This week...

Written July 26, 2013

I wanted to write a few blogs with a few different topics - but I'm going to try to combine everything together in one. Hopefully this'll make sense to y'all. 

The Bethany team was here and went back home last night - their flight was cancelled - but they should be home or almost home pretty soon. Thank you for praying for them. 

This week has been eventful. Everyone knows why we're here - and women are beginning to face opposition for talking to us. They seem very uncomfortable when we talk about Jesus and the way to get to heaven. They don't wish to be rude at all - so they usually just try to change the topic or they do other things. The men do not approve of us - and that makes things harder - because of the culture. Women are viewed as property. 

Today we got quite a surprise though. Fati - a lady (she's 20 - married, with 2 kids) came and visited us. She wished to talk and say hi. We talked about the stories we told (Creation to Christ - or C2C) and she began to ask questions about how one begins to follow Jesus. She told us that she saw us walking around and overheard what we were saying about different things. (We shared c2c with her, but had to leave because of the men.) She wanted to talk to us but didn't want everyone knowing - as to not face persecution. 

Reminds me of Nicodemus, coming to Jesus at night. 

She said she would think about the things we told her - about trusting in Christ. Please pray for her - that God would open her eyes even more. She says that the things we speak are truth, but she isn't sure that she wants to pay the price. Many times families will try to kill those who convert to Christianity. It's a hard road for those who follow Christ out here. Harder than we (Americans) know. 

My heart rejoices that she came to us. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!! :)

I was reading in Scripture today in Ezekiel 37 - about how God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones and God raised them up to be a mighty army. That they are like Israel - because God will raise up our bones and we will know that He is God. 

God desires all nations to know Him. He sends us as a light - but surely we can do nothing but proclaim who God is, only God can work in such ways. God desires to be worshiped. Truly worshiped for who He is, because He alone is Holy.

One of my favorite Old Testament stories is that of Elijah and the prophets of Baal  - that they set up 2 altars - and the followers of Baal asked him to send fire from heaven - and the fire did not come. But then Elijah dumped buckets of water on his altar, and then  prayed to the LORD, and God sent fire down from heaven that licked up even the water. - and so the people fell on their faces and said the LORD is God. 

Surely, anything is possible with God. Even the belief of the Songhai people. Keep praying for the Songhai people of Boubon. Also, pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are already facing persecution. To truly follow Christ is not easy. It's such a temptation for unbelievers to just add it to the things they already know (like Islam).

God is moving among the Songhai. It might not be evident at times - but He's here. God has not left the Songhai people. His sheep hear His voice. God's people know when God calls them forth.

As for me, my health is doing better - minus my stomach being weird - but I am in Africa. Lol. All of our stomachs are messed up. Of course, it doesn't really help that my Endo gets aggravated when I have a bad stomach - but thank heavens the pain only comes when I'm not out and about. 

Pray for Caitlin. She's still battling malaria - it got better for awhile - but I guess she overdid it one day and it came back strong. 

This was our last week with Odette (our translator) pray that we can still be a witness to Christ - without language. We still know very little Zarma. 

So this week concludes my 3rd week here. (Yesterday marks 3 weeks exactly.) I have 13 days  left here. I've been here for 22 days.... And it's been quite a journey. I feel like before I know it, I'll be on the plane back to home... Full of mixed emotions. I miss everyone at home.. I miss my comforts, but I don't wish to leave Niger. 

Day to day we go walking around (Iri go ga koy windy windy!! [we are walking around] = Zarma) and I'm always the slowest - the last one sort of lagging behind everyone.  (Odette, Caitlin and April walk fastet than most - and I walk slower than most. I don't do it on purpose. I think part of it is that I'm pigeon toed.) In some ways that's good - because people come up to greet me more often - and if someone just peeks around a corner - usually I can catch them to say hello. Some of the children walk slower as well - the little kids. So it gives me a chance to greet those who might otherwise be forgotten. I just wish I knew more Zarma. (Guess I have to study harder.)

There have been quite a few crazy things that have happened this week too - like our stove catching on fire. (Thank heavens for the guys knowing how to fix it. Sarah and Jody were both in Niamey seeing the Bethany team off - and since we don't have a microwave.... The stove is important.) it's a gas stove - the tube wasn't attached all the way and the back burst into flames. But we didn't burn our house down - thank heavens. 

It's been so hot this week. I wish it would just rain so everything would cool down. It looks like it'll rain - and then it doesn't. 

Keep us in your prayers. Remember - after I leave - April, Caitlin, Logan, and Thomas still have 10 days here. So we need to keep praying for them - and then be sure to always keep Sarah and Jody - and their kids, in our prayers. 

Praise God for Fati. Praise God she has listened and understood. :)

I love y'all!! Thank you again for all your encouraging notes - and remember - we're not doing the work - and this is not our battle - but it's God's work and His battle. 

To God be the Glory forever and ever. Amen!

Grace greater than all our sins

Written July 22, 2013

It wouldn't take much for us to be on the other side of things. The Songhai people are no better or worse than us... They just have a different skin color, and are in a different set of circumstances. The only difference is God's grace. God saved us already - and He hasn't saved them quite yet. 

However, we do have a handful of believers - mostly men and very small number of women and children.  He saved them. 

God saved us and knew our names before the beginning of the world. How amazing is that?

Brother Ken lead devotional last night. He lead it on 2nd Chronicles 20. It's King Jehoshaphat's prayer. There was a great horde of enemies coming toward them, so proclaimed a fast all throughout Judah.  

The LORD responded, "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours, but God's.... You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the Salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.... And all Judah and  the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the the LORD." - and when they went out to the watchtower the next morning, the great horde was dead. 

The same is true here. This is God's battle, not ours. We're just the tools He uses. This is so comforting. The grace of the LORD upon us is so great. This gives us only reason to praise Him.

Honestly, there's no where else I'd rather be - than right where God wants me - even if its in Africa, falling asleep outside under mosquito nets.... With a turtle that has massive gas issues 5 feet away. (Only in Africa. Which I'm pretty sure this turtle is still out to get me. It keeps hissing at me.) 

So if it's hard - or in the current case rather stinky - it's not our battle. We can't save anyone. All we can do is proclaim the Gospel for all to hear - keeping our eyes fixed on Christ himself - not on ourselves. 

God's grace is sufficient - in fact, it's the only thing that is sufficient. God is sovereign, good, and just. There is no one like Him in all the universe - and He created you and me. He created the Songhai people. He created this stinky turtle named Mary. He created the stars and the mosquitos. He created the sand and the trees. 

And then we sinned. Adam and Eve were thrown out of the garden because they disobeyed God - and sin was passed down from generation to generation. Because God is a just God, He had to punish Adam and Eve. So death and fear and shame came. Life became hard. BUT God, promised a Savior - who would once again restore man's relationship with God. Christ came. Did things people have never seen before. Said He was the Son of God. People didn't like that - so they plotted to kill Him. But this was God's plan all along - because Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. He BECAME our sin. That's not the end of the story - because Jesus is God - He rose again on the 3rd day... And one day Christ will return. What a glorious day that will be!!! 

The Bible says if we believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, we will be saved. 

That is the message we proclaim - and that is the message we will continue to proclaim. 

Pray for the Songhai women. We went to a lady's compound today - but we were not able to share with her - even though she wanted to hear - because she said the men would not approve (they had just come back) - and she would have to come here to hear. Remember most all the believers are male. It's so much harder for a woman to come because of the culture. 

The word is out - as to why the Americans are here. Some are curious - but not all approve. Pray that we will still be able to share as much as possible. Pray that God would have grace on them - and save them. Pray that we would be strong and courageous and not afraid or dismayed. Pray that God would speak though us - and would keep working on us - until Christ is all we have. 

I would ask for prayers for safe travel for the Bethany team - but by the time I post this, they'll be back home. So praise God for their safe return. 

Thank you for your prayers and support! I love y'all. 

God is so good, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do. (Including saving the Songhai - and you're welcome for getting that song stuck in your head). ;)

Until the whole world hears. <3 ;) Love y'all. 

Pray for...

Last minute requests - Pray for Jody and Caitlin  - they both have malaria. 

Keep praying for the Songhai people of Boubon and Tagabody. Pray that our health keeps up - and that hearts would be open and receptive to the Gospel. 

Thank you! I love y'all and I'll be posting next week!

Sorry I haven't returned every comment, but know I do appreciate them. :) keep them coming! They're a big encouragement. The work is hard out here - encouragement is great! ;)

Just for fun..

You know you're in (West) Africa when...

1. You turn at least 5 shades lighter while taking a shower. (If you're white)

2. You feel the need to shower... 30 seconds after you stepped out of the shower.

3. 80 degrees is cool. 

4. Cold water is a luxury.

5. Dust/dirt appears out of thin air. I mean really... How'd all this dirt get under my mats?

6. Bug spray/sunscreen become a habit - and start to smell good. 

7. When you feel like anasara (Zarma for white person) is your name. 

8. When you feel like cado (Zarma for gift) is your name. 

9. When people look confused when you tell them you aren't married/have no kids - and they proceed to offer to find you a husband/wife. 

10. When every meal comes with rice. 

11. When every dish seems to have an onion, tomato paste and Maggi (chicken bouillon) in it. 

12. When you've seriously considered super gluing a fan to your face. 

13. When your batteries are squishy and only last 24 hours... And leak. 

14. When you have to turn over (while in bed) every 15 mins or so because the side you were laying on is covered in sweat. 

15. When you wake up in the morning your sheets are damp and you're in a pool of sweat.

16. When a turtle wakes you up at 6 am by running into your mosquito net tent. (The pet turtle named Mary... Who is bigger than the cat.)

17. When the call to prayer (Islam) wakes you up at 4:30 am.

(Which, btw, the people here pray in Arabic and have no clue what they're saying... And some of them will say what we're telling them (the Gospel) is true, but they have counted the cost - and do not wish to pay it.)

18. When you have the random urge to sing any and all lion king songs at random moments during the day. 

19. When your excited that you get to wear shorts!!! (Yep. One of the hottest places on Earth, and the culture doesn't approve of shorts - especially for women.) Yay for days in American compounds.

20. When you get excited about a dust storm - because everything cools down after wind and rain.

21. When you feel guilty about leaving any food uneaten. - because there are starving kids in Africa - that are right outside your walls. (And you can't give them your food.)

22. When you can't remember your own name - let alone how to spell it. (The chief's wife renamed us.)

23. When someone actually speaks English, you have no idea what to do.

24. When deodorant does nothing.   

25. When you drink gallons of water a day and never have to use the bathroom.

26. The quality of life improves when everyone your living with has showered. 

27. You think washing machines are from heaven. 

28. Peanut butter is a gift of God - not just because its amazing, but because it doesn't take 30 minutes + to fix. 

29. Your sheets are disgusting after 1 use. 

30. You have no clue what carpet flooring feels like anymore. 

31. You cry when you have to shut the windows because it's raining. 

32. Rainy season means it rains once a week. 

33. Thunder doesn't always mean rain. 

34. Electric fans are a gift from God. 

35. You have no idea what grass is anymore.

36. You don't want to sleep outside because.. A) It might rain or B) your too lazy to take your mat outside. 

37. You've seriously considered shaving off all your hair because it *might* be cooler. (And then one of your team mates comes back with his head shaved). 

38. When you iPhone starts complaining that it hasn't been backed up in weeks. 

39. When everything is funny because it's too stinkin hot. 

40. When things that are supposed to be solid are liquid. Like Neosporin. 

41. When new deodorant breaks in half when you're trying to use it. 

42. When your excuse for everything becomes, "Well, we ARE in Africa".

New as of August 4th**

43. When your friend had surgery to get sand out of her stomach.

44. When you believe flip flop marks are permanently burnt into your feet. 

45. When you think you have a stubborn piece of rice stuck between your toes - and it winds up being skin peeling off from flip flop blisters. 

46. When you don't notice you have a thorn in your heel until you take a shower. (Only applies after a few weeks of being here. In the beginning I had a thorn in my foot every day and noticed it right away.)

47. When walking to school barefoot in the snow uphill both ways - really doesn't seem that bad. 

48. When you think about people wasting peanut butter and get angry. (Because there are IMB interns in Africa who ran out of peanut butter...)

To be added to as I think of things. :)

Today is the day.

Written July 19, 2013

I thought I was going to yet out yesterday - but the girls were exhausted from tagabody. So... We stayed put yesterday. 

This morning we ran inside because it started to rain on us (we were sleeping outside). We took our time getting ready because of the rain. There was this man who came up to our compound and said that his wife was in a motorcycle accident and they had no food - and was a believer.  So we gave him food, then rushed to get ready - so we could go visit his wife in the clinic. 

When we got there, we discovered he had lied.

People will do anything here for a little bit of food or money. (Welcome to West Africa.)

So while that was a little discouraging - I still got out today. :)

As Jo mama says, if that's the worst thing that happens today...

It's a pretty good day. ;)

Looking forward to the rest of today. :)

** and as it was, that was the worst thing that happened that day. The Bethany team made it here safe and sound. - I got to go out too. Even got to share the Gospel with a group of women. It was so nice. 

Keep praying for the Songhai people, for us to be strong and courageous, and for my health. I'm not 100% yet - but I'm getting there. I think I might've picked up a little something while I was down with Endo - I've got a sore throat/ear ache today. Everyone else isn't feeling well either. So I'm going to go ahead and start some antibiotics. I have a feeling if I don't, I'll be down again. Yay weak immune system. (Insert sarcasm here).    - updated July 20, 2013. 

Excitement!

Written July 18, 2013

I can't express to y'all just how excited I am to get out today!!! I can move without excruciating pain - which means... I get to go into Boubon this afternoon!!! (After 3 1/2 days down.) The other ladies went back into tagabody today. They insisted that I not go this morning - because of how rough and exhausting tagabody is. So right now... I'm still laying here waiting... But I'm so much closer - hours away - from getting back out there. 

I had enough energy to fill up the water filter this morning. Major progress. :) It honestly feels great to be up an about - even if its still just in shifts. Feels great to be back in my day clothes. 

I still get tired pretty easy... But by next week I should be back in the full swing of things.

Keep praying for us. I love y'all. 

Dirty feet

Written July 17, 2013 - 9pm (4pm EST)

So most of the day went by and I just laid here. But dinner time came - and I got up and got outside.... Just for a few hours. I got my feet dirty. That's right. Dirty. I got some nice African dirt all over my white-as-paper feet. 

And it felt soooo good. I did okay today. Easing back into life. Tomorrow - after lunch, I'm going to shoot for a trip into the village visiting people. Apparently word around the village is that Nafissa (that's my African name) is sick. One lady came by our wall and asked to see me. It was sweet. (A wave was all she needed - if she wanted something more I didn't catch it. Sometimes I'm glad I don't speak Zarma.)

I am so beyond ready to get back out there (if y'all couldn't already tell by my last few posts). 

The only pain I have right now is a headache... And everyone has a headache. I mean... We ARE in Africa. So I'm fine right now. :) 

Okay... so I may have a little Endo pain.... But it's nothing to complain about right now. I can function at a basic level now. 

Honestly - this Endo bout hasn't been as bad as it could have been. It could've been a whoooole lot worse. I praise God that it wasn't. 

The team from Bethany will be here soon. It'll be good to see familiar faces. 

I'm so thankful for the Bethany team. I'm thankful for the team I'm working with - that they take such good care of me when I don't know what to do. 

I'm also thankful for the luxury of cold water, indoor plumbing, gas stoves,  mosquito nets, and this little 2 room house. (3 rooms if you count the bathroom). 

And right now, I'm thankful most of all for dirty feet. 

Keep praying for us. :)

Goodnight y'all. 

Frustration....

Written July 17, 2013

3rd day down. Pain is worse... And all I want to do is get out of this little home and go and share the Gospel. I. Am. So. Frustrated. I was about 2 seconds away from going anyway - when the girls told me that I shouldn't push it. And I know they're right.... So here I lie. I'm pretty sure my mats are super flat now - because of lying here for 2 (soon to be 3) days. Maybe after lunch I can go out. Maybe.

I don't understand why I have to have Endo pain now... It always flares up at the worst times. I know God has a reason and a purpose for it... But right now, I don't like it. 

Okay.... I never like Endo pain. But God is bigger than Endo pain. 

Maybe after lunch I can go out? Probably not... But I'm getting so antsy. 

**several hours later**

Not going out quite yet. Caitlin and April are a bit insistent that I ease back into things. I'm feeling better than this morning - so that's at least something. I slept all morning and afternoon. My appetite is picking back up - and I'm ready to be better. Lol. I'm getting a bit tired of waiting for my body to tell me it's ready - because I'm ready.

 I feel so detached from my body sometimes. It makes me long for Heaven. There's no more Endo in heaven. No more separation from God - so no more sin. Just us and our Creator. It's perfect. 

There will also not be a need for missions in heaven - because the time period that people are able to be saved will have ended. Missions exists because worship doesn't (Piper). Missions exists because true worship of our one true God does not exist within everyone's hearts. When we all get to heaven, true worship will exist. Everyone in heaven will truly worship God. Everyone. 

And everyone will admit He is Lord. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess.

What a wonderful and frightening day that will be. 

Keep praying for the Songhai people. Pray for April, Caitlin, and Odette  as they go about and share C2C (creation to Christ). 

Pray for me as I adjust back into the work. Pray that the pain will be gone soon, Lord willing.