Back in the States....

Well, it has been quite the ride. I got home (aka back to Boyce), safe and sound on the night of August 9th. I spent the night with some friends - moved into the dorms on Saturday... classes started Monday afternoon. I started out with church planting (with Dr. K - of whom I highly recommend!).

Sunday was an adventure in and of itself. Being back in American church was nice. It was the first time in quite awhile that I actually understood what was going on in the service. Sunday night I sprained my ankle walking down 3 stairs at Bethany... (that's right, I can climb mountains in Africa with flip-flops - but I can't successfully walk down stairs. That morning I almost fell about a zillion times because I tried my hand at high heels.. of which I can no longer walk in... I think the only shoe I still know how to walk in are flip-flops.)

An hour after spraining my ankle, my boyfriend proposed. (and I said yes, of course.) So now.... 4 classes, 2 jobs, and a fiance.... and I'm still attempting ministry and social life. It's been CRAZY around here.

The other interns (April, Catilin, Thomas, and Logan) just got back like... yesterday. So be praying for them... for their adjustment process. Keep Jody and Sarah in your prayers, as always.

April shared with me some exciting news yesterday - that one of our contacts professed faith in Christ. I'm not sure if she realizes all what that means just yet, but pray that she'll follow through. I'm overjoyed in this!!!

I'm still adjusting. In worldview class last week, the prof asked us each to introduce ourselves and tell what we did this summer - and what God was teaching us. He firstly told us that we didn't have to be one of those crazy missionary people who just got of the plane and are still jet-lagged... etc... and then proceeded to point to me as the first one to go.

Well... I'm one of those crazy people who just got off the plane about a week ago. lol. Yeah. Crazy missions major with henna still all over my hands and feet. Now it's pretty much gone on my hands - but it's still prominent on my feet. Yep... one of those crazy missions majors who's every thought lingers how she can get the Gospel out there... to people who have never even heard the name of Jesus.

Let me tell you though, reverse culture shock is fun.... people are arguing about things that don't matter.... or complaining about food in the caf... and I immediately think of all the starving kids in Niger... who have no food... and who lack an understanding of the Gospel. We take so much for granted here.... and they have nothing there. We sit on our pews and go about life... when people are dying every day and going to hell. We were COMMANDED to take the Gospel to all peoples. The great commission isn't an option. I wish people would understand that.

... and we aren't just commanded to go to all nations - we're commanded to do it at home too. For church planting - my fiance and I are parterning together to try to start something among refuges. It looks like Bethany Baptist will be joining alongside the effort. There are people here in Louisville that don't know Christ. There are refuges from nations in the world that we can't get into - but they're right here in Louisville. The nations came to us... so we should tell them of the greatest news ever.

Where would you be right now if someone didn't share the Gospel with you? Think about that one. That question has stuck and sunk in my heart. It just furthers the passion of getting the Gospel out there.

I'm going to try to keep y'all updated from week to week on our ministry here in Louisville. I think by blog posting - and having an assignment on it - I'm more accountable to doing such things.

Also pray for an upcoming mission trip to Brazil that may happen. I don't know how possible it is that we'll be on it, but it's good to pray for guidance in things like this.

Pray for us. :) Love y'all. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Sorry...

Written August 3, 2013

Well, I was supposed to have updated my blog and contacted everyone - but the Internet went out - and both of the African cell phones are dead - and the guys have our charger. So I have no way of contacting anyone. Hopefully y'all saw my fb post and know I'm safe. There's not a thing I can do about this. I wish there was. 

But in a few days I'll be home anyway - so I guess it doesn't matter that much. It still doesn't seem like I'm leaving this week. I'm in a routine - and I feel like that routine will keep going. 

But anyway - I apologize for the late blog posts. I've got Internet for a little bit now, praise God. 

In other news, going to see giraffes today!! ;) 

Running out of titles...

Written August 2, 2013

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though it's waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. "Be still am know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

This Psalm caught my eye yesterday. I brought both my ESV and my NIV84 - and I had a sticky note in my NIV that a dear friend (who has since passed away) gave to me about 3 years ago. Psalm 46 was written on the note (along with a few others). So out of curiosity- I flipped there. Oh how this Psalm applies to us. 

God is in control. Why should we fear?

God lifts his voice.. And the earth melts.  (God is all powerful)

God declares that He will be exalted in the Nations. (God wants to be glorified)

God's grace is so abundant. I can't even begin to explain or understand the depths of his grace. 

I feel like grace has been the theme of this trip... At least for me. God is sovereign and good - and He deserves all glory and honor. What an amazing lesson. 

Khadijah and Salaamo (the 2 I said may believe in Christ) came to us today. We found out via Sarah that Khadijah does confess Christ and has for awhile. Khadijah said her husband has too. While its hard to tell if this is true - it seems legit. Salaamo - on the other hand is very quiet - and is Khadijah's friend. Khadijah said she first heard of Christ though things that Jody and Sarah had been doing - I guess she just didn't come forth.  Pray that Salaamo might understand - and for Khadijah - that she might grow in her faith.  Maryama also seems very interested and needs prayer. There are so many who seem interested - buy there are so many who refuse to listen. Sometimes I'm not quite sure if they're laughing (when we ask if we can tell a story about Jesus) because of our Zarma, or because of Christ.  I think it might be both - sometimes one - sometimes another. It's so nice to see some fruit. Honestly I wasn't expecting to see any fruit from this trip directly - and there's really no reason why we should. What a blessing!

On another note - Anamarie (Apolonair's mom) said she has confessed Christ since she was Apolonair's age (8? - Apolonair is a believer as well) - and there are many churches in Burkina Faso (another country in Africa). She seems to know what she's talking about - but needs to grow in her faith. Pray for her. Also, she's pregnant - and it's not uncommon for babies to pass away. 

One of our believers (Sakenia) had a baby - and the baby died very quickly - I'm not sure if the baby was stillborn or not.  She was having a bit of a hard time with this. Pray for her. 

I apologize for the butchered spelling of these African names - I had to ask Odette how to spell my own - and she's not here to ask!

On that note - this was our first week without Odette (our translator) and while it is challenging - we know more Zarma than I thought we did. April and Caitlin are awesome with Zarma. I.. On the other hand... Am not so good. Almost all Zarma words sound the same to me. 

Thank you for praying. Keep on praying! And continue to pray even after I leave for April, Caitlin, Logan, and Thomas (they leave on the 20th). Keep Jody and Sarah - and the rest of the Songhai team in your prayers as well. Especially their children who haven't come to the faith yet. 

Thank you for praying for Caitlin and Jody who had malaria - it stays in your system for a good while, but they are feeling better. :)

Pray for God to work this week. I love y'all - and I'll see you soon!

Update! :)

Written July 31, 2013

Well, this week so far hasn't been too exciting. The guys (Jody, Thomas, and Logan) headed out yesterday for a camping trip - to map out villages and such. (They return Friday - so by the time I post this, they'll be back.)

Monday we had a Songhai team meeting - and that was good. Tuesday we did ministry as usual - walking around asking people if they have time to listen to a story about Jesus. Some say yes - some say no. Monday afternoon April, Caitlin, and Sarah went out (so we could introduce Sarah to some of our contacts) - and I stayed in to watch the kids (which was a lot of fun).  

April told me that a few of our newer contacts said they believed in Christ. Now we don't know if they're serious quite yet - but please keep them in your prayers (2 more women not including Fati). There's a difference between knowing what we say is true and actually following Christ. Pray that the Spirit speaks through us to communicate these truths. 

Today (Wednesday) is market day - and usually everyone is at the market selling things - so it's a bit harder to do ministry. I woke up this morning with a sour stomach that was aggravating my Endo - so I stayed in. I bet I'll be fine to go out this afternoon. It's cooled off quite a bit (rain is awesome) - breaks from the heat are so nice. 

Lord willing, A week from today will be my last ministry day here (that is, until I come back... ;) ) Thursday I'll pack up and head to Niamey with the Foxes - we'll debrief and then I believe my plane leaves at 3 am Friday morning  (10pm EST on Thursday)... Which I have a 4 hour layover in Paris and a 2 hour layover in Atlanta - so with all of that it puts me in Louisville around 8:30 pm EST (on the 9th) or 1:30 am Africa time on the 10th  - if all my planes are on time. All together it's about 17 hours in the air - 6 hours of layover - and about 7,200 miles. Then I'll be staying with Tyler & Beth that first night - then I'll move back into the dorms - and the challenges will be readjusting to the states (time change and all) and to school (I've still gotta pay tuition and order textbooks)... And it's back to my usual routine with work. It's going to be hard to readjust. I feel like life here is normal. 

I have missed church - I'll be excited when the service is in English and I can understand it. ;) (we have been going but it's in French and Zarma). Just so y'all know - I plan to be at Bethany the first Sunday I'm back - the next Sunday I'll be at home (BBC). If any of y'all want me to speak at a church about the Songhai and what y'all can do - let me know. Y'all can email me directly at edawson027@students.sbts.edu or email my mom at emilyonmission@gmail.com. 

Anyway... Jody told us this week in our usual bible study time on Sunday night that people have warned him - week 4 with the interns is coming - watch out. It gave the impression that it would be one of the hardest weeks. Honestly, I feel like my hardest weeks were in the beginning - and then I grew to love the Songhai and most aspects of the culture around me - it just took some adjusting. I feel like it's going to take a lot of readjusting to get used to the states again. I'm glad I'm going straight to Boyce though - I've missed school so much. (Not the papers and massive reading assignments - but the community.) 

So in a way I'm excited to get back home. But... I do wish I could stay longer. Most of the people we come into contact with have never heard the name 'Jesus' before - and as Paul says, "...I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, 'Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.' (Romans 15:20-21) 

This week God has been teaching me that He wants all people to know His name - and He wants to be glorified. He wants to be worshiped - because only He is worthy of such. Read Isaiah 52 & 53.

What floors me is that sometimes I expect to be comfortable and accepted - which Christ obviously wasn't. Christ was rejected and despised. It was the will of the LORD to crush Christ - for us. Christ was wounded for our transgressions an iniquities. Who am I to live a comfortable life if our Lord didn't? Don't get me wrong here - comforts are fine - but for the sake of the gospel, we should be willing to give everything up. The gospel is offensive. It will offend people - and you will be rejected because of it - but in that we are partakers of the sufferings of Christ - and that is a blessing. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Romans 1:16)

I love my comforts... My a/c, bed, food that doesn't mess up my stomach - I hate the heat... And I hate bugs... Especially spiders - and I've seen a bunch. I dislike snakes too - and we had a bit of a snake threat this week. Missionaries don't have to love all these things that most people dislike...

But we agree that the gospel is more important than our own comforts. 

The reason I'm in Niger is because the gospel is more important than anything. God is bigger and more glorious than anyone else could ever dream to be. God is worthy. The only reason I can even be here doing this is because of God's grace - because no one even seeks or understands God without God coming to them first. (Romans 3:10-18). So I can take NO CREDIT for any of this.

God is working among the Songhai - and we are beginning to see evidence. God is also working in our hearts. Continue to keep all of us in your prayers - especially the Songhai. Pray for safe travels for me - and a good last week. Keep April, Caitlin, Logan, and Thomas in your prayers. I'm leaving early because of school - they all leave on the 20th. Thank you for your continued prayers and support! Love y'all. 

Until the whole world hears.... ;)