“…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Wednesday, August 1, 2007 – ANSWER: The Sustars hosted a team of 4 ladies from Mosaic Church in Los Angeles the end of June and into July. They were a tremendous blessing as they filmed Zerma life and held interviews with Zerma People in order to create a short video segment of the Zerma story. They also shared their testimonies and started Kid’s Clubs in two new areas of Niamey. They strengthened our team by leading sessions on Myers-Briggs, Strength-Finders and Character Matrix.

Thursday, August 2, 2007 - Thank you for praying for Teresa's mother, Dean Cameron. She did have 75% of her stomach removed She was doing really good but lately has been having some problems and had to return to the hospital for several days due to dehydration. Pray for wisdom in the change of diet and medication.

Friday, August 3, 2007 - The Bolls will be traveling again this month! They are now living in Donaldson, AR and are very thankful for Riverside Baptist Church for providing a home for them to stay in. Some of the states to be visited this month are New Mexico, Texas, Georgia and Mississippi. It has been exciting to be able to share what God is doing in Niger among the Zerma people. Thank you for praying for safe travels.

Saturday, August 4, 2007 – ANSWER: Thank you for praying for the Blacks as they returned to Niamey on July 4 from vacation in the states. After 31 hours in the air and many cancelled or missed flights they made it here safely. We praise God for His provision for them on each leg of the trip.

Sunday, August 5, 2007 - Pray for encouragement for the Christians and leaders in remote villages that go many months with little contact with other Christians or missionaries. Pray that the Holy Spirit would be their leader and that they would be able to find wisdom in His teachings. Many of these new Christians are non-readers.

Monday, August 6, 2007 – Pray for safe travels for the Sustars as they leave today for Indonesia where they will vacation and attend a conference. Pray that all connector flights to go smoothly and for them to have a relaxing and refreshing time.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007 – Hassan will be starting a small group meeting at his house in August. People will come during the night, the time they have to socialize after the day’s work is done, to hear about God’s revelation of Himself climaxing in the life, death, and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ. Pray for Hassan as he leads others.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 - Pray for the spiritual growth of all of us on the Zerma team. Pray that we would have a daily awareness of God’s presence and a constant attitude of praise to God.

Thursday, August 9, 2007 - Please pray for the rains to continue. Also remember that many of the villagers will be moving to their temporary country homes to be near their crops. There is no medical help, food is scarce, much more work for the women in food preparation, and very poor water supply. Pray for protection during these times. Also their temporary homes (Ziggy) are "well ventilated" and when the rains come they will get wet and very cold.

Friday, August 10, 2007 – Ask God to draw the children to Himself in two new Kid’s Clubs that began in July. The first one meets on Friday mornings and there were 80 kids and moms at the first gathering to hear the story of creation. The second week we told how sin entered the world to 40 kids and moms. The second one meets on Friday afternoon and there have been 60 children each week. Pray that they remember the stories and that God’s Word will transform their lives.

Saturday, August 11, 2007 - ANSWER: We continue to praise the Lord for the way He worked through the lives and hearts of many of the government leaders. Before the Bolls left Ouallam some plans were proposed by the government - pray that when the Bolls return in a few months that these will be implemented.

Sunday, August 12, 2007 - Pray for the Zerma people who have made decisions to follow Christ. Pray that they would grow in their faith and knowledge of the Lord. Pray that they would be bold in sharing their faith with others.

Monday, August 13, 2007 - Many people have heard the Gospel - pray that God will continue to touch their lives and hearts. Pray that the Lord will be known, loved and followed.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - Praise the Lord for the IMB and the time and place that we have to come to for encouragement, information, renewal, meeting new friends and renewing acquaintances. Pray for our leadership and the many responsibilities and demands they face every day.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - All of us struggle from time to time with expressing ourselves in the Zarma language. Pray that each of us on the Zerma team would not grow weary in learning and understanding the language and culture of the Zerma people. Pray that we would become fluent in speaking and hearing Zerma and able to communicate clearly in a variety of situations.

Thursday, August 16, 2007 - Picture Bibles, like the ones used for children, are revolutionizing Christian teaching in the villages around Kollo. Pray for God to provide more of these Bibles and pray for the men who are using them to ‘show’ God and His salvation to the lost in these areas.

Friday, August 17, 2007 - August will find the Bolls speaking at an On Missions Conference in Georgia. This is a time when several different missionaries will gather in various churches - pray for safe travel and for us to speak the things God lays on our hearts.

Saturday, August 18, 2007 - Stateside Assignment is a time of balancing traveling, speaking, resting, family time, medical visits, etc... Pray for those on Stateside Assignment - that we would be able to draw close to the Lord, get our "batteries charged", meet many new friends, renew acquaintances, get passed the physical exams - and get that renewed call to return to the field. Pray that we would use our time wisely.

Sunday, August 19, 2007 - – ANSWER: Thank you for praying laborers! The last group of summer volunteers leaves for the states today. They made a tremendous impact on the people they came and shared their lives with. They’ve shared their testimonies, told Bible Stories, discipled believers and took a group of pastors through a study on Genesis. They provided medical care for many who were sick or injured, they designed a pump for some of the pump wells that have broken, they covered the area with prayer, led Kid’s Clubs, filmed the life story of the Zerma and loved the people. They saw Zerma give their lives to Christ and they saw God heal many, physically and spiritually. What a powerful cloud of witnesses that have been among us.

Monday, August 20, 2007 – Pray for the church in Goudel to continue to grow strong in common vision and purpose. Ask God to draw those that are seeking Him into a life changing relationship with Christ.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - Pray for Musa as he will not see any other believers for the next 3 months. The rains have made the roads impassable and he is the only believer in his area. Pray that his witness would bring many others to salvation and that he would be encouraged during this time.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - Pray for Abdoulaye as he seeks to gain more knowledge about Jesus and what it means to be a Christian. He is trying to be a light to his community and his 10 children.

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Pray for Melissa as she enters her third trimester of this pregnancy. Pray that God would grant her and the baby health.

Friday, August 24, 2007 - Pray for the government and local leaders of Niger. Pray for their salvation and that their lives would be characterized by wisdom, integrity and a desire to know God.

Saturday, August 25, 2007 - As you read this, the Zerma people are busy with their farms, spending long days in the fields cultivating millet, peas, peanuts, etc. This is also the time of year when last year’s harvest is running out and many people are hungry. Pray that their nutritional needs will be met and for physical strength to do the difficult work. Pray for adequate rains and for an abundant harvest this year.

Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Pray for Caroline and Caleb Cain as they begin attending public school in the U.S. this year (Caroline will be in 8th grade, Caleb in 3rd). Pray that they will make friends and adjust quickly to much bigger schools and a different culture than what they are used to.

Monday, August 27, 2007 – Pray for the new believers, in Kollo and the surrounding villages, to stand firm against persecution. Ask God to teach them through His Holy Spirit.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - Pray for the volunteer team arriving today to work with the Blacks. Pray for safe travel as they come to teach the Zerma people about worshiping God through hymns written in their own language.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 – Pray for the taxi ministry that is ongoing throughout Niamey. Ask God to reveal Himself to each person, drawing them into a relationship with Him.

Thursday, August 30, 2007 – ANSWER: Thank God for men like Mamadou who own their compounds and houses and can host Bible teaching there whenever they want. Pray that God would provide more locations of stability like this one and for His Word to be proclaimed boldly.

Friday, August 31, 2007 – Brandy and Kanesa leave today to spend 2 months in the states. Pray for safe travel and a relaxing time with family and friends.

You’re a treasure to us! Thank you for holding the ropes!
The Zerma Team