MEHANNA ROAD

Our team is heading for dinner and the airport after their final day of debriefing, packing and shopping. The team wanted to post this picture of Moumouni the new believer in Village Y.

They asked for us to pray for Moumouni and for Laoualy as he goes out there on Saturday to meet with Moumouni and friends who are also interested in following.

Moumouni is talking with Brad and Laoualy (he's in the white shirt) in this picture.

 Randy just called from Niamey. It is about 10:30 PM and they have had an exciting and blessed last two days. Here are the highlights:

They finished all six rooms of the school and gave out supplies to all 300 kids [The total supplies for $186.00 which exceeded our budget by $86 so if any of you feel lead to donate that extra..]. Okay on the report - the open house went great. The principal is a very strong Muslim and softened during the week in Randy's words "as he saw us using African brooms to sweep out the school. He was moved by our love and humility that Americans would do this for Africans."

The Jesus Film was a huge success. They had over 350 adults [probably an equal # of kids] see the film. Praise the Lord for this open door.

On the way home today they stopped by the Y clinic and the "major" that had been such a jerk to our other teams is gone. The new one was presented with a couple of stethoscopes and BP Cuffs [Thanks Bonnie] left by the November team. He said proudly "I am a real doctor now." He had head about the clinic M and asked for team to come back to Y  to help in his clinic. Hopefully we can do that in 2010 - so mark your calendars.

But the MOST EXCITING news of the day was a young man [mid 20's] prayed to receive Christ with the team and Brad today. He had helped the team all week and seemed very interested in everything going on.  He said he had friends that were interested in Christ also. Randy did not say if they baptized him, but Lawally will return to Y next week and spend the week with him starting discipleship.

As you can see God is at work on the Mehanna Road. We are so honored to be used by God in work to bring the Songhai to Christ. Please pray for this new believer - that he will be good soil and perhaps the person of peace for this village. Pray for more labors to go to Africa on our 4 scheduled trips for 2009 [March, June, September and November see the church Web site for dates].

Hey guys!

First of all, I can see why you guys have a heart for the Songhai people --- they are AMAZING! This trip has taught us all so much, and I personally cannot wait to come back. I'll be praying God will give me the opportunity to do so.

Anyway, here are a few pictures of our team. We're standing underneath one of the rainbows we painted on the classroom walls. Each room got a rainbow, and we even had paint left over. So cool!

All right, I should go, just wanted to pass these pictures along. More to come!

Have a good one --- kala honfo!

Clarissa Webb

Our 11th team to Niger landed on January 20th.  We are blessed to have 3 veterans, Randy Adams [team leader], Yvette Luttrell and Allen Mendenhal on the trip.  Allen is First Hurst first 4-peater to Niger.  We also have two first timers, Clarissa Webb and Kristine Slate. They will spend the week in Village Y painting and stocking a school; storying, passing out cassettes and hopefully showing the Jesus Film.

If you remember  back to 2007, this village was closed to our witness by the King/Chief.  He told our team  they were not welcome and he took responsibility for the souls and blood of his village. Since that time several teams have stopped and prayed on the edges of Y.  The door was cracked open with our vaccination team last year and our drama team in March.  Both were able to work for short time in the village building trust and respect. 

On our current teams first day, the King/Chief and his entourage visited the school and welcomed our team. A villager has offered a house for our team to spend two nights. The house they call the "Village Y Hilton" is pretty nice per Africa standards.

Please intercede for the people of Village Y.  The head master of the school has asked permission to show the Jesus Film on Sunday.  Please pray for that the door will be opened allowing the full gospel to played for this village of nearly 4,000 people.

Lauoaly is doing really good. We loaded him up with his favorite beef jerky, boxes of food, cards, letters, gifts, cloths and books from our church.  He is tired and bit skinnier but in good spirits. You can tell he enjoys his new "home" in village KK with the chief.  With 2 believers and 2 seekers in KK and 4 believers in T, he spends his three weeks a month between the two teaching and challenging them.  With the strides made this week in village M combined with his four sermons broadcasts on the village M radio station this summer, we feel he should spend 3-4 days a month in M.  He stays with the clinic major and is now known in the village as a Christian.  Lauoaly can also use that time to record preaching on the radio.

All alone on the Mehanna Road, we must keep praying for Lauoaly. With the cost of trips from the US exceeding $3,000 each, his $2,500 a year salary [a good one in Niger] is great stewardship for our church.  We simply could not send enough teams to effectively disciple these new believers.  Our missionaries partners are also spread thin reaching the other 3.5 million Songhai in three countries. Please pray for his integrity, health, stamina, knowledge and growth!!