Victory is the Lord’s

I made it back to West Africa June 12th with a team from Victory Christian Academy. It was an honor to lead this team and serve along side them for the past week. So many people donated so many things for me to bring back to Africa that I had to take four suitcases. Thank you so much for your generosity and all those that gave and prayed over the travels. God is doing amazing work and I am grateful for those that partner with me and the believers here by giving, praying and going.

This past team came prepared to lead Vacation Bible School (VBS) at two of the six Bethlehem Christian Academy (BCA) schools in the country. One of the schools is a couple hours away from the missions house that we stay at. No team has ever gotten to do a VBS there before. It was such a blessing to the students, teachers and community for the team to come there. Every single day the Gospel was presented to the students. God is opening doors in the communities to reach people because of BCA. After the VBS had finished the team got to stay and celebrate the end of the school year and kindergarten graduation with the students and parents. We praise God for all that He is doing at this school and what He is going to do next school year.

If we are not focused on the Gospel nothing we do will last. Playing and loving on children is wonderful but if it is not so that they can hear and be taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ then it is all in vain. Please pray that all the Gospel conversations that were had lead to deep conversations with God seeking to understand who Jesus is. Pray that over the summer brake the students will have a hunger for the Word of God and long to know more. Pray that when they return to school in October that God will have provided all that is needed for the schools to continue well and share the Gospel with every student that attends. It is not by our doing that someone is saved; we are simply the messenger sent out to proclaim truth. If someone believes that is the work of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 4:4

“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

The team spent their mornings serving by leading VBS at another one of the BCA schools about 45 minutes from the missions house. After the VBS would finish we would travel back to the village we were staying at and have lunch with one of the families there. During this time, it can feel like a much slower pace, but all that we are doing is being observed. How we treat each over and how we love on the kids is all being seen by the people in the village. This leads to relationships and conversations on Jesus. The Chief of the village came and shared how happy he was so see the team playing with their kids and eating with them in their homes. God uses the little things as well as the big.

One of the things I have the most fun with in village ministry is that often in the afternoon we will all gather in the football field (soccer). The young men will play a very intense game of football while on the side of the field us ladies play what seems to me an even more intense game. I was honored as we split up the teams, I as picked to play against the Americans with the girls from the village. It was an epic game and the best part is half time, when each teams have someone share their testimony and the Gospel. This leads to great questions being asked and discussion about prayer. Then the game continued the missions team game with the guys lost but the American girls team won. It was very close in score: 5 to 5. They only won with the tie breaking kicks. God uses games to bring about His glory. The ultimate victory is the Lord’s.

Once the VBS had finished with the team there last day with the students was attending their graduations of kindergarten and end of year celebration. This is the only team that has been able to come and do both VBS and graduations with two of the schools here in West Africa. The love this team has for the kids was great to see, some of them carrying around three kids at a time trying to make sure no one is left out. The students parents got to see the love the team showed their children at both graduations, which helps in witnessing with their whole families, not just the students.

Meet Lucy! Lucy came to serve in West Africa back in January. During that trip, God began leading her to come back and serve longer. She came with this team but is going to get to stay and serve until the end of July. Her love for others and heart to serve is undeniable. Please pray for her and her time here and all she is going to get to do for the Kingdom of God.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for the work going on in West Africa. Please continue to pray for those that are hearing the Gospel and being introduced to Jesus for the first time. Pray that they would have dreams and visions of Jesus, and that God will reveal the truth about who he is to them. As the school year has come to an end, the main focus of my ministry will shift to village ministry, doing evangelism along with getting ready for the Youth Camp in July. Please pray for all these things, and that the Gospel would continue to be shared.