Transcending All Languages

As someone who loves to play soccer, I came into this country wanting to use it as a way to connect to the nationals. There, I would find our team surrounded by kids staring at us. One particular day, the thought crossed my mind. “What if I pull out a soccer ball?”  I went to grab it and as soon as they saw it, their faces lit up. Then I told them I would play with them if they would listen to a Bible Story and repeat it back to me. Sure enough, they complied and some kids were able to repeat the story where Jesus first called Peter to follow Him.  

Please continue to pray for opportunities to share the good news.

Also, pray that we would not pass by the opportunities given to us.

- Jordin

Do You Need Rain for Your Roots?

As I sit here in this house, in a foreign country, very far away from home I am reminded just how faithful God is. The rain is dripping and my whole team is occupied. Yet in the drips of the rain there is peace. As I think of how there is green grass and trees in this sub Saharan country, that I have deemed an oven. I’m reminded that roots must be strong and that roots bring peace. These peaceful roots are found in Psalm 1. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Gods blessing is a beautiful and peaceful thing. Relaxing in his will provides calmness and security even in the darkest of places. As the darkness has set in for the night and the rain continues. The roots are growing. 

Psalms describes this man saying  "He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.” As I think back I have realized that to have growing roots, I needed the rain. In this case, the rain is God’s word. If I did not have this passage or the many others written on my heart. I firmly believe that I could not be calm here. I know that his word stands true because in my heart my peace has not been blown away. As the winds continue to come I ask for your prayers. The Psalmist continues “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;  for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” As we continue to feel the winds that drive the rain I know where my roots are planted and on whose rain water they are growing. As peace stands and the Lord sustains. Ask yourself, Do you need rain for your roots?

-Harley

Learning to be a Farmer

Because it is rainy season, most villagers are out working in their fields. To be able to relate to them, we decide to give it a try. The task for this particular day was to plant cottonseeds. We would poke a hole in the soil, drop some seeds in it, and cover the seed up. After we worked, we shared with the villagers the parable of the seeds.

In his parable, Jesus talks about a farmer who went out to plant seeds. He threw his seeds onto 4 different types of soil. However, only one type of soil was able to allow the seed to yield fruit. As we continue to tell stories and live life with the villagers, please pray for the word of God to fall on good soil. 

-Jordin

Outdoor Worship

What a joy and honor it is to worship the Lord across cultures. Church on Sunday was very eye opening.  We were outside under a porch made by tree trunks and straw. We sang songs accompanied by a shaker and a Djembe. We try to understand the preacher preached in Bambara. Though the setting was different, the joy was the same. We serve a God that transcends cultural differences. It makes me wonder what it will be like to worship Him with every tribe and tongue.
-Jordin

What In Language Nation?!?

"I ni che!

That means "Hello" in Bambara, or "Hey y'all" if you're from the South. We are now in the midst of language learning here. The Bambara people group we are working with is the largest people group in our country with over 5 million people. To try and reach and interact with them more intimately, we are doing our very best to learn Bambara. However, it is like drinking from a fire hose trying to retain enough of it to have a conversation with only 3 days training. But God speaks every language, including Bambara, so we will make every effort to do so as well that His name might be proclaimed and glorified amongst the Bambara people.  (Even if we look frizzled like this while doing so)."   

-Rachel

A Hop Across a Pond

11pm to 8am a couple days later. It would be an understatement to say our travels to West Africa was draining.  However, the long flights and layovers allowed our team to get to know each other better.  From watching movies to pass our time to finding the correct terminal for our flight, God used every second of it to make me enjoy being around my teammates.

To add icing on top, we were able to have some spiritual conversations with a couple of people along our journey. Please pray for a man from Zambia. Please pray for another man from Ethiopia. Pray that the Lord may reveal Himself to them. Pray also that the Lord will make Himself know in the countries they represent.     -Jordin

Meet The Team: People of Far Village

Hello, from the People of Far Village Team.
On the top left, we have Harley. His favorite Bible verse is Romans 5:3-4 & 8.
Beside him, we have Rachel. Her favorite Bible verse is 1 Peter 5:6-8.
Next, we have Nikki, our team leader with Zephaniah 3:17.
Lastly, we have Jordin with Matthew 6:33.

As a team, we have some things we would like you to partner with us in prayer.  

First of all, pray that we will have boldness as we move towards a place we don't know for a people we don't know. 

Pray also that, as we do so, we will stay humble and faithful to the work God has prepared for us.  We want to remain close to God in every step of the way to do His work most effectively.

With your prayers, we are confident that His kingdom will come and lives will be changed this summer.

Creating Stories, Crossing Cultures

During training, we learned to draw the creation to cross story while sharing it.  As our training continues in Mali, I was able to run through the story with our interpreter. He was able to translate it flawlessly and we are excited to use it in the villages soon.    -Harley