Galmi visit May 2019

Sharing some pictures from our May 2019 visit to Galmi.  During our visit we were able to visit Samuel's class.  The AD Church has built a wonderful Christian school in Galmi.  Sara is very impressed with the teacher.

First of all, in the picture below - is this a question of Samuel being small or mamma having a rather large purse?

At the school.  Caleb likes holding hands.

Caleb is a funny fellow simply because he is so thoughtful and so serious all the time.  Always amazed that he can spot our car anywhere and want to go for a ride.
Here, mamma is trying to get Caleb to laugh.

Here is a picture of Samuel's class.  27 students in total.  Samuel is determined to be the number 1 student.  He works very hard at his homework.

A couple of images of the school yard.  They are still building extra classrooms.

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Blessings to all

Orest

Fishing Season

I remember when May would come around and I would start getting excited about the start of fishing season.  That’s what the May long weekend was about for me.  I remember pulling out all of my fishing gear and making sure all the tackle was good and all the lines were ready for the season. 

I loved sitting in a boat, or on shore, casting my line.  Waiting for that tug on the other end and the joy of battle with the monster fish I would typically catch.

Sitting in a boat, there were many times when Grace and I would have wonderfully, peaceful times of solitude and we would talk about life and share our dreams and goals for the future.  They were amazing times to grow closer to God and to each other.

This picture is typical of life when fishing with Grace.

Now when May comes around, we are looking at temperatures over 40 degrees every day. No lakes or streams to go fishing in our area, just lots of sand and dust.  In Niger, in May, the excitement is in the increased availability of mangoes.  While this is a wonderful treat it is not the same as fishing season in Manitoba.

As I contemplated these things, and our ministry, I thought of this verse:

Matthew 4:18-20 (NIV)

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.

So, now here we are, on the edge of the Sahara Desert.  There is no boat and there is no cool water with spring fresh fish voraciously biting our fishing lures.  Now we are fishing in a stifling hot land, trying to set our hooks into a new adventure.  There have been lots of nibbles and we are certain that the Holy Spirit has landed a few.

With your prayer support we will continue to be fishers in the hope that those who continue to nibble at the truth will indeed allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives.

I love the above passage from Matthew 4, and I love following Jesus.  As much as I love fishing, I love following Jesus even more.

Blessings to all

Orest

For the Love of Mangoes

We have many mango trees on our property.  They provide shade and fruit.  The other day we had a couple of our students help harvest mangoes.  Amazing to see them climb up to the heights of the trees and send the mangoes down.  We shared the mangoes with these two students and the family that lives on our compound.  We still have about 15 buckets left over.  This is over and above the time when family was over and our son, Sani, brought down around 6 buckets of mangoes.  Grace is busy making Mango juice.

We have also found that the trees are great shade.  Here is a photo of our latest Kids Club meeting.  Here the students are gathering to get some mangoes as they leave after class.  32 students were in attendance and they all got mangoes.  Same as last week.

Last weekend we had the family over.  Samuel loves playing with the tether ball.  Here you can see him trying to set it up to the perfect height for himself.  I gave him bungie cord to attach, which added a whole new dimension of joy for my grandson.

Proverbs 11:30 NIV)

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

Genesis 1:11 (NIV)

¹¹ Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 

Our mango trees are bearing good fruit, of which, many have benefitted.  We can also say that our mango trees also bear fruit for God's kingdom as they not only provide physical fruit, but their shade aids in the spreading of spiritual fruit.

Matthew 12:33 (NIV)

³³ “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.

Blessings to all

Orest

I am distressed at what I see as mass confusion on the concept of truth.  I know that we live in a post-truth society but to continuously see the level of misdirection in news and social media is very disturbing.  Can we deny the impact the enemy is having in this world.

Look at what Jesus says:

John 8:44-45 (NIV)

⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵ Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

How relevant is this in todays world? 

Over and over again we see postings with various viewpoints on different topics.  People have different sources to back up their claims.  Other people have sources to back up their counter claims and through it all we are adapting to a mammoth force of misdirection in truth. 

Unfortunately, if you have a more conservative viewpoint you are unmercifully attacked by the so-called righteous liberals.  Name calling and bullying are the norm for these groups of liberal thinking people.  They do not see themselves as being exactly what they accuse others of being – liars, racist, colonialists, white supremacists, bigots, rednecks, etc.  These so-called liberal thinkers have become so absorbed in their own self-righteousness that they refuse to look at, or consider, opposing viewpoints and this makes them exactly what they accuse others of being.  These liberal thinkers we are forced to endure have become the new colonialists.  They are forcing their way of thinking and life on everyone else – whether we want it or not.  It is not okay to just love them; we must accept their lies as the new truth.

As true followers of Christ we try to do our best, despite out flaws.  There have been mistakes in the past made by many Christians, but I point out that this was not by all Christians.  So, when the new righteous accuse us Christ followers wrongly, because of our past, we can know that we are being accused by the enemy, Satan.

We are not taught in the Bible to hate, but to love.  The judgement in the matters of our spiritual lives and future lay in the hands of the Almighty.

Colossians 3:13-14 (NIV)

¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, this was how He responded:

Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

For those of us who are followers of Christ Jesus, this is an important and vital command in our lives.  You will not see this in any other religion, yet we are accused of being a faith of hate.  Now that is a lie.

Jesus also said:

John 14:6 (NIV)

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 8:12 (NIV)

¹² When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Now here is a truth we can live by. 

I leave you with this final Bible passage, and remember when this passage talks about a brother or sister it is referring to those who are believers in Christ:

Romans 14:5-12 (NIV)

⁵ One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. ⁶ Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. ⁷ For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. ⁸ If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. ⁹ For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

¹⁰ You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. ¹¹ It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

¹² So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

Blessings

Orest

Computer Ministry

The temperature is 44 degrees, the computers actually get hot to touch, the students are sweating but they still come.  Real dedication.    Not only is it sweltering hot, but there is a ridiculous number of flies. I think the teacher has a harder time with the conditions.

I have been surprised at the demand for computer training, but again, these people have no access to computers.  They have none in the schools and there are no public libraries for them.  They know that computers are valuable for their future work or schooling and they very much want to learn.  A decent computer is also extremely expensive here.  Certainly beyond their means.
We are using older laptops that we either owned or others have donated.

Again I apologize for the quality of photo.

Romans 12:9-13 ⁹Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the LORD. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with the LORD's people who are in need. Blessings to all Orest

Kids Club March 27, 2019

Our March 27, 2019 Kids Club:

We had the children watch the Magdalena film about Jesus.  Had a wonderful response from the children.  They want to watch it again the following week.  They had lots of questions about Jesus.  Most of these children come from a non-Christian background.

After the film we were able to give out some gifts.  Some ladies in Manitoba had made dresses and had given them to Grace to give to the girls in our Kids Club.  We then went out and bought some shorts for the boys.  These were wonderful gifts because a lot of their clothing is very tattered.

A big thank you to the ladies who made the dresses.

Please pray for these children as they develop a relationship with our precious Saviour.

Pictures taken with my phone so the pictures are not great quality.  My apologies.

I heard a message recently that was a reminder of days past when I would sit, in quiet, and marvel at the wonder and beauty of God’ creation and His provision.

After I heard this message, I remembered times in the Rocky Mountains, or times in a boat fishing where it was peaceful and serene.  Even times when we were on a golf course all by ourselves.  It was in these moments that I often contemplated my life in Christ.

I remember one instance of playing golf with Grace.  We were alone, and we came to one spot by a green.  I remember contemplating the joy of God at that time and sincerely wishing to feel His presence in that place.  As was often the case, I had to search for my golf ball in the surrounding woods.  As I searched, I stepped into a small clearing and there a few feet away was a fawn.  It was a surreal moment where all seemed intensely quiet and peaceful.  The fawn and I just looked at each other for several minutes.  I remember the intense feeling of joy as I thought how God had given me that reminder of his continued presence with those who are His children.

For me, todays work load, and environment, seem to make that time of quiet contemplation an unfulfilled dream.

Now, in Africa I find these quiet times of reflection when I close my doors to the frenzied world outside.  Everyday, our home is wide open to our students, and the community we live in.  Our home is also open to the noise, the dust, the heat, the lizards and other pests.  It can overwhelm at times, but I do find sustenance in God’s Word, in prayer and listening to worshipful music.

While it is important to remember what God has done for us through Christ Jesus, it remains equally important that we remember He is always with us and He will be with us to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:20 (NIV)

²⁰ ……. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”