April 2005

Friday, April 1, 2005 - The Bolls have worked and visited the village of "M" and have tried to help in many ways. One day Teresa asked if the village might want some teaching about Health, Hygiene and God. In the beginning they were very excited about it. A week later Teresa was told: "They want you to come and bring medicine - but NOT GOD!" It is so sad when there is a definite "NO". Please pray for those in the village that might have wanted to learn, but because of someone's decision, will not be able to hear.

Saturday, April 2, 2005 – Pray for “B” a national believer that he will walk in the light of God’s presence that he will rejoice in God’s name all day long. He has recently been pursuing a driving permit so he can be a taxi driver. When he took his written test in March he scored the third highest in his class. Praise God for giving “B” success in this new endeavor and for “B’s” determination to see it through to the end.

Sunday, April 3, 2005 – Pray for Mark and Deanna Ledlow to have the right words in answering questions about a relationship with Christ with a local businessman and his family. This businessman is seeking God and asking questions.

Monday, April 4, 2005 – Thank you for praying for the Chronological Bible Storying Group that Kimberly and Cindy are leading. The children remain excited and they remember the stories from week to week. Pray that God draws them into a relationship with him and that their parents will catch their enthusiasm.

Tuesday, April 5, 2005 – Pray that many more believers will want to participate in the Pepper Project. This is a good way for them to have an income and all of the supplies and plants are furnished for them. Pray that this project will be a model project and that it would also be a way to open doors and initiate relationships with others.

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - We have many opportunities of verbal and non verbal witness with many local workers as we observe each other in our coming and going of daily work. Pray that while we interact sometimes for only moments at a time with these workers that we leave Christ like impressions.

Thursday, April 7, 2005 - “Y” a local tailor has asked Ben for a Zerma Bible. Pray that as he reads it God will speak to him in a way that “Y” clearly understands who Jesus is and the gift of salvation. Pray for Ben to have the right timing and the right words as he follows up with him.

Friday, April 8, 2005 –Thanks for praying for Kimberly's neighbor Hawa. Pray for Kimberly as she continues to invest in this relationship, that she would have opportunities to share Christ with her.

Saturday, April 9, 2005 – “O” is interested in restarting the church in KT. He and Ben have begun to meet weekly to go through the book of Acts. Pray that God would give him greater passion each day for seeing the church in KT restarted and that he would understand his role as a church planter.

Sunday, April 10, 2005 - As Teresa was explaining about the classes that would be done in the village of Libo, and many of the villagers were gathered, it was explained that there would be teaching about Health, Hygiene, but most important - about God, where we came from and things that God wants us to know. Don had been to Libo several times before and had been talking with some of the men that indicated that they wanted to follow Jesus. This day one of the ladies asked: "Can women learn about God too, because many times it is only for the men." A true answer to prayer, not only is there a yearning to learn about God, but the Holy Spirit is working in the hearts of women as well as the men.

Monday, April 11, 2005 - In 2006 the International Mission Board is emphasizing the peoples of West Africa. Pray for those that are writing articles and gathering media resources that they will be able to complete this task in a timely manner and that the things they produce will vividly represent the people here and their spiritual condition so that we can better focus our prayers for them.

Tuesday, April 12, 2005 – Stephanie Ledlow’s best friend returns to the states this month and will not return to Niger. Ask God to comfort Stephanie during this time of loss and for Him to bring another special friend into her life.

Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - An old preacher would say quite often that a person could follow the "Golden Rule" (of good works) and go straight to hell. That saying has occurred to me often as we deal with so many that try so very hard to do good works toward their friends and neighbors as expressions toward God seeking forgiveness of their wrongdoings (sin). Pray for these folks to put those good works together with an acceptance of a saving knowledge in Christ.

Thursday, April 14, 2005 – Jason Dunn is a student at Texas A&M University. He will be coming to Niger for a month to work with the Sustars. Pray for him as he finishes up this semester at school, raises funds for his trip and prepares spiritually. Ask God to give him perseverance, insight and wisdom.

Friday, April 15, 2005 – The Bolls are planning to begin leadership training classes with the believers in some of the villages they have been working in. Pray that these believers will make the time for these classes; that they will invite other believers from nearby villages and that God’s Spirit would be felt during this time.

Saturday, April 16, 2005 – Pray Ephesians 6:10-18 for the Zerma believers. Pray they will be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God each day…

Sunday, April 17, 2005 - A recent encounter with a village chief on the subject of Christ and the Koran ended in a seemly defeat for the struggling missionary to represent Christ. Sometimes it cuts to the heart when you wonder if you have said all the "correct" words and limp away in apparent defeat. Pray for this chief’s eyes will be opened and for God to soften his heart to hear the Gospel. Pray for the missionaries to be able to give share Christ boldly and for their words will be seasoned with love.

Monday, April 18, 2005 – A local pastor “Y” is working in Niamey and in a few surrounding villages. He is witnessing to the lost, teaching discipleship training classes and mentoring young men that want to be pastors. Pray for him and his family that God will protect him from evil schemes of those that plot against him and for those he is witnessing to see that God’s blessing is on Him. God is working in and through him in powerful ways.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 -Pray for Kimberly as she makes decisions related to homeschool next year such as books to order, etc. Pray for Caroline (5th grade) and Caleb (kindergarten) as they are homeschooled, that they would be attentive and cooperate with Mom.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - Many of the kids of Ouallam continue to come to Kid's Klub on Wednesdays, they can recite the Bible stories with such clarity. Pray that they truly understand that God loves each one of them and that Jesus would be real to them - as a personal Savior. Pray that what they learn at a young age would not be rooted out when they become older.

Thursday, April 21, 2005 - We know that as God's Word goes forth, it will not return empty without accomplishing what He desires. Pray that as the Zerma hear His Word on the radio, in church, at a friend’s house, or wherever, that the truth would be planted in their hearts. Pray that God would speak to them and that they would hear not just with their ears, but with their hearts.

Friday, April 22, 2005 - Pray for Phil as he gathers and prepares material in Zerma for radio broadcast. Pray that he would find the people and resources to be able to present quality and interesting programming that the Zerma People will listen to. Pray that all this could be done in a timely manner.

Saturday, April 23, 2005 -Pray for the church at Goudel. They've not been meeting for some time but there is a good possibility for a fresh start with new leadership. Pray that as we move towards this goal God would prepare this leader for His work. Pray that the believers in the area would be supportive of him and each other. Pray for this church to be a light to the community.

Sunday, April 24, 2005 - It is 2 or 3 months before rains begin and fields are planted. It has been a hard and hungry time for many people and the situation will only get worse because of low food reserves due to insufficient rain and plagues of locust last season. Pray for those that have been preparing their fields for planting season that God will give them an abundant harvest this year and that they will acknowledge that everything comes from God.

Monday, April 25, 2005 - Keep praying for the physical needs of the Zerma. They are many, especially because of last-year's drought. Pray for those who are hungry, that food would be provided. Pray for those who are sick, that they would be healed. Pray for those who are unemployed, that they would find work. Pray for missionaries and believers to have wisdom and discernment in knowing how to minister help to meet these needs.

Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - Pray for the storying group that Phil has started in Sisan Tondi, that it would continue and that the men would keep coming. Pray for Waruize, the Christian man from Zontondi, as he accompanies Phil and helps tell the stories that he would have a vision for starting future groups on his own.

Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - Pray that God would reveal to the Bolls the next village that He wants them to enter using the mobile classes. We have recently been ready to go through some apparent "open doors" only to have them shut.

Thursday, April 28, 2005 – Pray for the Zerma Team to realize II Corinthians 10:3-5 “…The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds…”

Friday, April 29, 2005 – Pray that Zerma believers would act on James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Saturday, April 30, 2005 - The second "Yes, we want you to come to the village to teach health and safety. We want your medicine but you can't share anything religious" in as many months really got our attention. We have been told no before but these two in a row put our heads "reeling". Please pray for these two unique situations, that we will have wisdom in knowing if we should pursue these two villages or move on to others. We feel at least one of these villages will open up and allow us to work there at a later date.