June was a very dry month for the Ik, and they complained that the sun had burned their crops. The village elders were busy performing sacrifices in the dry river bed in order to bring rain, with no success. One man even mentioned that maybe God had gone away on holiday and forgotten about them. But during the month of July, we have had rain at least three days per week. When the rains finally began one Sunday, some people said, “We prayed for rain this morning in church! God has heard our prayers and has brought us rain!” Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Please pray that God continues to provide rain to sustain the fields here. Pray also that the Ik come to know that God alone is in control of the rains, and that their animal sacrifices are futile.
A God who closes and opens eyes
A local brother who lives in a distant village was going to visit an old, poor, sick relative. He planned to bring him the hope of the gospel and had in his bag a copy of the NT. But somehow some men in the town got wind of his visit and came in the house looking to make trouble. They pulled his NT from his bag and took a close look at it. Miraculously, after a careful look one man said, “Why this is a just a copy of our book.” He handed the NT to another man who agreed with him and said that this was “their book”. Then they apologized for the intrusion and left. Praise for our Father blinding the eyes of those who would make trouble as he opens the eyes of those who are searching for Him.
Five Faithful
Pray that God will provide five faithful men and women who will put their faith in Christ and be gifted by the Holy Spirit to teach Scripture and make other disciples. May the Lord bring a movement of disciples making disciples among the M.
Openly Confessing and Following
Please pray that the Samburu in the village of Lchakwai will respond freely and openly to the gospel. Pray that the men will begin to openly confess Christ and seek to learn what it means to follow Him. Pray for five men to take an open stand and begin attending church services.
Vivid Dreams
As we have often prayed for dreams and visions for our people here, one specific friend is always heavy on my heart because I know she has had many vivid dreams in the past that have gotten her attention. The other day she told me she wished that sometime she would have a dream that came true, for example that she would dream she was given money and it came. I told her that night that I was going to pray and ask God to give her dreams about things that are true and she should also. She agreed and told me she was excited to come share with me any dreams she has from here on out. Please ask the Lord to give her vivid dreams of Truth about who He is, dreams that she cannot shake and that will stir in her heart a desire for New Life.
Growing Spiritually
Praise the Lord that the Rendille church is growing spiritually, and that there are Rendille believers taking the gospel to other villages where people need teaching. The Rendille are traditionally animists (dealing with spirits) but Islam is making inroads. Pray that the influence of Islam will be broken and that even the Islamic leaders will be saved.
The greatest is Love
A young woman asked, “Can you sing a song of love?” As she listened to a song from I Cor 13 and read the passage, she told stories of counterfeit selfish hurtful love. She is memorizing the song of truth now. Pray for women to learn about and receive Christ’s steadfast enduring love.
Seeds being sown
Pray for the seed that is being sown among the Ndau. Pray for those who hear the message, that Satan will not come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and be saved.
Bibles Given and Given
Please pray for more and more Borana to learn to read and receive Bibles. A Borana church loves to order Bibles and give them away to people who still need Jesus. Pray that through this Bible distribution many will be saved.
They Have Heard But Still Resist
Please pray for a number of Rangi who have heard the stories of the Bible and the gospel for several years now, yet have not decided to put their faith in Christ. Pray for a breakthrough.
Through Them
Pray that through the witness of those who have come to faith in Christ, many more Ndengereko will be saved. Pray that they will continue to stand firm and not return to the practice of Islam.
In a Turmoil
Please pray for the turmoil in the hearts of some in our village. We’ve been walking with a young father who has much sin in his life. He wants to follow Jesus and his commands, but is afraid to lose his wife and children. He is pleading with us Christians to share the good news with his wife and see if she will respond. We have been doing this. Pray for a positive response. Our local imam is also in turmoil. Yesterday morning he used his morning call to prayer to warn people against our deception. He saw our giving vegetables to neighbors as a threat. He warned them that we are trying to lead them off track. Pray that the veil would be lifted and he would see things as they really are!
Speed the Process
Please pray that as the Dorobo churches continue to grow and multiply, the support and encouragement of western missionaries will speed the process. Praise the Lord for the godly men God has raised up to lead this movement to Christ. Pray for those who are still without Christ, especially older men who are addicted to honey wine. Pray that as they put their faith in Christ, He will deliver them from alcoholism.
Living water
She had a dream of a white house surrounded by white flowers. Inside was a faucet. As she drank from the faucet, she found it sweet and satisfying and woke with her thirst quenched. She later read John 4 about Jesus as living water. Ask that Berbers would continue to receive dreams and be satisfied in Jesus.
Unity Demonstrating Christ
Please pray that the unity among believers in the Sandawe area will be a clear demonstration that Jesus is the Christ. Pray that many Sandawe who are hearing the Scriptures in their own language will put their faith in Him, and that they will be welcomed into local churches and grow.
Less and Less Receptive…Yet Burdened with Sadness
Continue to pray for the salvation of a Muslim S. Asian family. The very sad death of a dear uncle this week is reminding them again that life is uncertain. Since Ramadan they seem less open to the gospel. We are asking God to remove the blocks in their hearts, reveal the utter hopelessness and futility of their religion, and bring them all to the conclusion that Christ is the way, the truth and the life. Please pray that the funeral of this uncle will prompt them to deeply question the foundations of their beliefs.
No Other Name
Please pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Zaramo a recognition of their own sinfulness and God’s holiness. Pray that they will realise that all their works of “righteousness” are like filthy rags. Pray that they will hear and believe that there is no other name than Jesus whereby they can be saved, and that He who knew no sin became sin for them, so they could receive the righteousness of God through Him.
Grazing Areas and Water Holes
Pray that as outreach to the Gabbra in the northern deserts of Kenya continues, that those who are coming to faith in Christ will spread the word about His salvation as they follow their flocks and herds to the grazing areas and the water holes.
Rejoice over a lost sheep found
Praise God for a new female believer in Vanilla Island. After watching a video that took her through God’s story from creation to the second coming she said “I’m not even in His family and yet he carried my sins and they are really heavy! He loves me so much!’” Pray that she would daily grow in her faith and that she would develop a deep intimacy with J. Pray that God would place an urgency and a passion for sharing him with others. Pray that her husband would see her being changed by God’s love and recognise he needs what she has discovered!
Filling the void
The Ik have recently been working on a road project and getting paid in large lump sums. Instead of saving the money, many people have been using it on hard liquor and getting drunk which has caused trouble in their communities. Please pray that God works in the hearts of the Ik, that they may see the harmful effects of heavy drinking, and desire to use their money in other ways. Pray that ultimately, they recognize that the void they are trying to fill with alcohol, can be filled to overflowing with the love and grace of Jesus Christ, and choose to follow Him.
Following the Good Shepherd
Pray that as the Datooga follow their flocks and herds, they will learn about Jesus, the good shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. Pray that those who can read will regularly share Scripture with those who can’t.
Tell us more!
An island sister was recently preparing wedding food with a large group of women when some of the women started talking about the way God was responsible for all the evil in the world as well as the good. They brought our sister into the conversation and she was able to tell them that she didn’t agree. She then had the entire audience of women captivated as she told them the story of creation all the way to Cain and Abel. Afterwards women were asking her how she knew these things and if she could tell them more! Praise God for this sister’s boldness and ask that she would be encouraged to step out more and more in faith to share the good news. Pray that God would bless these women with a strong hunger to hear more, and that they would seek her out for more stories.
The Next Generation
Please pray that the Borana church will continue boldly sharing the gospel in those towns and villages that still remain mostly Muslim. Pray that believers will be trained in the Scripture and that the next generation of Borana believers will be eager to follow Christ even more passionately than their parents did. Pray that Borana believers will begin to share Christ with neighbouring tribes who formerly were their enemies.
Godly Tanzanians Sharing the Gospel
Praise God for the godly Tanzanians He has sent to our team! These are skilled professional men & women sacrificing to work in the most impoverished, marginalized unreached region of Tanzania to reach the Swahili for Christ. In the world’s eyes it is utter foolishness to choose to serve where we are! God has recently filled 2 desperately needed positions with an overqualified accountant and a couple who is well known for their Christian leadership & integrity on a national level. The accountant is willing to work for a fraction of the salary he deserves and the couple has turned down a salary because they are able to live off their own personal investments & income. We are in awe of how God builds His Kingdom. Pray He will protect our team from the evil one, sin and temptation. Pray that our team DNA will be that of Christ and His Cross – that we would die to ourselves so that Christ will be made famous among the Swahili.
Not forgotten
Her niece is a believer and begged, “Please don’t forget her, she’s close!” A few days later, her aunt turned her wrist to show the pattern of her veins spelling God in Arabic. “Whenever I feel alone, I look at my wrists and see God does not forget me.” Then a believer showed her Isaiah 49:15,16 where God declares we are engraved on His hands and never forgotten and she heard of Jesus’ wounds on the cross. Pray that Berbers will know of the cross and that they have not been forgotten.
Two Literacy Classes Have Begun!
The adult literacy has actually began, with two classes! It’s very exciting. We have 40 adults in the classes. Pray that God will use these to bring more into His Kingdom. As mentioned before, God has greatly used these classes in the past and key Christian leaders today came to know Jesus through this ministry. Pray that we can find funds to enable these classes to continue in 2018.
A Mighty Work of the Spirit
Pray for the Holy Spirit to work mightily among the Alagwa, filling the believers with boldness to confess their faith in Christ to their families and friends. Pray for unity among the missionaries and nationals who are working to reach them with the gospel. Pray that the Word of God will be translated and that many will hear it and believe.
Afraid
“If I deny Jesus only with my mouth, he knows my heart, right? I am so weak. I love my family. ” An Arab man texted heart-wrenching questions in fear, knowing the threat is real. Ask that he and other Arabs would set their hearts on Jesus and remember His worth.
Necessary Permissions
A team of new workers is awaiting visas to begin living among the Zigua and sharing Christ with them. Please pray that all the necessary government permissions will be granted, and that the Zigua will be prepared by the Holy Spirit to be unusually receptive to the team and to their message.
A time of danger
Pray for the many Mbororo in Eastern CAR, where sectarian violence has left a path of destruction and fear. Most of the Mbororo have fled to the bush to stay away from the ongoing violence occurring in the towns. This means selling and buying at any markets has become a huge risk. Pray that they would ask deeper questions during this time of danger, that they would find answers in the only true source of Peace: The Prince of Peace!
A Prayer Summit
Please pray for a group of believers who will meet at the end of July for a prayer summit meeting for the Rangi. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide them as they present their requests to God. Pray for more workers to go share Christ with the Rangi. Pray that Christ-centred, reproducing Rangi churches will be planted throughout this huge tribe.
Known For Their Zeal
Please continue to pray for unity among believers who are ministering to the Digo, and that as the Digo have been known for their zeal for Islam, to that same degree they will become known for their zeal and commitment to Jesus. Pray for local churches who have believers from other tribes to be stirred up to share the gospel and receive the Digo as their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Dorobo traditional honey wine
The Dorobo traditionally brew a potent honey wine. At circumcision ceremonies where young people come of age, the old men and women get very drunk on honey wine. Pray that God would break through and create a thirst for His Word that his stronger than their craving for honey wine.
False teaching
Please pray for the karimojong who are seeking the truth to be protected from false teaching, and that they will reject the false teaching they have already received. It came to light that most of the engaged karimojong believe that satan sends people to hell not God, which gives him power he does not in truth possess. Many more such things are coming to light. As scripture is used to dispute lies, pray that the truth of God’s Word would find fertile soil and that the fruit would be strong and resilient against the wiles of the evil one.
May She Long for the Pure Milk of the Word
Please continue to pray for the Lord to work in the heart of a S. Asian woman who prayed to receive the gift of eternal life and have her sins washed by Jesus’ blood. Pray for the Spirit to confirm to her that the Way of Jesus is the Truth, and that she may long for the pure milk of the Word like a newborn baby, and grow through it.
Potential relocation
The Ik have recently been threatened to be relocated out of the homes they have made near a protected forest. Please pray for wisdom and guidance in knowing how to handle the situation and how best to support the Ik people. Pray that the Ik can stay and live in this place they call home. Finally, pray for peace and partnership for all involved.
Close to the kingdom!
‘I want to read for myself and decide what to believe,’ she said and then read the Word for about two hours asking questions like: “Did Jesus really die?” Or “Is Mary Aaron’s sister?” And then she declared, “The Koran is wrong. It is not written by God. Moh. is not the last prophet.” Then later, “We are not saved by works but by believing.” Please pray that she and many other Berbers would learn of the truth of Scripture and the cross and grace!
May God open hearts
Pray for wisdom on how to engage the people with Christ during literacy lessons, farming together, and medical help. Ask the Lord to open hearts to hear and believe the gospel.
Witchdoctor’s Cries
In the middle of the night team members have been regularly woken up by the drunken cries of a witchdoctor outside their bedroom window. They’ve asked their neighbors what it’s all about and all they get is a giggle and off handed response that it is nothing at all. But it is disturbing and disruptive. Our team members have been told that the witchdoctor’s brother died from a ritual gone wrong on the beach recently. The Swahili have seamlessly syncretized Islam with their traditional witchcraft. Pray that this witchdoctor will one day soon be walking the streets proclaiming his salvation in Jesus & his freedom from witchcraft & alcohol. Pray for the protection, peace and rest for this team family and for all the believers here who are surrounded by a constant onslaught of spiritual warfare as God establishes His Kingdom in this historically Christ- resistant, churchless village.
It Has Slowed Down
One of our Somali students in the English school has not returned, please pray that she will come back and that we will get some more new ladies. The school has slowed down since the start to Ramadan. Lets pray that this project will be blessed with many students.
