January 31, 2012

"Why does your face look so sad...?  This can be nothing but sadness of the heart."  Words spoken by a non-worshipper of the true God to Nehemiah (2:2)  Thanking God today for volunteers with a “sadness of heart” for East Africans who haven’t heard of the One who fills our hearts with great joy (Psalm 4:7).  Praising God also for East Africans who can’t wait to share the joy they are experiencing!  The little girl received an aqua ‘silly-bandz’ from volunteers, ran home, placed it on the little boy's wrist, then brought him to meet the guests in their village!

January 30, 2012

Nudges to Prayer from a Journeygirl working with university students: “SCARY – writing the goals due in a few days – partially because you have to follow through! I’m praying that these goals are not ones that I come up with to shine the spotlight on me and say, 'Look what I can do!' Instead it is to bring glory to my King.  After all, why else am I here... Finally cranked out 5 goals for my work… there is no way, on my own strength, that I can do these. I can try – but if it is in my own strength – there is no way it will last.”
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NEW ACTION PLAN added while enjoying the beach after witnessing with students in an East African coastal village:  DO NOT STEP ON SEA URCHINS!

January 29, 2012

"From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise." (Matthew 21:16)  When was the last time you excitedly praised God?  When did you last follow the example of the little Ugandan boy and 'look' for someone in need of the joy of being a child of God, someone in need of the stronghold against enemies that comes from acknowledging, “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory in the heavens?” (Psalm 8:1, 2)

January 28, 2012

"We get sugar from big burlap bags in the market, near the dried fish table. Why was I surprised when I found this little fella in the sugar for my morning coffee? Too many surprises recently!” Shared by a missionary before beginning Stateside Leave. Today she and her family are excitedly packing to return to East Africa. They’ve loved visiting friends, sharing their stories, and shopping in stores with clean white fine sugar, but they are eager to return to their People Group – People who have not yet heard of the compassionate and loving Savior who fed four thousand people with seven small fish! (Matthew 15:32-39)

January 27, 2012

Shared by an East African missionary: “Our first volunteers are now tentmakers in Europe. Our second volunteer is packing a crate today as they move to Africa as full-time missionaries. A recent volunteer is going through the missionary approval process. Lesson: If you wanna stay home, you'd better not come work with our Sema Leatherworks team.” Response from another missionary: “You’re not joking! We arrived in East Africa in 1978 for a one year volunteer term and are still here! Being on mission with our Father is addictive!” Praise God for the joy of being co-workers in His service.
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For more on how you can serve with the IMB, go to http://going.imb.org/
For more on the Sema Leatherworks/  Nairobi Business as Mission Team, go to: http://www.semaleatherworks.com/

January 26, 2012

From worker in South Sudan:  "Returned home to three canisters of American coffee creamer opened by rats, then filled with bugs; thirteen empty packs of biscuits eaten by rats; thick layers of dust on absolutely everything; poop of all sorts, bat and rat and chicken…; spider webs in places I didn't know existed; and heat. I’m not asking for pity, tears or sympathy... WE NEED PRAYERS!  Pray for our Toposa Team as we get back in the swing of things, as we CLEAN and for good rest.  Even though I see all the rat ruins and poop and dust and I am sweating...I am home.  And it feels so good. Praise the Lord!!!" 
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PRAISE:  Since the above was posted on the worker's blog, she and her team-mate (January 23rd Prayer Nudge) have found a new Language helper!

January 25, 2012

For those who like REALITY SHOWS, lot of Prayer Nudges can be gleaned from a recent Matthew 25:34-40 experience!  These boys definitely didn't think hauling many bags of food was work when missionaries brought food to their East African orphanage.  Their joy resulted from having guests to love on them, an assurance of adequate meals for a while and sharing the work with friends!  The missionaries were also smiling.  Obeying and serving our Father definitely brings joy, plus they were blessed by the kids loving them right back and flashing some awesome smiles their way!

January 24, 2012

January 24, 2012 Nudges to Prayer from a female Kenyan university student: "Am grateful and humbled by taking part in the mission trip… a turning point for me… beyond expectations… my first time to step into an ocean or share the gospel with those of another faith… out of my comfort zone… when you see the hunger and thirst for something more in people's eyes, nothing remains the same… etched in my journal on the last morning, ‘Dear Lord, yesterday was hard… not sure if our listeners will accept you… Do something different, new today even if it's in one person's heart.’ God answered through Omar, a high school student, the last person who opened his heart to the Lord during our trip."

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Highlighted in the Jan 5th and 6th Prayer Nudges, this late December mission trip to the East African coast was led by a missionary with a heart for an Unreached East African Coastal People Group. He and his family were forced to move ‘upcountry’ due to medical problems, and now minister to East African university students. The missionary’s testimony: “Praising God because after two years of not seeing any of our Unreached People Group come to Christ while living among them, we saw 5 become followers of Jesus in the two day mission trip!!!! Thanks for your prayers and support!"

January 23, 2012

Nudges to Prayer from South Sudan Co-worker: “Back home after appointments and re-stocking in Kenya … now on the right meds for strep and I can swallow again!  More good news: I purchased a lovely plastic cabinet for my clothes. Termites attacked my wooden dresser and lizards got in – Nothing like lizard droppings on your t-shirts! Bad news: In our absence, our language helper left for school in Kenya. So, ONCE AGAIN, we have no language helper! Pray earnestly and diligently for us to learn the Toposa language to be more effective in communicating the good news of Jesus.”

January 22, 2012

“Returning from a school trip, one of my girls says, ‘... and we swam in this river by our campsite. There were hippos in it, so we had to wait before we could get in to make sure there were not any under the water ......’ Times like this - I realize what a different childhood my children are getting than I had. Keeps a mamma's prayer life intact!” Praise God for the special experiences that Missionary Kids (MKs) experience. Pray for peace and wisdom for missionaries who are parenting kids as they serve our Father.

January 21, 2012

Nudges to prayer from missionary among the Maasai of Tanzania: “Thank you for praying. God did some amazing things with the volunteer team from South Carolina. They visited and Bible Storied at 4 sites. They shared the stories with 229 adults and had 40 people respond to the Gospel. We serve an awesome God that allows us to be part of things like this.”

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For more information, check out these links!

Maasai Virtual Prayer Walk for this team visit – http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217898757872739763022.0004af9063f31a9f27dd6&msa=0&ll=-2.684488%2C36.070862&spn=0.342945%2C0.617294 ;

TZ Maasai Connection on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/116586508383372/;

Website –  www.tzmaasaiconnection.blogspot.com

http://www.baptist-volunteer-tz.net/baptist-volunteer-tz/Welcome.html

January 20, 2012

Nudges to prayer from a missionary facing a medical battle:  “I am overwhelmed with thankfulness for each of you going through this with me, praying, supporting, encouraging along the way. God is teaching me a potter and clay lesson.  He is the potter; we are the clay.  ‘Woe to him who quarrels with his maker’ or asks, ‘What are you making?’ (Isaiah 45:9).  Pray that I will remember that He is our Father, our Potter, and we are the clay, the work of His hand (Isaiah 64:8). May we remember that all He works on, in all circumstances, is good! With a grateful heart, I ask you continue praying for wisdom and healing.”

January 19, 2012

A follow-up of the January 16th Prayer Nudge - a photo taken just down the road with different reminders of how “East Africa is a fast-changing ever-growing/expanding world” with people of all extremes of backgrounds and needs. Do pray that Believers in East Africa will act with CAUTION and be careful as we perceive what God wants our eyes to see and our hearts to remember so that we will be UNDER HIS INSTRUCTIONS as we lead others to know that our GOD REIGNS, our “Lord (who) is God; besides him there is no other." (Deuteronomy 4:9, 35)
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The lower roofs (left centre) - made of plastic, cardboard and tin - are housing for vendors of clothes, food, basically anything you can think of and likely 'home' for some - all 'un-approved.'

January 18, 2012

“Tell me the story of Jesus.”*  The SEMA LEATHERWORKS**crew do this in the lowest income areas of Nairobi.  These committed and excited Believers can talk for hours about our Savior’s Good News, but as they learned last week in Bible Storying training, sharing the stories of Jesus in short, concise stories from memory is difficult! Pray for these men as they ‘perfect’ their story telling so that their stories of Jesus will not only be written on the heart of their listeners, but every word of this “story… Sweetest… ever… heard” can be repeated by listeners to friends and families!
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* "Tell Me the Story of Jesus” / Fanny J. Crosby)
** For more on Sema Leatherworks:  http://www.semaleatherworks.com/

January 17, 2012

“And where are you going?" A missionary's reaction to this scene along an East African highway.  Then another Coincidence/ God-Incidence (January 10th Prayer Nudge) occurred!  First, she thought, “This is a good photo to nudge people to prayer for the East African Unengaged People Groups."  THEN she searched for a definition of UNENGAGED and found an IMB web page she did not remember seeing!  The bold print on that page?  “Where are you going?” Check out this site ( http://going.imb.org/ ) which provides lots of prayer/ action nudges for People Groups who are still untouched by our Father’s Good News!

January 16, 2012

The camera was focused on the busy life along an under-construction 12+ lane highway in Nairobi, Kenya, not the captured SLOW DOWN sign.  But God used the sign to remind a missionary that East Africa is a fast-changing ever-growing/expanding world!  Pray that Believers in East Africa will be attentive, cautious and careful as we watch closely so that we will perceive what God wants our eyes to see and our hearts to remember so that we will be continually able to lead others to “know that (our) Lord is God; besides him there is no other.” (Deuteronomy 4:9,35)
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For those of you with a special interest in the Thika Road transformation, go to: http://www.thikaroadblog.net/

January 15, 2012

From a missionary and Journey-girls working with university students: “Pray as we meet today with 20-25 students, all strong believers, for fellowship and getting to know one another. We want to understand their and their friends’ struggles, hopes and plans for the future.  Pray that we will find partners among these students – partners who can open doors to campuses where we can connect with students for discipleship and training to reach the unreached. Our vision is to train students to be home missionaries and even reach out beyond our East African borders to the ends of the earth.” 
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Photo is of New Year’s Eve dinner shared with some of these students:  Collards (sukuma wiki), cornmeal dish (ugali), salad (kachumbari), and roasted goat (nyama choma/mbuzi) – For more on East African foods and recipes, GOOGLE the Swahili name of the food, followed by recipe! Or check out http://allthingskenyan.com/food.html or http://www.kenyankitchen.co.ke/kenyan-kitchen-features14.php

January 14, 2012

"In the dark again…” Not song lyrics, but words often spoken in East Africa. And though the solar powered lights of ‘bush’ missionaries are cantankerous, this comment is most often shared by ‘city’ dwellers with available, but iffy electricity. When a missionary shares these words, know that they are not seeking solace for their “Little House on the Prairie” lifestyle or to prove their ‘spiritual’ strength! They desire prayers for patience and for strength to stay focused on why they are in East Africa, as shared in the end of the statement spoken yesterday: “… Lord help me to walk in your light, Amen.” 
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Many homes and churches in East Africa, including the Ugandan church in the photo, are purposely built with lots of windows and clear roof insertions among the tin sheet roofing to provide lighting. Looking back over the comments of the co-worker, her words COULD BE a great beginning to a song!

January 13, 2012

From co-workers whose stateside time is drawing to a close: “I was afraid that we might not want to leave... But… ‘Tuko tayari!’ (Swahili for ‘We are ready!')  Our cup of blessing has been filled to overflowing.  Friends, family, and our church have laughed, prayed, cried, and eaten (too much) with us these 6 months.  Our East African Coastal People are still lost and dying, still living in bondage.  With full hearts, we are ready to press on so they can also come to know the abundant life of our Savior.  We cannot do it alone – don’t forget your job!"  Pray for this family as they return to East Africa to tell their People Group of our Saviour, who promises, “I came that they may have life & have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) .

January 12, 2012

Hazard signs, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, pets, folding chairs and toys – Those selling scarves, sports shirts, hats, wall-hangings, sunglasses, bananas, coat racks (the 6 foot tall ones) and on and on had taken a day of rest! East African missionaries do sometimes miss the selection of Wal-mart and other stores, but we never know WHO or WHAT we will encounter next or WHEN or WHERE an encounter will occur!  Pray that we will always remember WHY we are in East Africa and “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone … the reason for the hope that (we) have.”  (1 Peter 3:15)

January 11, 2012

Life in East Africa: SIMPLE and COMPLEX.  Some would say these words are contradictory, but possibly CONTRADICTORY is an even better word to describe East Africa! The sofas being delivered by the donkey cart were likely made without any electrical tools, yet they may be headed for a home with wide screen TV s, IPADS, IPODS and IPHONES!  Pray for East Africa Believers as they seek to ‘go and make disciples … baptizing them … and teaching them to obey everything” (Matthew 28:19-20) commanded by our Saviour among people from all ranges of education, incomes, social levels and spiritual backgrounds!

January 10, 2012

COINCIDENCE – accident, chance, luck, quirk, happenstance.   Praise God today for His special ‘coincidences’!  A missionary serving in East Africa, who had the joy of growing up as an MK in Kenya,  experienced a very difficult and distressing surgery this week while in the US.  Praise God for the ‘coincidence’ which occurred the night after her surgery which was definitely not an accident, quirk, etc.  Her daughter’s account: “God just keeps on blessing us!!! My mom’s night nurse is from Kenya and was raised in Nairobi! We have been speaking Kiswahili with her and that has cheered mom and all of us up!!!” As you praise God for His blessings and care for this woman and her family, pray also for healing.
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Photo is of two of a large flock of Cinammon-Chested Bee-eaters that sang and rested in another missionary’s yard in East Africa on a day that she needed one of our Father’s ‘coincidence’ blessings!

January 9, 2012

From volunteers serving in a working-class area of Nairobi:  “We had seen pictures of poverty, but after we smelled, heard, touched, and tasted it, we gained a better understanding…  We expected to minister to 50 adults and 100 children … 500 people showed up.  Three adults and many children responded to the invitation to receive Christ as their Lord.  What we learned:   GO.  Go where He asks you to go.  Give when He asks you to give.  And serve when and where He asks you to serve… it will change your life!  Pray and look for opportunities to share Christ with others each day."

January 8, 2012

Pre-teen East African Missionary Kid during her first week of Stateside Assignment: "Mom, I like those things you push the button and water comes out. And… you can drink it!!!" MK in her mid-20’s: “Me, too, drinking from water fountains was one of my FAVORITE things to do upon arriving in America as a kid.” Missionary ‘Aunt’ also on Leave: “And the toilet paper is so soft, and the dish soap is so sudsy, and the paper towels are so sturdy, and the roads are so smooth…” Pray today for the adjustments, as you praise God for the blessings of missionaries on Stateside Assignment (furlough) in the US.
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"Mitumbo Fresh" (right shop) is considered a delicacy by some in East Africa - translates 'politely' to Fresh Tripe.

January 7, 2012

“Arrived in our new home after pancake breakfast with colleagues, then marathon shopping trip … lots of lifestyle adjustments ahead … different currency and grocery prices, driving demolition style on other side of the road … need to soak veggies … cooking will take longer at this high altitude … adjustment also to living in the ‘quiet’ countryside … Love our house ...lovely view, lush green hills, great neighbors... but we still have to unpack 6 Large trunks, plus who can sleep when jet lag attacks?” Lots of nudges to prayer in these comments of a missionary transferring to East Africa!
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Later comment made by this missionary after taking this photo from her new back porch: "Adjusting adjusting...But the view is terrific. I'd rather be outside."

January 6, 2012

More from the missionary and Kenyan university students who witnessed among an unreached East African Coastal People Group:  “One person who prayed to receive Christ was the son of a leader of the faith followed by his People Group.  While listening to the students’ testimonies, he was drawn to Christ, but didn't make a decision before the group.  Later, he ran after the students to say, ‘I want to follow Christ.’  Pray for this young man and the other four who received freedom in Christ last week – They will face persecution!  Pray also for those who will disciple these new Believers.”
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Added prayer request sent by an East African pastor: "We need prayer! (Our area) needs Christ,five got saved in three days mission they need God to sustain them."

January 5, 2012

Testimony from one God called to work with an unreached East African Coastal People Group:  “Just as we settled-in among our people, with no new Believers, medical problems required moving to Nairobi and a job with university students. Last week, a group of these students joined me in a two-day trip to share the Gospel with our People!  For most, it was the first time to share with those of another faith; it was the first time to ever share their faith for a couple!  I am praising God!  Five of our unreached coastal People came to Christ thanks to the students’ bold witness!”
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A follow-up of the Dec 27th Prayer Nudge from East Africa -  http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/2011/12/december-27-2011.html

January 4, 2012

Hippo searching on a lake, volleying water filled balloons, baseball with shaving cream filled wiffle balls, talking WHILE eating marshmallows, renewing old friendships and making new friends, Bible study with US volunteers, and 'whirlwind' Holy Spirit experiences – all part of the ‘BREAKOUT AFRICA/ Philippians 3:20’ retreat which ended 2011 and began 2012 for East African IMB missionary teens!  Praise God for this special time for these MKs (missionary kids).  Pray that all they experienced will continue to impact their lives as these ‘Third Culture Kids’ eagerly prepare for their Savior’s return from heaven – the place of their true citizenship! 
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For more on Missionary Kids/Third Culture Kids - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionary_Kids

January 3, 2012

Bible Storying  –  Sharing our Father’s Good News orally through easy to repeat Creation to Christ stories. An East African missionary kid 'Bible Stories' by drawing on an unusual ‘canvas’ – arms and hands with a special ‘paint’ – HENNA. Her designs explain the Bible Story with those lacking the assurances of our Father’s love and salvation! She asks her ‘models’ to repeat her stories with others! Her Mom says: “I love partnering with my daughter in ministry. It has opened so many doors for us to share the Gospel.” Pray for open doors in a high school in their coastal home.
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For more on Chronological Storying, go to: http://imb.org/main/lead/page.asp?StoryID=5892; For more on Henna artwork, go to: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Henna-tattoo/110874462270627?sk=wiki.
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Sorry, those of you who spotted this posting early did catch my mistake - due to multi-tasking too much!  Correct date appears now!

January 2, 2012

"I picked her up and she clung to me. I loved it." Shared by a busy missionary in Uganda, as she hosted a volunteer team ministering among low-income people in an area where many are not Believers.  Pray that as Christians seek to be good stewards of our time and other resources, a very important step as we seek to reach ALL those on the earth in need of our Father’s Eternal Gospel, that we never overlook the unexpected ‘interruptions’ which open the doors for new ways to minister – and new ways for our Father to minister to us!

January 1, 2012

Yesterday during an East African missionary’s last devotion of 2011, God used, “This is the day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves” (2 Kings 7:9) as an “active and alive” (Hebrews 4:12) challenge to penetrate her heart. Join her in praying that Believers in East Africa will begin this new year with a renewed commitment to share our Father’s Good News not only with the people we encounter, but we will move out of our ‘comfort zones’ to find ALL the people in East Africa who need our Father’s love and salvation.