Greetings to all. We are doing well and everyone is getting readjusted to life in Abengourou. The past couple of weeks have been busy, but mostly in hearing about the past year and getting updated on where and how the various ministries of the mission have progressed. Here is what is going on...
Djoula Muslim Outreach
The Joneses have continued to disciple a couple who came to Christ in 2007, Fatou and Noufou, and teaching them what a Christian household is to be. Their marriage goes through ups and downs, like many others, pray that they will continue to grow in their faith. Dao, a young believer who was baptised with Fatou and Noufou, has moved to Abidjan looking for work. We helped him get into contact with a church there and try to continue to encourage him and pray for his spiritual growth.
Damon has also been working with several different Chronological Bible Storytelling (CBS) groups this past year. One of them just finished up with the presentation of the gospel, and at least one young man, Salifou, has said he wants to become a Christian and several others are also interested. Pray that the Lord's Spirit would continue to work in their hearts and open their eyes to His message of hope and true peace with God.
One of the most exciting things happening is that we are working towards starting up with a new worship service for Muslim background believers and seekers. Developing an appropriate service will not happen overnight, but will take a couple months of planning and preparations, including creating and translating some new materials in Djoula. Pray that the Lord will guide us as we seek to help the Djoula worship Christ in a culturally appropriate and meaningful way.
I am also gearing up to start in my Djoula language studies. I have a friend who is Djoula just down the road named Abulay. He has agreed to work with me in learning Djoula. The nice thing is that he not only speaks Djoula, but can read it as well, which many if not most of the Djoula people cannot do. Pray that our time will be fruitful, not only in me learning Djoula, but hopefully for Abulay to learn about the love of God through Jesus.
HIV-AIDS/Clinic/CHE Ministries
There have been some exciting new developments in the AIDS ministry during our furlough this past year. The most exciting thing is the new Lab. God has truly blessed the clinic and has given us a tremendous tool for serving those hurting the most. To say that it has expanded our impact is a gross understatement. Dr. Bernie Bledsoe, our team doctor, has done a great job with lots of help from many others, in getting the Lab functional and operational. When you step into the Lab, you could almost forget you were in Africa! We can now do all the necessary testing for our HIV+ patients without having to send off lab work. In the past year the clinic has doubled the number of HIV+ people they serve to over 750 people!
The CHE program (Community Health and Evangelism) has continued to grow as well. CHE in the village of Bebou has grown and matured well. They are in the midst of an antimalaria campaign and soon their Community Health Evangelists will start making home visits with the various physical and spiritual lessons. CHE has been very active in our HIV+ patient support group as well. The first week of April a team from the USA is coming to do a Microenterprise training to help the support group help those hurting and desperate financially. There are many other good things going on with CHE, that I don't have room to mention them all. Pray that the CHE program and her trainners continue to teach people how to transform their communities not only physically and socially, but spiritually as well.
Association of Christian Churches in Ivory Coast
The number of churches and new church leaders continues to grow. Two new churches have been planted in neighboring villages to the town of Abengourou alone... and no missionary was involved! They are also working hard at training potential new leaders so that the churches will be rooted in God's Word. There are still plans to plant at least two more new churches in the Abengourou region by the Association. Pray that their planning would be fruitful and take root.
We are planning our next graduation for our leadership training program the end of April. We are looking forward to five more men completing their training and continuing in their local ministries as well as helping train more new leaders.
Finally, there was some unfortunate news as well. One of our main church and assocaition leaders was suspended this past year for various reasons and has since fallen away from the church. He was one of our regional pastors and the Vice-president of the Association. Pray that God would lead him to the road of repentance and reconciliation.
Gable Family
Finally, I want to mention our family. Part of what has kept me busy is figuring out new regulations and paperwork for Americans. Though God worked it out for us not to have to get entry visas (saving us $1500), we are required to do many other things (i.e. Certificacte of Residency, Residential Identity Papers, Ivorian Driver's License, Exit Visas, etc.). Most of these don't cost too much, but when you're doing it for 7 people it can add up. Thankfully I am the only one getting the Driver's Permit, it costs $300. Slowly I am figuring out what needs to be done and have done most of them for myself, the rest of the family can wait a bit. Most of these things had to be done for me so I could go and return back from my trip to Kenya this week.
Tomorrow, actually today for me now... it's 1:30am here, I leaqve to take part in CMF's Team Leaders Meeting. It is a week long event, so be praying not only for me, but for Stephanie and the kids s well. As hard as it would be in the States, it is a little harder to care for all five of our kids here in Africa all by oneself. I wish there was something else we could do, but no such luck. Please pray also for safe travel for me there and back.
Thanks to all of you who will and have already been praying for us. They are felt. God's richest blessings to you.
Andy
No comments:
Post a Comment