good News communicated in a way that can be understood and accessed!
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And after that long walk hauling water or while waiting to have your phone charged, some people desire a SODA BARIDI - a cold soda!

October 3, 2012

"One can get real tired" – A volunteer's comment after spotting this lion while surveying opportunities for service in our Father’s East African Harvest Field.  Joining our Father in His work is rewarding and exciting,  but workers also get tired, discouraged, frustrated, overwhelmed, confused, etc., even to the point of giving up!  Claim God’s strength and power (Isaiah 40:29) for these Believers.  Pray for revived spirits and encouragement.  Pray for strong reminders and assurances of God’s call in their lives.  Pray for clarity as they separate God’s plans from those the crafty devil places in their paths!

October 2, 2012

A photo chosen to catch your attention so that you will read today’s nudge sharing two events which occurred last Sunday morning in Nairobi, Kenya.  After praying for years, a Baptist church commissioned two of their own to serve as ‘home’ missionaries among the Turkana People, a people in need of our Father’s Good News.  A few miles away in a church of another denomination, a bomb exploded in the children’s Sunday School class, injuring several children and killing one.* God is at work in East Africa and Believers need your prayer support as they serve our Father in a world of opportunity and crisis.
*http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Child+killed+in+Sunday+school+terror+bombing+/-/1056/1521354/-/s1r6r2z/-/index.htm

October 1, 2012

Did you view the September 24th Nudge and pray?  If so, this is how God answered! If you did not view that nudge, it is not too late to pray, guided by this update from workers among the Maasai of Tanzania:
“We received word that although there started to be further trouble, the government stepped in, squelched further hostilities among sub-clans, and now all is well.  Please continue praying. The situation of lack of grass because of not getting sufficient rains during the long rains from March through May continues and the short rains do not usually start until November/December.”
*** Photo taken a year ago during a time of joy, the first graduation of Longido Baptist Primary School.