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