Teaching English in a Village

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.        -2 Corinthians 4:6 

The focus of our summer was to partner with local believers to reach the “N” people with the Good News through medical outreach and English lessons. Most of my time was spent working at the mission hospital with the nurses and doctors. I was also able to join Emily (from our team) and the rest of the group teaching English at Island E. Because we worked in an almost exclusively Muslim environment, the task is slow and focused on showing God’s love by spending quality time learning about their beliefs and their daily lives and demonstrating that we care. 

One example of this came from an English lesson in a village of the “N” people. We had a time of questions and answers during which the class asked us why we were there. They couldn’t believe that we came just for them and that we cared about them. Also, as they shared their hopes and dreams for the future, we were able to connect with them and show them that they are important, and that God has a purpose and plan specifically for them.

God is using this English course, which was already in place and will continue while we’re gone, to open minds and create a foundation for the Gospel to be known. The soil is rich, and the seeds are being sown. These people are ready to hear.

Join us in praying that God will draw the “N” people to Himself. 

Daily Routine

Sunset on the road to a village to do some physical therapy!

Washing, rinsing, & drying our own dishes... by now we have our own system going.

 

Whenever we walk down the main street in front of the hospital,

we can get a sweet view of a sand mountain from across the river.

2013 North Africa: We're Not in Kansas Anymore

Week 2

We are nearing the end of week 2 and are beginning to better understand the ways we are NOT at home, in that we are trying to mold ourselves to our new culture.

While we knew this long journey would take us halfway around the world, we did not know what it would be like living here---really living here. 

This has been a great learning experience, meeting people, sharing life, and seeing Him through different eyes.

We passed by these people dancing and making music while walking through a beautiful garden in the city. (video below)

The culture is EXTREMELY hospitable... Before seeing patients, we have met at the village's medical clinic where they give us soda, that we must finish before we can leave. :)

2013 North Africa: Drink up the kindness! One for each of the team

Another big part of every day are the calls to prayer, 5 times a day... Each time the call sounds off, we are reminded to lift up this people who are in so much spiritual darkness. (short video below) 

Ask Him for this nation, that He would shed His Light and save their souls. 

Some more East Africa photos...

2013 North Africa: Seeing Dreams Bear Fruit

Week 2 

PV had a vision of a building being built for service to a poor community. And here we are several years later, standing on the roof of this building. 

2013 North Africa - The view from the roof (soon-to-be second floor) of a building used for His work.

On the way to the top of the building, we passed by many ladies with heads covered, we passed by children walking around and singing songs, and we saw a group of young people studying the Word. We were blown away to hear songs praising His name. 

2013 North Africa - After singing, the kids are getting ready to do some coloring.

PV hopes to add a second floor to this building where young people could stay, learn more about the Word, and serve the surrounding community. 

2013 North Africa - Ladies praying before leading the activities.

 PV desires that this will be available for the younger generations to know Him and make Him known.

2013 North Africa - The view of the children from the top!

 This is easy for me to write about, even exciting to hear and talk about; but to have actually lived through this, pushing through the obstacles, discouragements, and the long years from when he received this vision in a dream to the day this was open for service, is a completely different experience and story. 

I asked PV about his unwavering, steadfast faith, saying that I wanted something like it, and he said "Stay strong in the promises of the Book. Believe them and hold to them more than anything, more than you even believe yourself." 

May that be true. 

2013 North Africa - See part of the beautiful garden in the midst of so much desert and dry land!!!!!

Hospital where we volunteer

Some of you have been asking for some photos... the next few posts will give you a glimpse into our African world.

 

2013 North Africa: Redefining Dependence

Week 2 

From day one, we witnessed a different kind of dependence on the Lord...

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

"The believers here pray before any decision is made, 

before we start anything, before we go to work. 

They prayed for a scheduling meeting for our team. 

They prayed for the weather one day for their daughter to take a test. 

They prayed over material we brought, just in receiving it!!

It's completely different from the way Americans view prayer here…. 

Look at our American lifestyle: We wake up every morning and get in our cars, drive to work, take care of the kids, etc. ---We don't need any help with that..

- thoughts from E

Working together

We have been extremely blessed to have translators that are also believers and have enabled us to pray for each patient we see. The very first day we met them, the fella on the right of me was very excited that we were believers and said “We will work together!” (referring to sharing the Truth). How awesome is that?

Day one in a primarily Cousin village and we receive a translator that is sincerely excited to reach them with the Truth. The majority of our patients have welcomed prayer and one has bought us sodas because of her pain relief. She also took the referring physician a soda and said “They took my pain away without any medication!” Bwana Asifiwe (God be praised).

Please continue to pray for language learning as we will only have these translators for a few more weeks.

Encouragement on a day off

Yesterday we had an awesome experience on our day off. We spent the whole day in Brugge, Belgium walking around the downtown area. It was a nice time of relaxing after a busy week of work. As we were walking downtown, we took a short break to discuss where we wanted to go. As everyone was conversing, I heard a man over my shoulder speaking in English, with an American accent. So I turned around and tuned into him to see what he was saying. He was definitely American! Dressed in a cartoon outfit and making creatures out of balloons. I began to be engaged by the questions he was asking his audience of five teenage girls. He asked them “Suppose you were caught stealing something out of your neighbors house, and you had to go to court and were about to be sentenced to five years in prison. Right before you’re condemned, someone busts through the door and says ‘I will pay your fine in full!’ What would you do? Would you accept that sacrifice? Of course! I know someone that has paid in full on the cross for your sins. See girls, your sin keeps you from doing good; it consumes you. But Jesus Christ perfectly sinless, died on the cross for our sins, paying the debt in full, and three days later after his death on the cross, he rose from the dead and is alive still today.”
As this man was displaying the gospel before these girls, they were in total awe of what was being said. You could tell questions were churning in their brains and eventually, one spoke up and started asking: How could Jesus do that for me, and how can I deal with my sin?
He continued talking to them and told them “All you have to do is believe in what Jesus did. He is standing at the door and knocking.” The girls kept having questions about Christ and who he was. It was so awesome to see Christ work in this man’s life with just making balloons. As the girls’ questions came to a close, he challenged them to seek God, and pray to Him that night. He told the girls that Jesus would help them. As the girls received their final balloon, they were off and the professional balloon artist shared with us his love for Christ, and how he trusted in Him. He shared a story of tithing to God for the first time even though he had a car that was broken down. After that Sunday, God brought not one vehicle his way, but two. God began to bless this man for his giving heart and relying on him completely. As he shared his story, it pricked my heart in a way that I began to question myself if I trusted him with EVERYTHING. One thing he told us that I will never forget was: “When you begin to witness to others, you will start to find the biggest source of encouragement.” It was a divine appointment that we met this wonderful man on our day off, when we least expected it. God knows just when to send someone our way to inspire and encourage us when we need it most.

Pray for this man as he shares the good news to many people around the world.
Pray that we would be as bold as he.

The group the man was sharing the gospel with

Mike & Brent

Mitch & Geoffrey

Lindsey & Mitch

Brent & Mike

Lindsey & Geoffrey

Blessings to all,

-Mitch