It’s been a while…

This website was hacked over a year ago, and I became very discouraged from picking blogging back up.  But there has been so much happening, and I want a place where everything will be recorded chronologically, and a blog is still the best way to do it.  I’m sorry there has been so little information coming from us

But I want to say “Thank You!” for being so faithful in support, prayer and encouragement.  It is truly humbling.

“I’m Back”

Here’s tonight’s prayer for tomorrow’s village (Day 4)-

Lord, I thank you for what you’ve done in the Turka villages so far. Continue to invade the enemy’s camp, Lord, and take back the captives! I pray for the village of Mousso-dougou, that you would tear down every stronghold that would keep the people bound in their sin and blind to the freedom You are holding out to them. Lord, let the school outreach and distribution be fun and full of joy and love for the kids, that the children would feel special and completely loved. Strengthen the little church there in Mousso-dougou and let the church be so welcoming to any new Turka believers who get saved at the night evangelism! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Praise report from yesterday’s prayer:

-Today’s gift distribution was really great. A direct answer to yesterdays prayer about the village really receiving our team- The school parents all came in together and prepared a very nice meal for our team and the school directors really showed appreciation from beginning to end!
-The people were few during the first skits, but once they started the film, more came. Then 20 minutes into it, they stopped the film, did some more Gospel drama. Some people left! People only wanted the film, so Joel used that as bait! Started the film again, now tons of people started coming- about 700+. Stopped the film again and really preached the Gospel. Then finished the film. About 50 people got saved tonight!

Prayer points:

* Apparently the pastor from Mousso-dougou (‘ou’ is pronounced ‘oo’) started a sister church in Kolo-kolo a while back. But someone in the Kolo-kolo church really went bad and ruined the testimony of the church and soon fizzled out. So now that there are new converts that came forward at the night evangelism, the pastor wants to start up this sister church again. Its just what you prayed! They will do their first service this Sunday! Hallelujah!

So, I left you hanging…  Well, shortly after that post, I actually traveled 7 hours by bus and went to Banfora, then took a moped to the base of the cliffs/domes of Fabedougou.  From there we basically walked the other 2-3 kilometers up to the village.  God is doing something amazing there!  But I’m getting ahead of myself.

This is where I’ll need some help to get all the details straight.  When Colin went to El-Hadj’s house with the players, he was shocked to see how the family was suddenly receptive to the Gospel.  I believe it begun when the village elder asked him how his wife’s health was and Colin explained that there was little improvement.  The village elder went on to tell Colin he should then offer a sacrifice to the local idol since this was where she got sick.  Colin explained that we no longer need to make those kind of sacrifices since Jesus provided for everything in His sacrifice.

This piqued their interest.  They began, for the 1st time, to criticize their islamic religion, and they started asking questions about Colin’s faith.  I don’t remember the entire conversation (maybe someone remembers more), but at the end, Colin asked “who would like someone to come to their house, bring God’s Word and explain it?”.  That day, to Colin’s utter shock, 3/4 of the village families (including El-Hadj), raised their hands.  The impenetrable wall was crumbling.

Since then, the Turka evangelist, Jeremie, has been visiting the village once a week, bringing new stories, songs and scriptures on the players to very eager listeners, started a kid’s club for over 50 kids and held a 3 day evangelistic outreach.  I was at the 1st kid’s club, and that day the village elders declared “you have our blessing.  If you want a church, we will give you land.  We will allow our wives and children to become Christian.”

At the evangelism, God performed an amazing miracle!  A head of a family, his wife and children decided to receive Christ.  After Jeremie prayed for him he explained that he had one more daughter who has been suffering for 3 years with mental illness.  Jeremie asked if he could pray for her.  When they arrived, Mariam refused to come out of the house.  She was unable to speak and would not look anyone in the eyes.  Jeremie prayed in faith, but nothing really happened.  A week later he returned to the village and greeted the family.  Mariam came out, greeted Jeremie and began serving him water!!!  The family explained that she was completely healed!  She answered questions, looked people in the eye, was completely restored!  She also received Christ.  This happened before the eyes of the entire village.

Today there are 90 believers in Fabedougou.  Most are children, as they accept Jesus with joy.  But at least 3 or  full families are also coming faithfully to the weekly gatherings.  But Fabedougou has around 2000 people, and we are believing that the majority will become followers of Christ.

We will be in Fabedougou on the 30th of May, bringing shoebox gifts to all the schoolchildren, providing a medical exam for each one as well.  Then that night we will have an evangelistic outreach with skits and drama, all in Turka.

Will you pray?  We are believing that this village will become a shining light for Christ among the Turka, that a strong and healthy Turka church will be born and that God will raise up leaders to reach the other Turka villagers.

Glory to our God!