Drama Evangelism Update

I know that I have slacked off a bit on communication this second semeseter, but I thought I would write you one last email to let you know that our drama evangelism season is over until next school year. Our last performance was yesterday. It was not an outreach, but a chance for many of the village team parents to see their kids perform for the first time.
The March for Jesus went spectacularly well and concluded by all of us being mobbed by enthusiastic brothers and sisters who want us to come teach the dramas to youth at their church, or come do an outreach in collaboration with them. We took some contact info and will have to wait until next year to follow through on any of that.
Thank you so much for your partnership with us in taking the gospel of Christ around Yaounde and the various other places we traveled this year.
We know that your prayers were a vital part in the fruit God bore through this ministry! Please offer up one last prayer for God to water all those seeds He planted and bring good discipleship to those who committed themselves to Christ.
If the student you were praying for is leaving, but you would still like to receive updates about this ministry when it starts up next school year, please reply to this message and let me know.
Also, you can pray for Kevin Chilton who will be starting up next year without me as I will be on furlough until January. Please ask God to bring helpers alongside him, especially a French speaker who can liase with churches as that has been my job.
May the God of all peace fill you with joy and hope in the Holy Spirit and use you right where you are at to reach others for Christ!
In Him,
Liz for the team

Prayer Please!

Hello faithful friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. Sorry this isn't an appealing newsletter format type thing:) I've been meaning to get one of those out forever, but I didn't want to miss this opportunity to get all the prayers possible lifted up to the Father for our RFIS school retreats. This year I'll be going with the high school instead of the middle school because I'm the 12th grade class advisor and am so close to so many of the seniors.
The stated goals of our retreats:
1. That students will grow spiritually
2. That we grow in our relationships with one another 3. That students learn new things in a non academic setting

Retreats go from Monday to Thursday this coming week. The high school retreat will be held at our new school site with students and staff staying overnight, while middle school is just during the day on our current campus.
There will be sessions with Bible teaching, worship and small group discussion as well as community service opportunities, free time to relax with friends, and other planned games and activities. This is a great opportunity for students to grow close to the Lord, or for some, to commit their lives to Him for the first time.
Please pray:
-for God's annointing and words on the lips of the speaker, worship leader and staff leading small group sessions (including me!) -for many edifying conversations (between staff and students or students with other students) -for logistics (water and electricity to stay on, safe travel and other little details) -for a spirit of unity and love among all -for health and safety -that those students who don't yet know the Lord will commit their lives to Him -for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of His own, meeting each of us where we're at and bringing us close to Him Thanks so much! I promise to send a report with pictures and amazing testimonies of what God has done.
In His love,
Liz

updates....AND another outreach!!!

Hey prayer warriors! I'll try to be concise in updating you on our last two events and informing about our upcoming outreach THIS SUNDAY.

Nomaande New Testament Dedication in Tchekos
Our team(a conglomeration of teams 1 and 2 based on who was in town) left early Friday morning along with a group from translator Patricia Wilkendorf's church in the U.S. for the village of Tchekos, which is located a couple of hours from Yaounde. We couldn't move into the literacy classroom that would serve as our sleeping quarters right away because several things were being stored inside, including a live pig that was to be slaughtered for the dedication feast!
Once we got organized, our first task was to split into two groups and head in different directions for a prayer walk around the village, praying for the people, the local authorities, the church and the medical clinic. We couldn't go to the neighboring village as planned, but we walked to the road that leads there and prayed for it along with another Nomaande speaking village down the other fork in the road. It was a powerful time of crying out to our Father to pour Himself out on that region.
The heat lent itself to an afternoon rest after which we performed our dramas on the village soccer field. Several ladies were making preparations for the dedication feast close by and many children, youth and adults gathered to watch. After the dramas we passed out our tracts to those who could read French and spent time answering questions and praying with people. Unfortunately, our time was cut short by needing to join our supper hosts before it got too dark since there's no electricity in Tchekos.
The dedication itself was quite a ceremony involving multiple speeches, dancing, singing etc. Cries of joy erupted as the newly publish New Testament was paraded around the square surrounded by shade tents full of people. The Omaande people now have God's word in their heart language! The students were a bit nervous performing in front of such a huge crowd at an official ceremony, but they pulled off one of the best performances they've ever done. As the students started the drama, it was as if a magnet drew all those on the outskirts in for a closer look. Even dignified government officials and pastors and priests craned their heads to get a better look. Though we will probably never know how God chose to use that performance in the lives of those who were present, I'm confident that hearts were touched and eyes were opened to the truth of the gospel.
Please pray that God will continue working in the hearts of those who were touched by our two performances in Tchekos and that He'll bring people along to water and harvest seeds that were planted. Also, pray that the New Testament will be widely used and will bring about a transformation in the lives of those who read it or listen to it.

Awae Baptist Church outreach
This past Sunday, team one performed at a small baptist church during their normal Sunday morning service time. Church members had been asked ahead of time to invite friends and neighbors, and invitation flyers had been passed out in the neighborhood. After the team performed, the pastor gave a very basic, but powerful gospel message as the sermon for the day. Several people indicated a desire to accept Christ. We left the church after the service entrusting follow up to our brothers and sisters there. Tuesday I ran into Wilfred, the translator at the church, and he thanked me profusely for bringing the team. Apparently, after we left, many people stayed behind to ask questions and receive counseling or prayer. Wilfred said he was there all afternoon talking with people. He was shocked at some of the people who had been coming to church for quite awhile who hadn't really realized that they needed to give their lives to Jesus until they saw our dramas! Also, several visitors accepted the Lord.
Praise God for this mighty work of His Spirit!
Please pray for good continued follow up with those who received Christ or recommitted their lives to Him. Pray that they would truly become disciples.

This Sunday
Yesterday evening I received a request for us to come perform the dramas this Sunday at another church service. I quickly consulted team two's members and found that they are all willing and able. You may remember the outreach that we did right here in our neighborhood at our friend Ceci's. It's her pastor's church that has invited us to come perform. After last Sunday's outreach, I'm realizing that churches are a great place to do outreaches! The Christians are always encouraged by the powerful visual representation of God's word, and there are many churchgoers who haven't truly given themselves to Christ. Members are being encouraged to invite guests.
Please pray that God will draw the right people to that place and convict people of their need for Him. Also, please pray for health and protection for team members.

Thank you!!!!

drama evangelism outreach trip!

After a busy month of December with final exams and activities, school is ready to begin again and along with it, drama evangelism outreaches!
Tomorrow morning, our teams will leave bright and early for the village of Tchekos to take part in a pre-New Testament dedication prayer walk and outreach! Upon arrival, we'll hike to another Nomaande speaking village about 6 km away to do a prayer walk. According to Bible translator Patricia Wilkendorf, this village has traditionally been much more resistant to the gospel than Tchekos. We're awaiting news about whether we'll be able to perform our dramas there or not, but either way, we will bathe the place in prayer, asking God to reach the people there with His love and truth and to tear down the strongholds that exist.
In the afternoon we'll return to Tchekos and prepare for an outreach.
Some of you who were praying for us last year will remember the fruit God bore in this village with many people coming to Christ and some amazing times praying with and encouraging the believers in the church there. We're excited to reconnect with the people there and see what God has been doing.
Then Saturday, we'll attend the New Testament dedication and perform one of our dramas at the ceremony. What a joy to be a part of celebrating the Omaande people receiving God's word in their language! Many unbelievers will be in attendance including government officials as well as Muslims who live in the area. Please pray!!!!
~for safe travel and good health for all team members ~for good functioning of sound equipment ~for God to touch hearts, encouraging His children and drawing many to saving faith in Christ ~that God will fill us with His love for the people and with the specific words He wants us to share with each one ~for protection strength and unity for those organizing the dedication ~that the Omaande will read God's word and be transformed by it

We thank God for you. The covering your prayers provide for us and the power that God will release in response to them is a vital part of this outreach trip!
Not to us oh Lord, but to Your name be all the glory for everything You do this weekend.

Liz for the team

Outreach Today! 11/21

Sorry for the late reminder!

I think I mentioned in another email that team 2 would be having an outreach today and I've been meaning all week to send out a reminder, but in catching up from being in Bamenda last weekend I just kept forgetting. We'll be working in collaboration with a Cameroonian church here in Yaounde who has been having an evangelism campaign all weekend. We've worked with this church in previous years and are very enthusiastic about working again with Pastor Alain, who has a wonderful shepherd's heart and very solid Bible teaching. Praise God that we are working with such wonderful brothers and sisters who can provide the necessary follow-up for those who come to Christ.

Please pray:
~that God will be drawing people to the performance ~that He will work mightily in the hearts of all who come ~for protection over our team those from the church who are helping ~for smooth functioning of technical equipment

Thanks so much! Update to follow.
All for Jesus and His renown in all the earth, Liz for the team

Wow!! Amazing Weekend!

Where do I start in proclaiming the awesome things God did?! We could definitely tell you were covering us in prayer this weekend. Even as our team prayed over the weekend we saw some immediate answers from the Lord.
The first stemmed from hitting a roadblock at our first drama site....literally. Apparently a government minister was visiting the city so the main thoroughfare where we were supposed to perform was closed to traffic and not a very likely place to be gathering crowds of people. In response to praying for guidance, Chris knew exactly where we should go- an intersection in town where he has lots of friends with mechanic shops. Some friends happily agreed that we could do the dramas right there on the street in front of their place. It wasn't hard to draw a crowd at all, but we did have to deal with cars and motos driving between the "stage" and the side of the street and lots of noise. The kids remained amazingly focused and performed well despite the fact that it was difficult to hear the music.
Everyone seemed to want one of our new tracts and many stayed to ask questions. Several students were blessed to be able to lead someone to Christ for the first time in their lives!
Outreach #2--the Jackson's neighborhood
This one must be the most beautiful place we've ever performed, right in
front of a mountain partially shrouded in clouds The sound system cord
jack broke right as we were getting ready to perform. Happily, God heals broken equipment as well as broken lives! The Jackon's were able to make some good connections with people and again, many good conversations were had, including one that led to salvation for a close friend of the
Jacksons:)
Outreach #3--the orphanage
Bradley, our Jesus character in Ragman and Redeemer was just coming off of an illness before our trip. By this time of day he was feeling very weak.
In fact, most of the kids were feeling tired and unmotivated for our last outreach of the day. God answered our prayers for renewed passion to perform and for strength for Bradley to make it through the dramas.
Afterwards, some of the students played blob tag with the kids from the orphanage while others passed out tracts and talked with passersby and neighbors who had come out to watch. It was a blessing to hear the kids'
hightlights that night as we had a time of sharing, prayer and thanksgiving.
I'd encourage you, if you're praying for a specific student, to write them and ask for their personal hightlights since this email is so limited!
Outreach #4--the handicapped school
We were blessed to be able to join the kids from a handicapped school outside Bamenda for their morning church service on Sunday. Those who were able bounced and danced with joy to the lively Cameroonian praise songs led by two of the older girls. It's always humbling to see pure joy in those who are less fortunate than us. The students really seemed to enjoy the dramas as we performed for them after the sermon. After a brief time for hugs and greetings we were ushered off by the pastor to:
Outreach #5--the market
Just below the handicapped center is a market area. We found an area which could function as a stage and started our dramas. Regardless of how little the crowd seems when we start performing, by the end it's usually doubled or tripled....at least. We again passed out tracts and saw some more fruit from conversations.
I could go on an on, but I won't. God moved in mighty ways, in those who saw the dramas and in all our hearts as well. The students were so excited to be in an English speaking area so they could all freely communicate with people. In fact, we asked students to introduce the dramas(Shelby Holmes) and give the gospel message(Ben Burke) and they did a fantastic job! The Jacksons were amazing hosts and took such good care of us. The team really bonded together and loved and encouraged one another through the whole weekend.
Praise God
~for all the marvelous things He did and will continue to do in our lives and the hearts of those who were touched by the message!
~for protection in travel and in every other way ~for grace and strength for a physically and spiritually charged weekend ~for the love and unity in His Spirit we experienced as a team Please pray:
~for God to send people to continue watering and harvesting where He has sown ~for our team to live out our lives every day in a way that glorifies Him, applying all the things He's teaching us and being a witness to those around us on a daily basis ~for the Jacksons as they follow up with people and for good health (they all got sick right after we left)

To God be the glory, great things He has done!
Liz for the team

P.S. If you'd like some pictures of specific people, please let me know. I can only attach so many.

Drama Evangelism Weekend Trip

Dear prayer warriors,
Next weekend team 1 has the opportunity to travel to a city in the Northwest Province called Bamenda to do outreaches all day Saturday the 14th! We'll be hosted by Wycliffe missionaries Chris and Karen Jackson, whose daughter is a part of the team. We anticipate this being an exhausting but thrilling weekend as we see what God has in store for the people in Bamenda he brings to watch the dramas. Please pray:
for Chris as he sets up venues and works out details that even now God would be preparing hearts for good health for all of us for safe travels for unity, mutual love and encouragement within our team for extra strength for the students and advisors as we need to get ahead on school work before the weekend for God to fill the students with boldness and with His very words as they share with people after the dramas. Since this is an English speaking region, they'll all be able to be involved!

Hopefully I'll be able to follow this up with more specific details before we leave once I've heard more about our specific venues. Thanks for your work for God's kingdom through your prayers!
Rejoicing in every oppotunity to share Christ's love, Liz for the team