New updates...

Taking a short break, but new Updates will reappear on October 1st!

September 25, 2012

The toddler hovered at the door for minutes, but never stepped outside.  Was he afraid of going alone? Was he obeying his mother by staying inside the church?  A missionary in East Africa is facing lots of open ‘doors’ or ministry opportunities – ‘doors’ to sharing the gospel with more Samburu, his Being-Reached People, and with neighboring Unreached Peoples. Pray for wisdom and boldness as he chooses which ‘doors’ to enter and which to pass; which of the Samburu Believers to take with him as he enters some ‘doors’; and which ‘doors’ he should not enter, but equip Samburu Believers to enter.

September 24, 2012

Shared yesterday on the “TZ Maasai Connection” Facebook Page* - Please be in prayer for the Maasai of Tanzania. There was an altercation between sub-clans that began over grass for their herds. It migrated to a nearby town where, due to additional fighting, police and other officials were called in to assist. More than 40 people were injured and some sent to a hospital in a larger town. Pray that these disputes will be resolved, Maasai protected, and that the work of God that has begun among them will not be hampered by these events.
* https://www.facebook.com/groups/116586508383372/

September 23, 2012

NOT A GREAT photo, but a GREAT visual of why many people, even entire People Groups, have not responded to or heard of our Fathers’ love and salvation.  Sometimes knowledge of the People is FUZZY resulting in a FUZZY or difficult to understand presentation by Believers.  Sometimes the ears, minds and hearts of those without our Father’s Good News are LOCKED due to location, language, fear, political motivations, as well as existing cultural and religious beliefs.  Pray that these LOCKS will be released and there will be a clear and understandable proclamation of the eternal gospel to “every nation, tribe, language and people” (Rev. 14:6).

September 22, 2012

DIFFERENT – Synonyms include dissimilar and unalike.  Yet we often equate DIFFERENT with bad or evil, especially DIFFERENCES of other faiths, rather than seeing these DIFFERENCES as witnessing tools!  Hindus are in the midst of a birthday celebration for Lord Ganesh, their god of wisdom, thus an open door for dialogue about the wisdom of our Heavenly Father.  When Hindus build homes or businesses, they have special times of worship, with decorations on doors and gates, praying for Lord Ganesh’s blessings. Believers can also have worship at new homes and offices, including non-Christian friends in a time of praising our Father for His care and blessings!
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More ways to open doors of communication with Hindu friends and acquaintances and how to share your source of wisdom and blessings can be found at http://willyoucare.org.

September 21, 2012

When the electricity blinks off during worship services in one East African city, which happens often, one pastor always shouts, “Praise God.”  One Missionary Kid tried this when her homework was enveloped by darkness and learned it does improve one’s attitude.  It also usually leads to those around you laughing as they fumble for a match to light candles.  Pray today for East African Believers dealing with family problems, health issues, disappointments, and insecurity.   Pray that they will keep their focus on praising their heavenly Father as they claim His strength, wisdom, peace and joy during the difficult times.

September 20, 2012

Yesterday, Hindus began a ten day birthday celebration for Lord Ganesha.  The most elaborate celebrations will take place in South Asia, but Hindus living in sub-Saharan Africa and around our world will also take part in celebrations.  WIKIPEDIA reports that Ganesha, a god of power and wisdom, “grants success, prosperity and protection against adversity… Hindus of all denominations invoke him at the beginning of prayers, important undertakings, and religious ceremonies.” Ways to open doors of communication with Hindu friends and acquaintances and how to share your source of power and wisdom can be found at http://willyoucare.org.

September 19, 2012

As East African teens and university students prepared for their church’s first Mission’s Sunday Parade of Flags, many younger kids, drawn by the colour and the excitement of their older friends, slipped out of the service to watch.  The ‘foreign’ missionary observing all of this was also excited!  She knew the flag bearers had already made mission trips within their city or among Unreached Peoples, which meant they were fellow workers in our Father’s Harvest Field.  She also knew from personal experience that the little kids may remember this event as the day they began dreaming of serving as missionaries!

September 18, 2012

Mouse birds:  Known not only for their gymnastic feats and permanent 'problem' of bad hair days, but for being the only “bird order confined entirely” to sub-Saharan Africa (Wikipedia).  Pray today for missionaries facing problems which they cannot openly share in prayer letters.  Pray for joy for those facing family problems, peace for those dealing with separation from loved ones, wisdom for those needing to make decisions, encouragement for those facing disappointments, sensitivity for those ministering in situations where new Believers risk persecution, and whatever else the Holy Spirit nudges you to pray.

September 17, 2012

No chains in sight, but this locked gate and barbed wire overlooking East African tea fields is a great visual for Paul's words in 2 Timothy 2:8,9: “This is my gospel,  for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.”  Pray today for Believers who are proclaiming the eternal gospel to those whose religious backgrounds serve as chains, especially if the listeners accept our Father’s love and salvation.  Pray for sensitivity for the ones sharing the gospel and protection and strength for those who desire the freedoms found in God’s words.

September 16, 2012

The finale of the “stuck” story from South Sudan:  “28 hours later and they have finally made it back… I crossed the river and thru many mega mud pits to rescue them all!  One volunteer’s version of yesterday’s adventure: ‘Thanks to flash flood, we got stuck/ unstuck seven times, repaired winch three times… until it burned up completely, the seven of us slept in the truck until sun up, and saw Jesus save ten people from their sin while we were getting unstuck, and two of them baptized in the waters that gave us so much trouble! That is why these people are unreached. Not because they don't want Jesus but because it is just stinkin hard....’"

September 15, 2012

Part 2 of the South Sudan ‘stuck’ story continues an hour after midnight: “Hubby just called... they are going to sleep at the vehicle and try to get home in the morning. The winch is no longer working… will keep you posted.”  7:00 the next morning:  “Still not home.  He called asking me to try and make it to them in the other truck to winch them out. Please pray as I now venture out in the mud and cross the river. Thankful for a satellite phone to communicate with!” Tomorrow's nudge:  How God USED the mud for His glory!

September 14, 2012

Shared by a worker among Unreached Peoples in South Sudan at 8:45 one night last week:  “Pray for my hubby and our volunteer team.   They left at 9:30 this morning and have been stuck several times in the mud… trying to return home… never made it to the village due to heavy rains… now stuck about 30 minutes from home trying to repair a broken winch… still have the river to cross… they are tired and frustrated!”  Update added after midnight:  “Just talked and they are still stuck. I will let you know when I know more. Please continue to pray for their safety.” (Continued tomorrow)

September 13, 2012

How God answered 'nudges' shared on September 8th:  “The meeting for an unreached East African People went well. We had less that we hoped for but still had over 50 come. We had a good time of teaching. We were blessed in meeting a believer that we didn't know about. Two ladies prayed to receive Christ and one lady, who has been indecisive in the past, shared her testimony and was baptized. I believe that everyone who needed to be there was there. Thank you for lifting the meeting up.”

September 12, 2012

All dressed up and ready to take East African tourists for a ride!  WARNING: You might want to stop reading now and simply enjoy today’s photo.  Why?  Because the Peoples of Kenya’s Tana River Delta, people who daily see camels, lack joy today.*  Once again, the Orma (herdsmen) and Pokomo (farmers/fishermen) Peoples have been attacking one another’s villages again (see August 24^th nudge).  Thirty-eight people were killed on Monday and three more yesterday as retaliatory attacks continue. Additional ‘news’ that Believers need to know and act upon:  Many people affected by these attacks have never heard of our Father’s Good News! 

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* “Tension high in Tana Delta as 38 killed” at http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Tension+high+in+Tana+Delta+/-/1056/1502800/-/item/0/-/l4agavz/-/index.html and “In Pictures: Tana River Clashes” at http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/1501758/-/xulnlrz/-/index.html

September 11, 2012

NOT iced tea or coke, but kitchen tap water in several missionary homes last week!  As their frustration grew, reality hit. There WAS water in their taps AND they usually had water, even if it was almost always a slightly trashy drizzle.  Many of their friends and those they minister among rely on 'hauled-in' water in their homes; those with ‘running’ water often go weeks and weeks with dry taps! Pray today for patience, strength and an awareness of blessings as East African Believers face daily frustrations while seeking to share the love and salvation of the ONE who offers LIVING WATER.
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As there is possibly lots of 'impurities' LIVING in this glass of water, it might be more correct to say "Living PURE water!"

September 10, 2012

And ANOTHER ‘What Do Volunteers Do?’ Recently volunteers held VBS/Soccer Camp at two elementary schools among the Maasai People of Tanzania.  They told Bible Stories, guided kids in craft projects, and led a soccer camp on the school soccer pitch (a dirt field with 2 sticks at both ends to serve as 'goals').  The students could not believe these ‘older white people’ could or would play 'futbol' with them.  The team also visited in the students’ homes, sharing Bible stories and praying with the families.  Trip highlight:  The team saw many Maasai make a profession of faith in Christ.
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For more of what these volunteers did, go to: http://www.tzmaasaiconnection.blogspot.com/2012/09/of-vbs-and-soccer-camp.html

September 9, 2012

Another 'What Do Volunteers Do'? An answer from the Lugbara People Team, who hosted Grow Camp 2012 (the camp you prayed for on May 2nd/26th and August 14th/22nd) for 48 Ugandan students and a few Missionary Kids last month. “The eight volunteers from Iowa and Florida were blessed with travel safety and health during their journey. Praise the Lord for their willingness to travel, eat different food, spend long hours teaching students, bathe in a bucket of cold water, and sleep on a 3 inch mattress so that others may know Jesus in a personal way and be trained to share Him with others.”

September 8, 2012

An annual fellowship is being held this weekend for an East African Unreached People. One of those planning the fellowship shares: “There will be Believers and non- Believers. We are dealing with some very counter cultural issues of faith. Pray that many will come and will here exactly what God wants them to learn during the meeting, which will include showing the JESUS film, teaching, fellowship, and baptism (I hope) in a fairly resistant area.”

September 7, 2012

More from a couple researching the Unreached People of South Sudan:  “Leer… a small town… no electricity… running water… banks… real restaurants… no fuel stations… actually here is Peace in the Land fuel station… We wondered at the lack of permanent structures… Leer was burned down during the continuing conflict in Sudan – not once but three times in 1998… God works, even through hardship, war, fleeing your home to another country – this is (one Believer’s) testimony – not of what he endured, but that God worked in his life to bring him to salvation and a life of service to Him.  Glory to God!"
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For how a ‘fuel station’ functions without electricity and prayer requests go to:  “Exploring Unity State Part 4” at http://exploringtheland.blogspot.com/2012/09/exploring-unity-state-part-4.html

September 6, 2012

Another photo chosen simply to get your attention!  Why? Because photos illustrating some news articles might not get your attention – such as “Ebola caseload soars in eastern DR Congo” or “Islamists struggle to run North Mali” or “Forecasts Severe Drought in Parts of Zimbabwe.”*   When you read of news far from home, do you ever question if the Peoples of this place have heard of our Father’s love, peace and joy?   Do you know how to find this information? When the Holy Spirit places news such as these before you, will you take time to explore http://www.imb.org/main/aroundtheworld.asp  and http://www.joshuaproject.net/?
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* Ebola caseload soars in eastern DR Congo/DAILY MONITOR: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/World/Ebola+caseload+soars+in+eastern+DR+Congo/-/688340/1496824/-/lx7qvs/-/index.html
Islamists struggle to run North Mali/The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/world/africa/holding-northern-mali-by-force-islamists-struggle-to-run-it.html?_r=1&ref=africa
Forecasts Severe Drought in Parts of Zimbabwe/All Africa: http://allafrica.com/stories/201209050184.html

September 5, 2012

"In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with ____.”  Paul could have used sorrow, confusion, excitement, expectation, or many other words to complete his sentence in Philippians 1:4.  He chose "JOY!"  Missionaries in East Africa offer another word – UNDERSTANDING – the reason they send newsletters, post on blogs and add notes to Facebook.  They want knowledgeable prayer for their Peoples!  Viewing this photo of a road entering a Nairobi informal settlement, how will you complete the sentence?  To get you started – How many prayer nudges can you find at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawangware?

September 4, 2012

A riddle – An East African seminary professor peruses out-of-print books while preparing for a church history course; a new missionary follows recipes while learning to bake a from-scratch cake; hundreds of miles from a library, a Missionary Kid reads the Little House on the Prairie series; a missionary finds answers to a gardening problem; a colleague makes friends with a village kid by teaching him to play Dots ‘n Boxes – which he promptly wins!  How was all this done without touching anything made of paper?  By using a modern tool valued by many missionaries – A KINDLE!

September 3, 2012

What do missionaries serving among Unreached Peoples or Peoples barely reached by the Gospel message do?  They tell Bible Stories and share their testimonies.  They also listen to the testimonies of the few Believers they meet. They learn how these Believers show Christ’s love to their own people – even in impossible (to man) situations!  They learn about the local culture and how to best share the Gospel message with the people of the area. They bring special gifts – Bibles in a local language – BUT they don’t have to carry the Bibles to a storage room as there are lots of excited helpers!
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For more of this story, go to http://exploringtheland.blogspot.com/2012/08/exploring-unity-state-part-3.html

September 2, 2012

From a missionary Mom: “Daughter #2 is down a bit (tummy)... the good thing about homeschool is she laid on the couch for Charlotte's Web, Civil War US History, picking out adverbs/subject-nouns/verbs etc., and got some extra snuggles from the puppies at the same time.” Pray today for wisdom, creativity and patience for missionary parents who have the additional job of homeschooling their kids. Pray also for those days when homeschooled missionary kids need patience with their teachers!

September 1, 2012

Thoughts of coconuts and palm trees swaying in a tropical setting bring peace and calm for many, something needed by Believers in our world living in areas lacking peace and calm.  How can you pray when you read of unrest in our world?  One missionary to East Africa experiencing a very non-peaceful time shares her answer?  “Friends, thank you for your phone calls and prayers this week. They have meant so much to my family and to me! So thankful we have the peace that passes understanding. Pray it will continue to guard our hearts and minds this week.”