February 2005

Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - The Bolls are just recovering from some wonderful vacation time combined with the tragic death of Teresa’s brother and his son. A Zerma greeting to family death survivors at the passing of a loved one is usually the saying, “the necessary road” with a response of “necessary.” Pray that in this death, many might find the road to true life in Christ.

Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - Thank you for praying for Alhassan and his family during the loss of their young daughter. All seem to be doing well now, especially the mother. So many deaths like this happen that it is almost a common event, yet of all involved, the mothers seem to take it the hardest. Pray for God’s comfort and the difference that Christ can make in these peoples’ lives.

Thursday, February 3, 2005 - Thank you for 3 years of praying for the “Niger Pepper Project.” Please don’t give up! Once again, hundreds of nursery plants are growing and being transplanted. Pray that they will bring food and income to people in need and that it will provide a good Christian witness for many.

Friday, February 4, 2005 - In December Don helped deliver over 600 fruit trees to be planted at about 10 different villages. Several of the villages are new to us. Pray that we might have opportunity to share Christ more fully through “mobile center” work in at least some of these villages.

Saturday, February 5, 2005 - Even though Rick Leavitt’s work on the Zerma team ended several months ago, he just ended his extended time of work in West Africa January 2005. Pray for Rick as he searches God’s will for the future and shares with others his work among the Zerma people. Pray for his adjustment back to the life in the states.

Sunday, February 6, 2005 - Sharing a Christmas dinner of beans and rice in a remote village with just a few Christians, it was encouraging to hear one of them say he had stayed up past midnight Christmas Eve reading and studying his Bible. Christmas morning they gathered to study even more. Pray that God would bless and encourage these few believers and add to their number. Pray that God would draw others to them as beacons of the truth among an ocean of lostness.

Monday, February 7, 2005 - Thanks for your prayers for the Cains – we count ourselves blessed in many ways, not the least of which is having a broad base of prayer support. Please continue to pray for our health, which overall has been very good, for safety as we travel (in the bush as well as the city), and for perseverance when the temperature climbs above 100 degrees.

Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - Pray for Caroline (5th grade) and Caleb (Kindergarten) as they are home schooled. Pray that they will maintain discipline and diligence in their school work, and cooperate with Mom as she teaches them. Pray that God would grant them understanding and comprehension in the subjects they struggle with and endow them with a life-long love of learning

Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - Pray for Kimberly as she teaches Caroline and Caleb and maintains a household. Pray for opportunities to get to know and minister to women in the neighborhood. Pray that God would give her one or two Zerma women with whom she could invest her life.

Thursday, February 10, 2005 - Kimberly has decided to request a short-term teacher for Caroline and Caleb beginning in the fall of 2005. Among other things, this would free her up to minister to the Zerma. This teacher would probably serve about two years and would also have ministry opportunities among the Zerma outside of teaching the kids. Pray that God would lead someone to fill this position.

Friday, February 11, 2005 - Pray that we would make wise use of our time, that we would be sensitive to where and how God is at work among the Zerma. Pray that God would lead us to those whose hearts He’s prepared to hear the gospel.

Saturday, February 12, 2005 - Pray for our spiritual growth. As missionaries we face many of the same temptations and spiritual battles that Christians everywhere face. Pray that we would resist temptations, that we would study and hide God’s Word in our hearts, that God would give us a hunger for His Word and hearts that thirst for righteousness.

Sunday, February 13, 2005 - Continue to pray for the physical needs of the Zerma. The failed harvest last year, in the region around Ouallam, continues to impact people as they go into debt to buy food. Pray that they will come to know Christ, the “bread of life” and the only one who can truly meet their needs.

Monday, February 14, 2005 - Pray for wisdom and patience for Mark, and for him to be able to share small nuggets of scripture with the workers that help him construct houses for new personnel.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005 – Pray that God would encourage and refresh Deanna as she uses her gift of hospitality in arranging temporary housing for those visiting Niamey and the personnel coming into Niamey from various villages for a brief stay.

Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - Thank for praying for Jeremy’s recovery from his motorcycle accident last month. He and Deanna went to the states for two weeks and he was able to have the necessary surgery done to repair a crushed cheek bone. Praise God for working out the flights and appointments with surgeons on such short notice. Praise God that Jeremy is healing and they were able to return to Niamey to spend Christmas with their family.

Thursday, February 17, 2005 – Pray for Jeremy to finish well as he completes his senior year at Sahel Academy. Pray also for all the logistics to come together as he prepares for college in the states next year.

Friday, February 18, 2005 – Pray for Stephanie to be a strong Christian witness to her friends and classmates at Sahel Academy and for her to complete her junior year successfully.

Saturday, February 19, 2005 – Deanna has gone through the entire Bible storying series with her friend Aissa. Pray that Aissa would make the decision to commit her life to Christ and that the Biblical knowledge she has would be transferred to her heart.

Sunday, February 20, 2005 – Pray for Aissa to have a burning desire to assist with a neighborhood Storying Group and begin to get into a habit of sharing her knowledge of the scriptures with her neighbors.

Monday, February 21, 2005 – Pray for Ben and Cindy to have the ability to understand and speak Zerma with fluency.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 – As we walk through our neighborhood of Koira Kano meeting people, we begin conversations with them to practice our Zerma and to determine their level of interest in hearing the Gospel. Ask God to lead Ben to a ‘Person of Peace’ that lives in Koira Kano.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005 –Ask God to give us favor with other organizations and wisdom as we build relationships and partner with them to spread the gospel.

Thursday, February 24, 2005 –Pray for Rachel, Christin and Karis as they make Nigerien friends and adjust to life in Niger.

Friday, February 25, 2005 - The trustees from our organization will be coming to Niger for a brief visit this month. Pray that they have safety in their travels, get a vision for the work being done to spread the gospel and for them to have good health.

Saturday, February 26, 2005 - The end of February will bring warmer weather. Most of the Zerma people will be glad to see the cold end as well as the sickness that it brings. Pray for those sick and recovering. Children especially suffer during this season.

Sunday, February 27, 2005 – A national pastor and his family work in several villages to spread the gospel and encourage believers. Pray that their efforts will result in a great harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God.

Monday, February 28, 2005 – Pray for local believers to have a burning desire to share their faith with others and to plant many seeds that will be nurtured to produce an abundant harvest. Being a believer here can be difficult in every aspect as they face persecution from friends, family members and some even losing their homes, jobs and families.