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August 2006 MNK Update 07 Dec 2007 |
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August 2006 MNK Update 07 Dec 2007 |
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September 1, 2006
Dear Prayer Partners,
Greetings from Senegal! We pray that this letter finds you well and out of harms way of hurricanes and other troubles of this world. “On mine arm shall they trust” Isaiah 51:5. What a blessing it is to be part of the family of God and cast our cares on Him. The fasting month of Ramadan will begin near the end of September. Many of the Is. Holidays occur at different times each year because their seasons are governed by the lunar calendar. This year will be difficult because it starts during the farming season.
During Ramadan most people rise early to eat breakfast before sunrise. After sunrise they are not to eat, drink, or even swallow their saliva until after sunset. They have a small meal at sunset and eat supper several hours later.
Ramadan is supposed to be a holy time for the people. They are supposed to stay away from “unclean” things, and read or listen to readings of their religious books. There are also traditions that keep people in line. Many here believe that each year God chooses a day secretly and blesses the people who are fasting that day. They believe the blessings include the forgiveness of sin.
We are so fortunate to know that our God never changes. He is the God of light. He is loving, holy, and righteous. We pray that our friends will begin to understand the attributes of our Heavenly Father.
I was hoping to share great news with you. We had received news that someone was coming to work with our team. She completed the process, but in the end felt it was not right for her at this time. Please join us in praying for this volunteer. These decisions are very painful. We had the opportunity to host a believer from The Gambia for several days this past month. He expressed concern for the safety of believers in his country. Please pray for believers to be strong in their faith. Please ask the Father to watch over His flock there, especially during the national election in September. We would appreciate you praying for our son, Daniel. He loves playing soccer. He recently helped organize an informal tournament for the neighborhood children. The children yearn for attention. Please pray that Daniel will continue to work with the children and have opportunities to share his faith.
Computers and their programs can sometimes be very challenging, but the outcomes can be very beneficial. We are praising God for a break through in working with the computer program to transfer the Mandinka language in Roman script to Arabic script. Richard has put many hours into this since the rains started. It was wonderful to hear a young man reading from 1John using the Arabic script as Richard followed along with the Roman script. This is another tool to help more MNK people receive God’s Word into their hearts.
Please continue to pray for the work in the villages “B” and “S”. Also for pray for visitation in Sedhiou. Richard has been visiting with some who have asked questions or expressed interest because of hearing the Chronological Bible Stories on the radio program, Sila Tilindingo. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to move in a mighty way in this area.
Please continue to pray for our career requests, as well as, long and short term volunteer requests. We are praising God for recent inquiries into several of our volunteer requests. Please pray that many will come and share their faith with the MNK.
I have one more personal request. We home school our boys. Our books have not arrived yet. Please pray that they will come soon.
Your sister in Christ, Fran
Scripture verses for September:
Sept. 01-02: Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Sept. 03-09: Luke 10:6: If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Sept. 10-16: Psalm 38:18: I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. Sept. 17-23: Ephesians 2: 8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Sept. 24-30: Daniel 9:3: So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
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