September 2005

“"Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5 (NIV)

Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005 - Please pray for safe travel for Kimberly, Caroline, and Caleb as they travel to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso for their homeschool group session. Caroline is in 6th grade and Caleb is in 1st grade. Pray for Kimberly as she teaches the 5th - 8th language arts and 3rd and 4th grade math there. Also pray for homeschooling to go well this year.

Friday, Sept. 2, 2005 – Pray for the Blacks as they are beginning to learn the Zarma language. It's never easy to learn a new language and Zarma is no exception. Pray that they would understand and retain the vocabulary, grammar, phrases, idioms, etc. that will make them effective communicators.

Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005 – Pray for the people of Goudel and Dar Es Salam (which are neighborhoods in Niamey) and for the Village Ouna to find salvation in Jesus. Ask God to give us employment options for men in these areas so they can support their families.

Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005 - September will be the last full month of rain for this growing season. If the rain continues through this month it may prove to be a very good harvest this year for many areas. Pray that God would bless the Zerma farmers and that they have an abundant harvest.

Monday, Sept. 5, 2005 – Answer: Praise God for the food and medical assistance that has arrived through so many different organizations to help those that are most effected by the famine in Niger. Pray that those involved would be safe from harm as they travel and that they would make wise decisions as they determine how best to help the people of Niger.

Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005 – Stephanie Ledlow began her senior year at Sahel Academy in August. Pray that she will have a successful school year and that God will give her special friendships with the other students at Sahel. Pray for clear direction as she chooses and prepares for college next year.

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005 – There is a small group of men meeting with Amadou in Goudel to study the Bible. Ask God to help them see that His desire is for them to become like Jesus and to be His witness to others.

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005 – Cindy Sustar is homeschooling this year. The theme verse for the year is Isaiah 33.6. Pray that this verse will become active in our lives and hearts this year.

Friday, Sept. 9, 2005 - Believers in Ouallam continue to be few and for the most part uncommitted to gathering together for worship and fellowship. Pray that God would send a leader or cause a burden for these believers to see a need for fellowship and the lostness surrounding them.

Saturday, Sept. 10, 2005 – Ask God to help us restart the church in Goudel. We are asking God to send us households who want to study the word of God and men who would be future leaders.

Sunday, Sept. 11, 2005 – Pray for Jeremy Ledlow to make new Christian friends in the states that will encourage him and help him adjust to life in the states.

Monday, Sept. 12, 2005 - Pray for the churches of Niger, that they would be effective ministers of the gospel, reflecting God's glory and demonstrating His love.

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005 – Answer: Thank you for praying for Dr. Rankin and the team of pastors that visited West Africa in August. They had safe travel and many new partnerships are potentially on the horizon to reach the lost of West Africa with the gospel. Thank you for covering this time in your prayers.

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005 - A recent trip to the Ouallam area shows that this immediate area is evidently not as bad as some other areas in Niger concerning food shortage. That is not to say there is no hunger because there is. Pray for this area that the food (mostly rice from FBC Opelika, Alabama) shared through small groups of believers in several villages will be a good witness for Christ in sharing His love with others.

Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005 – Pray for the protection of Amadou’s family from the evil one. Ask God for a way for him to earn some income to support his family. Pray that God would heal his two children, they both have impetigo right now and are taking antibiotics to clear it up.

Friday, Sept. 16, 2005 - New seed has been purchased for the Niger Pepper Project. Pray that it gets into the right hands to be planted with a large harvest following. Pray for logistics and ongoing training in growing, harvesting, grinding and storing it and for it to help meet the needs of hungry people. Pray for opportunities for this to continue to provide for sharing the gospel.

Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005 - Pray for the many students that have started back to school, that as they learn to read they may come in contact with God's word and that it will make a big impact on lives for Christ.

Sunday, Sept. 18, 2005 – Operation Blessing, which is a branch of Pat Robertson’s Ministries, has sent large amounts of money to Niger in order to purchase food for those in need during this time of famine. There are about 73 churches in Niamey founded by various Christian organizations – these churches have come together to help distribute some of the food to those in need. Pray that God will sustain this momentum in unity and that the pastors will continue to meet once a month to pray and fellowship together.

Monday, Sept. 19, 2005 – Mark Ledlow will be looking for and securing housing for the new personnel that will be arriving to serve in Niger. There will be 12 new units arriving in Niger by January 2006. Ask God to direct Mark to just the right houses, for the rent to be reasonable and for there to be minimal repair that is needed on the houses. Pray also for Deanna as she assumes the financial facilitation role.

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2005 – There is a German organization that has come to Niger called Humedica. They arrived in late July to assist with the famine relief. They are planning on remaining in Niger for 6 months distributing food and holding medical clinics in various areas. Pray for the safety as they travel to remote areas and for local believers that are working with them to present Christ boldly and clearly.

Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2005 - Some of the improved millet and beans distributed a while back have been planted and are looking good so far. There has been sufficient rain for these quick maturing varieties to this point. Several Christian believers received these seeds. Please pray that seeds planted will bring a big harvest and cause a time for a good witness.

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005 – Answer: Thank you for praying for the Ledlows and their time in the states. It was hard leaving Jeremy, but they are experiencing peace from God. Jeremy has a place to live, a job and has started college. Thank you for standing in the gap for the Ledlows during this time.

Friday, Sept. 23, 2005 - The Cains travel to the U.S. today for a month's vacation. Pray that they would have a time of rest, relaxation and good time with family. Pray that some needed medical visits would be accomplished in a timely fashion.

Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005 - Ask God to help Ben and Cindy put into words what God’s vision is for the city of Niamey. Also pray that other churches catch this vision and are able to see clearly their role in seeing Niamey reached with the Gospel.

Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005 - Pray for Kanesa and Brandy as they are in the middle of orientation at the Missionary Learning Center. Pray that the things they are learning will prepare them well for the next two years of service in Niger as they seek to fulfill the Great Commission among the Zerma.

Monday, Sept. 26, 2005 - People should be able to begin harvesting crops near the end of this month. Pray that there would be an abundant harvest this year.

Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005 – Tim Gilbert is a photographer that will be arriving today in Niamey to work with the Sustars to develop photographs of the Zerma to be used in media publications. Please pray for safe travel, good health, for God to open the way for him to obtain the local photography license that is required here and for God to speak to him and through him during his time in Niger.

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 - Several Zerma prayer partners and others have shared concern for the people of Niger concerning the news reports of famine in Niger. As the Zerma team responds, pray that we will make appropriate decisions that will help where there is real need and that it will advance Kingdom work.

Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005 - Pray for the many students that have started back to school, that as they learn to read they may come in contact with God's word and that it will make a big impact on lives for Christ.

Friday, Sept. 30, 2005 - The "Mobile Center" will be in preparations to start back working near the end of September. Pray that we enter the right villages to share these helps in health, hygiene, safety and Bible stories.