Ayorou and Karma

This week we've been able to visit some of the other villages in the area around Niamey--specifically, villages that our home church "adopted." Any of you who go to LHBC know these villages by now...Boubon (our "home" village), Tagaboty, and Karma. These villages are all part of a program called "The Road to Karma." The plan is to send missionaries to these villages and for our church to be praying CONSISTENTLY for these villages back in the States. Us being here is already proof that LHBC is serious about reaching out to these people, which just makes me even more excited for the future of "The Road to Karma." There is also the village of Ayorou (much further down the road than any of the other villages! It's almost 3 hours away from Niamey!) where Mark and Parker lived and worked for 3 1/2 years. There is a firm body of believers there and though they are few in number, they are mighty in spirit.

For the past 2 days (Tuesday and Wednesday) we were able to visit 2 of these villages, Ayorou and Karma. We were not able to visit Tagaboty as planned because we ran out of water in Karma.

Karma has one believer and a national partner (a believer-missionary originally from Niger.) The national partner has been kicked out of 2 homes so far for being a Christian and has faced much persecution for his faith. However, he was able to find a place with a man that we called "the father." He is a very old man, the uncle of the chief, and a true man of peace. Though he is not a Christian himself, he has defended the national partner against the elders of the village (which is a BIG deal!) and while he has also faced ridicule for letting the national partner stay in his home, "the father" continues to defend him.

~Pray for the national partner and the believer. Pray that they will be able to continue to be strong and courageous while they live out their faith. Pray for their protection. Thank God with us that they have continued to be provided for, despite all the persecution.
~Pray for Karma. It is a dark place and desperately needs Jesus' light. Pray for a strong church to arise.

Ayorou makes my heart hopeful. :) I pray that what has happened in Ayorou will happen in Boubon (and the rest of the villages) while we're here this summer. Though Ayorou does not have MANY believers, they have a grounded church. These men and women have persevered through so much and honestly, I was almost brought to tears by some of their testimonies. These people have TRULY heard the calling of God in their hearts and have responded SO FAITHFULLY!! They amaze me and I thank God for them. My favorite part of visiting Ayorou though was FINALLY meeting H and M (the two women I've been praying for for over a year and a 1/2 now!!) I was given pictures of them at a church function and was asked to pray for them and at the time I NEVER thought I'd get to meet them in person...but now I have!!! H and M are both so sweet and even though I didn't get to talk with them except for a quick minute, it was the best minute of the day for me!!! I gave them the pictures I had of them and had Mark translate that I had been praying for them and that I would continue to do so. I was also able to get some NEW pictures...only of me WITH them this time!! :)

~Pray for the church in Ayorou. They are facing WAY more than we in America could even imagine. They are exiled from their friends and families and the village has made it hard for them to even go to the market and buy food. They are facing sickness and death, and yet in the midst of it all they still praise Jesus and declare His Name. Pray that God will uphold them and strengthen them, that their hearts will be encouraged daily, and that they will be BLESSED beyond comprehension!!
~Pray for the rest of Ayorou. Pray that they will understand the Gospel message and that their hearts will be softened towards it and that they will come to love Jesus as much as the believers in their village do!!