Monday, November 23, 2009

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

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

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.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

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

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Yay God! -- Hope services update




Dear prayer team,
Rejoice with us at what God accomplished on Saturday at the Hope Services outreach! Although most of us showed up exhausted after a busy week of school and activities, God's strength and grace once again proved to be more than sufficient. The team performed the best we've ever seen them despite the fact that we had a last minute sub from team 2 due to the sickness of one member of team 1(Jessica Pyles).
As we performed, more and more people gathered, especially people from the neighborhood who were passing just outside the open gate of Hope Services.
In fact, most of them stayed for the gospel presentation and many of them prayed to receive Christ! We also had many opportunities to pray for sick people and encourage Christians who had been floundering in their faith.
Hope Services has a pastor on duty every day from 8-5 and Bible teachings every Tuesday evening. Those who received the Lord will have ample opportunities to grow in the Lord and have their questions answered. Please pray that they will take the initiative to do so.
Other prayer items:
good follow up in general--there were also some visiting the clinic not from the neighborhood for those who didn't receive Christ-- that God will continue working in their hearts for good health spiritually and physically for our team members that God will bless the amazing ministry Hope Services has, and that many will continue to come to Christ through the devoted brothers and sisters working there

Thanks for your part in sharing the gospel though lifting us up in prayer.
ALL PRAISE AND GLORY TO OUR AWESOME SAVIOR!!!
Liz for the team