We want to thank you so much for lifting us before the Father. He is truly working here. In our last letter, we asked you to pray for the five volunteers who were joining us to visit door-to-door in three different neighborhoods. They were a great help to us as we distributed over 300 pieces of media (books, Bibles, cassettes, DVD’s, CD’s). Most every household was willing to receive these gifts. Please pray that these seeds that have been planted will take root and grow into people following our Savior and having true peace, joy, and eternal life!
Now we are trying to follow up on those who seemed the most interested in understanding what we had to share with them. We were welcomed into many homes, but some were only being polite. We are praying that we will be able to talk more with those who are truly seeking. Today, Crystal and her sister went out to visit a family. A young man in the household was asking many questions about one of the testimonies he had watched on the DVD we had left before. They were able to share with him the way to have peace with God. Please pray for Kirk as he is thinking. He is supposed to come to our home to visit this Sunday evening.
Also, today, Crystal and her sister were able to visit at the school near our home. We are planning on giving them some books in English that are no longer being used at our Baptist center. We met with the principal and some others. They were very happy about adding these textbooks to their library. Please pray for this junior high school named David Diop. They have about 800-900 students! We have a relationship with this school because of the students who come to swing and play in the park in front of our house. We are praying about how this relationship can be built upon to reach teachers and students in our small part of this vast city. The Lord is so good about bringing all things about to accomplish His purposes!
Also, please be praying for our basketball clinic that will be coming up the first of July. Don’t worry, we’re not coaching!! We have volunteers coming from Florida and New England to help us reach families in the Castor/Derkle neighborhoods. This is the fourth year for this clinic here. We have great relationships already. Please pray that people would be open to hearing why we believe and live differently than they do. Pray that all of us will share boldly in every home where we visit. Pray that people will decide to follow Christ.
Oh, we can’t forget our friends, Mariah and Shaun. She is still reading her Bible and asking Crystal lots of questions. Chad has been able to spend time with Shaun showing how to live a life that honors God. The other night, this couple was able to talk with Crystal’s mother about why she is full of joy. She was able to share her faith with them.
We are so excited to see God at work and so privileged to be a part of the work! Please keep on praying. Just when we get so tired and think that nothing is happening, we press on and see that much IS happening. We could not continue, though, without your support. WE THANK YOU!!!!!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Volunteers & Visitors
We hope you are doing well in your part of the world. We are sailing right along into visitor and volunteer season here. Chad’s grandparents were just here for a couple of weeks. We had a wonderful time visiting with them and showing them our life here. Chad’s grandfather even got to share some Bible stories with a digital player in the park in front of our house. The people knew that it must be important if this older gentleman was taking time to share it! Please pray that the families our grandparents met will remember what was shared and will ask more questions about following The Way.
Today, we just had a group of volunteers come in to prayerwalk and share CD’s, cassettes, and DVD’s with people in several neighborhoods around us. They will be here until next Monday. Please be in prayer for them and the people they meet. Pray for hearts to be open and receptive to the Truth from God’s Word. Pray that we all will have the stamina to go out for several hours each day. Pray that all of our team members will be able to translate well as the volunteers share their testimonies. You can pray for our volunteers by name: Rick, Charles, Wayne, Sandi, and Leah. We are really looking forward to what God is going to accomplish this week!
This note is short because we wanted to ask you to be praying for us and our volunteers this week. We will write more in a report next week.
We thank you so much for praying!!
Today, we just had a group of volunteers come in to prayerwalk and share CD’s, cassettes, and DVD’s with people in several neighborhoods around us. They will be here until next Monday. Please be in prayer for them and the people they meet. Pray for hearts to be open and receptive to the Truth from God’s Word. Pray that we all will have the stamina to go out for several hours each day. Pray that all of our team members will be able to translate well as the volunteers share their testimonies. You can pray for our volunteers by name: Rick, Charles, Wayne, Sandi, and Leah. We are really looking forward to what God is going to accomplish this week!
This note is short because we wanted to ask you to be praying for us and our volunteers this week. We will write more in a report next week.
We thank you so much for praying!!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Uncomfortable...
...Is what we are most of the time here in our city. No, it's not because of the weather. We've gotten used to that. It's not because of our house, a lack of good food, or lack of a nice vehicle to drive. All of these things are wonderfully provided by many of you through your gifts to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering - and we thank you.
No, we are often uncomfortable because we live in a place of spiritual darkness. Our spirits are heavy. We are burdened for the people of this city who are following a religion that has twisted the Truth. Therefore, the ruler of this world has free reign. You can definitely see it as people are so jealous of one another, fearful of curses being put on them, and unsure of what will happen to them when they die. They are worried about appeasing God so that He won't be angry with them and do terrible things to them. We see hundreds of people every day who are lost and have no hope.
As we go out each week, we actually place ourselves in awkward and uncomfortable situations. In an effort to befriend our neighbors, we attend baby naming ceremonies, weddings, holiday celebrations, and neighborhood get-togethers where we don't know what to say or what to do or how to fit-in. We are constantly looking for an opening in a conversation to share the truth of the Gospel. You would think that we would finally get comfortable - but we don't. You see, there is a lot at stake. Our enemy does not want us to succeed because he wants everyone to stay deceived in darkness. We are bringing light and he is doing every thing he can to snuff it out. He distracts people. He makes them deaf. He scares them.
However, praise God that He helps us through every conversation and every situation. His Spirit has gone ahead of us and is preparing the hearts of people to receive the Truth. And here is where you come in. We need you. We need you to pray fervently for us and our co-workers. We need you praying for the people we have listed in newsletters. We need you praying that we can hand out materials (cassettes, DVD's, Bibles) and share the Gospel at least four times per week. Please pray that barriers would be removed and that they wouldn't be afraid to listen to what we have to say. Pray that their hearts would be open to hearing the Truth.
Thank you so much for praying for Mariah and Shaun last week. Crystal's time with them went well. Our boys behaved amazingly well (truly a miracle!). Mariah has been "devouring" the Word. She had questions about creation and fasting last week, and we had a wonderful discussion. She said she had more questions, but she had forgotten them. She is going to start writing them down so that we can discuss them. We have been praying in their home and for their housekeeper. They say they have a greater peace now. Please continue to pray for this family because there will come a time of crisis in their belief system. Pray that they will desire to follow Christ.
Last, but certainly not least, please pray for our family February 18-22. Crystal will be traveling to Abidjan for a conference, and Chad will be staying at home with the boys. He will work half days at the office while Chase is in school. Please pray that all goes smoothly.
No, we are often uncomfortable because we live in a place of spiritual darkness. Our spirits are heavy. We are burdened for the people of this city who are following a religion that has twisted the Truth. Therefore, the ruler of this world has free reign. You can definitely see it as people are so jealous of one another, fearful of curses being put on them, and unsure of what will happen to them when they die. They are worried about appeasing God so that He won't be angry with them and do terrible things to them. We see hundreds of people every day who are lost and have no hope.
As we go out each week, we actually place ourselves in awkward and uncomfortable situations. In an effort to befriend our neighbors, we attend baby naming ceremonies, weddings, holiday celebrations, and neighborhood get-togethers where we don't know what to say or what to do or how to fit-in. We are constantly looking for an opening in a conversation to share the truth of the Gospel. You would think that we would finally get comfortable - but we don't. You see, there is a lot at stake. Our enemy does not want us to succeed because he wants everyone to stay deceived in darkness. We are bringing light and he is doing every thing he can to snuff it out. He distracts people. He makes them deaf. He scares them.
However, praise God that He helps us through every conversation and every situation. His Spirit has gone ahead of us and is preparing the hearts of people to receive the Truth. And here is where you come in. We need you. We need you to pray fervently for us and our co-workers. We need you praying for the people we have listed in newsletters. We need you praying that we can hand out materials (cassettes, DVD's, Bibles) and share the Gospel at least four times per week. Please pray that barriers would be removed and that they wouldn't be afraid to listen to what we have to say. Pray that their hearts would be open to hearing the Truth.
Thank you so much for praying for Mariah and Shaun last week. Crystal's time with them went well. Our boys behaved amazingly well (truly a miracle!). Mariah has been "devouring" the Word. She had questions about creation and fasting last week, and we had a wonderful discussion. She said she had more questions, but she had forgotten them. She is going to start writing them down so that we can discuss them. We have been praying in their home and for their housekeeper. They say they have a greater peace now. Please continue to pray for this family because there will come a time of crisis in their belief system. Pray that they will desire to follow Christ.
Last, but certainly not least, please pray for our family February 18-22. Crystal will be traveling to Abidjan for a conference, and Chad will be staying at home with the boys. He will work half days at the office while Chase is in school. Please pray that all goes smoothly.
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