A story and prayer request from our on-the-field Maninka team.
A member of the Maninka team shares, “When we first moved to our city several years ago, I asked a young Maninka woman to explain her understanding of Christmas and its customs. She saw it as a time when we Christians prepared food as a sacrifice and then shared it with our friends as gifts. A worker had once given her baked goods at Christmas and that is how she interpreted the gift, even though the worker had shared the Christmas story with her. Often the message we share is seen through a cultural lens. Please pray that this Christmas season the Maninka team will have many opportunities to share the story of the Savior’s coming and the hope that it brings. As we talk about Christmas with our friends and with university students, pray that our message will be clear and God’s Spirit will speak across cultures.”
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Farmers Needed
A certain village suffered greatly due to a lack of food among those who lived there. A farmer who lived in the village was prepared, because he had brought new seed from his father’s village many miles away. There was even plenty of available land surrounding the village. However, the farmer was only one man. He could not sow enough seed by himself to eventually feed all the villagers. Though the villagers were hungry, they did not understand the importance of what the farmer was trying to do. The farmer had even sent word to his father’s village that he needed help. Yet, because his father’s village had already begun harvesting a good crop, they did not grasp the urgency of the farmer’s request. They planned on sending a few farmers, but not until they finished their own work.
This parable illustrates the challenge that faces missionaries among the Maninka people in one area. Village upon village fills the landscape of this region, yet presently there is only one IMB couple trying to plant seeds in a vast area. Thank God for four new villages that were recently visited by a volunteer team from Tennessee who was able to present copies of Genesis and Luke in the local language to the village elders in addition to helping missionaries share the story of Christ. Pray for wisdom as they plan on how to proceed in working with these villages and following up on these visits, and pray for more “farmers” to come and share the task.
This was a recent prayer request found at www.gowestafrica.org from the Maninka Team of West Africa.
Please pray as our team for the February trip is being put together. Pray for more "farmers" to catch the vision for these four new villages.
This parable illustrates the challenge that faces missionaries among the Maninka people in one area. Village upon village fills the landscape of this region, yet presently there is only one IMB couple trying to plant seeds in a vast area. Thank God for four new villages that were recently visited by a volunteer team from Tennessee who was able to present copies of Genesis and Luke in the local language to the village elders in addition to helping missionaries share the story of Christ. Pray for wisdom as they plan on how to proceed in working with these villages and following up on these visits, and pray for more “farmers” to come and share the task.
This was a recent prayer request found at www.gowestafrica.org from the Maninka Team of West Africa.
Please pray as our team for the February trip is being put together. Pray for more "farmers" to catch the vision for these four new villages.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Special Focus Prayer Items for November 2008
These requests come from our West Africa Regional Prayer Advocate. Thank you for joining us in prayer over this region of the world.
God Opens More Doors
God continues to pour out his blessing on a new strategic ministry to distribute Bible stories in an oral format to truck drivers in West Africa. The missionary who is heading up this project gives another amazing report of how God is at work: “What a wonderful time when eight African brothers in Christ and four missionary colleagues met together, working for five days into the night to learn Bible stories and craft them into a format that can be retold in an understandable way. You prayed that an accurate telling of these stories would be recorded on tape for the truck driver ministry, and this prayer was answered. You prayed that the vision could be captured and here is the response of one African brother: ‘...Madame, we were going to surprise you, but since you asked...When we returned to Togo, we met together again. We've found several contacts at the ports...We're meeting again to divide the work, and we've been given one hour of free air time on the local radio every Tuesday. We're going to tell the stories and ask the questions in three different languages! The listeners can call in while we are at the radio station. We also have another number they can call when we're not on the air. Please pray for us as we meet and choose our stories...’ May God receive all the glory! Pray that the truck drivers will begin to spread the Gospel throughout this region of the world.”
“Multi-tasking” for God
Business Facilitators are responsible for many logistics such as housing and transportation so that other missionaries can have more time to share the gospel. This fall, three business facilitators attended a church planting conference with several of their missionary colleagues. God showed these business facilitators how to be involved in church planting while continuing their office work. Ask the Lord to give business facilitators in West Africa wisdom to know how to manage their time so that they can accomplish their business-related tasks and also share the gospel with unreached people groups.
Being Accountable
More and more West Africans are discovering that they can lead a chronological Bible storying group and are taking this responsibility seriously. After a missionary couple introduced the concept of keeping track of the Bible Stories that are shared with others, one believer created his own accountability system. As he walked from the first chronological Bible storying workshop one Friday to the second workshop that was held on Monday, he made marks to indicate the stories that he shared and how many people had listened. Then he explained this simple method to the participants in the Monday group. As you pray for West African believers who continue to spread The Word, remember that we are all accountable for sharing Christ with others!
A Child Shall Lead Them. . .
A positive attitude is vital on the mission field, especially in areas with limited amenities. Living in basic conditions over an extended period of time can wear on the body, mind, and spirit. A new missionary couple shares this recent experience about their four-year-old son: “Last week became unexpectedly difficult when the weather was hot and the electricity spent more time off than on. One evening the electricity turned off and Lucas, the ever-optimist, shouted, ‘YES! No electricity! Can we have our glow sticks now?’ Not much could dampen his spirit except when the electricity turned back on about 15 minutes later. Lucas looked about ready to cry. We quickly assured him that we could still turn off all the lights and continue playing "Hide the Glow Stick." Pray that missionaries and “missionary kids” living in West Africa will exhibit a positive attitude as they face challenges in their daily lives.
God Opens More Doors
God continues to pour out his blessing on a new strategic ministry to distribute Bible stories in an oral format to truck drivers in West Africa. The missionary who is heading up this project gives another amazing report of how God is at work: “What a wonderful time when eight African brothers in Christ and four missionary colleagues met together, working for five days into the night to learn Bible stories and craft them into a format that can be retold in an understandable way. You prayed that an accurate telling of these stories would be recorded on tape for the truck driver ministry, and this prayer was answered. You prayed that the vision could be captured and here is the response of one African brother: ‘...Madame, we were going to surprise you, but since you asked...When we returned to Togo, we met together again. We've found several contacts at the ports...We're meeting again to divide the work, and we've been given one hour of free air time on the local radio every Tuesday. We're going to tell the stories and ask the questions in three different languages! The listeners can call in while we are at the radio station. We also have another number they can call when we're not on the air. Please pray for us as we meet and choose our stories...’ May God receive all the glory! Pray that the truck drivers will begin to spread the Gospel throughout this region of the world.”
“Multi-tasking” for God
Business Facilitators are responsible for many logistics such as housing and transportation so that other missionaries can have more time to share the gospel. This fall, three business facilitators attended a church planting conference with several of their missionary colleagues. God showed these business facilitators how to be involved in church planting while continuing their office work. Ask the Lord to give business facilitators in West Africa wisdom to know how to manage their time so that they can accomplish their business-related tasks and also share the gospel with unreached people groups.
Being Accountable
More and more West Africans are discovering that they can lead a chronological Bible storying group and are taking this responsibility seriously. After a missionary couple introduced the concept of keeping track of the Bible Stories that are shared with others, one believer created his own accountability system. As he walked from the first chronological Bible storying workshop one Friday to the second workshop that was held on Monday, he made marks to indicate the stories that he shared and how many people had listened. Then he explained this simple method to the participants in the Monday group. As you pray for West African believers who continue to spread The Word, remember that we are all accountable for sharing Christ with others!
A Child Shall Lead Them. . .
A positive attitude is vital on the mission field, especially in areas with limited amenities. Living in basic conditions over an extended period of time can wear on the body, mind, and spirit. A new missionary couple shares this recent experience about their four-year-old son: “Last week became unexpectedly difficult when the weather was hot and the electricity spent more time off than on. One evening the electricity turned off and Lucas, the ever-optimist, shouted, ‘YES! No electricity! Can we have our glow sticks now?’ Not much could dampen his spirit except when the electricity turned back on about 15 minutes later. Lucas looked about ready to cry. We quickly assured him that we could still turn off all the lights and continue playing "Hide the Glow Stick." Pray that missionaries and “missionary kids” living in West Africa will exhibit a positive attitude as they face challenges in their daily lives.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
VoF - Cracking the Egg
Voices of the Faithful (VoF) is a moving 366-day devotional for men and women from Beth Moore and the International Mission Board. It features true stories of courage, inspiration, and God's faithfulness, written by hundreds of missionaries. There are 38 West Africa specific prayer letters that we will begin to share on this blog. Though God has lead us to partner among the Maninka, some of these devos will reference other people groups and places in West Africa. Please read and then pray for West Africa and for the Maninka. Think of the potential movement of the Holy Spirit generated by God's People joining together in a singular purpose!
Cracking the egg
“This sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will break in pieces like pottery.”
Isaiah 30:13–14a (NIV)
Throughout the Bible, names of people and places held great meaning and significance. Who would imagine that same concept would be found in Mali (MAL-ee) with the Dunn people. The name Dunn translates as “egg.” If my name meant “egg,” I’m not sure I would be thrilled, but these people are happy about their name. For many months, this love for being called “egg” was a mystery to me.
From the moment I entered the village, the people were friendly yet cautious. Being the first American in the village, they were just as curious about me as I was of them. They did, however, allow me to work in the fields with them, although they thought my hands were too soft.
Finally, after months of working and talking together, one of them trusted me enough to reveal the significance of their name. One can tell an egg is an egg from the outside, but he has no idea what is inside until he cracks it. No one really knows what is hiding inside the shell.
This definition has proved true in my experience. The people seem friendly, but I still don’t know what is in their hearts and minds.
The exciting part of this journey is that the egg is beginning to crack! May the shell continue to crack by the love of Jesus.
God showed me to ask, what is the egg in my life? What am I trying to hide from the world or from God? Eggs were created to be cracked and used.
—Lori, West Africa
Father, thank You that You are bringing the gospel to the Dunn people group of Mali, West Africa. Continue to “crack the shell” so that Your Word can penetrate inside their hearts. May I examine myself today to see what I am trying to hide from You or others. Amen.
Cracking the egg
“This sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will break in pieces like pottery.”
Isaiah 30:13–14a (NIV)
Throughout the Bible, names of people and places held great meaning and significance. Who would imagine that same concept would be found in Mali (MAL-ee) with the Dunn people. The name Dunn translates as “egg.” If my name meant “egg,” I’m not sure I would be thrilled, but these people are happy about their name. For many months, this love for being called “egg” was a mystery to me.
From the moment I entered the village, the people were friendly yet cautious. Being the first American in the village, they were just as curious about me as I was of them. They did, however, allow me to work in the fields with them, although they thought my hands were too soft.
Finally, after months of working and talking together, one of them trusted me enough to reveal the significance of their name. One can tell an egg is an egg from the outside, but he has no idea what is inside until he cracks it. No one really knows what is hiding inside the shell.
This definition has proved true in my experience. The people seem friendly, but I still don’t know what is in their hearts and minds.
The exciting part of this journey is that the egg is beginning to crack! May the shell continue to crack by the love of Jesus.
God showed me to ask, what is the egg in my life? What am I trying to hide from the world or from God? Eggs were created to be cracked and used.
—Lori, West Africa
Father, thank You that You are bringing the gospel to the Dunn people group of Mali, West Africa. Continue to “crack the shell” so that Your Word can penetrate inside their hearts. May I examine myself today to see what I am trying to hide from You or others. Amen.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Our Next Trip
We have our dates set for our next trip--February 20-March 1, 2009. These are somewhat flexible depending on our travel arrangements. We'll start training soon, so if you are interested in going, please let us know!!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Following the Jesus Path
Many West Africans who embrace the Christian faith for the first time will often say they are leaving their old ways to follow “the Jesus Path.” Below is a story found in the newest issue of the Go West Africa Magazine about one of our Maninka friends.
*Name changed
"Abdou* couldn't really communicate with the new IMB missionaries who hired him to watch their house on the weekends.
They had just moved to Guinea and were still learning the language, but Abdou* knew they would soon be teaching about the man named Jesus he had heard about in the village years ago.
As the missionaries improved their Maninka language skills, Abdou* studied with them. One day while sitting on the porch of their home, he read through a booklet they gave him called "Saraka Ko", loosely translated as "Sacrifice Business".
He knows the sacrifice business of his people. They sacrifice live animals to appease the spirits. But this booklet explained about how God already sent the final sacrifice for everyone.
He called to his missionary friend inside the house and shared his new revelation.
"We don't need to perform a sacrifice anymore, do we?" Abdou* said, answering his own question. Later, he put his full faith in Christ and was baptized.
Now, in his pursuit to bring his people to the Truth, Abdou* joins the missionaries every week as they visit outside villages to teach the Word. In the meantime, Abdou's* family is presenting him young ladies to marry. He knows he's of the age for a Maninka man to take a wife -- but he's holding out for a believer."
Please join us as we continue to pray for Abdou*. Pray that his relationship with the Lord will continue to grow. Pray that he will find continued peace in the One who was sacrificed for him. Pray for his future wife.
*Name changed
"Abdou* couldn't really communicate with the new IMB missionaries who hired him to watch their house on the weekends.
They had just moved to Guinea and were still learning the language, but Abdou* knew they would soon be teaching about the man named Jesus he had heard about in the village years ago.
As the missionaries improved their Maninka language skills, Abdou* studied with them. One day while sitting on the porch of their home, he read through a booklet they gave him called "Saraka Ko", loosely translated as "Sacrifice Business".
He knows the sacrifice business of his people. They sacrifice live animals to appease the spirits. But this booklet explained about how God already sent the final sacrifice for everyone.
He called to his missionary friend inside the house and shared his new revelation.
"We don't need to perform a sacrifice anymore, do we?" Abdou* said, answering his own question. Later, he put his full faith in Christ and was baptized.
Now, in his pursuit to bring his people to the Truth, Abdou* joins the missionaries every week as they visit outside villages to teach the Word. In the meantime, Abdou's* family is presenting him young ladies to marry. He knows he's of the age for a Maninka man to take a wife -- but he's holding out for a believer."
Please join us as we continue to pray for Abdou*. Pray that his relationship with the Lord will continue to grow. Pray that he will find continued peace in the One who was sacrificed for him. Pray for his future wife.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Flavors of West Africa
Please join us this Friday evening at 6:30pm as we share some West Africa customs, stories and pictures of our past trips this year and what we are looking forward to in the future. Most importantly, we will intercede through prayer for the people of West Africa and our mission partners living and serving among the Maninka.
Coffee, hot chocolate, and a variety of chocolate surprises will be served.
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