March 31, 2012

Emptying an overflowing clothes hamper into her washing machine, a missionary discovered the taps were dry.  Much later, she heard gurgling pipes and hit the ON button!  Within seconds, the electricity disappeared!  So, she ‘ran away from home’ – a meal out might lift her spirits.  Then God sent a reality check – this view beside a stream of women hand-washing clothes hauled, possibly for miles, on their heads! As missionaries balance their way of life with that of the people they serve in East Africa, pray they will see and respond through eyes and hearts guided by the Holy Spirit.

*** These women are using not a man-made, but a God made CLOTHES DRYER – bushes!

March 30, 2012

“I have loved you with an everlasting love... Again you will... go out to dance with the joyful." (Jeremiah 31:3,4) Pray for East African missionaries who do claim our Father's assurance of love, yet they are facing frustrations, disappointments and struggles as they minister in situations where Satan is active.  Pray for strong memories of past times when Satan was defeated and God claimed the Glory.  Pray for a strong awareness and bold witness of the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit as they await the moment when they are dancing again with the joyful.

March 29, 2012

From a Journeyman in South Sudan: “Overwhelming day? Totally. Am I looking forward to another rat potentially crawling onto my bed tonight? Definitely not. Am I convinced God cares about the small things like rats and sitting in the village as Nanok, a Toposa friend, fills in the details as I share or rather butcher my way through the story of Jacob and Esau in her language? Absolutely. As you pray for all of us in Toposaland, pray about the little things. And maybe an extra prayer that the rats stay out of my tukel (her round ‘home’)!”

March 28, 2012

What do you see in this photo?  A missionary to East Africa first saw children without shoes hauling water.  Looking more closely, she spotted a bit of creativity (in the hands of first kid) and realized they were likely headed to a soccer match with their ball and drinking water!  As the missionary praised God for these kids having access to a school and families that made sure they attended, she also found herself praising God that the kids had access to water!  Pray also that these kids have ‘access’ to our Father’s Living Water!

March 27, 2012

From the Fishers of Men Team:  Praising God for ‘vision casting” training in Jinja with thirty-three Ugandan church leaders representing over thirty island churches.  Pray for clarity and confidence as these church leaders use what they heard to develop their own personal testimonies and personal evangelism.  Pray also for God’s guidance as they determine the best ways to assist their pastor in developing a vision for reaching their village and surrounding area with the Gospel of Christ.

March 26, 2012

Sometimes volunteers leave East Africa disappointed when few show up for Bible, Discipleship or other training sessions or only one or two accept Christ as their Savior during times of door-to-door witnessing.  What volunteers don’t know is that often their greatest witness is their presence, their touch, their smile.  A missionary once heard an East African woman share how her life was changed forever by the words of a visiting missionary when she was a little girl – a little girl too shy to say anything!   Pray for the affect this encounter with a volunteer will have on this Ugandan child.

March 25, 2012

Praising God for a creative missionary to East Africa dealing with a problem not discussed in Church Planting Training: “As usual our power has not been stable, so I went to purchase fuel for our generator and Land Cruiser.  Electric fuel pumps are required to pump gas (in case you didn’t know).  When there is no power, gas stations use generators to pump gas.  Power was out today and the fuel station’s generator was out of fuel.  What do you do?  Well, you siphon fuel from a friend’s motorcycle so you can fill the generator, so you can pump gas; that’s what you do.  Duh!” 

March 24, 2012

From co-workers in Tanzania: “Ever want to start a dialogue with a friend but unsure how to start? Or maybe you wanted to start a conversation but were concerned it would deteriorate into an angry debate? Today we will host around 200 interested Followers of Jesus Christ from the Kigoma/Ujiji area and surrounding villages in a training session on how to begin Faith Dialogues. We live in an area among people that share some similar Holy Writings. These shared Holy Writings form a basis for beginning Faith Dialogues. Pray as participants learn and then share what they learn this afternoon.”
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UPDATE from co-workers:  Praising God for a fantastic day seeing 225 followers of Jesus learn and then put into practice a new way of opening Faith Dialogues with those of other beliefs. Thankful for our friends who came from afar to teach.

March 23, 2012

A Journeyman working with East African university students had a really, really bad morning.  She bought a mug of good Kenyan coffee and needing a reminder of Good News, she sat down to read Romans.  Reading of the hope and truth that brings life, she prayed that she would meet people without hope who were ready and needed to hear this. The next day she again ordered coffee at a restaurant.  Her waiter asked, “Is that book on your table a Bible?”  He was ready and needed to hear her Good News.  Praise God!  The waiter no longer lacks hope.  He is now a Believer!
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UPDATE from the Journeyman:  Thanks so much for the prayers and encouragement. So far in the past month or so we have seen 9 people come to Christ!

March 22, 2012

Many, so many beautiful things are found in East Africa, including flowers, animals, and especially the people.  But there are also political, social, and economic problems and insecurities which lead to sorrows, burdens and fears.  Pray that East African Believers will claim and be bold ambassadors of the joy and peace that our Father promises in Isaiah 41:9: “You are my servant… so do not fear, for I am with you… I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

March 21, 2012

From a missionary’s journal:  Many asked during our Stateside Assignment, “What do you miss about Africa?”  Positive answer: "Everything!”  True answer:  How hard it was to live, work and survive there. BUT when we returned to East Africa this month, I found myself almost giddy and realized what I did miss:  People with nothing from a worldly perspective, who love us and were happy to see us return; Reuniting with new Believers who sought the One True God in our absence; Our co-workers; Our house church; and living where my skin is so hydrated from the humidity that lotion is unnecessary!

March 20, 2012

Few are surprised when East African missionaries speak of  Sunday worship under a tree or in a home.  But did you know that many East African churches use audio and visual equipment, some powered by electricity, others by generators?  Even in churches miles from electricity, when the pastor says “Open your Bible,” some worshippers ‘open’ a Bible stored on their cell phones!  Praise God that His Good News can be shared under a tree among people with no Bible in their language, as well as in a huge worship centre with the most modern equipment!

*** Photo is of a husband videoing his wife on his iPad as she leads a chorus during the Women’s Day at a Baptist church in Nairobi, Kenya.

March 19, 2012

A missionary on Stateside Assignment asked this week: “What's the real story on current situation in Northern Kenya?”  An East African co-worker answered: “There are reports in local papers of deaths and destructive clashes among the Borana, Turkana, Somali, Gabra and others. Some say it is new rounds of revenge cattle/ camel raids between tribes, others say it is politically motivated. There are also reports of cattle rustling in South Sudan.”  What is not reported, but both missionaries know:  The People Groups involved are found on the lists of Unreached/ Unengaged People Groups – Peoples with limited or no witness of our heavenly Father’s peace.

March 18, 2012

Heard of the “Real Housewives of…”?  Time now for the first episode of “The Real Missionary Kids of East Africa”:  First scenes include MKs celebrating a birthday by fishing in the Indian Ocean, two others feeding piglets (part of their family’s ministry), and another MK playing rugby.  After the ads, an MK cuts a friend’s hair (possible real drama ahead!), while her MK cousin enjoys her first meal without braces, and another MK cooks Ugali for her family’s dinner and takes her special chocolate chip cookies out of the oven!  This episode ends with three MKs heading to the airport to collect their grandmother and cousin!

March 17, 2012

From the Tanzania Maasai Team Blog: “We have attended church in… buildings, under trees, roof shelters with no walls, tents, etc…. with a variety of guests … cows, goats, sheep… chickens, monkeys, baboons... Once… we noticed … an 'S' pattern in the dirt… A small bit of skin was still clinging to the bottom of one of the metal walls… all were very alert during our service… it never showed up, and we continued using our 'object lesson' as we talked about the fall of man with Adam and Eve and how Satan took the form of a SNAKE to make the fall complete.” 
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For more go to: www.tzmaasaiconnection.blogspot.com ; http://baptist-volunteer-tz.net/baptist-volunteer-tz/Welcome.html

March 16, 2012

The next great coffee house chain?  Passing the HOT CAKE HOTEL along an East African road, a missionary thought of God’s command to Abram: “Go from your country, your people… to the land I will show you.”  God offered assurances to Abram, but no maps or warnings of all the adjustments ahead! Pray for a good sense of humor, bravery and a constant sense of God’s guidance as missionaries leave their country and people and face new foods, a different side of the road for driving, the right words to express thoughts even in English, and on and on!

March 15, 2012

"Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name.”  This part is easy, but one can be overwhelmed by the next part of Isaiah 12:4: “Make known among the NATIONS what he has done.”  Where did Jesus tell his disciples to begin being his witnesses?  In Jerusalem, the place where they were standing!  Pray that we will share our news as easily as these kids do with their friends!  Praise God for those who share what God has done in their “Jerusalem…  Judea… and Samaria,” as well as those who go to the “ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  

March 14, 2012

"Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying. Planning and dreaming..."  Not from the Bible, but the lyrics of a 50 year old song which is still popular today.  Pray that this boy's heart is filled with wishes, hopes, prayers, plans and dreams.  Pray that East African Believers will claim the joy and peace offered by their God of hope and their hope will overflow (Romans 15:13) in all they do – which will result in their making certain that the children in their countries are enabled to wish, hope, think, pray, plan and dream!

March 13, 2012

From a missionary in Tanzania: "Praising God for the opportunity my wife has to teach intermediate level English (ESL) over the next two weeks at the Lake Tanganyika Christian College in Kigoma. She had been praying about doing ESL training when we are back in the US this year and a week later this opportunity has come up. Pray for the 15 students who are reading the Gospel of John and having conversations about 'what does it mean' as part of their classroom work. God is so good!"

March 12, 2012

“Go out… ‘keep calm and don’t’ be afraid.  Do not lose heart” (Isaiah 7:3,4).  Pray for wisdom, strength and encouragement for missionaries in East Africa who have GONE OUT in obedience to their Father’s call, but they are LOSING HEART.  Sometimes this is due to personal illness or an illness of a parent or child.  For others it is working diligently, yet not seeing the lost respond to their Father’s love and salvation.  And some are facing spiritual warfare as new Believers deal with nightmares, illnesses and threats.

March 11, 2012

"Last Sunday when my girls came they brought with them one of their friends. I asked, 'What is your name?' She answered, 'I am Abir* and I am Muslim.' Presently we are studying God's plan of salvation. What a great opportunity. The question was raised at the end: (I knew it would come) Is Allah and Jesus the same?"  Pray for wisdom and guidance for this missionary in an East African city as she meets again today with these young women.  *Girl's name has been changed.

March 10, 2012

Is the load on this woman’s head and the chicken tucked under her arm joys or burdens?  Will the chicken be a special meal for guests or is she hoping to sell her last chicken in exchange for needed medicine?  Do you know the traditional answer in many East African languages to “How are you?” “Things are fine” – EVEN when the speaker’s heart is breaking.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will provide extra sensitivity for God’s children in East Africa as they serve as His Heart, Hands and Voice among people facing unknown joys and burdens.

March 9, 2012

Update from IMB couple working among the Maasai of Tanzania who began formal study of the Maasai language last month:  "Another weekend of staying out in the bush and almost getting stuck where we slept but God is good and we got to church on time this time. It has been fun using our limited Maasai introduction at the churches and getting applauded for our feeble attempts. Keep praying for us as we study Maasai."  Photo taken by this couple last year while seeking to plant churches in their area!
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For more: www.tzmaasaiconnection.blogspot.com;  www.baptist-volunteer-tz.net/baptist-volunteer-tz/Welcome.htm

March 8, 2012

Socks, mangoes, bananas, freshly picked tea leaves, and school books.  What do these have in common?  Most East African pastors are bi-vocational and these are some of the items they sell to support their families.   Many pastors are farmers, some are teachers, and others work on building sites or as photographers or doctors, and a few are executives with internet companies!  Pray for strength and encouragement for these pastors as they provide food, school fees, clothes, transport, etc., for their families, shepherd their churches and find time for studies which will enable them to better know and serve their heavenly Father.

March 7, 2012

Many Missionary Kids from East Africa crave triangle or square shaped fried Mandazi(s) for breakfast or a snack – especially with a bit of asali (honey)!  Pray today for new missionaries and MK’s in East Africa as they adjust to the differences, changes, challenges and lack-ofs in their new home.  Pray for peace, joy and a deep sense of being where God wants them as they miss family, friends, and their old, familiar ways of doing things, including enjoying favorite foods, such as an American ‘mandazi’ - Krispie Kremes and Dunkin Donuts – or even a sticky gooey Cinnabun!

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Ready-to-eat Mandazi may be sold at this shop, but the 'wall art' is for a special flour for preparing Mandazis at home!

March 6, 2012

From co-workers assigned to South Sudan:  "Many of you pray for us in the mornings, and I just want you to know that last Friday, while many were praying, God gave me the opportunity to share the gospel in a village among many women, men and children. Thank you for bringing our names before God daily, we never quite know what He has in store for us. Please continue to pray as many seeds were planted."

March 5, 2012

This little one will not remember yesterday, but these women will remember the dedication of Zimmerman Baptist Church in Nairobi, Kenya - Begun thanks to an East African Believer working with Sema Leatherworks telling Bible stories to a group of women and today they are a part of a new church - which does include men!  Praise God for blessing the work of the Nairobi Business as Mission Team and the Sema Leatherworks project! For more, go to http://www.semaleatherworks.com/

March 4, 2012

How does a missionary share God’s love with an Unreached People Group? Walk with a child and hold their hands. Or offer to help their moms and grannies crack desert dates, which looks easy, but… then ask a woman to hold the walnut-sized date as you try again to successfully crack it with a small rock – which leads to laughter as the woman with the larger rock ‘cutting board’ nestled between her defenseless legs answers in Toposa, “Absolutely NOT!” That’s how one builds a relationship which allows opportunities for sharing one’s heart and stories about a special man named Jesus!

March 3, 2012

Did you know UNICEF* says that the life expectancy of an East African kid this age is 50 to 57 years – compared to the lower 80’s in the USA, Canada, or Great Britain.  In East African countries, 50 to 80 of every thousand kids born the year of this little one died before their first birthday?  In the USA, the ‘infant mortality rate (under one)’ was 7 out of 1000 babies.  And for some countries in our world, including several from other Sub-Saharan African countries, contrasts to industrialized countries are even greater!
* http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html  (look for STATISTICS of each country)

March 2, 2012

More from new missionaries to East Africa:  "We are seeing so many blessings from God. We have been asked by a few local men to start a Bible study – they are hungry for knowing God's Word. God is laying before us opportunity after opportunity. While our focus is language and culture learning for the next year, we need to make sure we are balancing that with ministry. Next year, we face another transition as we head north and say goodbye to the 'town life' and hello to isolation and the bush."
THANKFULLY, not total isolation, their new pets will go with them!

March 1, 2012

From a brand new missionary:  “’Fish out of water’ – a phrase we are learning to understand. While God has really provided and blessed us beyond our expectations, there are adjustments. We must cook rice, oatmeal, eggs and dried fish each day to feed our dogs.  No gas for our washing machine leads to using the modern marvel in the photo! AND language learning – We must know the tone of a word as well as the pronunciation. We tried to ask how someone was, but instead asked where their boyfriend was. Our language teacher has a lot of patience with us.”