5 Hours Later

We came out of the office to go home because we were not feeling well (Zach has recently found out he has malaria again) and we caught this priceless picture

Yes...these are the two guards still listening, side by side, to God's word in two different languages...their own...5 hours after Zach loaded it up for them.  Cool!

Pray with us: 

That Zach is well soon!

That these men continue to enjoy God's precious Word in their languages and are transformed by it.

That God continues to give creativity, resources, and workers to produce audio materials.  There are still hundreds of people groups that would benefit from having audio Scripture in their language in Nigeria alone! (Note: For some of these languages it's just a matter of recording.  For many, however, they need a translation first.)

The Resting Sickness

A 6-hour relay race earlier this year

Have you ever experienced resting sickness?  Maybe you have a different name for it, I just made up this name today!  Have you ever found that just when an intense period of work is over, that is when you get sick?

Resting to build energy for the next mile

I remember I first started noticing this phenomenon as an undergraduate engineering student.  Every quarter I would be working intensely on projects right up to the last day of classes.  Then I would start to relax during the week of final exams, when the schedule wasn’t so packed.  I distinctly remember one sunny classroom where I came down with a fever during one of the typical four-hour exams.  I recall it didn’t even bother me, I was just so happy to be done with all my work!

Well, I think I am recovering from a bout of resting sickness that has lasted about three days.  Of course, it isn’t really resting sickness.  It is over-working sickness, put off until I finally stop and take a breath.  Although I didn’t have a fever, I had something like a cold and a nasty stomach bug.  I was a little worried it could be a relapse of the malaria and some other bug that kept me going up and down with fevers for about five weeks back in June [link to topic sickness].

Please pray for me and Christy that we won’t overwork as we get back to work on January 4, and especially as Daso starts going back to school the following week.  Perhaps God will give you further ideas to pray for us over this weekend and in the coming month.

Getting Stronger!

Don't let the horizontal position fool you!  He is getting stronger! 

Zach has involved himself in a number of chores these days!  He cut dates, opened the gate for me to drive out, has been reading to me while I cook, and generally very up beat during the day!  Please continue to pray for complete healing and strength to return.  God has truly been ministering to him during these days, revealing to us the truth of  Paul's words:
"That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:10)

We are so thankful for all those who are praying for us during this time!  God "will lead us in triumphal procession in Christ Jesus!" (2 Cor. 2:14)

Getting "back to work"

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Getting “back to work” part 1.

When Discipleship Ministry Partnership Development (DMPD) training started we all knew it was going to be intense.  And we knew we were setting aside other very important work because this work was strategic, central. We were being trained in a sustainable model of Nigerian missionaries developing Nigerian ministry partners.   If, by God’s grace, were successful in this endeavor, we’ll have a way of bringing more and more Nigerian missionaries into this important ministry and keeping them longer.

However, still there are those moments, like when I receive a phone call from the pastor who desperately wants several megavoice players (small solar powered audio Bibles) there’s simply no one available who can load these audio Bibles with these Scriptures in his language.  If we make a little exception now, it could compromise the whole DMPD program.  What do you do? By God’s grace, Pastor was able to manage the training he was playing with fewer of the megavoice players, with the promise that as soon as possible, we’d get the rest to him.

It’s no wonder we find ourselves saying, when can we get “back to work?”  Janet, one of the members of our Scripture Engagement Team, has a new perspective on this after going through DMDP.  “Of course, we are eager to get back to our main ministry, she says, but this is ministry too.”  Here at DMPD each day we meet with several different people, have the opportunity to share with them the exciting things God’s doing through Bible translation, and then pray with them about any concerns they have in their lives.  It’s a very personal beginning to new relationships, bringing honour and glory to God.  This is important work too. 

Getting “Back to work” part 2

All this took a sudden twist for me when I found myself with a high fever.  I’m unable to go to work, that is to DMPD.  I couldn’t do anything except lie in bed, and try to get well. During the 30 day Blitz program (the intense training for DMPD) I missed five working days and some weekends, but it felt like a lot more than that.  I found myself wanting to get “back to work” but as God had me flat on my back, I found myself in a place where I could know greater intimacy with him, and learn more about faith than I would have in the official working place.

In My Weakness

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Zach has testified that being sick for over a week was a powerful reminder that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.  Along with weakness comes worry that the reality of today, may become that of tomorrow.  Thoughts of cerebral malaria or an unknown sickness taking over his body, increased his dependence on the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. 

He found himself awake one morning around 2am, enjoying God’s presence in a new way as he sensed God singing over him, “In the day I feel your love, and at night, you sing to me” from Psalm 42.   Also during this time God called him back into intimate relationship with himself that Zach had been longing for.  It has been precious to see how this has born fruit in our times with God together.  We don’t ask for sickness, but of all the outcomes of a sickness, this is surely the greatest one, a better understanding of God’s strength and presence with us.

Zach is now back to work with the Nigerian missionaries as they raise support to continue the work God has called him to do.  It is a fruitful and rewarding, though extremely intense time.  Please do continue to pray for them and their families.  For health, good communication, and much joy as they see that God is their Providing God!