Sunday morning at Wayamba

Sunday morning we were encouraged to see not only repeat attenders but to also see some that came because we invited them Saturday. The two young men next to the door in the second picture and the older lady siting in the middle of the group in the last picture all came as a result of the visits Daniel and I made on Saturday. The two younger ladies behind the older lady are repeats from last week as are all of the older children. John has his hands full with so many in the younger children group so Peggy and Lansah gave him some help. After telling the Creation to the Church story I had several very good questions like, "what is the church," "how is a Christian able to obey God," and "what did the man and woman do that caused God to ban them from the garden?" it is an encouragement to see thy interest and thirst for knowledge on the faces of those who are willing to come from their Muslim surroundings and attend a meeting led by those who follow Jesus. Keep us and the people of Wayamba in your prayers.

The making of an Elder at Wayamba

We were summoned to go and meet with the chief of Wayamba on Thursday, August 6, 2009. When we arrived at the chief's palace we were informed that the chief wished to make me one of his elders in appreciation for the gift of water we had brought to the village school. It is a great honor and I was presented with a smock and matching cap to designate me as one of the elders. I have been given the name "Zosimli Naa" which means " Good Friend of the Chief." There is a great feeling of family between us and the people of Wayamba, and they have extended to us the place of kinship. We visited the chief's two wives. The lady on the left is the senior wife of the Chief. The second lady is the junior wife. This will open more opportunities for us to share Jesus with the people, and our words will have more influence with them now that we have the support of the chief and the elders. We praise God for all that He is doing and will do.

Zagyuri Baptist Church

If you have been keeping track of our blog you know that Pastor Daniel Haruna and his son John of Zagyuri Baptist Church , pictured here, have been and continue to be instrumental in our work in the nearby village of Wayamba. Daniel was the one who made us aware of Wayamba in the beginning, who got us an audience with the chief, and has been faithful to go with me anytime I need him. He goes there on his own sometimes making visits in the village. He led his church to become the sponsoring or mother church for the work there. He and John worked all day one day loading block, sand and cement into our truck so I could haul the materials to the sight of the water project. Without his assistance and dedication we would not have been able to accomplish what has been done. John who is 22 works with the children of Wayamba in a Bible study every Sunday morning and he gets there early and opens up the school building for us. Recently Peggy and I attended church at Zagyuri and I preached there. This church was started by Daniel over ten years ago and he is the only pastor they have had. Notice in the picture of the front of the church, there is a speaker mounted on the wall above the door. This is used to broadcast Christian music and scripture readings in the local language every morning at 5:00. That is about the time the Muslim Mosque are broadcasting their call to pray to Allah. If you look closely at the pictures you can see structural cracks in the walls of the church building. This building is constructed of mud. Mud balls are formed from the ground and are stacked to form the walls then additional mud is packed into the voids to make a solid wall. When this dries it is covered with plaster and whitewashed. The mud has a high clay content so it gets quite hard, but it's load bearing capabilities are not the best. This building needs major repairs or it will soon become unsafe to occupy. Daniel and his small congregation want to renovate their building by replacing the walls with locally made concrete blocks which are much stronger. After the water project at Wayamba was completed we had some concrete blocks and funds left over so we checked with those who contributed and got permission to turn these resources over to Zagyuri Baptist Church to get them started on their rebuilding program. They still are a long way from having all that is necessary, but on behalf of Pastor Daniel and the members of his church, we want to thank all those who made this beginning possible.

About 10:15 there were 9 or 10 boys in the 11 to 12 year old range so we began with them. Lansah was my translator and he did a very good job. I told them about the Bible and we sang the B-I-B-L-E song. Then I told them the story of Jesus about half the way through three young ladies arrived and joined us. After I finished the story I asked everyone to lower their heads and close their eyes and I asked all those who believed Jesus was the Son of God to raise their hands. Six responded with raised hands. Then we sang some songs led by John who had joined us. After this three men came. The oldest of them told us two weeks ago that I believed in Jesus as God's Son. The next eldest was working with some others behind the school making cement blocks. I have talked with him several times in my trips through the village and I know I have storied with him at least once. The youngest man I don't recall seeing before. After they arrived I asked the children questions from the story of Jesus. They did very well especially the young lady in the pale blue blouse and white head wrap. Then I told the story of Philip and the Man from Ethiopia. I made sure to point out that this was the first known black believer and that it happened 2,000 years ago. After we finished this I prayed for them and we dismissed. It was an encouraging morning for all of us. God is at work.

Sunday Aug. 2, 2008 at Wayamba

This morning we went to Wayamba as has become our practice. John Haruna was there to work with the younger children and these pictures show his class as he told them the story od David and the Giant, and taught them songs. Then when he had finished with them and had given them small candies he came across the school yard to join us. The children follow him where ever he goes. John is pastor Daniel's oldest son and is being trained by the seed Ministry of Bob and Bonnie Parker.

A Day to Remember at Wayamba

When we arrived at the village about thirty minutes before starting time the older children were setting up chairs, tables and desk from the classrooms. There were few people there yet but as you can see the crowd grew. Priscilla the head mistress and those on the program sat at a row of tables at the front. There were about 70 adults, family and friends of the children as well as representatives of the chief and his council of elders. Several made speeches, I told them that God had sent us to bring them water and shared the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. I told them that physical water was not our main purpose. We came bringing Jesus who gives water that rises up in those who believe "as a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." After all the speech making and sermonizing the children sang a song, which says it all, "I want to thank you Jesus."

A Day to remember in Wayamba

The first picture is of the officers of the sixth grade class who will go on in the fall to Jr. High. Today was also the last day of school. They will be on vacation for the month of August. The next picture is of the new officers who a being congratulated by those they replace. The next two pictures are from the awards portion of the program where outstanding students were given prizes for their scholastic achievements. Each of the top students were given backpack book bags. Others who earned recognition were given writing tablets and pencils. Children in the states might not get excited about these gifts but the children of Wayamba cherished them. These gifts were furnished by the vol. team from Rockwall First Baptist Church, Rockwall, Texas, lead by Chery Read.