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Dear companions of the Road, November 28, 2017
Take one look at us here and you'll get a sense of what it felt like to finish checking all 176 verses of Psalm 119 in Nyarafolo -- and not only that, we had beat our original goal of checking at least Psalms 90-106. It had been seven full days of combing through every verse, making corrections and discussing possible changes. Moise and I (right) were in the hot seat, having completed this draft two years ago. Matthieu Ouattara (at the end of the table), a consultant who comes from a related language, Djimini, was the one grilling us. We are grateful for every improvement made, and eager to continue the rest of the psalms with him in February. Thank you for your prayers -- we know the Spirit was giving us understanding.
We'll be checking our translation of Hebrews with another consultant in January!
I am grateful, too, that the Lord led me to return after spending those two months accompanying my dad, Dr. Dwight Slater. He continues to hold on, and a contingent of loving friends are pitching in to help my brothers and their wives as they keep on coming alongside him. I miss Dad, and the family over there, but I have peace. (Which does not mean that I don't have moments of grief too.)
Glenn, meanwhile, continues to plod through his version of "ant work" as well: the mission, project and personal accounts, plus programming for the hospital. He has also preached at Tiepogovogo these past two weeks using our translation of Romans (verified but not yet printed). It was an especially sweet moment for me when my friend Minata read the first verses of Romans 12 aloud in the service, so that he could teach what it means to be a "living sacrifice," totally devoted to the Lord -- and when I asked for her copy of the text to review some terms she begged for it back. She longed to have it for her own meditation. Think about it: what if you had never heard that passage in your own language?
Below you will find more news, fodder for thanksgiving and for intercession.
Grateful for your company on this journey,
Linn, for Glenn too
Here's the news: Pray with us: |
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They can read their language!
Tenidihe, our literacy worker (in the red shirt above), has spent most weekends this past year in the remote village of Watchinvogo teaching the believers to read. These have now earned their certificates! What a wonderful thing it is for them to be able to read the portions of Scripture available to them!
Now Tenidihe's home village, Sonyono, south of this one, has caught the bug and wants him to come teach literacy there. Twenty-eight people, at many different levels and ages, have signed up. He is thrilled and also a little bit nervous about how he can handle this crowd!
There is a pastor at Sonyono, and he and Tenidihe alternate preaching at the two villages each Sunday. Tenidihe feels called to this ministry and is working hard through night classes to attain the level necessary to get pastoral training. He is already showing the passion and gifting necessary.
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This is the new Ferke highway!
We are glad to see how it improves the heavy truck traffic, north and south. There are even a few stoplights, which should decrease the speed of these vehicles that usually just race through town.
And the highway runs right by the Baptist Hospital, where my parents, aunt and uncle, brother, brother-in-law, Glenn and so many friends have served. There have been many challenges since it was launched in 1961, but it has become amazingly effective in reaching people for Christ.
Pastor Esau, the chaplain there, says that this year already 90 people have professed faith in Jesus for the first time. They are referred to churches in their home region, when those exist. Many face strong resistance, in isolated circumstances. Esau told me that one of these is someone he actually avoided talking to for a while, hesitant to approach this man dressed in white robes with a long beard. But the man listened while Esau witnessed to others near him, and asked some questions too. He has become a believer himself, and has asked Esau to come to his village in the Cebaara-speaking region northwest of Ferke to help him share his faith with his family and community.
In our last prayer bulletin we asked you to pray for the hospital stakeholders involved in a meeting on November 7 to consider strategies for helping the hospital forward out of its current financial crisis. Glenn says that the meeting was positive, with much yet to be discussed. Thank you!
More missionary staff is indeed needed, especially doctors and nurses!. Who might the Lord be calling?
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Her five-year-old died
Two weeks later, her baby (above) got malaria and had to be hospitalized. We're so grateful that he responded to treatment and is back home.
The young mother is a new believer in Welievogo, just up the road past Tiepogovogo. Her husband has been a believer for a few years, but she had professed faith just two months before her older child died. What a challenge for her faith! Without a doubt her friends and other relatives who are not "on the Jesus Road" have been telling her that this happened because she rejected the protection of their gods. So far she has remained firm -- do keep interceding for her!
There are now seven believers in that small village, so she does have support.
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Thanksgiving coming soon!
Yes, we know you've already enjoyed your feasts, but ours will be this Thursday when our mission team gathers in Bouake for our annual meetings. We're looking forward to spending time with teammates we rarely see due to distance and ministry preoccupations. And there is much to thank the Lord for!
The first day will be set aside for refining our strategy for future ministry here in partnership with the association of Baptist churches and in light of new missionaries coming. Please pray for us Friday, especially, that the Lord's vision will be clear to us.
We will also have the blessing of times of prayer and worship, as well as other business sessions. May we come away refreshed!
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Our front porch is busy . . .
We never know who might come knocking, a close friend to just visit, or someone in the community with an urgent need. This widow has been seriously ill for a while, and is struggling to start a business to support herself and her two children, selling grain in front of the courtyard where she lives. An mk friend heard about her need (via Facebook!) and has come alongside her to give her that start. It's people like that who make our compassion ministry possible. There are so many people with urgent needs for food, or help treating sickness or recovering from disaster. Some young people are getting education only because of such donations, and several of them are now finishing university!
If you would like to partner in reaching out to the poor with love in the name of Jesus, please use the compassion fund link below. The account is in the red. :(
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