We are pleased to welcome the family of Maman to our home.

Here is mother Maria plus Ayuba, Na'omi, Esta, Rahila, Deborah, Sama'ila.

There are also pictures of their new home on our compound.

Recently our guard passed away from Cancer.  He left behind is his wife and five young children.
When Maman, our guard, passed away he went to the village of his birth to die.  In this village, his wife was settled on the fact that she was going to remain there with her children.  While there was a small church there we saw no sign of schools.  In addition, she would be living in a M... compound which would be very difficult for her and her children.  This difficulty would be greatly enhanced because she would have no income sources.

We talked to the church pastor and a close national friend about her situation.  We spent time praying about her family and looking to God for a revelation.  That revelation came in the form of an invitation for her and her children to come live with us.

There is a two room guard house on our property with electricity and water access (something else lacking in her previous location).  We have spent the last two days doing repairs and renovations to the building to make it more comfortable.  There is actually a concrete porch and we were able to install a tarp over it to give addition protection from the sun.  The weather is getting hotter and wet season is coming to an end.

We know that this is a big move for us by adding to our "family" in this way but we could not stand the thought of what they would face in their future otherwise.

They will have plenty of opportunities for schooling for the children.  The mother used to make and sell food to earn income and she will have lots of opportunities to do the same here.  Also, she will not have to worry about paying for rent or any utilities.

Our prayer is that this family will be blessed through this opportunity and that they would have a safe future here.  More importantly, our hope is that in displaying love to them in this way, that they would see the love of Christ revealed in a prominent, practical way.

Today we await their arrival.  Pray for the settling in of this family.  Pray for all of us as we adjust to life together.

We do not do what God asks because we do what our human nature demands.

We do not delight in our faith and what God has done for us because we are too busy relishing our own needs.

We do not have, or do not hear, the glorious urging of the Holy Spirits cry to action, and that is why we do not pursue others to follow in Jesus.

If we truly felt the joy and love of our Savior and understood what He has done for us, why would we not be doing our best to share the gospel word?   Why would we want to see others suffer Heaven’s opposite?

Workers are needed in the harvest field.  Workers who so love the Word of God that they are willing to give of themselves to share that wonderous Word of God.  If you cannot go into the harvest field, then fervently pray for the Lord to send workers.

Blessing to all

Orest

 Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

When we have the filling of the Holy Spirit it is so much easier to help those we see in need and to be obedient to the Word of God.

Pray for us as we anticipate taking on a new challenge in our ministry in Niger.  This new challenge will be in line with the quotes from Francis Chan and Corrie Ten Boom, and the following Biblical passage.

Deuteronomy 10:17-18 (NIV)

¹⁷ For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. ¹⁸ He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.

Blessing to all

Orest

Alheri

 

What a joy!  A second little girl has been named after Grace. 

She was given the Hausa version of Grace which is Alheri. 

Grace is always called Alheri in Niger, never Grace.

It is a blessing to have two children named after Grace.

Psalm 118:24 New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁴ 

This is the day the Lord has made.
    We will rejoice and be glad in it.

September 2018

Here is a view from the roof of our house.  I needed to go up after rains to push water that has accumulated, otherwise we get more water in the house than we already have.

The second photo shows the empty lot next to our house.  Unfortunately, people were able to get into that lot and climb our wall to gain access to our place.  After some theft and vandalism we needed to install the razor wire security.  Always interesting to look at the walls, with the wire, and contemplate that the same thing encircles prison walls.

Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV:

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Blessings to all.  Be well.  Trust in the Lord always.  Be faithful and obedient to His teachings.

Orest