Nan Update – Nightlight…
So what have we been up to…
Last week we moved into our Village, and the move went really well. The people were very welcoming and we were able to quickly adjust to “Bush” life. Kanesa stayed with us for the first couple days to show us the ropes, then left us on Wednesday … This is where the story begins… I have never been in a situation quite like this and it’s probably going to be a little hard to understand because I didn’t get it at all before I came and now it’s such a reality. Penny and I live in a Village of about 1,500 people of which one person is a Believer. Pause for a second and think about that. Think about the absence of the His presence, of hope, of love, understanding, real life, Light. It’s unbelievable. I can’t really explain everything that happened that day but it defiantly open my eyes to see what my next 14 weeks here were going to look like. I ask for extreme amounts of prayer against the darkness, to give you a little idea about the presence here I’ll say this. We’re the only house in the village that doesn’t sleep with a light on, because we’re not afraid of the darkness…
I pray God will help you comprehend the depth of all of that.
The next day after much, much prayer Penny and I headed out and were met by many open doors, we visited the village next to us and spent some time with the people and were able to play a story from the New Testament for them, 4 different groups of people heard stories that day. The Word was getting out in incredible ways, His presence was moving. Since then we’ve seen most all of the Village and have a couple people we’ve become really intentional about pouring into. Their listed below so you can pray specifically for them.
Encouraging and challenging quotes …
“I am chosen, brought out and broken by the light I have inside… I am counted, called out and Alive.”- Bear & Bo Reinheart
“On my own I would wreck it all” –Martin Luther (speaking about the incessant need to depend on Him)
“Neither live in the past, nor the future, for if you never live in the Present – you will never live at all.”-* Inspired by Philippians 4:13-14 & Isaiah 43:18-19
“Life is not a game, and those who live it as such will lose it.” – * Inspired by He came to set the captives free- Dr Rebecca Brown (talking about taking spiritual warfare seriously)
“Afric gonda taabi, gumo.” (in English- Africa has much suffering) - A precious lady with a sick child that we were able to minister to.
What I’ve been learning …
Psalm 31:24, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Corinthians 4:20, 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, Ephesians 6:10-13
More and more He has been showing me how to handle the ever present darkness, and it’s not of a power of my own, I could defiantly never handle this on my own. The verses above have been constant in my mind and my heart. Especially Ephesians… “Be strong in the Lord and in the power, of His might. “ It’s all through, by and for Him, He strengthens our hearts, enlightens our paths, establishes our steps, and by His Spirit we demolish strongholds and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of Him. I pray in the times I can’t let you know that we are struggling that the Spirit will tug at your heart, when He does please pay attention, it is by your prayers that we are strengthened, that doors are opened for the Word, that lives are changed.. Please never forget how important your role is in this mission, right now we might be the feet of the body taking the Word out but the feet are no good without the rest of the body, feet cannot accomplish anything on their own. You are our lungs that breathe encouragement into us, you are the strength of the body to keep going , and a great many other things I don’t have the time to explain in detail now but know in short that YOU ARE vital. What He wants to do through you will not only transform the lives of multitudes across the sea but it will also transform you. Open your heart to what He wants to do in your heart through this as well.
Lift it up, Lift it up, Lift it up
-Protection over our house, health, and hearts.
-Open doors not only in our village but the village beside us that we will also be doing work in.
- Zoe, Barnabas, Boaz, Anna, Meg, Moe, Alec, and Rachel- potential Believers
- Freda , the only Believer in our Village.
-The Children of our village
- That we would have wisdom each day on where to go who to talk to and that the King would go before us preparing the way.
-Penny and I have a big vision for our village and we feel like we don’t have enough time to do it. So please pray that He will make all of our time very effective.
I wish I could explain all the is going on and all that God is teaching me, but it’s so overwhelming I don’t even know where to start. I pray that He is continually showing you great mysteries in the Word and you are filled with His power and boldness to speak out to those around you who have no hope. Romans 15:13 is something Penny and I pray before we go out, and it is my pray for you. Love and peace be yours.
Nan
