Hello Dear Friends,

Randy was in Accra, Ghana the 2-7^th teaching the Songhai believers there. He had a great time of fellowship with old friends from our very first term there. 

Our volunteer team from Campbellsville University came on the 9^th.   They did a great job.  Painted the school buildings in village B and storied throughout.  My, they have a lot of energy!  They were very active even in 107 degree heat.  They kept going for Jesus! They leave tomorrow and will be missed.  Love having volunteers to come alongside of us and minister to the Songhai.

Susan and Biba (local blvr) continue to prayer walk through the KK area of Niamey.  Praying for someone to whom we can story. 

Kids Clubs are going well too!  Kids love the stories of David.  Pray that we can reach their parents as well.  One Mom was interested in some of the stories. Pray for her interest to grow. 

We are looking forward to our summer missionary to arrive on the 23th.  Please keep him (Mark Reeves) in your prayers.  He will be learning the language and living in village “B” with a young couple we have been living out there.  He has a lot of adjustments to make. As the young couple also has three little girls…  It will be an adjustment for all.

We trust all you Mother’s out there had a wonderful Mother’s Day…

Happy belated Mother’s Day to you all…

We want to thank the Ladies of Hoffmeyer Baptist Church for all your prayers for us.   You all have a special place in our hearts.  Your faithfulness is amazing.  Thank you ladies!

We also want to thank all of you for your prayers and your support to the co-operative Program and the Lottie Moon Offering.

We can NOT do this ministry without you!

Col 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

FOOD STORAGE

Weekly Prayer Focus: Food Shortage

From Songhai Blog

As we eluded to in March's newsletter & as Gomer also referenced in his latest news update, Niger is once again facing a "food crisis." In 2010, it was considered an all out famine. As it stands now, the current situation is still considered to be a "crisis," as in it's on the brink of a famine if something is not done. The government of Niger is working fiercely to alleviate this problem with the help of aid agencies, but as news sources declared yesterday, this may not be enough.

The rains did not fall consistently enough last year to produce good crops. The Songhai, who are mainly fishermen & farmers, rely on these crops that they only harvest once a year to last them throughout the entire year. According to a local aid agency, most villages are working on 50% of what they had the year before. Ayorou is working on 5% of what it had the year before.

This is a "crisis" that is affecting millions across our region but it also hits very close to home when we see our friends, our dear brothers & sisters in Christ, suffering. Some of our friends have had to leave the country to find work elsewhere to try & find money for their families. And although the rainy season is just around the corner, God willing, our friends will not see the fruit of that harvest for another 6 months.

Six more months of trying to scrape by & find a way to feed their families. This is something that I cannot wrap my brain around as I have MORE than enough sitting in my kitchen cabinets to feed my family for the next month. I do not know hunger like they do. I do not know desperation like they do. I do not know sheer dependence on God like they do.

But the amazing thing is that although our friends are suffering, their faith in God has not waivered. Not one bit. They have not once blamed God for this. They have not said, "Where are you God? Why am I suffering?" They continue to praise Him, worship Him & depend on Him for every minute of every day. And I think, "Do I have that kind of faith?"

Please pray for the entire region of West Africa that is facing this crisis. The news reports that 2 million could die of starvation if the right amount of aid is not delivered. Niger would be included in that.

Pray for our brothers & sisters who are suffering because of the food shortage. Pray for God to provide for every one of their needs, above & beyond. Pray for them to be able to have at least one meal a day to put on the table to feed their families. Pray for them to find jobs to be able to afford a meal since last year's crops are already long gone. Pray for them to remain healthy despite the lack of food & especially during this "malaria season."

Most of all, pray for them to remain strong in their faith. Pray they would draw closer to God than ever before as they depend on Him for their every need. Pray for them to seek His face & for Him to comfort them & bring them joy amidst the suffering.

2 Chronicles 7:12-15 Something on My Heart

We are doing fine.  This post is going to be a little different.

2 Chronicles 7:12-15

12  And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;  14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place.

Hello To Our Readers,

Today I want to share with you what God has been doing in my heart. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 has been on my mind for some time now. And I can’t help but wonder why God keeps showing it to me and keeps it on my mind.

Yesterday we applied for our FPCA (Federal Post Card Application) voters application for absentee ballots. To vote is a privilege! 

I thought about our country and how blessed we have been and still are.  Oh, I know we complain.  OOPS did I say that? The people in Moses’ time complained too.  Could it be that we are just like them?  They were discontent with what God was doing in their lives or allowing in their lives. But they forgot that GOD IS IN CONTROL!!! And they forgot to TRUST HIM FULLY!!!! I can’t help but look at our own country and wonder if we aren’t doing the same things that made GOD angry with the Israelites. HE sent them warnings and they turned away… He even wanted to talk with them face to face but they refused.  And when all said and done HE sent armies to conquer them.  Has God not sent warnings to our country? Reminder:  9/11 for one… I remember that day b/c it delayed our travel to the field for our first time.  But I saw people praying and giving God attention that has ceased.  I saw our President then talking to the people and trying to comfort them; a praying president at that.  BUT what happened?  Have we forgotten who GOD really is? I once heard a pastor say, “that the only thing keeping GOD’s hand off our country were the Christians that reside there.”  Is he right?  If and when the Lord takes the Holy Spirit out of this world, will there still be a US of A or will our country be lost before He takes us out to be with HIM?

I said all this to say, whatever we do, we must do it quickly!  For I can see the Lord coming very soon!

And another thing: I am here in a third world country, we see a lot of things here that is not acceptable in other countries and I don’t hear these people complaining… What’s with that?  Most here are without God… What kind of example are we showing them? Start telling yourself you are happy and content with what the Lord has given you.

Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

I love my country and when I retire I want to be at peace with all people…

But I love my Lord more!  And if HE says continue I will continue with how HE leads me…

Someone please give me some feed back????......

Weekly Prayer Focus

Weekly Prayer Focus: Mali

If you've been keeping up with world news recently, the coup d'etat in Mali (centering around the capital city of Bamako) is week-old news to you. What you may not realize though, is what ensued during the chaos that was created by the coup. Two major towns in the northern part of Mali, Gao & Timbuktu, were seized by Tuareg rebels. These two towns are the 2 of the main Songhai villages/towns in Mali. The village of Gao is only about 3 hours from Ayorou.

Please pray for this situation. Pray for peace. Pray for wisdom. Pray for safety & protection of those in these village & those that have fled to seek refuge.

To read more about it, here are a few articles you can click on ...


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123563/Mali-coup-Timbuktu-besieged-government-troops-flee.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17576263

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-01/mali-rebels-push-into-northern-town-of-gao/3925342

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1155024--mali-rebels-attack-timbuktu-amid-post-coup-chaos

March 2012

March 2012 Conference

We thank God for a great conference time in Dumba.  The conference was attended by many local blvrs and their famlies. We also invited several blvrs from other nearby areas. We had three good days of worship and teaching time. We were encouraged to see many of the blvrs wives who were also followers of Jesus.   We had an average attendance of  25 - 30 adults as well as many youth and children.

Susan took some time to start prayer walking in the area where we live.  She has had quite an experience not just with the people but with the Holy Spirit.  It seems He is teaching her things that she had taken for granted.  In looking around one day she saw the different styles of  houses.  The rich having anything one could ask for or even think about having.  The HS called to her attention how this could relate to believers that are all dressed up in their finest clothing, and yet barren on the inside.   Empty without Christ.  She realized that Jesus himself was not a rich person (material wise) but He had everything He needed b/c He knew who His heavenly Father was and is.  Praise the Lord for this recollection that without Christ we are nothing.  All the riches in this world can not give us happiness or salvation.   Only Christ can do that.

Phillipians 4: 19 And my GOD shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus...
We serve a powerful God!!! God bless you all...
Thank you for your prayers and your giving to co-operative Program and Lottie Moon.  Your sacrifices are what keeps us on the field to do what God has called us to do together...Your prayers and our going....

urgent prayer request

urgent prayer request

We covet your prayers for a young boy we refer to as "The Bible" because of his amazing ability to hold onto stories from God's Word. Many of you who've come here know and love him as he's such a sweet kid. He has been a believer for four years and led many of his friends to Christ. We received word yesterday that he'd recanted his faith in Christ. We thought this unbelievable until I called him and he confirmed this and then hung up on me. I called right back and his friend answered saying he wasn't there. I drove over and found him and asked what was going on. He said Satan was tempting him but he was still following Jesus. I pressed a little more and with tear-filled eyes (that doesn't happen much around here) explained that his dad told him he must deny Jesus or get out but he could no longer remain there as a Christian. He asked me to please have all of you pray for him to remain strong and for his dad's heart to be changed. Thanks for your prayers.

February 2012

Hello Dear Friends!

God has been working in and through our believers! We are encouraged to see that our believers are sharing their faith with their friends.
In recent weeks the team has had opportunities to minister with several young men ages 17 to 20. We are encouraged to see the new believers boldly sharing their new faith with their friends.   And showing them the way to follow Jesus.

Also we have been continuing to minister to Betty & Harriet's compound to share Jesus.  They have been doing our E2E stories with them.  They are very close to accepting Christ.  So please pray for them.  Betty & Harriet, as they hear and receive the gospel and also for us as we present the gospel,(that it is presented clearly).
We have also continued to assist in Kids Clubs in our neighborhood.  going out to play!  The kids can tell most of the stories in the Bible and sing some Christian songs.  We thank God for their parents allowing us into their compounds to teach God's Word.

Tomorrow a volunteer group will be coming out to help us minister in one of our villages.  Please pray for them as they travel and as they minister to the Songhai once they are here. Also for their health as the heat is heating up!  We are in for a long hot season!!! We have big plans for this team.  The women will minister to some women in village B as the men go out to do evangelism in the same village.

Let us re- cap some of the work God allowed us to do in 2011...
* Two villages that had previously had NO believers now have a witness.  Read that sentence again.  Two villages that for their entire existence have not had anyone believe or anyone to be a light now have a Gospel witness!
* 27 men and women prayed to recieve Christ and were baptized!
* The Gospel was clearly preached in 16 different villages,
* Two men, both in their 50's and from different villages share the same testimony: "I've been waiting 20 years for someone to tell me about Jesus."
* A new long-term unit joined our team.
* We hosted 12 volunteer teams and 2 summer interns.
* We established a three year partnership with Living Hope Baptist Church who will be sending 4 teams a year to work on "The Road to Karma."
* We re-upped our partnership with First Baptist Hurst Church as they continue to minister on the Mehanna Road.
* We established a new partnership with Mount Olive Baptist Church.
* We created the E2E ministry strategy and implemented it in all our work.
* We trained and sent out our first short term national partners.

Praise Be to God!!!! For the work HE has done!!!
Thank you all for your prayers and support!  We love you all and are so glad you have joined in this kingdom work!  Thank you for you financial support as well... We would not be able to do work like this if you had not given to help keep us on the field... Thank you and please know that this will be added to your heavenly account!  God bless you all!!!

Phi 4:17Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account....



Your servants in Christ Jesus,your account.