College Team: Off to P Land

A little truck trouble but fixable

After re-supplying in Bamako, we began the two day journey to P land where Waraba lead in a Storying Conference.

Stopping for lunch

Arrived and greetings

We picked up over 22 followers from three different villages for the conference. Although Waraba lead, each student told a story and Jak shared his testimony. It was a great time of fellowship, worship and growing.

Storying Conference

Sleeping in the bush

There will be grow in the desert

After the conference, the team spent two more days greeting, praying, and sharing stories with seekers and followers in Village “S”. We also witnessed land being given to the followers of Village “S”. There are many different hopes are for the use of this land including building a place to meet both spiritual and physical needs of the P people. As we left, we traveled through another village to view how God is in the process of providing a radio station for broadcasting His Word. We prayer walked through each unfinished room and asked God to protect and utilize this facility for His glory. Pray for all the young followers scattered throughout this area. Pray for the followers and seekers in Village “S”. Pray for the land that was given and wisdom in how to use it. Pray for the radio station.

What we looked like when
 trip was over

As we ended our month long journey together we realized it was really just the beginning. Kadia left knowing more of the culture, village life and that it is doable. She is now back in the States making arrangements to return for a year beginning Jan 2011. Sali left with a definite call to medical missions and a new found love for West Africa. Abbi left with a passion to reach the Samogho and get her church involved with the Samogho as well. She also sees missions in her personal future. Yaya left having experienced God in a real and personal way. Waraba grew personally and is still trusting God for guidance in her next steps. Pray for each of these young people as they continue to live out what God revealed about Himself and their futures serving Him.

College team village/hospital visit

Village house orienation

The next thing on the travel agenda was a trip to my village and the Samogho people.

Once again it was our intention to encourage Jak, but he ended up encouraging us. We enjoyed our time telling Bible stories, sharing our testimonies and just doing life with him. Also in the village we were able to pray for people with illnesses, take care of burn injuries and tell Bible stories. Pray for my village and the work there. Pray for Jak to continue to hold tightly to God. Pray for the little one whose hand was very badly burned.

Eating in the village

Pounding millet into flour

Carrying water from the pump

From my village we traveled to Village Shen to encourage the chief. Remember the God Size Team visited him and gave him the Mega Voice machine containing Bible stories. We found him still listening to the Mega Voice. He was even able to tell us a story. He was excited about God's Word and told us he desired his whole village to listen to these stories. We shared a story with him and two other men.

Telling Bible stories

The chief further surprised and delighted us by serving lunch for us before we left. Pray for Village Shen, the chief and these two men.

Telling Bible stories to the kids

Learning about that hospital

Visit to the hospital

We then took a day trip to Koutiala to visit the women and children's hospital. We saw how God provided equipment, supplies and new facilities for patients and staff. God spoke to our college team by showing Kadia how He could use her medical background. He also made it clear to Sali medical missions were in her future. Pray for both of these young women as they seek God's next step toward their future in missions.

College team getting started

We began our journey in capital city taking care of children while their parents attended a retreat my mission was conducting. This gave both the children and parents freedom to worship and grow in their own way. After that we stay a few more days for team orienation and to practice language.

 Team Orienation

Practicing greetings

Using new language to buy street food

Meet the college team

At the end of June a team of five college students along with Lori Smith and
I hit the road for a month. All of us were seeking what God would do in our lives individually and corporately.


Kadia already felt called to work in Mali for a year among the P people. This trip was to help her understand the culture, village life and determine if it was doable. She had a lot of questions that needed answers. Sali is from my home church. Both her parents have been to Kar. She was not only excited to meet all the people she had heard stories about, but was also seeking guidance for her future. Abbi is from the church where I grew up and was baptized. The church had expressed an interest in partnering to reach the Samogho.

This was a vision trip for Abbi to determine how the partnership would evolve. She was also Lori S, Yaya, Kadia, Sali, Lori P. Abbi, and Waraba seeking to find where missions fit in her future. Yaya wanted to see God as a real and personal God not just s o m e o n e t h a t everyone else knew. He also wanted to see different cultures. Waraba has worked in Mali for two years and was coming back to see her people, visit the Samogho and lead a Storying Conference with the P people. She was also seeking what God has for her future.


.

God Size Team

In the early part of June God brought the God Size Team to Africa. The team got its name when we realized only God would call and use a small team consisting of a retired school teacher, a high school girl and an exhausted missionary. We were scheduled to visit three different villages.

First, in my village we encouraged Jak and other seekers. We had one heart breaking night when Wa announced she had never really followed the J road. Although it was hard to hear, it helped me realize Isan, as the head of the family, would have to follow before others in the family will come. My heart aches for those who know the Way, but refuse to take it.

There are many in this position in my village. Please help me pray for them.

Village Shen was our next stop. The rainy season often prevents me from traveling to this remote village, but the chief desires to follow the J road and be baptized. We gave him a machine called a Mega Voice which contains over 66 Bible stories so he can listen and learn when I am unable to travel his village. Jak taught him how to use the machine. I wish you could have stood beside us to witness the chief's radiant face and felt his absolute joy as he heard Bible stories in his own language. You would have thought he was seeing God in person. I now have a better understanding of the scripture which talks about the glow Moses had after meeting with God. We each saw that in Village Shen. Everyone who came to his house heard him excitedly showing off the machine. When they asked if it was a cell phone or a radio, he would always announce it was something better. He would proudly say..."It's God's Word".

On Sunday we journeyed to worship with the followers in the village of K. After sharing lunch with the followers, both Megan and Vicki shared their testimonies and a Bible story. It was fun to watch these two women move from
being scared and unsure what God wanted them to share to confidently proclaiming God’s hand in their lives and Bible stories demonstrating God’s power. Their words touched and encourage many hearts.

In addition to the villages God surprised the team by allowing them to meet and encourage three young missionaries, a Malian pastor, and a church choir. We experienced the joy of being able to pray over each village and each person God set in our path.

Wow it has been forever

Sorry that it has been so long since I have posted anything new. I pray that it will not discourage you from check in from time to time. I have not been just hanging out in Africa eating Bon Bons, I have been actually working for the past two month. God has blessed me with having volunteer teams to come work a long side me. It has been great to see God's hand in every moment. I will post more on each team separately so you will not have so much to read at one. Just wanted to take this opportunity to say without everyone praying for me it would be hard to life here. KNOW that your prayers are making a difference in Africa and in my life.

Ready for the next step

Jak and I traveled to Shen to tell the chief that I would being going on vacation for a month but when I came back I would have 2 people from America coming with me. We would also bring him a story machine called the Mega Voice that has all 66 chronological stories on it. He was excited and still calms that the Jesus road is the best and desires to followed it. God right then told me to tell him about Jesus' baptism. After Jak and I explained it to him, he looked at me and said "I want to be baptized" I almost fell of the cotton sack I was sitting on and then my heart went crazy with excitement. I told him to talk to the other 4 men that were interested in following the Jesus road and we would possibly baptize them all together. He said it might be good to just have him baptized first so other would see it and then follow. He is going to talk to the other men and we will go from there. BUT WOW...I am still pumped! God also prompted me to tell him what happened after Jesus was baptized by being tempted by satan. He needed to know that it is hard once you cross that line. I was so glad God was able to prepare his heart for all that. THANK YOU ALL FOR PRAYING and being apart of what is going in Shen.

Welcoming Committee

I started my trip this week to the village by opening my village house door to find a small mouse running across the bottom of the door. I had about 10 kids standing around and I made sure they saw it. They all shouted...Mouse...Mouse and then a couple of them tried to catch it. One of them succeeded, held up his catch and then ran away. All the other kids followed and I didn't see them again while I unloaded. Then it seemed a lizard had moved into my bathroom so I found him and killed him since all the kids were busy. That night as I was leaving my house, God told me to look above the door. As I looked, I saw a scorpion. I called my neighbor to come and kill it. So what a welcome party I had this trip...smile

What to pray for this week April 26th-30th, 2010

It has been fun seeing so many new people reading the blog. Thank you all for your prayer and encouragement as God works in my life and in the hearts of the Samogho. If you are wondering how to pray for me this week, here are some ways, Pray for:


1. Safe travel
2. Time with Jak that it would be encouraging and a growing time for us both
3. Time with my two woman's group...for openness, understand and for Him to draw them to Himself through His Word
4. For the leaders of these groups...Wa who is a young believer and Shata who is not a believer at all. God is showing me I need to spend more time with her this week.
5. Jak and I will travel to Shen to visit the 5 guys who have the desire to hear, study and know the Jesus road.
6. For my walk that I will be weak enough to wait and strong enough to listen, for spiritual eyes to see Him where He is working and courage to go join Him
Thanks to you all!
Walking and believing Truth

Storying in Shen

As Jak and I were visiting the village of Shen, four man came and we told them the story of Jesus' birth. Once again it was cool to sit back and watch them learn more about Jesus and God. The main thing that I wanted them to understand was that God did not have sexual relationships with Mary. That is a huge belief in this area. We talked about who created everything...everyone..and then God gave me this saying....Did God have sex with everyone to create everyone. After saying that one of the men that had not said much looked at me and it was like the light went on and he shook his head and said..hmmmmm. I love those moments. After the story we talked about many other things it was so good to be with them. I really believe that the chief and at least 2 of them are followers. The other two are seeking big time.

The money story

The last trip the chief in Shen (a new village Jak and I are going to now) had given me money for coming. It took me by surprise for many reasons, one that he offered it and two that Jak took it. It was only a dollar but still. When we return to Kar, I just did not have peace about it. Then God brought to my mind these people that come through every now and then and pray over and bless people. That sounds all nice and stuff but really they are there to put the fear into people and use that fear to plunder the villages. They told people if they didn't pay them they would be cruised. They came with all the stuff from the last village and then after being in the village for a day made someone take them and all their stuff to the next village. The power of fear is amazing. I am glad God brought that to my mind because the chief was paying me so he would be blessed. As I prayed about how to return the money, God just told me to use the truth. As we sat with the chief many people came in and out to greet the chief and also Jak and I. I began to pray for a time that we were alone with the chief so we could give the money back and explain it all to him. God granted that prayer. We told him about how God did not give me peace about the money and that we were not about being paid for blessings. Jesus had paid it all and now if he believed he could have all that Jesus was offering. He loved that. It was cool to watch him understand that God better. After that he told everyone that came in that I gave him back money. It was a hoot to watch.

Lizard story

I got in the truck to head to the village last week. I have about 8 block on a dirt road before I get to pavement. While on this dirt road, a lizard came from the roof of my truck and landed on the hood. It ran all over and jumped onto the cattle guard and then back on the hood. It finally ended up in the space between the hood and wiper just staring at me. I stopped to get bread and told him this was his chance to go but when I got back in the truck he was still there. I stopped and got gas and by then he had jumped on the cattle guard and was out of sight so I was thinking he finally got smart and left. Well, as I was heading out of town and picking up speed there came the lizard over the roof, up the windshield, onto the roof and off the truck...bouncing a couple of times on the pavement. What a deal but there is one less lizard at my house now.

Answered Prayers!

THANK YOU ALL so much for the many prayers that went up for me last week as I faced breathing problems and was just overwhelmed by all the paperwork that was given to me. Now I am asking you to PRAISE GOD with me for all He has done. My lungs are doing so much better. I did not even have to take any meds last week because my breathing had improved so much. Continue to pray for them as I travel back out to the village this week and will be out in the dust more. I got my budget for 2011 done and finished other things on my list. The cloud of being overwhelmed is slowing disappearing so that is a HUGE PRAISE.

Pray as I head out to the village this week. I will be meeting with my two woman's groups, Jak and other people in Kar. Jak and I will be traveling to 4 different villages....two on Tues and two on Wed. Pray as the one on Tues have three men that are really excited about hearing God's word. Pray for our time with them. Also pray for the trip on Wed. we will be meeting with the new chief since the old one passed away last month. Pray that he is as open to hearing God's Word as the last one. I will give you an update when I return on Friday, April 23rd. Until then...walk in peace and share the light!

Overwhelmed

April is HOT here! The heat alone is overwhelming enough. I have a TO DO list that seems to just keep getting longer instead of shorter. I feel I will never get it all done. When I look at it compared to the Cross, it reminds me that what I am going through is so small compared to what Jesus did for me and you. Pray that I get the things that I need to get done and get back out to the village. Here is what I need to get done so you can pray for them by name:
1. 2011 budget
2. Preparation for TWO teams coming in June which includes:
a. Scheduling
b. housing
c. menu
d. devotion for the team before they come
e. list of stories to tell while they are here
f. list of things I need to take out to the village before they come
3. Preparation to leave in May on vacation so I can enjoy my trip and not worry about all these things
4. Finish read a Leadership Book and do my college credit report by May 1st. I am halfway finished with it.

All this plus my ministry which includes story prep for 3 groups with different stories, travel time to different villages and seeing where God is at work around me all the time.

I know this doesn't seem like a lot but all these require time that seems to just go by WAY TO FAST. Thanks for walking with me through all this and praying to the One that created time.

Week in Bamako

Hey there everyone...well I guess everyone that reads this..haha Sorry it has been a week since I have written anything. I traveled to Bamako for a week and God had me busy. It was great that I could do and see so many people while I was there. First, of all I got to do Easter with other English speaker. We had a non sunrise/sunrise service. We didn't make it right at sunrise but it was earlier enough. It started at 7am. My heart just leaped as I was able to praise Him in English and with other English speaking people. He has RISEN was said to me and the response.. HE HAS RISEN INDEED! My lung were still healing so after 2 hours of talking and laughing, my lungs decided they were done. I went home and went to bed but VERY HAPPY! I also got to see some journey women whose 4 years were up and they were headed back to America. I wasn't sure I would get to see them again so that was an added gift. We also had our big boss in town to meet with us as a group and individually. He was presenting our Mali bosses with their 25 year service pin. It was fun to be apart of that. We had a luncheon to celebrate that with them. When we got started, the big boss called me up first. I was very surprised. He presented me with my 10 year service pin. WOW, can you believe it. I have been on the field 10 years. Praise God for all that He has done in those 10 years!
Thank you all for your prayer for my lungs as well. I was able to get back to my regular workout program today after taking off a week. My lungs were GREAT but my body is hurting...smile Praise God with me about how well He takes care of me.

Village notes

What a GREAT week I had last week in the village. Thank to so many of you that prayer me through it. Here are some highlights. I got to share with one of the women's groups. They did a great job of retelling the Abraham story and then I told the story of the Promise Savior from Isaiah. Jak and I went to Shen, one of the five villages that is VERY open. A man had died early that morning so we did not get to share but at least we were there. We sat with the village all morning. Continue to PRAY for Shen as Jak and I will be going out there again this week.

I had a GREAT week with Jak this week in the village. We talked for 2 to 3 hours every night and was fun. We talked about everything...from life, God's Word and what God is doing. He shared with me that his older brother is really mouthing at him daily and that is hard for him. God showed me that I have failed Jak by not praying more for him and by not keeping him more in front of everyone. His brother is concerned that Jak is not sacrificing and paying money to the medicine man for assurance of the families wealthy and peace. Jak knows what he believes and stand by that but to be mouthed at daily has to be hard and wearing. So please pray HARDER for him.

I am headed back on today, Monday March 29th and will return on Friday April 2nd. Things to pray about:

1. Jak: protection and encouragement
2. Two women's groups: time for me to share, openness and eyes to see God
3. Shen: As Jak and I travel out again this week for God to prepare their hearts to hear from Him
4. Pray for Jak and I as we look for where God is working and join Him
5. Pray for new opportunities to share with people that have not heard.

Thanks for coming along with me this week through prayer. I could not make it without any of you.
More on Friday!

Heading to the village March 22-26, 2010

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted you to know that I am headed to the village this week: March 22-26th, 2010. I plan to visit some new villages that have shown an interest in hearing God's Word. I am excited about what God is doing. Pray for me as I join Him in His work. Pray also as I continue the work in Kar (my home village). I will be meeting, studying, praying and encouraging the two women's groups and Jak. Pray for these groups and Jak that they will have the time, willingness and openness to hear from God this week. I will be back on Friday and will report on how things went.

Thanks for taking this journey with me.
Until Friday
Lori

Send offs

In the Samogho culture, greetings and send offs are extremely important. They demonstrate the importantance of relationships and the value one person has to another.
The evening after we arrived in the village we heard drums playing. Wa told us they were about to dance the women out of the village so they could go to a neighboring village to celebrate the weddings. She asked if we wanted to go and of course we could not miss the dancing! We climb the hill and met the procession coming our way. The women were dressed in their best and ready for the big celebrations to come. An older woman led the line of women playing some bells and two men followed her playing the drums. The village walked them to the outskirts of the village to send them off
On Sunday night when the women returned, they were greeted and welcomed home with more drums and dancing! We joined in the fun and celebration. Yes, we were drawn into the center of the dance circle and did our part in celebrating the return of the women to the village! What fun and joy we had together. Bintu stayed in the courtyard but had her own celebration and dance with Wa!
Wa had planned to go to her home village on Monday, but decided to wait until Tuesday since we woud be leaving that day too. She was going to leave early because she had a 40 mile walk ahead of her and the hot weather has come early to Mali. She was unable to leave early because one of the women going with her was not ready. It turned out to be a great thing because we were able to walk these women out of the village, to send them off for their journey with the honor and value of their friendship expressed. It was a blessing to walk out with them and to pray for them as we sent them off on the long journey. There were 3 women and a young girl leaving that morning and 6 women and 4 children sent the off!
As I thought about these send offs and celebrations, it reminded me of how Father sends us out to make Him known and how He welcomes us back. He always goes with us and doesn't send us out alone. His Spirit goes with us.

Father's Pursuit

Two Samogho men have been on Father's heart for years, and He has been pursuing a relationship with them. One is Isa, the man who desires to be the Good Soil. Several years ago his confession about J.s.s was only to say that he would beat anyone in his household who chose to follow the J road. His confession this trip was that he himself wanted to follow the J road. He confessed it is the best road, the only road. His struggle to follow is the same as many Malians...the pressure from those who have power over you...your father, your friends, your family members, the other men of the village. The J road is tough for all, but especially tough for those who follow first.
The second man, educated and an educator, reads and understands many things. He has heard stories from his friend Jak, a follower of J. They spend time talking about the J road. A couple of years ago, this teacher confessed he could not follow because he was afraid of his father and the reality that his father would disown him. Several months ago, his father died. Since then, there has been an openness and a freedom evident in him. He came to sing and w0rship with us the Sund@y we were in the village. He listened and joined in with us. He even played the role of King in the story of the Fiery Furnace.
Please pray for these two men. Their earthly fathers, families, and friends may not understand or may even disown them, yet the Father of all Creation longs to restore His relationship with them. The Father of all Creation is pursuing them. Pray for courage and power to overcome their fears and choose to follow the only road.

Different Soils

Monday morning clear direction came to us as a team... Tell the story of the four soils to the people in Wa courtyard...Isa, his wife, and Wa.
The three of us took a walk out to the fields before telling the story to look for the four kinds of soils...the hard path, the rocky soil, the thorns and weeds, and the good soil. We gathered some of each kind to take with us to tell the story.
Father had orchestrated the perfect timing. Isa, his wife, Wa and even Jak were available. We went over and sat with them, greeted them, and began telling them the story. As farmers they were able to grasp the story and understand it well.

We talked about which soil they would want to plant their seeds in and we talked about how our hearts toward God are the same as these soils. Each person including the team members were asked which soil they were. The good soil was the overwhelming majority. Isa said, "I want to be the good soil. The J.s.s road is the best road and I want to be on it. It is hard." With that confession, we talked about the difficulties and how we all begin our walk with Father as the soil with weeds and thorns. We had a great discussion about pulling the weeds and thorns and concerns of the world as we farm the soil of our hearts so that the seeds of God's word can grow and make us strong. Jak was able to share from his experience how he understands the struggles they face and to encourage them to believe and follow.
Please pray for this family and the challenges they face in choosing to walk with Father on the J.s.s road! Pray for courage in the midst of a lot of persecution from friends and family! Praise Father for the work He has done in the hearts of this man and his family!!! It truly is a miracle! Thank Father for the chance to share our lives, our friendship, our testimony with this family!

Under the Mango Tree

The mango trees are magnificent in the village. They provide an incredible refuge from the heat, a great place of shade to work in, and a peaceful place to hangout with friends. The hot season has come early this year so we spent a lot of time working, sitting, napping, and visiting under the mango trees. On Sunday afternoon, many of the women had gathered to just sit together. Bintu (Ann) told the story of Sarah to the women. It was so fun to listen to the discussion about a woman in her 90's having a child. It was tinder them grasp the idea that nothing is impossible with God. We all laughed with Sarah as we talked about Wa or Bintu having children at their age. We talked about how Sarah tried to take things into her own hands by giving Hagar to Abraham and how she became jealous after Hagar gave Abraham a son. The women grasped some of the truths about people and about God from this story. Pray that they will continue to think about Sarah, about God's fulfilling His promises to us even when we are impatient or doubt Him. Pray they will recognize that nothing is impossible with God!

Worship Day

Sund@y in the Samogho village was filled with favorites! After a morning of greeting throughout the village and checking on the little boy who had been burned, we gather for a time of w0rship. We sang a ton of songs...well i don't know if songs weigh anything, but we sang and sang and sang. It was fun! Ann even found herself reading Bambara, singing and keeping up with the tune of the songs. It is always fun to recognize the tune and realize it is one of your favorite hymns. Now you are singing it in another language! Kind how heaven will be, I imagine.

After our praise session, we told favorite stories. The missionary told the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace...she didn't just tell it to the children...she had them act it out! She made the school teacher the King and had 3 young boys bow at his feet. Then she told how 3 young men refused to bow down to the King, and they were thrown into a fiery furnace. She wrapped her arms around them and covered them to show how God protected them and how the King saw 4 men in the furnace. It was a favorite moment in the day to see the faces of those young boys and even the school teacher understand the power and protection of our Father for those who choose to follow Him. We continued with Jak's favorite story about J.s.s telling his followers to throw their nets out over the other side of the boat after they had fished all night and caught nothing. Jak's thoughts about that were simply this, "We have to always be ready to obey God. When we are tired and just don't see the benefits, we just continue to do what He said and He will bless us."
Ann's favorite story was next. She told of the Beattitudes and Jak read it from the Bambara B.ble. We focused on the last part where J.s.s tells how Father blesses you when people mock and persecute you. It was an important Word for the teacher who came to w0rship with us.
Fanta's favorite story for the day was the temptations of J.s.s. During that time in the wilderness, J.s.s was tempted but each time He was able to fight those temptations and be victorious because He knew what His Father had said. He could use the Father's Word to fight.
Which one is your favorite? Have you read these stories lately? Read them and see what Father has to say to you!

God's Promise

Our first evening in Kar was spent with Wa. She is the new follower as of November. She had recently heard the story of Noah, so she was asked to retell it to us. She had some trouble with the details but two things she remembered... Noah was saved because he was the only righteous man on the earth. The second thing... God's promise to never again destroy all living things.
Wa shared with us that night that those in her compound have agreed that the J.s.s road is the best way. Their are still obstacles for th to overcome, but we have seen Father working in these friends and pursuing a relationship with them for over 3 years. Many of you gave been pr@ying for them alongside us. Thank you! Father is working in the hearts of this family fulfilling His promise that His Word will accomplish His purpose wherever it is spoken!
God's promises...always fulfilled!! Celebrate His work being accomplished!

Heading to the Samogho

Greetings from the Samogho!
If you have ever been to Kar, know that you were asked about, greeted, and remembered!
We had a great time among the people of Kar and I look forward to giving you the details. We got in from the village this morning and were without electricity for almost 7 hours. We had great showers to refresh us and then had some time to just rest. We needed it after a night of little rest. Between the loud music, the cows, the chickens, and the full moon, we didn't get as much rest as we hoped.
Thanks for praying for us, for the Samogho, and for all that Father wanted. He heard you and listened! Praise Him today for His work in the hearts of the people of Kar!

Long Time No blog

It has been forever since I have put anything on the blog. It is my goal to get better at that and so hopefully at least once a week I will have something new. Lori Smith and Ann Moody just came on a volunteer trip a couple of weeks ago. I will start by telling you what happen on their trip.