December 2006

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Friday, December 1, 2006 – ANSWER: Thank you for your prayers for the volunteer team from First Baptist Church Sandersville, Georgia. We had a great week as they were able to meet team members and experience some of our ministries firsthand. Pray for this church as they seek God's guidance in partnering with us to reach the Zerma people.

Saturday, December 2, 2006 - Pray for the government leaders of Niger; that God would grant them wisdom and courage to make wise decisions for the benefit of this struggling country and for their salvation.

Sunday, December 3, 2006 - Pray for the Ledlows as they are nearing the end of their stateside assignment. Pray for them as they travel and speak in churches, and especially as they leave Jeremy and Stephanie behind in the U.S. to continue work and attend college. Pray also for Deanna’s father who entered the hospital in November with pneumonia and mild heart attacks. Pray for his complete recovery before they return to Niger.

Monday, December 4, 2006 - ANSWER: Praise God for the unity He has placed between Brandy and Kanesa, and the sweet fellowship they have had together this past month. Please ask that they would continue to be aware of the enemy's schemes to divide them.

Tuesday, December 5, 2006 – Last month, you prayed for "Ay Baaba" in Sebeeri. Praise God for the work He has done in revealing that Jesus is God's Son. Pray that God would give “Ay Babba” the courage to follow, as well as for the others in Sebeeri who are hearing the Truth.

Wednesday, December 6, 2006 – Pray for Oumou as she waits to hear from her husband who lives and works in a neighboring country. She is feeling rejected, and struggles through the persecution of her new faith. Ask that she would really grow in the Holy Spirit and continue to have wisdom in following Christ.

Thursday, December 7, 2006 - ANSWER: Praise the Lord for a team of volunteers that came from Texas to work among the Zerma in Niamey. They played soccer with the young men and showed the Jesus Film in Goudel. After the film 3 people accepted Christ as their savior.

Friday, December 8, 2006 – Praise God that the village of Mali is open to the Gospel. Ask God to provide somebody to come and dig a well for them, currently they only have one well for the entire village. Pray also that they would long for "Living Water".

Saturday, December 9, 2006 – Pray for Pastor Hassan as he travels to Niamey to do the initial recordings for the Zerma, indigenous hymn cassette.

Sunday, December 10, 2006 - ANSWER: Praise God for giving Kanesa good health. She has been well for three months! Ask the Lord to continue to keep her well so that she may be more effective!

Monday, December 11, 2006 - Pray for Garba, a shopkeeper Phil has been witnessing to. Because of his Muslim background he has many objections to Christianity but he seems open to talking about the differences. Pray that the truth of scripture would penetrate his heart and mind and that God would reveal Himself to him through Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006 - Pray for Melissa’s family in the loss of her grandmother. Pray for Melissa’s grandfather as he struggles with accepting Christ as his Savior.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006 – ANSWER: Praise God that the Blacks travel went well, time with family was good, and they are safely back in Niger. Praise God that they were able to get back into their work here. Praise God for the many helpers He has sent to help with the editing of the Zerma Audio Bible project.

Thursday, December 14, 2006 - Ask God to provide a great new pastor and his wife to come and pastor the church in Kollo as the current one moves to another area.

Friday, December 15, 2006 - Pray for Director Hassan as he and the Blacks make the necessary changes to the Audio Bible chronology tape.

Saturday, December 16, 2006 – ANSWER: Praise God for cooler weather that makes it easier to have energy and be out and about more!

Sunday, December 17, 2006 – Ask Jesus to raise up leaders in the church in Goudel and in the group of taxi drivers who would be willing to move to other locations in the city to begin outreach groups.

Monday, December 18, 2006 – Pray that Jesus would become everything to the new believers and future believers in the Goudel church. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil. 1:21

Tuesday, December 19, 2006 – ANSWER: Praise God for His faithfulness to complete the good work He has begun and will finish in His people! The Lord He is good!

Wednesday, December 20, 2006 – Classes have begun again in Ouallam for the Sanitation and Hygiene Hunger Relief Project. Classes were well attended and work has once again begun on this project. Pray for speed as we still have to actually teach the 65 classes and the latrines have to be finished before the Bolls leave for Stateside Assignment April 1, 2007.

Thursday, December 21, 2006 - Today is Kimberly Cain's birthday. Pray that this will be a special day for her. Pray for her as she ministers among the Zerma and seeks to draw them closer to the Savior.

Friday, December 22, 2006 – ANSWER: Thank you for your sacrificial giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. It is your giving that allows us to be here in Niger, sharing the hope of Christ with the Zerma people. We are grateful to you for partnering with us to see Zerma believers worshiping God.

Saturday, December 23, 2006 – Alidou is a young man who recently accepted Christ in one of the villages we've been working in. Pray that his faith would be strengthened, even as it is tested. Pray that he would have a hunger and desire to know and do the will of God. Pray that other believers in this village would be an encouragement to him.

Sunday, December 24, 2006 - ANSWER: Thanks for praying for the kid's clubs Kimberly is leading. It is evident that God is working in the hearts of the children as they hear the Bible stories and as volunteers have shared their love with them. Continue to pray that these seeds that are being planted will flourish, that even these children's parents and family members will be influenced by the gospel.

Monday, December 25, 2006 - Pray for different “get-togethers” and parties that will take place during the month of December. Pray that we would all remember the true reason for Christmas – and that we can share that with our friends, here and there… Merry Christmas.

Tuesday, December 26, 2006 – ANSWER: Praise the Lord for vision trips! Clayton Baptist Church sent a team to help do a latrine in the village of Kanda (which was completed before they left) and the team wants to recommend that their church partner with the work being done in this village. Many lives were touched by the help of the latrine, and hopefully many more will be affected as the village sees more Christians come to work alongside them.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006 – Idrissa is a young man who came for medical help during a medical clinic the Bolls were facilitating in the village of Zone Tondi. Idrissa has something wrong with his spine or muscles around his spine which causes his body to “fold” when he gets out of balance. Prayer was given, but only God can heal him.

Thursday, December 28, 2006 – ANSWER: I couldn’t believe my eyes as I looked at hundreds of newly sprouted pepper plants. After being flooded out twice and many other adversities the people of Kaoura have kept alive the ‘Niger Pepper” project. The best news was people in another large village want to grow the peppers and have been given seed. Pray that along with the shared seed will be shared the Gospel.

Friday, December 29, 2006 – A few Sundays ago I was walking to a church in an area we have worked for many years. My path crossed with a stream of people on their way to prayer as it was the big Muslim “holiday”. Arriving at church it was with great sadness I saw the door locked. On my walk home I heard laughter and the words “there is no church”. Ask God to give the few Zerma believers that are here, new boldness to share His love, and strength to stand extreme adversity to their faith.

Saturday, December 30, 2006 – Pray for Adele Bryan who will be joining the Bolls in Ouallam the month of January. Much paperwork, packing, buying supplies, getting physically as well as mentally ready for the work. Pray also for David, who is very supportive of her coming, although he is having some problems with his health.

Sunday, December 31, 2006 – ANSWER: Smiling as I continued my drive down the dirt road I reflected on what I had just heard. It’s one of those things you wonder if you heard right but after two times I didn’t want to ask again. I heard a baptized believer had baptized another believer (without missionary help). It was a ‘first’ in an area we have worked in for about 15 years and done much discipleship. Pray that believers will take courage and advance in their knowledge of Christ.

Kneeling with you,
The Zerma Team