Praise the Lord for the way He is working in the oral translation project and using it to touch Alagwa hearts. The translators are in God’s Word for hours each day and they have seen the power of prayer to enable them to do the work.
Course Completed!
A praise! A local Christian worker was recently able to complete a course to get his certificate for pre-school teaching- which means that his nursery school is no longer in danger of being shut down if it’s investigated. We are thankful that the time and money were found for him to be able to do this training.
Would There Be a Riot?
Our Christian brother Kijuu has been showing the Jesus Film in Rangi Villages. He had showed the film in 5 villages this past December, but in the village of Itolwa about 500 people showed up. Kijuu was afraid at the amount of people but the showing went smoothly. We are encouraged by the interest in Jesus as evidenced by that large audience. Pray for all those who saw the film, that the Lord would remind them of what they saw and draw them to seek Him.
Eva’s Family Wants to Come Take Her Away
Eva, the young girl who has come out of Islam and been delivered from several demons so far, has a family who are unhappy about what’s happened to her and they are coming from the coast to take her back home. She doesn’t want to go. She is being discipled here by the pastor’s wife and we are praying that either the Lord would somehow thwart her family’s intentions to take her back home or that he will use it to help her grow further and be a witness to her family. She’s so young in both age and spiritual maturity. Would you pray for her?
Chief is Baptized!
We praise God that the chief in the region where our workers were located was baptized recently along with one of his advisors. Additionally, the local pastor has baptized at least four men and women. Praise the Lord! We praise Jesus for the work of the Spirit among the San people. Pray that more will soften and open their hearts to the saving news of Jesus Christ.
Many children continue to be left behind due to lack of modern education. People really want a kindergarten and preschool for the children. Pray for people to be available and willing to be trained to do this work for future generations.
Simple and Pure Devotion to Christ
Pray that as the M see that Jesus can drive out demonic spirits; they will seek to know Him personally and be willing to accept Him as their Saviour, renouncing all other allegiances. May they completely leave behind any witchcraft or demonism, any reliance on magic charms or syncretism with Islam. May they be filled with the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
Cattle Thieves Coming to Christ
Since April, 2016 when we started praying for the Malasos (cattle thieves that use spiritual evil forces to get power and protection) we have seen three them coming to faith in Christ Jesus. I know that there is a lot more and I know that God loves them as he loves us. One of them is giving his testimony and impacting the life of many here in Betroka.
Could you please pray for them? That they recognize Jesus as the Son of God and only savior? Pray that they would be set free from the power of Darkness.
Nothing is impossible for God.
Thank you for praying!
“I am a new creature!”
If you have been praying for the Berbers, you have heard of Hannah and her Arab friend, Ruth. They had clearly rejected Islam and eagerly received the Word and accepted an invitation to study the prophets and Jesus. They then unexpectedly came to the Christmas Eve service! (According to the government, the church is only for foreigners.) We were so blessed when some foreign Arab believers leaned forward to explain communion to them. Then there were a few weeks of cancelled invitations and sickness and miscommunication…but on Saturday, both Ruth and Hannah came to read the Word of God. We read through Genesis 1-3 and John 1-3…and as Hannah read aloud verse 16, she said, “I just love God!” Each clearly chose to believe, accepting the mystery of the deity of Christ and the necessity of his death on the cross (both denied by Islam)! How beautiful is the gift of faith! As Hannah left she said, “I am a new creature!” There has been much joy over these past two weeks, and a taste of suffering too. Please pray that Jesus would guard the hearts of his precious daughters and give them boldness as they share with their moms and aunt.
Bible Stories: Let’s Start Up Again
Another visit with the D family brought conversation about how long it’s been since we had Bible stories together, and an obvious yearning to begin again. Pray for God to work the logistics of this out, as people’s schedules don’t always mesh. Pray also that the women will begin reading the Bible on their own.
Spontaneous Baptisms
What a joy it was yesterday to participate in the baptism service for four believers in the Sandawe church. One of those included E, the one we mentioned in the last update who was delivered from demonic activity, and who has been going through some Bible study with local church leadership. She had been suffering from evil spirits since childhood, but now no more since putting her faith in Jesus! She was eager to be baptized as an expression of her new found faith, especially since some of her family came to collect her and return her to her home area.
So the service was a spontaneous one for E’s sake, and included other young people who have been going through classes/training. Since the baptismal pool at the church was empty, we rushed down to the house after the sermon to fill up containers and a rain barrel to take up to the church for the baptisms. We were both soaked from the sloshing of water, but our spirits were not dampened, being full of joy for these young believers who made a public declaration of their allegiance to Christ!
Please pray for E, as she leaves to return to her home area, pray that we’d be able to help her connect with a church and especially someone who can continue to disciple her. We are concerned for her that she be surrounded by a supporting faith community, please pray for that as she returns to a coastal area of TZ.
Yohanna and Ivan meet!
God answered your prayers for fellowship! The brother who has been a believer for 14 years (“Yohanna”) but had never met another local believer face-to-face, met “Ivan.” Ivan has been a believer for 2 years and does not live in the same city, but was traveling through when my husband sent him a text about connecting! It was a gift of encouragement for Ivan to see 14 years of Yohanna’s faithfulness and it was a gift of courage for Yohanna to hear that Ivan had told his wife and children of his faith! They spent a few hours rejoicing in fellowship and have been sending Scripture to each other via phone now that they are apart. There is another mature brother in the city that is still afraid to meet the others, and a fourth who is young and willing to meet anyone but the older ones feel he is a risk. Pray for increased love and boldness.
Receiving Christian Influence
There is a young Rangi man (about to enter his final year of secondary school), with whom local Christians have been actively involved; he has had great exposure to Christianity. He is currently staying with a Christian in Busi, and it sounds like he is asking really good and insightful questions. Please pray that the Lord would be working on his spirit, and that he would be given great understanding!
Hopes for Completion In 2017
Praise the Lord for progress in the Datooga storying project. Pray that by the end of 2017 all the stories in the “set” will be translated, checked for accuracy, and recorded. Pray that many will come to know the Lord because they listen to the Word of God.
Trekking for clothes
The Ik don’t have a local shop that sells clothing. They have to make a long trip to a nearby town in order to buy clothes, which is an 1.5 hour drive. They see their need for new clothing as the clothes they wear are often torn and threadbare. They are also willing to pay money to buy new clothing if they are available nearby. Please be praying that God would raise up someone trustworthy that the TIMO team could help equip to bring this necessary resource to the Ik.
Inferiority complex
Fulani, being a small ethnic group, feel inferior to other dominant groups,and are neglected by society. Pray for God to help them overcome this feeling of inferiority.
Na Recovered from Malaria
Na was released from the hospital & is now regaining her strength at home. Please be praying for her complete recovery. We know what a gift from God this healing is … malaria remains the number 1 killer in Africa. Please keep praying for the salvation of this entire family! Pray that her mother, Mama Sofia, will want to keep hearing the stories of the Bible.
Hungry Families During Famine
After two successive years of bad harvest, some people are hungry and having difficulty feeding their families. There are some plans in the works for relief, but please pray that God would be glorified and that hungry individuals would have their needs met.
Challenging the Men for a Response
Pray for the Alagwa young man who was not able to come to a Christmas celebration but, on hearing the message later in the evening asked how the other men responded. When he learned that the men hadn’t made a response, he said he himself would ask them how they would respond to the message. “You don’t come to a celebration just to eat rice,” he said. “People need to respond to the message.” Please pray for him and the conversations with other men. Pray that God will use this man and his questions to challenge men in the neighbourhood to consider their response to Jesus.
So Many Still Waiting
Approximately 500,000 Rangi people live in central Tanzania. Holding to a mix of Islam and animism, they are still untouched by the gospel. Pray for the Holy Spirit to penetrate their hearts and allow them to recognise Jesus Christ as their Saviour and the one true God.
She Feels Guilty For Her Grief
The Muslim South Asian family we’ve been ministering to seem sometimes to be taking steps toward Christ, and sometimes back. One day recently I had a chance to spend time with one of the mothers in the large extended family. She shared that she is still very sad that her brother back in India died and they could not afford for her to go back for his funeral. She can’t get over her guilt for that. Nor her guilt that she is still having waves of sadness about his death. According to her religion, she should simply submit stoically to the will of God. That day we read about Jesus’ sadness over His friend Lazarus’ death, and how each of the sisters had an “if only” comment. This is a normal feeling, a normal reaction. Then we read that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We read the testimony of Martha, who said, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” The woman listened without arguing. She also received a small book of Swahili Bible stories, and said she would read them. Please continue to pray for the salvation of the whole family.
Bara converted to Jesus
Many people have been impacted and touched by the testimony of Jean Claude, an ex-malaso (cow thief) who converted to Jesus. He left behind the old religion and its practices. He burned his witchcraft and all the tradition medicine that is used in Bara culture.
Jean Claude has been preaching about Jesus since then. However, the struggles and challenges in his Christian journey will come, as it does for everyone.
Could you please pray that God protects this Bara convert and set him free from the traps of the Devil?
May Jean Claude keep growing in faith daily. May God grant him grace to be transformed to the image of Christ ’till the day of Jesus Christ.
The Healing of a Gabbra Lady
The day of one of many mobile Gabbra clinics, I drove a lady who was walking with much difficulty. She is one of the believers in that community. Before starting the clinic we had a devotional with teaching and prayers. She was the first patient to be seen by the nurse so I could drive her back home. It seemed she would need an X-ray (which could only be done in a city 4 hours’ drive from where she lives). Before driving her home, I asked if I could pray for her and ask in Jesus’ name for complete healing. She accepted, and laying my hand on her leg, we prayed together.
The week after, she came to greet me smiling and walking normally! She gave her testimony for the others who came for fellowship saying; -“I came to the clinic with so much pain and I got some medication, you prayed for me and I was healed. And I know the only person who can do this is Jesus!” Praise and glory to Lord Jesus!
In Bible School
Praise God that a S. Asian young woman from Kenya who became a believer three years ago out of Hinduism is now attending a 6 month Bible school/missionary training program in Australia. She is concerned for the salvation of her relatives living in Australia, who are still Hindu. Some of them she is seeing for the first time in years. As they reconnect and visit, please pray for her boldness and courage, and that they may come to Christ.
Encouraging and Scary Conversation
Just had an encouraging as well as scary conversation with a Rendille friend of ours. He commented that in Korr, the Muslims are not making headway. There is a strong Christian presence and God has been using the Christian schools and the church as a tremendous spiritual force in the area. However, 2 hours north of Korr is another large Rendille settlement – Kargi. It seems that Muslims are making huge inroads into that community. There is a big battle going on for the hearts of the Rendille – pray for the God of the Bible to win this battle! Pray that the church in Korr may remain strong. Pray that the schools can continue as they struggle for their financial subsidies needed to enable them to continue. Pray for areas outside of Korr’s influence – that God will provide workers and open hearts for His Kingdom.
Still in Jail but Reading God’s Word
Several months ago, a young man “went crazy” and attacked three people, one of whom was his mother. One of the other women that he attacked died. It has become apparent that this attack happened under demonic influence and he has no recollection of the incident. He is currently in jail but both he and his mother have been given Bibles and the mother seems hungry for God’s Word and is going to Bible Study. Please pray for both of them as well as the family of the one who was murdered.
That they may know how to read and write
On many occasions as we interact with Fulani, they have shared with us about their desire to know how to read and write.The Fulani feel segregated by the country’s type of educational system because they are a minority group. Pray for them to have a system in which they can feel they are part of the community.
Baptisms During Drought
Pray for nine Datooga who were recently baptised. May the adults, teen, and children all grow in Christ. The baptism was carried out under very difficult conditions due to drought. Praise the Lord that they were not afraid of public scorn. May others follow their example.
Another Interested Neighbour
A missionary’s Swahili neighbour, Mama Sofia wants to start hearing God’s story too! In her words: “I was telling her about God’s story today, after a story visit with Bibi Chai. We have had a lot of Godward conversations & I am praising God for this breakthrough. This came about also after I prayed in Jesus name for healing for her 8 year old daughter Na who was admitted this afternoon to hospital with malaria & in need of a blood transfusion. So please pray for her healing too. Na is a dear friend of my daughter. We really love this family!” So pray for the spiritual progress of Bibi Chai, and now pray for Mama Sofia and Naa who need healing and Jesus.
And He’s Taking the Next Step!
A will be baptized this Sunday. His wife also wants to follow Jesus! God is so good!
Opening Doors for Witness
Pray for an increase in the frequency of sharing Bible stories so continuity is not lost. Pray that the Nyamwezi would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus as believers proclaim the Gospel message regularly in homes and to individuals. Pray for more open doors to share God’s Word as relationships are built in villages. Pray that the Nyamwezi will see the real Jesus we know and love and that they would know God longs for a personal relationship with them. May the Lord keep opening doors to the lives and hearts of those who are lost, in households and in neighborhoods.
Encouraging News!
Pastor Guillaume, a Malagasy pastor, based in Mahajanga in North West Madagascar, has seen God bless his ministry amongst the Sakalava people recently. Pastor Guillaume planted six churches amongst Sakalava people in and around Mahajanga a few years ago but none of the churches were really growing. However from September to November 2016 Pastor Guillaume was able to visit the churches and using a mixture of the Jesus video in the Sakalava dialect and a new T4T curriculum he has seen a total of about 70 new believers coming to faith. The local churches are continuing to disciple the new believers using the T4T short term discipleship programme.
Because of the rainy season Pastor Guillaume won’t be able to visit any of these places (many of which are in the bush) until about May this year. Pray for the new Sakalava believers that they would grow in their new faith and share it with others. Pray also that the churches would start to plant new churches.
Grief Upon Grief
Yesterday I arrived at the house of one of my dearest friends to find her looking sad and heavy-hearted. She and her husband have been having significant struggles with finances, joblessness, infertility, and an adoption that fell through. It seems they are experiencing grief upon grief these days. It didn’t take much pressing to get her to share with me how hard life feels for her right now. She looked at me and said, “I keep praying and asking God to show me the way.” I hesitated but finally responded, “Jesus says He is the way.” This led into a conversation about the Fall, sin entering the world, and the need for us to be reconciled to God. She very confidently said that if she sins, she just has to make it right by apologizing to the person she hurt and praying and asking God for forgiveness so she can be made clean again. I told her we both agreed that God is more holy than we could ever imagine. But I asked her how we could ever in a million years think that we could make ourselves clean before that kind of holiness. She didn’t respond but simply sat quietly. I said, “It would require perfection. A perfect life. Jesus was the only one who ever managed that.” Our conversation was full of love and grace toward one another and when I left her house, she gave me a tight hug and thanked me for being her friend.
But the Swahili people in this location are deeply tied to Islam and the mere suggestion that we would put our hope in Jesus for salvation is highly inflammatory and even seems to cause great fear. There is a bondage here that causes tremendous defensiveness and offense when the topic is raised. Women especially are taught to not even engage with ideas outside of those they’ve been raised with, much less think critically about them. Please pray for the Swahili people that the Spirit would open the door for more of these conversations to take place. Pray that hearts would be opened to the Truth that there is no way for any human to make themselves clean before God. Pray that would stir in them a desire to find a different way. Pray that would lead them to see that Jesus IS the way.
More baptisims amongst the Antandroy
Please pray the Spirit will continue to move mightily through the Androy region. We have 28 groups meeting as a result of missionaries and now nationals who have been going out regularly to share the Gospel. 61 were baptized the last weekend in January and 14 others are awaiting baptism. This is only a small portion of the million Antandroy people but the Lord is at work through His children.
Terrible Drought
The drought in Kenya continues, with many animals dying and people suffering. Please pray for rain for Kenya. And pray for the Spirit’s water of life in people’s hearts and lives.
He Came And Found Us
A is a brand new believer in Jesus. He’s read the Bible we gave him cover to cover, was the only attendant at our first church service in the village and after answering his double sided page of questions he wants to be baptized! We had nothing to do with this. He came and found us and the Holy Spirit has obviously been at work with him for a while. Our partner church in another town wants to send someone to visit with him weekly for dicipleship. Pray for the right person! Meanwhile, a missionary is also scheduling time to spend with him. Pray also he would stand firm through the inevitable persecution he will experience!
For Freedom
Several weeks ago during a ‘listening to Scripture’ visit at Mama Federiko’s house, a different neighbour came by and sat down to listen. When the player was turned off she turned to me and asked me if I remembered her. I was a little embarrassed to admit that I did not. She then reminded me of the day several months back when I was called out to another village to attend to several victims who had been callously cut with a machete by a crazed and demon possessed young 22 year old male. There were 3 victims, one died at the scene after her arm was hacked off, one had her Achilles tendon severed and the other was the young man’s mother who had head and shoulder cuts. How could I forget that incident? I remember being told how it took several men to subdue this young man and it reminded me of the man in the tombs in the village of the Gadarenes who had to be chained to protect himself and others because of the demons who ruled him.
This woman now sitting opposite me was the young man’s mother. Her name is Sebastiana. She showed me the physical scars of her wounds and shared her heartache over her eldest son’s situation and involvement in witchcraft. He is in prison now, aware of himself and waiting for his case to come before a court. He has no recollection of what he did. Sebastiana told me that until that incident happened she only went to the Catholic Church sporadically but since then she’s been hungry for the Word and wanting to study the Bible and learn how to live right. She asked me if I had a Bible I could give her. She wanted to take it to her son in prison who was spending time with a catechist and she wanted one for herself so she could look up the Scripture verses she was being given by the catechist in our village.
She then asked me if I thought her son could be saved. I told her that only Jesus can save his soul no matter what happens to his body. She asked me how that could be and I had the opportunity to explain the gospel in simple but clear terms. She nodded her head and said “Yes that’s right”. I wasn’t sure where she stood in her relationship with Jesus and what she actually understood about receiving Jesus as her Saviour. When we had finished talking I asked her if she would like me to pray for her and for her son. She willingly agreed and as I was praying for them to find a relationship with Jesus she was repeating every single word I was saying.
Sebastiana now has a Bible to study and so does her son John in prison. Please pray for them both. God alone can turn this situation into one that frees them both from Satan’s grip and witness to Christ’s saving power to everyone else around them.
From Many Backgrounds
The Lord’s work is not limited to organisations or teams. After experiencing the transforming power of the Bible and of following Jesus, one Roman Catholic background believer has taken up the challenge of teaching seminars and Chronological Bible Storying to both Roman Catholics and Muslims alike. A Rangi Muslim he taught is now a believer, and is leading a group of other Muslim background believers in his town.The Lord’s hand is evident in seeing these different believers with different backgrounds, come together formally and informally to work towards the goal of seeing the Rangi be transformed by Jesus!
The Jesus Film in Rangi
Give thanks for the recent release of ‘The Jesus Film’ in the Rangi language. Praise God for his provision for all of the details surrounding translating and recording the film script. Pray that the Holy Spirit would go before every showing of the film and use it to draw people to Jesus.
A Rangi Evangelist
Please pray for P, a Rangi man who has trained as an evangelist and is now ministering among his own people. In an area where there is a shortage of space in the local primary school, he has started and runs a nursery school that has been extremely well received by the community.
Needing fellowship
He is a believer, but has never been to a church building. The church building here is for foreigners only. He also has never met with a local believer, so has no local house church. When we offered to introduce him, the other believer was afraid to meet. He has worshiped with our family in our home. My husband and he were studying language together just as I was headed out the door to practice for choir and he asked if he could just go to see the church. We all headed out the door together, and I thought he would just take a tour. Instead, he and my husband sat and prayed together. And as the odd crew from three continents came in to practice singing, he joined in, asking if he could come just for practices. Continue to pray for courage and fellowship for our brothers and sisters here.
