May 2006

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Monday, May 1, 2006 - Philip Cain will be traveling to Abidjan, Ivory Coast today for a leadership development retreat. Pray for him and other team leaders from around West Africa as they meet together to discuss and improve their leadership skills. Ask God to give Philip wisdom and discernment as he leads the Zerma team and to enable him to lead the team to the best of his ability and in a Christ-like manner.

Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - ANSWER: It seemed an occasion to shout for joy when several small containers were combined to make one full barrel of pepper mash ready to ship to the USA! Maybe you also want to shout and Praise God as it has taken a long time (almost 6 years) to see this take place. We need at least 3 more barrels to add to this one before a small shipment can be sent. With present peppers growing, this seems a possibility within the next 3-4 months. Please continue to pray about this. We also praise the Lord for your dedication thus far in praying for the Niger Pepper project.

Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - Please pray for “O” to continue to grow in her new faith, and ask God to draw her husband to Himself before he returns home, so that they can follow Christ together. Also, pray for Brandy and Kanesa to continue to be strong in the heat and to have unity with one another.

Thursday, May 4, 2006 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood..." (Eph 6:12) This verse has recently come to the forefront of our minds. Several events have led us to these thoughts in our personal encounters as well as reports from our teammates. Verse 18 continues "With all prayer and petition pray at all times..." Please read these verses in Ephesians and pray that Zerma Christians as well as the Zerma team will "stand firm.”

Friday, May 5, 2006 – Mark Ledlow and Don Bolls are digging a well in the village of ‘B.’ Pray for the believers in this village and surrounding areas as they use the water to grow peppers for an income. Pray that the peppers will produce an abundant harvest and for the believers to boldly share their faith.

Saturday, May 6, 2006 - Shad and Melissa Black are in the process of collecting cassettes of Zerma music, rhythms, and stories and are cataloging the information so they can assist Zerma believers in writing authentic Christian songs. Ask God to give them insight and creative minds as they team with Zerma Musicians to accomplish this task.

Sunday, May 7, 2006 – Praise: Jeremy Ledlow made top salesman for his region for Sears Automotive. We praise God that Jeremy is adjusting to life in the states and honoring God with his life and testimony.

Monday, May 8, 2006 - "We don't want it (Ouallam Sanitation & Hygiene Project) if we have to study (about Jesus).” We have only heard that statement two times since we started the project. In both of these it is probably only one or two people that don't want the study out of a group of households containing 20 to 40 people. But those with perceived power - rule. Pray for these family leaders who control so much in the lives of large extended families that God would open their hearts to desire to hear His word.

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - The village of ‘T’ has at least one Christian named ‘Se’ and maybe others awaiting baptism. Pray that they keep the faith, grow in Christ quickly and not be deterred or turned from their faith. They may be vulnerable as there are virtually no other Christians for fellowship. Pray also for those that disciple them.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 – Brandy and Kanesa ask you to join them in asking God to open villages where they do not yet have contacts. There are two ladies in Kollo; ‘Bea’ and ‘Zea’ who have been asking questions about the Bible. Brandy is going to begin storying with them once or twice a week. Pray that they will understand who Jesus is and come to follow him.

Thursday, May 11, 2006 – Pray for two groups of men in Goudel who are hearing the message of who Jesus is. One group is to the point of making the choice to follow him or not, the other group is deciding if what they have believed for so long is a lie or not and are they willing to consider a new way. Please ask God to make it clear to them that Jesus is the only way.

Friday, May 12, 2006 – Stephanie Ledlow’s birthday is today. Pray that God will bless her in a special way as she prepares to graduate from high school on June 10. Praise God that Stephanie has been accepted into California Baptist University for the fall term.

Saturday, May 13, 2006 - Meghan Bishop and Kimberly Sisk are two student missionaries who arrived in Niamey yesterday. For the next two months Meghan and Kimberly will be prayer walking, teaching Zerma believers how to pray, and helping us develop prayer materials and guides for volunteers and prayer supporters. Pray for them as they adjust to a hot climate and much different culture than what they're used to. Pray for their health and that God would guide and direct them in all their efforts.

Sunday, May 14, 2006 – Brandy Nelson will be hosting 10 volunteers May 12-23. Pray that their time here will leave God’s fingerprint on the lives of many in Kollo and that the team will be protected from sickness and able to adjust to the soaring heat.

Monday, May 15, 2006 - "We need to be giving an offering at church and I'm bringing mine next Sunday." At times Ramatou displays a dichotomy of actions making one love her at one point and being perplexed with her at the next. It reminds me of the apostle Peter at one moment ready to die for Christ at the next moment denying he even knows Jesus. We feel Ramatou has the right heart, pray that she allows God to control those highs and lows in her actions.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - Today is Caleb Cain's seventh birthday. Pray that he would be blessed today and that he would grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006 –Kanesa will be hosting a volunteer team from West Texas A&M University from May 16-23. Pray that they will be strong in the midst of the heat and that God will really use them in Kollo and the surrounding areas.

Thursday, May 18, 2006 - ANSWER: Even though food grain is very expensive and personal reserves were low in April, garden produce was abundant this time of the year. Praise the Lord for the small part we (and many of you) had in getting out thousands of seed for garden production of tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, onions and more. Most gardening will be ending in May.

Friday, May 19, 2006 – Today is Christin Sustar’s birthday. Pray that she will continue to grow in the knowledge of God’s love for her. Praise God that she has a gentle spirit and is eager to pray for people and is very compassionate.

Saturday, May 20, 2006 - Kimberly, Caroline, and Caleb Cain as they travel to Ouagadougou for their last session of FES (home school program). Pray that this next week will be a special time of learning and fellowship with other missionary kids.

Sunday, May 21, 2006 – Ask God to protect Amadou and Hassi and their family from the evil one. We praise God for the boldness he gives them as they share the gospel daily.

Monday, May 22, 2006 – This should be a prayer request hard to forget...when you have the luxury of not using an outhouse, please pray for those that don't even have an outhouse! That is, pray for about 100 compounds (a compound may consist of 5-16 houses) over the next several months in Ouallam that will receive their own private 'outhouse' which will be considered a needed luxury to most people. So far, about 25 people from each compound come to each health and gospel presentation before their outhouse is constructed.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006 – Continue to pray for Melissa as she shares her faith with ‘May’, ‘Had’, ‘Hal’, ‘Is’, and ‘Mae’ and for these ladies that they will have ears to hear and hearts to understand God’s word. Praise God that Miriam Black is healthy and growing. She now weighs in at 10 lbs.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006 – ANSWER: Praise God for working in the hearts of many men and women in Kollo and for prompting many people to ask questions about the Bible and Jesus.

Thursday, May 25, 2006 - Please continue to pray for Eddie Martin, a student volunteer assisting us with research, as he interviews pastors and church leaders around Niamey and gathers information that will help us in our efforts to start churches and develop leaders. Pray for good health, strength, and endurance to finish the task. Pray that God would use him to accomplish his purposes in Niger as Eddie shares his faith with people he meets during his research.

Friday, May 26, 2006 - Ask God to give Shad and Melissa Black the right scripture passages and words as they develop new discipleship materials on Christian life and worship for Zerma believers.

Saturday, May 27, 2006 - Kimberly, Caroline and Caleb will be traveling back from Ouagadougou today. Pray for safety as they travel.

Sunday, May 28, 2006 - Pray for believers across Niger who are in positions of leadership within their churches. Pray that God would instill in each of them a desire to know Him with a sense of humility and perseverance. Pray that God would impress upon them the need for unity. Pray that God would give them a vision for accomplishing His will as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Monday, May 29, 2006 - 'Bird Flu', seems to have made it to our country - the Niger Republic. We are not sure how it will affect us or those that live around us. Please pray for this country and the Zerma people that live almost constantly in food deficiency. Bird fowl, mostly chickens, guineas, and pigeons are not as major a meat source as cattle, sheep, and goats; however they are very important in the food supply.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - May 30 to June 9, volunteers Debbie, Bonnie, and Connie will be coming to work in the Ouallam area. We will be continuing with the health and gospel presentation for those households that will get a latrine, making sure that the latrines are being dug, prayer walking and hopefully even doing some medical work. Pray for us to do as God directs - that we go, see and do what He wants us to do. That we will work in His schedule and not ours.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006 – May 30-June 23 the Bolls will be hosting volunteers Pandy and Christian. They will be helping with the latrine project, medical work and prayerwalking. Pray for God to use these two in mighty ways as they interact with the Zerma.

The Zerma Team - Zerma Team Website: www.zermateam.org