The last day

I missed a day.  Thankfully prayer requests were the same.

New prayer requests.

These trainers need to really understand these concepts.  This is the hardest one to understand.

They need to see the incredible importance of passing it on. (for multiplication and for their own understanding).

Some have missed a day or two here and there and need to pick up the training from someone.   This will take time and needs a good teacher.

We want to finish well and with great encouragement.

I can always use prayer for travel mercies.

Pray for this Pathways ministry.  I am biased but I really believe God can do great things with it around the world.  The laborers are too few.  There are many countries in Africa right now that are desperate for Pathways to come but there is no one to send.  Even in Zambia (I was there a year ago) we have no one to send.  This breaks my heart.  I think this is one of the greatest ministries there is. The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.  Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send workers.

I was told last night that taking the whole family out to Burger King (their choice, not mine) really touched them.  No one has ever done that for them in all the visitors they've hosted.  This is not about me but about the importance of building into relationships and finding ways to care. I am thankful for that opportunity.

Preaching last night went well.  I believe it was understood.  3 pastors from the training were there.

I am humbled and amazed that God would use me to do this training. It moves me to tears often. 

Thank you for praying.

Monday Recap for Tuesday Prayer

Prayer Requests First

PRAY

• That we can move at a good pace through the material and that they'll understand it. 
• For me as I guide us through many lessons tomorrow - some of them are challenging for me. 
• For unity and oneness and patience through these long days. 
• For us as guests, that we would be good guests and know how to live cross-culturally. o
• r me as I prepare to preach on Wednesday night. 

We had a good day today.  Only 10 students and I think we hoped for 13ish.  We got off to a very slow start for various reasons and we are a lesson behind.  Overall it was a good day. 

In some ways this is the hardest thing we teach (The Bible Salvation Story and how our text fits into it and how it helps us understand our text and how to apply it).  So the first day there is a ton of reading and not as much hands on practice. Tomorrow we have more hands on stuff and also the presentations (in some was the best part of the training and the most important part). 

After the training we stopped and got cash (be thankful for how easy it is in America, though I suppose if you had CFA cash it would be a bit challenging to get American dollars).  We give a donation to help cover our costs at the end and we bought some other things. 

After that we went home and did what we had to do and such.  I worked on my lessons and got some help from Eric. 

I also had fun playing with the kids (especially the 9 year old and 13 year old).  We talked a bit about homework. It was fun seeing the 9 year old already writing in her diary/notebook I gave her. 

Tomorrow needs to be a big day.  We are trying to start earlier and we hope to get a lot done. 

I believe we are taking the family out to eat tomorrow night as well as a thank you.  We'll see how that goes. 

We were given some freshly roasted peanuts today and they really hit the spot.  There is also tons of great kinds of French Bread and such here. 

Good day. I look forward to tomorrow.

My data reception isn't good enough to post pictures.

Sunday - Prayer Requests and recap

Sunday

I am putting the prayer requests first - feel free not to read the rest of it.  

Tomorrow is the big day as we finally get started.  They've had four months to pass on their previous training. 

• Pray that they all show up - maybe even on time. 
• Pray that they come both having passed it on and with their homework done. 
• Pray for us as we have a bunch of updates to their French version  - but yet it's not fully updated so there may be some confusion. 
• Pray for our translator - I saw today what a big deal it is when the translator isn't great. 
• Pray for our health.  We both are feeling pretty good but it doesn't take much to mess you up here. 

I slept great.  I have a big fan in the room and it is a life saver.  Wow! I love it. I got up at 6 because we had to leave the house by 630.  I took a cold shower (they offered hot water) and it felt good. I ate a banana (they offered more) and then we were off. 

The first Church is where Pastor Ann usually preaches.  She is Pastor Daniel Saheens wife. It's not big and was a 15 minute drive from the house.  They had power issues for most of the service so the little bit of music was acappella. Eric preached in the dark from Psalms.  Simple and great. Towards the end of his sermon the electricity came back on. For the worship and offering time they really went big.  They have some worship song that gets really loud after a bit - almost like introducing a starting line up for a basketball game. I wondered if should be cranking up those kinds of tunes for the offering back home.  Anyway.  

After that service Eric and I split up.  He went to another church to preach and I came back to the church that is where we stay.  We only had a piano player but he was pretty good and the piano had a drum machine so he added that in. He only plays in the key of C but he transpose the piano.  Probably only 40 to 50 people or so. I preached on Romans 12:1-2. The translator they gave me was not good. It was rough. Thankfully a guy there ended up taking over and it got better.  It was a struggle at first. 

After that Pastor Daniel and I ate lunch together - rice, beef, and a red sauce that was a bit spicy but very good.  

Then it was off to KFC to celebrate Esther's 9th birthday (just family).  They bought a bucket of chicken and some pop and fries. I felt bad eating it as they almost never eat there.  It was fun to see the kids love it. 

After tha we adults went to a once a month song service.  Pastor Daniel had found out I play bass so they got a bass for me.  Same piano player as previously and no drummer or anything else. We had fits with the electricity but finally it got going (they started singing without instruments).  They had one tune - 2 lines long. The lyrics were always one line repeated. And every 5 minutes or so he'd make up new lyrics. It was the simplest chord progression - 1 - 4 - 1 - 5 - 1.  We did that for over 90 minutes. I truly almost fell asleep while playing bass. Wow. I much prefer a different tune, song, and chord now and then. Still, it's amazing to think about every tribe, tongue, and nation worshipping God together.  I hope there are multiple chord changes when we do that for eternity. 

We came back here for a quick supper (usually it's just Pastor Daniel and Ann and Eric and I).  Supper was lots of fried plantains (amazing), some beef, some fruit (African bananas are so good), some sauce.  I am drinking a lot of water. 

Then we each got gifts out that we'd brought for the family.  They were super appreciative. It was really fun to see the kids get their gifts - almost speechless a few times.  I hung out a bit then Eric and I spent 15 minutes talking about tomorrow's lessons and praying.  

And here we are at the end of the day. 

I am so thankful for free texting with T-mobile and for the 2G data I get free.  I downloaded the Google map of Abidjan and it was super fun looking at it with the family (not sure they've actually seen a map of the city before).  

I can't believe God let's me do this ministry.  I cried over that thought today. It's a lot of fun and can be incredibly rewarding.  

We have a bunch of updates to their French version  - but yet it's not fully updated so there may be some confusion. 

Pray for our translator - I saw today what a big deal it is when the translator isn't great. 

Pray for our health.  We both are feeling pretty good but it doesn't take much to mess you up here. 

Sunday - Prayer Requests and recap

Sunday

I am putting the prayer requests first - feel free not to read the rest of it.  

Tomorrow is the big day as we finally get started.  They've had four months to pass on their previous training. 

• Pray that they all show up - maybe even on time. 
• Pray that they come both having passed it on and with their homework done. 
• Pray for us as we have a bunch of updates to their French version  - but yet it's not fully updated so there may be some confusion. 
• Pray for our translator - I saw today what a big deal it is when the translator isn't great. 
• Pray for our health.  We both are feeling pretty good but it doesn't take much to mess you up here. 

I slept great.  I have a big fan in the room and it is a life saver.  Wow! I love it. I got up at 6 because we had to leave the house by 630.  I took a cold shower (they offered hot water) and it felt good. I ate a banana (they offered more) and then we were off. 

The first Church is where Pastor Ann usually preaches.  She is Pastor Daniel Saheens wife. It's not big and was a 15 minute drive from the house.  They had power issues for most of the service so the little bit of music was acappella. Eric preached in the dark from Psalms.  Simple and great. Towards the end of his sermon the electricity came back on. For the worship and offering time they really went big.  They have some worship song that gets really loud after a bit - almost like introducing a starting line up for a basketball game. I wondered if should be cranking up those kinds of tunes for the offering back home.  Anyway.  

After that service Eric and I split up.  He went to another church to preach and I came back to the church that is where we stay.  We only had a piano player but he was pretty good and the piano had a drum machine so he added that in. He only plays in the key of C but he transpose the piano.  Probably only 40 to 50 people or so. I preached on Romans 12:1-2. The translator they gave me was not good. It was rough. Thankfully a guy there ended up taking over and it got better.  It was a struggle at first. 

After that Pastor Daniel and I ate lunch together - rice, beef, and a red sauce that was a bit spicy but very good.  

Then it was off to KFC to celebrate Esther's 9th birthday (just family).  They bought a bucket of chicken and some pop and fries. I felt bad eating it as they almost never eat there.  It was fun to see the kids love it. 

After tha we adults went to a once a month song service.  Pastor Daniel had found out I play bass so they got a bass for me.  Same piano player as previously and no drummer or anything else. We had fits with the electricity but finally it got going (they started singing without instruments).  They had one tune - 2 lines long. The lyrics were always one line repeated. And every 5 minutes or so he'd make up new lyrics. It was the simplest chord progression - 1 - 4 - 1 - 5 - 1.  We did that for over 90 minutes. I truly almost fell asleep while playing bass. Wow. I much prefer a different tune, song, and chord now and then. Still, it's amazing to think about every tribe, tongue, and nation worshipping God together.  I hope there are multiple chord changes when we do that for eternity. 

We came back here for a quick supper (usually it's just Pastor Daniel and Ann and Eric and I).  Supper was lots of fried plantains (amazing), some beef, some fruit (African bananas are so good), some sauce.  I am drinking a lot of water. 

Then we each got gifts out that we'd brought for the family.  They were super appreciative. It was really fun to see the kids get their gifts - almost speechless a few times.  I hung out a bit then Eric and I spent 15 minutes talking about tomorrow's lessons and praying.  

And here we are at the end of the day. 

I am so thankful for free texting with T-mobile and for the 2G data I get free.  I downloaded the Google map of Abidjan and it was super fun looking at it with the family (not sure they've actually seen a map of the city before).  

I can't believe God let's me do this ministry.  I cried over that thought today. It's a lot of fun and can be incredibly rewarding.  

We have a bunch of updates to their French version  - but yet it's not fully updated so there may be some confusion. 

Pray for our translator - I saw today what a big deal it is when the translator isn't great. 

Pray for our health.  We both are feeling pretty good but it doesn't take much to mess you up here. 

Safe Arrival

I enjoy traveling,  but  prefer  to haee someone with me..   Thankful my btherr-in--law was willing to pick up my car from where I parked it so  I didn't have to pay .  The  flight from Minneapolis too Paris was uneventful, though I didn't sleep a  second..  When I had my e-visaa cheeckeed in Minneeapoliis  it didn't work at first because they typed in the wrong  birth date for me.  I didn't know what would happen when I acttaullly arrived inn Abidjan, Ivory Coast. 

Paris was 3 hours and then on a plane to Mali (most people  got off) and then a short hop over to Abidjan..   Oour plane was so empty that there was no waiting at any of the  different checkpoints we had to go through.  My Evisa  was quickly processed  and I was able to walk right  out and Eric Belz and pastors Saheen were wiatiing for me..We are staying aat their  house (He is leader of the group here) - and their houus is above the church   - I tthink this chuurch is only a year old.  They fed us supper and we got to talk a  bit.   I got no more than an  hour of sleep from Thursday nighht until I arrived so  i'm pretty tired. 

Tommorroow I go early with Eric to a first service that he'll preach at. Then we split up and hhe goes to another service and I come back too where we are staying to preach -  Romans 112:1-2.   Then Monday we start doing the training.. 

PRAAY

For the Pastors too really get it and passes it onn

For the preaching of the word tomorrow - we definiteely want to bbe reelevaant..  Its also a great chance to simply hear God's wwWorrd preacchedd fromm the text..   

Pray  for health and sleep.  Eric is still not100% from a bout with malariia.   I need sleep.  

Pray that I can somehow be  a big blessing to them.

Prayer for Visa issues?

In Minneapolis they had to look at my pre-approved visa and noticed my birth date was way off on it.  They let me on the plane and made it all sound like it should be fine but I have no idea what will happen when I land and have to use it. 

Also I haven't slept a wink yet - but feel pretty good.  Am working on homework in the airport.

Thanks for praying.   This is such an amazing ministry!

Pray For My Pathways Training Trip To The Ivory Coast

Some brothers and sisters from our Spanish Speaking Worship Service prayed for this trip tonight.  

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I am hoping quite a few of my friends will join in praying for this trip.  This is where I plan to update most specifically on prayer needs.  I rarely use this the rest of the year so I'm not trying to drum up a great following on my nearly dead blog.  Comments are welcome, just to know you are praying, but no need to ever comment.

A Few Details

I head to Abidjan, Ivory Coast this Friday afternoon to join Eric Belz in doing another Pathways training there.  Our training this time is on the Salvation Story and how we teach God's Word using the Salvation Story to guide us (not the best wording but it's what I have now).  I leave on Friday and return the following Friday so it's a quick trip.

Pathways Training Explained
It is a missions arm of the Evangelical Free Church which is trying to train the millions of untrained pastors in the world (average of a 6th grade education with no formal Bible training).  It is a multiplication movement - we train about 15 lead pastors who then each go and train about that many more in the 4 months we are gone (those they train are to pass it on as well) and then we do more training.  We simply use God's word to teach them to study, apply, and teach God's Word.  It's mostly about Bible Study - and nothing new and crazy.  I always leave wanting to study God's Word better and to teach and apply it better.  Most trainings with translation last 4 days.  It really is an amazing method.  Here is a link that explains it a bit better.   This training will be in French (in the pic, I was prayed for in Spanish.  Love the "multi-flavors" of the Body of Christ).


Some Ways To Pray Now
-  That these Pastors would be passing on the training well to pastors who are passing it on (multiplication)
-  That this new material would be grasped well and they would be greatly encouraged by our visit
-  For a supernatural unity as we struggle through God's Word together.
-  For joy, peace, and love for my family as they go a week without me
-  For a lot of preparation and details to be accomplished well this week.
-  For the obvious, but important, travel issues - safety, health, strength, sleep, and a place to stay (we don't know the plans yet - so I think we'll find out when we get there - hotel, house, other???)
-  For my partner and leader, Eric Belz, who has been sick and is doing Pathways training in Kenya hopefully not getting sicker.


I will add more requests as the next 12 days unfold.  I'll have more requests here than are on Facebook
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Ponder Anew What the Almighty Can do since he has befriended us with His love!