June 18, 2007

Forgetfulness

Hello Friends,

I apologize for being a slacker, or actually, for forgetting my login and password for alittle over two months and not posting since April. I've thought and pr@yed for my supporters, I just never want to take ya'll for granted. Here are some thoughts from then to now...

APRIL: ...Minnesota was awesome! A few phrases to summarize it all: all-night karaoke,arm-wrestling matches, progressive date, sticky rice patties, indirecteverything, falling snow and flunked test...
...This past week we've been meeting and greeting the Fulani. If anyone comesback from a voyage, it's absolutely necessary to say hi to everyone andtheir cow and receive the return blessing that is equivalent to the American'welcome home' phrase. It's good, helps us to slow down and smell the??? well, you know what I mean. I rather enjoy this practice; it keeps ourpurpose all about the people all the while our research and computer workslowly accumulates in our hot and dusty home. That's always the tricky part,balancing the African and the American lifestyles. Spent a night in thevillage and it was and always is beautiful. I miss those days, a whole weekin the village. The villagers miss us too. Pr*y for the families and groupswe have shared our lives and pr*yers with that His glorious purpose isrevealed through and beyond us to get them to the point of repentance andunderstanding of the truth of JC and our salvation through Him alone...
MAY: ...Munyal is 'patience' in the language of the Fulani and G8d has reallyimpressed upon me how much I don't know about the meaning of this word. Evenas I write I shake my head at myself because of the mercy of our Father andhow He has such patience for me. For the people here, they know patiencevery well. They probably know it in the sense of long-suffering so much morethan I ever will. I am patient for the things that I WANT. They are patientfor the things that they NEED. Right now it is hot season, but the Fulanihave other words for it: the season of suffering or scarcity from food, fromwater and from undisturbed rest. This is not to make you feel bad. This isjust the way it is...
...Tara and I have over half our first story set approved by ourconsultant and are working on approving the rest before we leave to Beninnext week to be with our One$tory brothers and sisters. Be thinking aboutour Proph3cy, L@st Supper and P3ntecost stories, these are more challengingand really difficult to convey to Fulani without the presence of the $pirit...
...Chief has been growing so much in his walk and f@ith. We've beenhearing his t3stimony on how G8d has been working in him through jail,paying village taxes, his children's health and power struggles of Fulani chiefs. Even in his personal decision to stay quiet about his f@ith, manyHausa and Fulani believers and seekers in the area are already talking tohim about his f@ith. Recently, by the gr@ce of G8d, he has been protectedfrom social p3rsecution and throughout that he's been asking us for guidanceon how to pr@y and give pr@ise to G8d. He has listened to crafted stories aswell as recordings of sermons and prayers from the b3lievers conference withgrowing understanding and a desire to know more. When challenged by closefamily for following the 'white' way, he has said, "It's not their way, it'sG8d's way, and G8d has written J3sus on my heart and shown His power in mylife, so whose to say different what I should do or b3lieve? I will followJ3sus even when Tara and Seng are not here..."

SO...
A week ago, Tara, Toby, Bradley and I drove to Cotonou, Benin for retreat and training, all went extremely well, we're in the process of making a little movie clip about the trip, the L8rd and ofcourse the pink drink. If you're interested in seeing it, let me know. We got back yesterday, and I have to say that after a little more than 25 hours together in the car, we are still discovering so much about ourselves and eachother that we didn't even realize. It's hard to think our time is nearing its end, makes me wonder and wonder about the L8rd and His purposes and plans. I'm getting sentimental, but these guys are worth it. I give Him thanks and pr@ise for being so good to us. In less than a month, our Team supervisor Judy and Word consultant Sarah will make their way to the desert to check out our work and relationships and help us as much as they can. Please be pr@ying while they're here, and especially for our national partners who help us with our story telling and testing. So, peace and love to you all, I'll try to post more regularly. Later:)

SengMyVang

Going to America

Hi All,

I leave tomorrow evening and will get home Friday. It's a ten day trip and I think I'll hit the floor running. Please keep me in your thoughts. Remember especially the day of Our Risen L*rd! I can't wait to worsh*p Him with my family and friends this weekend.

Here's an update from March happenings. Peace to ya'll.

_______

Tara, Danielle and I got back from the 3rd annual Fulani Bel*evers meeting yesterday. We’re all worn out but it’s a happy worn out- our Father truly blessed and encouraged us through many people and in different ways this past weekend. He’s AMAZING! Thank you for your thoughts during this time, I myself couldn’t stop pr*ying through every sermon, every pr*ise song, every conversation. I love it when the L*rd brings me to my knees in complete dependence on Him. Please pr*ise Him with us and with all the Ful*ni who came to the conference (300+ from every corner in the country as well as Mali, Benin and Nigeria!) for everything:

-Two bel*evers from Danielle’s village came with us, an older man Chuso and older woman Ia: pr*y for their fa*th and desire to know G*d more; they have not been b*ptized; when Danielle talked to them afterwards, Chuso said the singing made him so happy he cried, his beard was full of tears! (it’s sounds better in Fulfulde language, but ya’ll get the point)
-Our guard Karim and a town Fulani Ibrahim came with us: pr*y for all they heard and saw, that they make sincere commitments to follow J*sus; Ibrahim was b*ptized this past month and Karim is preparing to be b*ptized by the end of this month; pr*y also for their families who may or may not know they are bel*evers
-Last year Tara, Bekah and I went to the meeting in Dakoro, 2-3 hours away from Maradi. We understood less than half the Fulfulde used, but this year we understood close to all that was taught and sung during the meeting, thanks be to Him! Ask Father to continually increase our understanding and conversing of Fulfulde
-Baaba Sale, the Fulani man we met in Mali last October, was at the meeting! It was a great surprise and joy to see him by G*d’s grace. Tara was able to work with him on back-translating three stories from our story set and we pr*yed for and with him on both our projects and on all that He is doing with the Fulani in West Africa
-A youth leadership team was formed this year to help encourage and teach the youth and unmarried singles. Seng was asked to be a part of this team and hopes to implement storying with them as well as the youth next year
-Tara was able to test several stories with a wide range of Fulani from across the country. It was great to gauge the stories from a Fulani believer’s perspectives, especially older men who were strong Musl*ms in the past and who have a wealth of understanding on Fulani culture in their context of fa*th

Most of the Fulani leaders were from town while most of the participants were from the bush. They were taught through pre*ching and some personal test*monies. This meeting made us think a lot about ch*rch planting, teaching and d*scipleship. We saw our project in the bigger picture and how it will fit. It made us ask ourselves how culture and society shape the foundation of a ch*rch planting movement. We were challenged to continue growing in relationships and in language and cultural understanding in order to be available to G*d to use in every circumstance. We were reminded that the people are the ch*rch, not the building, place or things. Please remember and pr*y for all these things as the Fulani ch*rch continues to grow, and for the ch*rch in every country: that we lift Him up more and more and ourselves less and less.

The chief did not go but we continue to see him and will share with him all we saw, heard and believe. Keep him in your thoughts.

We have two weeks until we all get on a plane to go to the States. Danielle will be saying all her good-byes, Tara and I will be working on 3 more stories that lead to the meaning of E*ster. What is the meaning of E*ster? Between company meetings and trainings, we have 8-9 months for the 40 story set to be completed in our term (as of now, 15 have been crafted). Let’s just say I’m currently having a lot of perspective on our time left in country. His will be done. Thanks again so much for your love and thoughts.

Much love, Seng

A Day in the Life of a Believer, what would that look like?

February 25, 2007



Hey ya’ll,



I’ve been caught up in life and work here in Niger. We just got email from the past two months as well, so I apologize if I haven’t written lately. I still am thankful that you are there as pr*yer support and moral support. Everyday I’m reminded to draw close to the L*rd in order to be close to you all, as distant as we may be. I know He’s working all things to the good and I can’t wait to see what He will do next in my life and in yours. Here’s some news and pr*yer requests to lift up to Him:



-Tara’s mom’s surgery and recovery for ovarian cancer: Tara’s mom Carol has had a rough few weeks; she had surgery a week ago but is now resting at home. We truly praising Him for His intervention, for His love and healing. She is clear of cancer at the moment, please continue lifting her up

-We are steadily progressing in our stories and getting them from Fulfulde to English in order to be Biblically sound. We will have sent 10 stories to our consultant within the next week, and we’ll be continuing to refine the stories she sends back to us. Praise Him for His goodness, for helping us focus when need be and for the times of rest that we’ve truly enjoyed

-Sweet time of fellowship and rest with Toby, Bradley, Danielle and all M’s of Niamey this past 2 days. Thank you L*rd

-Tara and I will be heading home for 1-2 weeks in April. We hope to send in 14 stories to our consultant by that time. Please pr*y for our crafter Bouba and back translator Miriam, for patience on all parts, for the leadership of the H*ly Spirit through the stories and for integrity in the crafting process

-Fulani Believers Conference March 15-17: Fulani from across Niger will come together to fellowship, worship and learn from His word. Pr*y for accepter/believers of Konni and surrounding villages to feel the desire and need to go, that we too will go with faith in the H*ly Spirit and joy in the body of Chr*st, and for the Fulani leaders who are seeking to serve the Lord and their people at this time



Well, there’s always more, but the Lord is good, He’ll take care of the rest. Please earnestly seek His will in all these things.

In His Name,



Seng

Fulfulde Praise!
Min getti Alla gam fuu ko o hokki min nder yonki amin fuu!

Dear family and friends,

This past month, Tara and I have been hard at work crafting 6 stories with Bouba, a Fulani man who lives in Konni!!! If you have been receiving updates from OneStory, great! If not, and you would like to know exactly what and how I am doing, please contact me by email at vansen@bethel.edu. I will be checking email Feb. 22-24, then sometime in April again. I thank Our Father for all your thoughts and pr*yers. There is always more I can share, but I lift it all up in pr*yer and I know He is faithful and is taking care of us all. I'll leave you with a few thoughts and praises:

-everynight Tara and I pr*y together and plan the next day(we rarely plan beyond that). We're blessed to be able to do everything we do and get the help and support we need. Praise Him for all He is and all He's doing with us and through us
-w*rshipped with believers Karim and Chief this past Sunday & with volunteers who told the story of Cain and Abel. It was pure JOY and we are all pr*yin hard for them
-yes! 6 stories in 1 month! by His grace and mercy, we are learning and growing a lot as a team and with our crafter, who's a strong Musl*m. Please remember Bouba
-I'm goin home(St. Paul)in April for 10 days: besides a rollercoaster of emotions, this trip will be very important in understanding His plans for me in the future
-lifting up my older sister Cheng and my father Houa: health and spritual needs
-next couple of weeks: we will be working on a prophecy story and beginning J*sus stories (birth, baptism and 12 disciples). Please keep all of this in your thoughts
-please remember Tara and my health and protection daily

Much love always,

Seng