Do not forsake the work of Your hands

Christie tells me things have gotten a lot better in Jos over the past week, so I thank God for that. But I also learned that Anthony's stay in Nigeria, in which he was going to mentor teachers to offer and spread our Computer Training Outreach, was cancelled. Christie is going to proceed to offer the training Anthony planned. Please pray for her as she takes on so much responsibility amid distress and uncertainty.

Christie leading a devotion at the 2011 ECWA principals' conference

  7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.  
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands. - Psalm 138:7-8

New possibility

Anthony and Claude, TEN3's president and CEO, had a prayer retreat this week, and Saturday they called me about an idea they had of an extra skill I could pick up that might help TEN3 and me significantly. We like the idea, but it would require a lot of time and potentially push back my return to Africa even further.

Please pray with us that the Lord make it clear whether He would have me pursue this idea or not.

Yay! ... zzzzz

Blow the fanfare, I have finished the Puppy Linux revision of Computer Essentials!!!!

I thank God the links actually seem to have cooperated (with a little urging), so I've got it nice and pretty and functional before Monday, which is when Anthony will start packaging them.

But of course, wouldn't you know it, tonight I can't seem to mount our server to upload them. Always something ... You know, I hope those storms didn't take out our work server! Wow, and I've been having trouble with FB and my work e-mail too ... But I ought to take this reminder to pray for all those affected by the storm and the heat.

Okay, time to go to bed before my tiredness manifests itself in loopy blogging!

A great explanation of the vision for transformational education

A lot of people have wondered how making an education system can be missions. In Missions Frontiers, an article called "Discipling Africa through Higher Education: A proposal for an African Christian University" explains why education is such a critical need if we are ever to see a significant percentage of Africans transformed by the Gospel. While Dr. Turnbull's approach is to implement it in one working university, we are working on a model that can be reproduced in any number of schools. Click here and start on page 16.

God is our refuge and strength

When I tell Christians I travel to Africa, Nigeria in particular, I am surprised by how often they comment something like, "Isn't it dangerous? You shouldn't go over there." I don't know how to respond to these attitudes that I must be really brave or foolish; I don't think either is a factor in my travel. And if it is, what do you say about the Apostle Paul's decision to go to Jerusalem when God had told him plainly he'd be arrested there? Not to mention all the places he was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked ...

What I do is nothing in comparison. I'm more nervous at airport security than I've ever been in Africa, where people go to great lengths to welcome us. The really brave Christians today are the ones who live in North Korea, Somalia, Iran ... their lives and families are on the line every day for their faith.

Yes, when I go to Africa, there's malaria and waterborne diseases to guard against. Yes, there is violence. It has ethnic, territorial, and religious aspects to it. Expatriates usually aren't involved, but terrorists have bombed a lot of churches there. So I do ask for prayer for the safety of my friends in Nigeria, and for my team when we go out. But I don't see why that should be a reason not to go, if hundreds of thousands of my brothers and sisters can live and worship there.

"I can't believe your parents let you go over there" is another expression I get. But it's my mom who told me that safety anywhere is an illusion. After all, any car ride could be our last. The only security anyone can really have is in the Rock of Ages, in whom there is no such thing as danger.

My soul rests in God alone.
My salvation is from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress--
I will never be greatly shaken.
How long will you assault a man,
would all of you throw him down,
like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place.
They delight in lies.
They bless with their mouth,
but they curse inwardly. Selah
My soul, wait in silence for God alone,
for my expectation is from Him.
He alone is my rock, my fortress.
I will not be shaken.
With God is my salvation and my honor.
The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people.
Pour out your heart before Him.
God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Surely men of low degree are just a breath,
and men of high degree are a lie.
In the balances they will go up.
They are together lighter than a breath.
Don't trust in oppression. Don't become vain in robbery.
If riches increase, don't set your heart on them.
God has spoken once; twice I have heard this,
that power belongs to God.
Also to You, Lord, belongs loving kindness,
for You reward every man according to his work.

--Psalm 62 

     

Please pray for my colleagues traveling

Please pray for George and Ray as they work in Nigeria with writers. Pray for the writers to have the time and energy, on top of all their many responsibilities, to make good progress in writing. Pray for the Lord to draw more writers of His choosing to work with us. Pray for wisdom in clarity in the process of developing Health and Life Management curriculum. Pray for the Lord to bless their time together with spiritual growth and fruitfulness. Finally, please continue to pray for peace in Nigeria.

Struggles continue, but so does encouragement

We've been frustrated the past few weeks being unable to communicate with Christie in Nigeria. Electricity has been down most of the time all over Jos, internet is more unreliable than normal, and her phone is broken. So it's hard to know how the implementation of our programs is going, if they have everything they need, etc.  So I am very grateful she was able to join us for our Skype prayer meeting today, if only for twenty minutes before her connection dropped. But we need so much more.

Claude and Anthony also shared an exciting way we (TEN3) may be able to minister to local churches here in the US with seminars on the same things we teach our African partners - how transformation comes as we learn to obey all of Christ's commands (not just the ones our culture values). I'd love to be able to do this, as a way of being involved in the culture where we reside and hopefully strengthen our ability to reach out to Africa as well.

Anthony is tentatively planning a trip to Cameroon in July, followed by time in Nigeria in August. It would be really good if I could be starting my six-month stay in Nigeria about that time, so we could work together with EICSI on getting an accredited two-year degree started. That's something that the school and TEN3's programs both need. Please pray that if it's the Lord's will, Anthony's trip will work out and mine will coincide with this seemingly great timing. But He knows better than I when I need to go, and so most of all pray for Him to provide in the time and way that He desires to use. We commit all these hopes and "maybes" to Him, as He works out His glory within our broken plans and chaotic circumstances.