One of the Alagwa ladies we have been praying for is coming almost daily for Bible study. She is desperate to learn to read and write. So we study the Bible and pray together, and then I help her with her literacy. This is such an answer to prayer, as I was praying she would have a renewed passion to know God more. She always wants to study the Bible first, and I believe God is speaking to her. She is also sharing with one of her neighbors who is not a believer. Her husband is a believer, although he seems to be struggling with community and family pressures. Please pray for him to stand strong in his faith.
Trusting God in her poverty
Would you pray for Mama J to have the joy of the Lord, despite her desperate poverty. She seems to truly trust the Lord, pray she would tell others what the Lord has done for her. And pray that her small business would be profitable and that she would be able to keep it going.
Betroka, not far from your knees!
“… how can they believe if they don’t hear? …”
The Gospel of Luke in the Bara language is being broadcast everyday, through a small radio station in Betroka. Pray that God will attract Bara people to listen to the radio program when the Gospel is been broadcast at 18:00h. Ask God to use the broadcasts powerfully to take the gospel to further areas.
Also, the gospel of Luke is broadcast in the open market in Betroka. Many Bara, around 10 o’clock, just hang around the market. Pray that God touches their hearts in such a way that they become interested in listening to more of Jesus’ stories. Also pray that the guy who is playing the Gospel remembers to do it!
Women of faith and their husbands
In March, we asked you to pray for three ladies in one village who, having listened to the Alagwaisa Bible stories, wanted to follow Jesus. Two were concerned about their husband’s reactions, as culturally a wife should follow her husband’s religion.
Update-Praise God that these women are continuing to study the Bible and seek God. Praise God that one of them has been listening to God’s word with friends who aren’t seeking Jesus. She also lent her audio player twice to a man in her family who also really wants to hear God’s word. He kept it for so long, we gave her another one. Her face lit up as she received God’s word again. Please pray for an ever-deepening hunger for God and His word among these women and their families. Praise God that all three women are listening to God’s word with their families and friends. Please pray that they will continue to seek God for themselves and obey His Word. Please keep praying for the salvation of the husbands.
Encouragement and power
There is always a reason to be thankful and the most important is that we are not working in our ministries alone (no matter how difficult things may be) but the Holy Spirit is with us and Jesus Himself is building His church and His Kingdom. HE is always the victor and the One in control. Praise His Name for His work among the Sandawe! May the Name of Jesus be honored and lifted high among the Sandawe. May the believers walk in a way worthy of the Lord.
The Lord is my Shepherd
As we spend more time in the Datooga communities, we see the people caring for their livestock of goats, sheep and cows – taking them to find pasture, carrying the new born lamb or goat in their arms if the distance is too great for them to walk, looking out for predators, taking them to find water, searching the bushes for ones gone astray or lost; it is a reminder of David’s Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd, and also of Jesus saying He is the Good Shepherd. As the Datooga herd their animals may they come to know Jesus as their own Good Shepherd and know he cares for each of them.
Sent Out Two By Two
Two weeks ago the church in Tsimba began sending Digo men in pairs to do evangelism in a new area. Last week there were 14 professions of faith by Digo people in response to these Digo men’s message! There is still much follow-up to do, but this is a very encouraging beginning! This week two ladies from the church have gone to the same area for outreach. Pray that the individuals doing the outreach would be encouraged in their faith and that the seed which has been planted will have landed on good soil.
A Rangi Believer’s Energetic Witness
A Rangi believer visited the village of Busi Sept. 5th and showed the Rangi Jesus Film. Pray for the salvation of Aziza, Mohamed and Adinani who saw it. He continues to show the Rangi Jesus film in other Rangi villages. He drives his motorcycle and uses his motorcycle battery to power the film.
This man has gone to 2 workshops about farming God’s way. He was so blessed by the training that on Sept. 15. he sent this whatsapp: “I am happy; today I taught my first class on farming God’s way at Msalato Theological College. I will continue on Friday. This is a class of pastors. They will teach what they’ve learned wherever they go. The Lord is very gracious to us. I praise him.”
Recently he messaged: “Thank you for asking how I am doing. I am doing well but have no one for accountability.” Pray that God would give him another Christian to have fellowship with.
Pray for the village of Marimbehely
The small village of Marimbehely on Nosy Mitsio has been diligently meeting to hear Bible stories for several months now. Two members of the group have demonstrated a lot of passion for learning the stories, discussing them, sharing the stories with others, and even leading the Bible study group themselves. The TIMO team is currently away from Nosy Mitsio for “month out”, but the people of Marimbehely have said they want to continue meeting and discussing the Bible stories in the absence of the team. Please pray that the Holy Spirit’s power and conviction would hold them strong in their pledge to continue in the team’s absence, that the Holy Spirit would reveal to them the truths of God’s character and actions through the Bible stories, that any obstacles or spiritual warfare would be overcome mightily and visibly by God’s power, and that the people of Nosy Mitsio would see that Jesus is the ultimate answer to their hopes and the ultimate freedom from their fears of the ancestors.
You prayed…God answered!
You prayed: Please pray for three ladies in one village who, having listened to the Alagwaisa Bible stories, want to follow Jesus. Two are concerned about their husband’s reactions, as culturally a wife should follow her husband’s religion. They are starting to pray for their husbands. Please pray for these ladies that they will continue to pray and give their lives to Jesus wholeheartedly and continue to grow in their understanding and in faith. Please pray for the husbands, that God, by his Spirit, will open of the hearts these three men to know His love and forgiveness.
Update 9-27-16-Praise God that these women are continuing to study the Bible and seek God. Praise God that one of them has been listening to God’s word with friends who aren’t seeking Jesus. She also lent her audio player twice to a guy in her family who also really wants to hear God’s word. He kept it for so long, the woman had to be given another audio player. Her face lit up as she received God’s word again. Please pray for an ever deepening hunger for God and his word. Praise God that all three women are listening to God’s word with their families and friends. Please pray that all 3 will continue to seek God for themselves and will obey God’s word. Please keep praying for the salvation of their husbands.
