Village Life
Callie
Brook Hills sent out over 20 Mid-Term missionaries this summer. These are people who will serve 2 months to 2 years in a different context around the world. A team of 7 Brook Hills members are serving together in West Africa (location secure) for 8 weeks among an unreached people group. Among them is Craig and Lynn B., a married couple spending their summer in West Africa. Life there is difficult as they live among some of the world's poor in the bush of Africa. No running water, no electricity, no furniture to sit on, nothing. In fact this blog post is an excerpt from an email sent to us from Lynn B., as the team was in a city for a few days with internet. Please pray for this team as they live in harsh conditions for the sake of the gospel.
An email from Lynn B. (West Africa Team):
"Again, [Jesus] began to teach beside the sea . . . and in his
teaching he said to them: 'Listen, a sower went out to sow. And as he
sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured
it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil,
and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when
the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered
away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked
it, and it yielded no grain. And other seed fell into good soil and
produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and
sixty and a hundred times'. And he said, 'He who has ears to hear,
let him hear.'" (Mark 4:-9)
Living among farmers, this scripture has come to our minds numerous
times over the last couple of weeks. We have opportunities to share
the gospel many times a day through the cassette players/storybooks.
Some stand there and talk, distracting others; some listen for a while
and walk off; some go to get others and bring them to hear; and some
seem to be mesmerized by what they are hearing. What we know is that
if we are faithful to scatter the seeds of the gospel, some will fall
on good soil. Already, we are seeing specific people in each village
who request to hear the stories repeatedly. Once a week Greg and/or
Laura come to the villages and visit to follow-up on what has been
heard and understood. Although 'Ruth' is still trying to combine what
she has heard with Islam, one of the young wives in her compound
('Abigail') has comprehended the connection between the blood of
animal sacrifices and the blood sacrifice that Jesus made for us.
That is huge. Please pray for 'Abigail' to hear and understand more.
I have also had numerous opportunities with a woman ('Natalie') who
gave birth two weeks ago. She has requested that I bring the stories
to her 2-3 times a week. Please pray for 'Natalie'. Craig and I are
praying that we will have more opportunities with the family who lives
in our compound. You may pray for them as 'Harry' and 'Rachel'. They
have two young boys that spend more time with us than them. Rebecca
has had an opportunity to go to a nearby village and share. This was
an unexpected opportunity. Please pray that the Lord will continue to
guide us in where to go each day.
In the midst of the unrelenting heat, sand, and flies . . . the
sleepless nights . . . and the lack of furniture and running water,
the most difficult thing by far for us has been the lack of love in
this society. It is impossible to share the love of Christ with
someone who doesn't even have an imperfect understanding of love.
There is very little love or affection between husbands and wives,
parents and children, or even friendships. Most everyone lives for
immediate gratification, selfishly and greedily. THE PEOPLE NEED
THE TRANSFORMING LOVE OF THE GOSPEL, and apart from that they are
hopeless on many levels. They (we) are surrounded by death, disease,
and despair on a daily basis. We are unable to share in an email all
that we have experienced. Please, please pray for their salvation.
For those of you who have wondered about Craig's first global mission
trip, he has been amazing. He is a constant source of encouragement,
humor, and comfort. God has so prepared him for this. [On the
lighter side, Craig is gaining numerous new skills as the days in the
village pass. Most recent he has become a competent bull-cart
driver.]
An email from Lynn B. (West Africa Team):
"Again, [Jesus] began to teach beside the sea . . . and in his
teaching he said to them: 'Listen, a sower went out to sow. And as he
sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured
it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil,
and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when
the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered
away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked
it, and it yielded no grain. And other seed fell into good soil and
produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and
sixty and a hundred times'. And he said, 'He who has ears to hear,
let him hear.'" (Mark 4:-9)
Living among farmers, this scripture has come to our minds numerous
times over the last couple of weeks. We have opportunities to share
the gospel many times a day through the cassette players/storybooks.
Some stand there and talk, distracting others; some listen for a while
and walk off; some go to get others and bring them to hear; and some
seem to be mesmerized by what they are hearing. What we know is that
if we are faithful to scatter the seeds of the gospel, some will fall
on good soil. Already, we are seeing specific people in each village
who request to hear the stories repeatedly. Once a week Greg and/or
Laura come to the villages and visit to follow-up on what has been
heard and understood. Although 'Ruth' is still trying to combine what
she has heard with Islam, one of the young wives in her compound
('Abigail') has comprehended the connection between the blood of
animal sacrifices and the blood sacrifice that Jesus made for us.
That is huge. Please pray for 'Abigail' to hear and understand more.
I have also had numerous opportunities with a woman ('Natalie') who
gave birth two weeks ago. She has requested that I bring the stories
to her 2-3 times a week. Please pray for 'Natalie'. Craig and I are
praying that we will have more opportunities with the family who lives
in our compound. You may pray for them as 'Harry' and 'Rachel'. They
have two young boys that spend more time with us than them. Rebecca
has had an opportunity to go to a nearby village and share. This was
an unexpected opportunity. Please pray that the Lord will continue to
guide us in where to go each day.
In the midst of the unrelenting heat, sand, and flies . . . the
sleepless nights . . . and the lack of furniture and running water,
the most difficult thing by far for us has been the lack of love in
this society. It is impossible to share the love of Christ with
someone who doesn't even have an imperfect understanding of love.
There is very little love or affection between husbands and wives,
parents and children, or even friendships. Most everyone lives for
immediate gratification, selfishly and greedily. THE PEOPLE NEED
THE TRANSFORMING LOVE OF THE GOSPEL, and apart from that they are
hopeless on many levels. They (we) are surrounded by death, disease,
and despair on a daily basis. We are unable to share in an email all
that we have experienced. Please, please pray for their salvation.
For those of you who have wondered about Craig's first global mission
trip, he has been amazing. He is a constant source of encouragement,
humor, and comfort. God has so prepared him for this. [On the
lighter side, Craig is gaining numerous new skills as the days in the
village pass. Most recent he has become a competent bull-cart
driver.]
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