Missionary Reports - September 2008

Our journey began on March 28th 2008 until June 12th 2008. We were in Jordan for the majority of the outreach and then went to Israel for the last 2 weeks. While in Israel we went to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Romala, Galilee, Nazareth. In Jordan we mostly stayed in the main city of Amman (which is where my story took place). Our team consisted of 6 adults (all YWAM staff) and two children. The trip was 10 weeks (2 1/2 months) long. The School of Missions that I was staffing has a more specific focus concentrating on better equipping missionaries for their long term call overseas, and in this case towards the Muslim world.

While teaching English at the center in Amman Jordan we were able to befriend one particular Muslim lady named Nadia. She invited us over to her house for dinner and to meet her family. It was a long night of hanging out and getting to know her and her family. Upon leaving Nadia invited us to come back and this time spend the night (which is fairly typical for Arab culture). The week before we went, my friends and I spent time in prayer asking God to open up opportunities while we are with them to share about God and his love for them. While there we had a great time experiencing their culture and the way they live.

We visited and ate Jordanian food, and more food and coffee and tea and desert. By the time we were finished eating it was getting late into the night. Some spiritual things were brought up as we got to know this Muslim family. Through talking with them the subject of hearing God’s voice came up. They wanted us to tell them about their personalities, so I explained to them how we can hear from God and that we have a relationship with him. In front of 10 or so sisters and daughters we one by one asked God how he made these women to be and what he wanted to say to them. As we spoke these things out some of the women began to cry and get excited as the things we were saying were true to who they were and touched their hearts. God continued to speak prophetic words through us that blew these ladies away. We wrote everything down for them and were able to speak truth and love to them, it was so amazing. By the time we were finished it was around 3am in the morning. We went to bed beyond excited at how God showed up and used us to bring truth to these Muslim ladies. The next day before leaving, our friend said that by us coming into their home it had changed their family and their lives. If God sent me to Jordan just for that one experience it would be all worth it! I know that a seed was planted there and I know that God will continue to touch that family’s life and that they are that much closer to knowing God in a true way.

We've been in mostly in Three Hills throughout July, working and taking some holidays.  It's been fun to enjoy the BRIEF warm summer weather before heading back into the deep freeze of winter!  This month I spoke at a fund raiser golf tournament in Edmonton for the Canada Institute of Linguistics, which trains Bible translators and literacy workers for Wycliffe Bible Translators, and I've been preparing to speak at another one in Medicine Hat in August.  I've also continued working on finishing up our Working Orthography (Alphabet) Proposal.  When we get this proposal submitted (to our organization) and approved, we will be allowed to publish materials in Mixtec including Scripture.

It sounds like our Mixtec translation team hasn't done a lot of translating this month.  They've been working in their fields and on other projects.  Also, there was a big hail storm that punched holes in many roofs (including our own house).  We were able to pass on some money that was donated to help people buy materials to fix the roofs.

We are thankful that Alyssa's health has been quite good this month.  She hasn't been in the hospital since the end of January, which is her longest stretch ever!  She has had some fevers lately which we think are just teething.

The other kids are enjoying summer.  Daniela just turned 6 on July 13, and Kyle turned 11 on August 1.  It's hard to believe that school starts back up again in just a few weeks!

Please pray for...

• Alyssa's continued health and healing
• That the translation team will be able to get into a schedule of regular translation work
• That we will have the funds to keep paying their wages
• That we will get more Genesis material ready for a consultant
• That we will get our Mixtec Orthography proposal finished and approved
• That God will continue to call Mixtecs to himself and give them a hunger for his Word
• That God will provide approximately $6000 pesos (about $600 CAD) to replace the roof of the church in our town in Mexico that was damaged by the hail.