Look to the Future: Praying for the work to be done

Jimmy and his team are home; Africa 2014 is over. But that doesn’t mean the work is finished.

Despite the delays in luggage and the resulting shortage of tools, they installed the solar panel system in the home of a doctor and his family. One thing North Africa has in abundance in sunshine; a solar panel electrical system makes a huge difference for those serving in this region! We received this note yesterday from Doc, “Every day we think of you guys and cherish our fridge and freezer and power…I have not turned on the generator since you left!! Amen!!! Now the battery to the generator is dead…need to charge it. It’s a great problem to have. The system is running beautifully!”

You may recall that Jimmy flew to visit missionaries serving in a different location after they finished installing the solar panels. Grow Barefoot worked with this family two years ago to provide them with solar power as well. He flew in to find the village surrounded by floodwaters; they are a community entering a time of disease, food shortages, and inaccessible medical care. I don’t have any miraculous updates for you on this issue but we continue to trust the One who is the worker of miracles. Please join us in praying for this village as they recover from this debilitating natural disaster. Their national government told them they would not provide any assistance. Floods may have cut off all roads to the outside world, but the road to Almighty God – paved in the prayers of His people – is never cut off.

We didn’t know until Jimmy began his journey home that his friend there, Kap, is also suffering from severe malaria. Despite the lack of available medical care, he continues to improve quickly. Again, God answers prayers.

Which is why I appeal to you today

God does answer prayers. So, I’m asking you to pray for Grow Barefoot as we consider how to work in this region in the future. Some projects we are considering include –

• Doc would love to have a medical team come in to do a clinic. The surrounding villages and tribes need so much in basic medical care and education.
• Doc would also like to begin a milk clinic for babies whose mothers are unable to nurse or are just not available, perhaps due to death. GB has worked with a milk clinic in Haiti; perhaps we can combine knowledge gained in Haiti to help begin a program on the other side of the world.
• Kap is already working on digging three or four wells in outlaying tribal areas so the people may have access to water. This is an immediate need.
• Kap would also like to start a training center in his area. They would teach English, water cleanliness, and job skills for people to develop a trade, earn a living, and create jobs in the community. This is a great method to build relationships with the people, which in turn leads to great discussions and opportunities to share the message of Christ.
• Kap and Chica would also like for me to come and lead a conference based on “Seven Roles, One Woman” for the local women in their area. The Muslim population accepts the book of Proverbs so this study based on Proverbs 31 may be a great way to build relationships, help women understand their value in God’s eyes, and share Christ with them as well.

Please pray for our continued ministry in these areas as we desire to follow where God leads.

Holy Anguish: Praying for those who hurt

Our last post shared about the flood crisis Jimmy flew into during his current trip to Africa. Much of that post came from Chica, the wife of the couple with whom he worked while in that particular village. The following is another section of the email I received from her regarding their current situation. 

Before the floods even hit, a flu-like sickness hit many of the people. As Jimmy said in a text message at one point, "People are dying all over the swamp." (The swamp is their nickname for the area.)

With that explanation, here is Chica's update...

Last week the local religious leaders said the amount of sickness in our town is due to people not following Mohammad's way correctly. The leaders announced that everyone was supposed to wash with hot water mixed with salt and neem leaves at 11:11. Then God would hear them, and he would heal them. Well, a lot of people did it. Neighbors checked on each other to see if they did. Then they decided they should have a sacrifice, too. Just maybe, God would be pleased and take away the rampant sickness. So, lots of sacrifices and blood was split.

Then this week it flooded.

I asked my neighbor, Ash, and she told me that the washing was silliness. That it is not commanded, but praying is commanded. So, everyone should just pray. I shared with her about why I don't spill blood. I shared that I agree we should only look at God’s Word and see what it says; follow that, and not listen to what others say.

She said, “Who would ever think that God needed salt?”

Today, it was just Ash and me on the mat. It was a sweet time for me with her. Please pray for her – and for my boldness. Pray for her as this is abnormal for her to go against what everyone is doing and say these things. Pray for me that God would increase my love for Him with all of my heart, soul, and mind so my words flow from my heart and not rehearsed. Pray that I have the courage to continue to be bold with her.

Also, please pray for me to have a holy anguish for all of the peoples here.

I realized I was in anguish – just nauseated – thinking of the villages cut off by the flood during this season. Malaria is coming; it always does. The way to the hospital – the way to the saving medicine – will either be very difficult or impossible. Many will die. It makes me so upset inside… then angry… and then really sad. I wish they just had the opportunity to get the medicine, if they chose to come in. Dumb flood!

And at the end of today, I realized I’m more upset about this crisis and thinking how can we fix this than I am about the same people cut off by the flood of sin. Sin is reality; it always is. The way to the ultimate saving grace – the way to healing that will save their lives and give glory to the Healer – will be very difficult. Many will die. And that should also make me so upset inside… then angry… and then really sad. I want them to have the opportunity to get to salvation by grace, if they choose to come to Him. Dumb, deceitful father of lies!

So I am praying that our Father will give me that holy anguish for them.

Floods in the Desert: Praying for a messed up world

I began my last article with a list of some of the concerns in our world right now. As I typed the list, I thought, “Jimmy doesn’t even know about much of this as he’s virtually separated from world news in such a remote location.”

Jimmy didn’t need access to world news, however, to know people are in danger and hurting. He flew into his own situation right there.

First, let me catch you up on his location. After finishing the current solar panel installation, he flew to the village where he led a previous solar install two years ago. The following is a description of what he found there – some written by me from a compilation of his text messages, most written by Chica (the wife of the family with whom he’s staying.)

Yikes, did it flood.

The rainy season had been off and on. However, the night before Jimmy flew here – literally hours before the plane took off from his solar project – the rainy season turned on. 

A flash flood came through; the pressure of the water blew four culverts out of the road. The road is made of hard red clay. A few sections have culverts made of concrete and large causeways built under them to allow water to flow north to south to the millet fields. The water was so much and so fast – plus engineering didn't take water pressure into account – that it washed away these causeways.

So now the area is completely flooded. The floods extend for miles and miles and miles; the causeways are huge drop off cliffs. They cannot fix the road until all the water covering it completely subsides and dries up. That won't be until after rainy season and some strong African sun. Rainy season ends in October; then, the roads have to dry up and work vehicles have to get here. It may easily be November before they begin to fix the roads.

The broken culverts happened right outside of town. The truck stop and outlying neighborhoods are under water. I keep thinking, “Don't drink this water! We don't need typhoid and cholera.”

But, I know others are thinking, “Free and convenient water.”

It's all perspective, I suppose.

We visited neighbors today. Everyone is talking about what the floods mean for our community –

• The flood wiped out fields that farmers planted only a couple of weeks ago. All that work, all that seed, and all that future harvest – gone.
• Food and fuel prices will be high and then higher as the harvest will not be brought in. Prices have already increased by 25% in one day.
• Our village is cut off from the road to the north, the country to the east, and the capital city. All of our goods come from those locations. We are literally an island right now.

Folks are scared. What does this mean? They don't know. Will there be enough food? Will the mills still run to grind the grain if the gasoline runs out for the generators? What about medicines for the hospital? People are thinking about the villages that weren’t flooded, but are cut off by the flood. Those people have no way to the market, no way to the hospital.

Some people are driving large market trucks to a certain point in the road; they then use dug out canoes to bring goods into our town. So some things are arriving. That is good. If they can keep essential supplies arriving, that is great.

Kap and Jimmy wanted to see if they could offer some aid. They went to the governor’s office but he had left on travels. His offices are chest deep in water. So, with no local leader, figuring out how to get to people who know what is happening is difficult to chaotic right now. The folks are worried about the river – which is on the other side of town – overflowing its banks.

So, the overall feeling right now is fear. And helplessness. So then more fear.

Please pray for us - that we can help with the immediate crisis and that we can bold in our faith. Pray that we can work past the fear and helplessness of being cut off from the surrounding communities as we try to reach a people who are cut off from the grace of our living Savior.

French-Pressed Coffee: Tips to remember to pray for others

I’d never used a French-press coffee pot before my trip to Haiti last year. My friend there uses one all the time. I’m not sure if she chose this method of brewing for its superior taste or because it doesn’t require electricity. Either way, many wonderful conversations transpired while enjoying the results of the press.

I encountered a second French-press user soon after returning home. Two friends home on furlough from Africa turned out to be participants in this method. Like my friend in Haiti, they also are avid coffee connoisseurs so I’m not sure of the reason they prefer the press.

My friends have something else in common. They both serve as missionaries in two remote, spiritually dark, poverty-stricken areas; countries that no one ever mentions when discussing their summer travel plans.

When my second set of friends returned to Africa, my husband and I had the privilege of helping clean out their apartment. With their permission, we took many of their items to help furnish an apartment we are building to serve as temporary mission housing. I found their French-press coffee pot in the boxes. I’m sure the risk of shipping the glass around the world had led them to leave it here and buy a new one when they arrived in their new home.

I was excited to see it – I had wanted to buy one but really couldn’t justify it as my traditional drip coffeepot still works fine. I decided this item was going to my own kitchen, not remaining in the boxes awaiting the construction of the new apartment.

So now, my drip coffeepot sits on the counter; I still use it when I have company. My French-press, however, is how I regularly enjoy my morning.

I enjoy the press because it makes a better cup of coffee. I enjoy that it doesn’t use electricity. More than anything, though, I enjoy it because every morning it reminds me of dear friends serving God in remote parts of the world. It reminds me to pray for them – for strength, endurance, courage, protection, encouragement.

Men and women serving God in spiritually dark areas constantly need our prayer. In the Scriptures, Paul also served as a missionary; he also endured hard times. Many times he asked for prayer in his letters to fellow believers. “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me” (Romans 15:30).

I challenge you with this – do you have something that reminds you of a loved one every time you see it? Maybe they’re not a missionary serving halfway around the world; maybe they're a friend, relative, or co-worker. When you see that item, don’t only think about your loved one and remember the good times you’ve had together. Go one step further and say a prayer for them!

The African culture where my friends serve calls these things tokens. They are a physical, tangible item that reminds you to pray whenever you see it. That’s why I’m sure my friends won’t mind that I took their coffee pot. They may not know it, but they left me a token.

Do you have a token – an object that reminds you of a loved one? Maybe even to pray for that loved one? I’d love to hear what your token is – leave a comment below!

A Purpose to Live Free

The following is a portion of an article my husband wrote for our church blog regarding his current trip to Africa. In these paragraphs, he shares how he felt as months of planning, trusting, and waiting finally culminated in the touchdown of their small plane in an African village.

Our two hour and fifteen minute flight to the swamp passed quickly with great stories and conversation with Kap. As we approached the village, his words changed to focus on the town below. He then became silent; anticipation of seeing his family again became apparent. I too looked down; we were only 2500' off the ground. I saw the huts, the mud brick walls, and the people waving. We approached the air strip from the north and made a pass to land with the wind. We banked hard and made the approach. We could see Chica and their children; they were all waving. We landed soft and safe on the sand runway.

We. Were. Here.

Emotion overwhelmed me; I began to cry but I held it back. We had arrived. We had arrived at the place for which my friend had totally forsaken all the luxuries of the USA; the place for which he had forsaken all excuses not to serve.

We taxied to the drop off point. Chica and the kids were waiting.

I came with a purpose – a purpose of no excuses, a purpose to live free. Free from what the USA has taught me. Our country teaches us to take care of ourselves. Do not help others. Worry about what is yours and nothing else. We are a lost nation.

I was now in the village – where God wanted me to be at this moment in time. While still in the plane, I began to weep uncontrollably. The others were off but Kap and we wept together. We were in the village together.

I wrote an article this past weekend entitled God Shows Up. In it, I summarized some of Jimmy's emailed comments about his trip because they show that when we lay aside excuses and choose to follow Christ then we will see extraordinary things happen. In this article, Jimmy experienced one of those extraordinary things. He found himself in the right place at the right time and he defined his experience as a purpose to live free.

Freedom isn't the right to do whatever you want. It isn't unbridled behavior. Spiritual freedom is the strength to throw aside what the world tells you and be free to be who God created you to be!

Right now, Jimmy's job in the kingdom is to help a friend in Africa. My job is to stay home and take care of our home and family while I write about his trip. Last January, we reversed our roles when I was the one called to go and do in Haiti and God led him to stay home. For some, their job in the kingdom is to reach a lost friend in their workplace. Or, raise a godly family. Or, serve permanently in a desolate village in a third world country. What matters is that we each do what God designed us to do. Do you know what your job is? Are you doing it? It is your purpose to live free.

God Shows Up

As you may know, my husband is currently in Africa. He has been able to send a few reports; today, as I sat looking over them, I was struck with the consistency of God. I've been around many short term mission trips over the last 20+ years, either as a participant, an organizer, a supporter, or the wife of one of those jobs. Here is the consistency that struck me today -

The more a believer stretches out of their comfort zone...
The more they step out in faith...
The more they rely on God and less on their own ability...

The more God shows up and does His awesome thing.

• God doesn't provide money for trips that people won't commit to because they think it's too expensive.
• God doesn't soften the heart of custom's agents or airport personnel for trips that people won't commit to because it would be too hard to get the needed supplies to such a location.
• God doesn't perform logistical miracles for trips that people won't commit to because they don't really see the need or the purpose.

God does His amazing work when we step out in faith and trust, totally dependent on Him. The important thing isn't what we can do in our own power - what matters is how much we trust Him to do what He says He will do.

So... here is some of what's gone on with Jimmy getting to Africa. I know they have arrived safely and completed their first full day of work but I haven't received a report on any of that yet.

A Softened Heart

Each man traveled with an extra bag. The amount required for the extra baggage fee turned out to be 267% higher than the amount listed on the airline's website. Jimmy politely questioned the increased fee; rather than explain it, the airline attendant simply honored the lower fee thereby saving hundreds of dollars.

A Convenient Distraction

While boarding in Atlanta, the airline personnel informed Jimmy they would have to check one of his carry-on bags as it was too large. This distraction enabled the other men to pass by with larger bags. The late checking increased the odds of the bag not arriving at the final destination but Jimmy was OK with that. The situation reminded him that our stuff doesn't meet our needs; God is the One who meets all of our needs.

An Uncluttered Mind

Mission trips provide an opportunity to step away from the stress and hassle of everyday life. When the coming and going of busyness doesn’t clutter our mind, we see God in a new and fresh way. Therefore, I wasn't surprised to read that a sunrise declared God's glory over the Atlantic Ocean and the sand dunes of the Sahara proclaimed His power.

A Helpful Spirit

The custom's agents delayed the men when they arrived in country. Lots of questions ensued. Kap arrived to help sort out problems. The agents finally allowed them to pass through when they realized our group of men was there to help the people. The world will know us by our love; a helpful spirit penetrates more barriers than a sword ever could.

In the Bible, God performed epic miracles. God is still God today. If God isn't showing up in your life, maybe you need to step out in faith; relying a little less on yourself and a little more on Him.

God Might Send Me To Africa

Have you ever heard a Christian say something like, "I can't commit to be a missionary – God might send me to Africa!" Despite the spiritual and physical needs of billions of people on six out of seven continents, everyone worries they may be called to Africa.

(Why six continents? Antarctica's population is zero - I looked it up. A few thousand researchers live there though and they need Christ as well. So maybe I should have said all seven continents.)

Anyway, I'm thinking about African missions today because a member of the Grow Barefoot team leaves today for a short-term mission trip to the scorching sands of the northern half of Africa. He's not only a member of our ministry team, however. He also happens to be my husband, Jimmy. He is leading a team of men to install solar panels for some friends who serve there permanently. You might remember them – she guest blogged on here a few months ago. Her article was I Was on the Inside.

I have a few reasons to share this with you today.

First, this is one example of Grow Barefoot's current expansions. Up until now, Grow Barefoot has been a teaching ministry. We teach God's Word through writing and speaking opportunities. That isn't going to change but we're adding a new focus. Learning God's Word doesn't mean much if you don't put action to your knowledge. As Grow Barefoot expands, we will be providing more opportunities for people to add action to their faith. In the past we have helped to grow – now we will also equip to go.

Second, hopefully we will have many posts over the next couple of weeks as they report back on their trip. This will all be limited to the technology availability in their remote village but I hope to be able to share with you as much as possible. Be watching for these upcoming posts. Even better, subscribe to this blog to have posts automatically delivered to your inbox. The box to do so is at the top right of this screen.

Third and final, please pray for our friends, my husband and his team, and the people in the village where they are working. Satan fights a fierce battle but Jehovah Nissi conquers all.

I Was on the Inside

Today I get to share a guest blog by a friend of mine. I can’t share her name with you but I'll call her Chica. I can't even share where she calls home, other than it's in northern Africa. However, her heart for the Lord, her desire to grow spiritually, and her perspective on life make her one of my favorite people in the world. She sent the following to me via email; once I read it, I had to get her permission to share it with all of you. May you be as blessed by her experience as I was…

I needed to see a doctor, so I went to a new non-profit hospital. After the main road, we turned onto a hard dirt path that forked and weaved in-between sparsely situated homes and buildings. It seemed we were in the middle of nowhere, but then the low wall of the hospital appeared.

Behind the wall was the large sandy courtyard where a throng of people had waited since dawn in hopes the healer would see them. On the other side of the courtyard, another wall, much taller than the first, separated everyone from the entrance gate to the hospital.

After my appointment, where wisdom and skill shined way beyond the rudimentary resources available, I went to pay my fee. That's when a realization struck me – stopped me.

I was on the inside.

Just meters in front of me people filled the entrance gate, grabbing, smashing themselves up to it, clamoring to be seen. It was loud; it was desperate. A male nurse had a stack of papers; he was calling out names, “Mahmood? Mahmood?” When Mahmood squeezed his way through, another male nurse pulled out a set of keys, unlocked the gate, and allowed him a small opening through which to enter. Then the crowd swelled back in close again.

I felt myself stop all thoughts. Our days here have not been easy. It's hard living here. Too many interactions with others seem to involve deceitful motives.

But I saw it. Our Father is calling out to those from the utter ends of the earth. They will hear His voice and will come and be healed. Restored. Atoned for. The renown of His name will be throughout the earth.

I was able to close my eyes for a moment and ask, “Okay, show me. Show me who you are calling.”

Let the peoples praise you, O God, let all the peoples praise you. Thank you, Father, for showing me that you are our Hope.

“The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10: 3-4, 9).

Are you, like my friend and myself, “on the inside?” We're in; we’ve seen the Doctor who gives spiritual rather than physical healing. He restored us; He atoned for our sins.

Let's work together to see who else God is calling through the gate. Pray, as my friend did, for God to show you who He is calling. I then challenge you to reach out to the person He lays on your heart. Maybe you'll be the one to help them come in and see the Master Healer who gives new spiritual life!

“I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints” (Psalm 52:9).