Joey Update Vol. 27

Hello everybody. I hope you’ve all been doing well in your various works and lives. Things here have since last time I wrote been going slowly along. I’ve been able to get out and meet many people and share stories with more than a few of them and Col. and I have been able to get into something of a routine of visiting villages. I was looking over the pr’yer requests of last time and this routine was included so thanks for lifting it up!

Our established routine has been to stay in town about half the week and meet with people there, like on the big market day in town when many people come from outside villages. The other days, midweek, has been given to going out to those villages and meeting with groups of people. So far, we have seen success, albeit small, in this area. This past week, we were able to share a few stories with a big group of people in a village not too far away. Also, we went to a farther village that we’d not visited for a few months. When we arrived, there were hardly any people in the village (they were out working).This was the exact thing that happened last time we visited it, so we walked over the hill to another nearby village! There the people met us and greeted us.

It is slow going and a particular difficulty to overcome is at this time in dry season, many of the people in these villages are now working out of town and live in the capital. One village we visited was practically empty of men because they had all gone elsewhere looking for work, which they’ll stay at until the rains come in a few months.

This leads me to a big pr’yer request. We are going to be going into the capital next month and hope to meet with some of the people who are there working from these villages. Please lift this up, for our wisdom in our time spent there, for meaningful contacts to be made there and for the people here as we continue meeting with them. We have been searching for contact information for those who have gone to the city for when we arrive there.

As of now, we have less than a month left in town here before we go to the capital, perhaps for a few weeks, so please lift up this time. We still have a few stories we need to have tested and retold so we can proceed with the next part of the project. We really need to have these tested and retold and recorded before we return to the capital. After we get to the capital, we’ll stay for maybe a few weeks so we can meet with some of the people from the villages nearby. Then, we will most likely come back to town until our next and final training in April.

Col. and I have been discussing our strategy again lately and trying to think of one that will work to meet the goals of 1story and fit the people well. I am not much of a strategist (ask those who play chess with me) and one of my fears is falling into a rut in the midst of routine. This I would like to avoid and go on with a good strategy.

Hamdu’s:
-I’ve been able to visit frequently with a faki who lives near me. One of his brothers has retold a story each time he’s heard one, without being asked! I’m hoping to work more closely with him, provided he’s willing.
-Our routine is going well so far, but pr’y that I don’t go into rut-mode. It’s happened before and is not pretty.
-A few people that we’ve been able to visit more frequently these past few days have complimented us in our work of learning language and visiting them. Greeting people and drinking tea with them goes a long way in a relationship.

Dua’s:
-The above praises come with their respective requests: for the faki and his brother, for the routine, for the visits
-Wisdom for the time in NDJ
-Gentle boldness with the people we tell stories with. It is a challenge when sometimes I sit down, tell a story and elicit little response from it despite my attempts to start a discussion. Sometimes I just need to push a little more, but I want to push in the right way without being forceful or alienating the groups I sit with.
-Always for people’s interest in the stories and the groups we sit with, that they will be open to hear and open to receive them and us.


As is my habit to end with thanks, I do again thank you all for your encouragement and the pr’yers you lift up on my behalf and on behalf of this project work. I still do believe that story is the way to reach people with the Truth and still believe that it is our Father’s intention to reach them. Pr’y His will be done!

-Youssouf

Joey Update Vol. 26

Mabrouk bar chiji! Happy New Year to one and all!

I should begin with thanks as I am very thankful for you all and to our
Father who brought you into my life at this time. I am one of His "spoiled
bairns" as Oswald Chambers would say. Thank you all again for your
generosity in giving to this work I'm doing. I am constantly floored but
then I rise up again in praise.

Ah, the narrative. Since you last heard from me, I and my teammate have been
plugging away at storying. Each week our storycrafter came by to record a
new story and we were all working hard on recording them. As I remember I
asked pr'yer for this very thing, that we would at least have all the
stories in this story set recorded by the year's end. This has been done!
The work which remains is to test the stories and smooth out rough spots in
recrafting them.

I had a few good encounters and now that we recorded the central Story, I
was able to share it in its proper context a few times. Although the work on
them is not done yet, the stories we have recorded are useable. Once I met
with a friend of mine and he took me to where he was staying. It so happened
to be with other N. people and I brought the stories with me. One of those
listening was a teacher of 'sl@m and we got into a good conversation
afterwards. Another time I headed out to a village for a meeting of several
villages together and so many people were present. I again played the many
stories we have recorded.

After a few short weeks in our town we again returned to the capital to
celebrate Christmas. So, we've been in the capital since last week, our week
of feasting. We gathered together a few times in fact to celebrate and sing
the reason of our joy. This week and next while we are here, we hope to make
inroads to other N. speakers who are willing and able to hear and retell the
stories. This is a big part of testing them, as a big thing we are looking
for in testing is that the story is understandable and retellable. Already
this week, we've had a few successes in testing some of the stories that
need it.

Hamdu's:
-Our time in NDJ has been restful and fun with the whole team of us
together.
-We have gotten all the stories in this first set recorded!
-We've made some headway already in testing the stories.

Dua's:
-That our time in the capital would be productive in more ways than one
-We have another consultant coming to meet with us next week and see how we
can use these stories further to start Groups. Lift up his time here and his
advice to us.
-There is a group of Followers of J. that is next week headed up north on
their annual trip by camel. I have been asked to send this along as a
Request so you all can help lift it up. Although this is not a direct part
of our work with N. people, they are doing kingd0m work just like us. Please
lift up their trip.

Thank you all again. I hope you all be blessed beyond your imaginings.

-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 25

Let's see? What's happened since I last wrote? We took a horse trip across
the river to a new village, visited a completely new village by motorcycle,
got a few more steps completed on a few more stories.

We heard there was a koho-zi ("to grasp hands"- it is a memorial gathering
for someone who died) in a nearby village and a gathering means there is
opportunity to meet people. So we crossed the river and met the village
chief and greeted the men who were gathered together. I think the meeting
with them went well and they invited us back (which we've since done).

We wanted to travel out with a friend of ours to a more distant village by
motorcycle. The day of travel was one of the last minute changes that seem
to characterize so much of my life. Our friend could not travel with us as
he left that day to go to the capital. So, new plan: his son and the
motorcycle taxi man would take us. Off we went after some deliberation about
price and time planning. We get there, greet the chief and are allowed to
stay overnight in the village. We stay in his guest house. At night, after
supper, I drink too much tea and tell too many stories. I think those who
heard them liked them. That night, sleep was hard to come by for me, for the
heat, the bugs and drums. That's right, there was an all night celebration
of youngsters because the crops are growing nicely. We went to it the next
day and the young girls did the dance and chant part and the young men did
the drumming. I was glad to be able to see it.

Also, we got some other stories begun on their long journey and even some of
these moved along through to their next stages. It seems like there is so
much to do and there is. Still, there is a glimmer of a possibility for
regularity in some of these stages. My hope for visiting villages to is meet
people who would be willing to hear and record stories. We broached this
subject in the more distant village, but there was little forthcoming. It
was our first visit there and it is probably best not to rush things.

As for rushing things, this is a very important pr'yer request. There is a
lot to do and I do not want to be drawn (again) to that desperation to
finish that spells disaster for stories. I notice a great tendency in me
toward this very thing, so your pr'yers to keep on the better path of
regularity are requested. We've made fair progress so far, so now I guess I
would ask for the finishing power until training at the end of this month.

Hamdu's:
-Progress in the storying panorama, as far as getting new stories begun on
their process
-Visiting two new villages and the good reception at both of them
-That God is a Rock to sustain under the heaviest of pressures

Dua's:
-Finishing power for until we go to training in AMS
-Continuing power for when we return
-Good follow up to the villages we visited
-Strengthening of our team communication

I've been challenged lately with being a servant. It usually catches me off
guard, as it is always when I'm off guard that I'm called again to be
servant. This serving usually takes the form of something I'm able to do but
not completely willing to do; it always involves a choice to be made on my
part. Frequently, I choose against being a servant, as servanthood is really
pretty tough. I'm reminded of when Je5us went up the mountain and his
students saw a glimpse of His glory. Immediately after, they were taken into
the valley and confronted with a demon. (Matthew 17) That must have been a
stunning blast of contrast- to see the glory of heaven and the horrors of
hell so soon after each other. But it is Je5us' plan to bring the glory down
to the valley. That's what being a servant is. That's what I'm learning
lately and it is certainly challenging.

Thanks for hanging in there with me on this project. I praise God for you
all frequently.

-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 24

The way was full of sand and thorns. The hour trip up to a village was
complete. Now, was the time for reason of our trip: to bring a horse back to
town. I took a special delight in this trip, as riding horses turns out to
be very fun. After the requisite holiday cookies that seem to make whole
meals now that Fasting is over, we went out behind my guard's hut. And there
was Braga.

Braga means Lightning, so named because he has a patch that really looks
nothing like a lightning bolt on his side. We launched right into lessons of
how to put the saddle on and tie it, how to tie his feet so he won't wander
away and all the noises to make him stop and go. The lessons were compact
but they were clear and not a half hour later, I was up and riding. The way
to make Braga move forward to make loud kissing noises, like you're kissing
a child's boo-boo. So it was, I kissed my way back home.

But first, I needed to know the way. One of our guards, who lives in this
village and took me up on his motorcycle, lead me a little way in order to
show me the road. He said if I followed the tire tracks, I would find my way
back home. No problem I thought. So, he went off on the motorcycle path
which is faster and soon I was out in the qadadi with Braga and God. I
remembered my first ride in vivid detail, the ride with Mizan, as I'm sure
you all remember too. I had the leading rope in my left hand to turn and
slow Braga and the whipping rope in my right hand to spur him on to great
speeds. The rope for the bit, also called the horse's brain, lay tangled in
his mane but within reach should I need to stop suddenly. I knew the great
temptation to the dizzying speeds of full gallop but thought it better to
opt for a more moderate approach this time. Still, we started out
ploddingly. Both I and the horse were frustrated with the pace, him snorting
in impatience and me trying in vain to tap the strength I knew was in him. I
knew this because some village guys were showing off with him by leaping up
without stirrups into the saddle and taking off by a mere flick of the rope.
It's all in the touch.

It was brought to me how desperately important it is to learn the language
if you really want to move anywhere. I could sense that both Braga and I
were of the same mind to go faster, but I was not properly speaking his
language. It IS all in the touch and the touch is not ruthlessly laying the
lash to him.

I followed the path, minding the way of thorns and turning him easily
enough. I then looked ahead and there the road turned into a lake, as a
broad puddle from a heavy rain some three weeks ago remained. No problem I
thought, I'll just go around it. So, off I went, to be met with another
puddle. I was considering going around this one too, but there was a lady
with a donkey fetching water from the puddle. She said something to me about
a direction but nothing I fully understood. So, she crossed the puddle and
lead Braga into the water. Then, she did the unthinkable- she removed the
bit from Braga's mouth. "Maybe he's thirsty," she said. Braga drank just
before we left and my guard said he wouldn't need another drink until we got
home. He also said not to remove the bit, because it could be tough
sometimes to put it in. So, she removed Braga's bit and I was thinking, "I
sure hope you know how to put the bit back in." Turns out she didn't. So, I
got kind of frustrated and dismounted and copied what I saw my guard do to
put the bit back in Braga's mouth. She laughed at me in my efforts but soon,
al hamdu l'llah, the bit was back in and we were on our way. I asked if she
knew the way back to the road, she said she did and that she would show me.
We first went to her village and I soon met some men who greeted me and
invited me for food and water, both gratefully accepted. They afterward
showed me the road and soon I was on my way again, plodding along. One of
the reasons the lady laughed at me was that she thought I was lost. Silly
nasara on a horse. I also was fingering the possibility but I knew where I
was generally (in Africa on planet Earth). It so turned out her village was
right on the road and that I was not lost at all!

Lost or not, I still had a long ways to go and I'd already been plodding for
an hour and a half. I saw some wonderful stretches of wilderness plains,
looking and smelling almost like Texas only with delicate (and thorny)
flyaway African scrub. I was only a third of the way home and I knew we
needed to move. I tried different combinations of the various noises and use
of the spurring rope. The kissing alone was not doing it. I also said, "Hur!
Hur!" in a strong low voice and whipped Braga's flank steadily. That was
just the thing and the new pace of the up and down trot was set. We made
fair time but the African sun was doing its job of being very bright and
very hot. My left hand still has the border of white meets red from sunburn,
even though I applied sunscreen that morning. I started scanning for another
village where I might get some water. I found it and was welcomed after some
kids of the village stared at me blankly when I greeted them. Perhaps they
could just not believe what they were seeing- a white guy trying to ride and
pass himself off as Arab, complete with beard and kaptani and turban. They
then ran off when I moved forward a little ways and repeated my loud
greeting. I'm used to blank stares and kids who don't know me running away,
so it was nothing new. My loud greeting was hailed by another and I was
invited inside, again to my delight, for water and this time, tea. Ahh, tea.
This village was a N. village, but the man who invited me only spoke a
little N. he said, but said this in Ar.

After replacing all the water I'd sweated away and being charged with tea I
and Braga set off again. I did not consider in my thirst that the sloshing
village water now in my belly might not be conducive to the jostling ride
back to town. So, I said the quick pr'yer I learned before I came here
("I'll put it down, You keep it down") and set off. I quickly found the road
and set a good pace. Braga and I were finally understanding each other. I
called him a radjil zen, a good man, frequently and meant it. I saw the cell
towers in the distance that marked home and headed toward it them. We passed
some horses, who Braga would neigh at (I wonder if horses can do cat calls)
and some donkeys, who Braga treated with utter disdain, but when he would
see them, he would want to trot a little faster to live up to the reputation
I clapped him with. Just as well, every step was a step in the right
direction and it is best he not be distracted with other horses.

We got to town and the many new noises of motorcycles and giggling children
and adults at the pair of us, unsettled both horse and rider. After the long
stretches of the quiet qadadi, the noise of the town takes some preparation.
We did get home though and it was a great second ride. Mission accomplished!

Then just yesterday, we (Col. and I) took Braga to the village we visited
last week. This was the third and last day of the holiday after the Fast and
we were invited. We were welcomed again and sat down to lessons in N.
vocabulary and even played a story for them to hear. Immediately after, the
person who heard the story, retold it. He did say though that he didn't
understand it all due perhaps to a difference in dialect. And Col. recorded
it and the start of testing which was interrupted by the screech of the
loudspeaker at the call to prayer. So, we checked what we recorded and to
our surprise, none of what we heard would play back!

After prayer, the men we were sitting with returned, but none seemed keen to
start up the conversation again. The man who heard and retold the story had
to leave for his field but we invited ourselves back and were welcomed for
another day. I walked back while Col. rode Braga. So, now the horse stays
this week in our courtyard so we can learn how to ride a horse well. Then
Col. will take Braga back next week. The plan at this point is at some point
in the near future, to rent other horses so we can both travel farther out
to villages.

Hamdu's:
-The 20K horse trip was successful and fun to boot!
-We did get a story retold and began with testing it
-Further exposure to people in outside villages (we tend to make quite a
stir wherever we go anyway, but news travels even faster to outside villages
when you throw a horse into the mix!)
-Horse lips are funny looking

Du'as:
-For further lessons in horse riding and for the return, as well as wisdom
for the future in renting other horses for travel.
-For the recorder that there we would find out the reason it did not (and
does not) play new recordings back.
-For our return to the villages we travel to and for the welcome in new
villages.

Thank you for bearing with me as I plodded along again through my first trip
by myself but not alone across country by horse. And thank you also for your
continued support of this plodding project. We are slowly learning the
language (and the touch) necessary to step up the project work from plodding
to trot to full gallop. And at that point, we can let go. Horses know how to
run by themselves.

-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 23

"And after Ali Baba uttered the magic words, 'Open Sesame', a door that no
one would have seen opened right onto the face of the rock wall, revealing a
cavern within the mountain. As Ali Baba entered, his eyes widened to circles
as big the sun, for what he saw was a treasure trove as if all sultans and
rajas had combined their wealth in this one place. Gold and silver dripped
from the walls and jewels of all kinds lay in piles scattered about the
cavern."

Now, I know the power of a good story and I happen to like telling good
stories. It is after all, what first got me interested in this ministry. But
what, you might ask, does a story from medieval Persia have to do with what
I'm doing here? Well, I'll tell you.

I and my teammate had just set off for another village outside our town. It
was a nearby village and the 5K distance away did nothing to dissuade us.
The hot sun was more of a deterrent but we had curtailed this by covering in
kadmul and ball cap respectively. A thing about directions here: having no
street signs as we would think of them gives a great importance in the point
of a finger in a general direction. Our common question, "Where is such and
such a place?" gives us a common answer of "hinak" (over there) with a point
of a whole hand (the usual way of pointing here) in a general direction.
Sometimes, they give us more detailed information such as, "See that big
tree? It's the right of that, far away. Keep going straight." Fortunately,
there is usually no lack of people to ask where we are going and to give us
a friendly nudge in the right direction.

So it was, only a few days ago, our quest to find another village where N.
is the primary spoken language, was successful. We did considerable
wandering through considerable fields of millet (nicely growing I might add)
and also passed through fields of tall grass where plenty of spiky little
stickers lay concealed, just waiting for the chance to hug you with their
spikes.

Upon arrival to the village, it turned out to be larger than we expected, we
were met with a boy coming from the fields. We asked if this was the village
we were looking for. Yes, he replied. He led us down the brier-lined path
into the center of the village. There was a large group of men sitting
there, some sleeping, the rest labouring at threading straw mats or baskets
together. So, we sit down to join them, gingerly for the spiky stickers had
yet to be plucked from our clothes, and the meeting went well. They seemed
pleased that we could speak N. and pleased that we wanted to speak N. with
them. We were pleased that they spoke primarily N. and even one of them a
little bit of Eng. from some time spent abroad. A few of them were working
on an impressive sized basket. I asked its name in N. and he told me. He
said it used for storing a certain kind of small seed, found in the wild and
used, I think, for making couscous. That's when I remembered a story about
another seed.

I launched into the story of Ali Baba, a favourite of mine for its mix of
complexity and simplicity, and seemed to hold the attention of many of them.
After I was done, one of the men retold a part of it, in better N. than I
probably did, to someone else who also was present for the first telling. I
do not know why this is, only it is probably due to my thick Am. accent or
strange use of words in their ears. Still, I was delighted to see it. After
all he retold the story I told, and in a group too!
I think we made a favourable first impression and we were even invited back
to celebrate the Feast after Fasting is done.

Even though I like the Ali Baba story a lot and wish frequently that there
was some magic phrase to open the treasures of N. culture to me, I have not
found it yet. In the place of an easy magic phrase, there is the slow,
though rewarding, task of meeting people where they are and investing my
life in them. I am not so practiced at this as I hope to be, but I am
learning. And the treasures, though yielded slowly and in small quantity,
are not some lifeless gold and silver, but a living relationship that is
able to strengthen (or weaken) over time. So, I will continue investing
myself in the culture of my people until I find that perhaps one day, the
Relationship I am a part of with the Father is introduced seamlessly into
their culture. That is my Request and that is my Hope.

Hamdu's:
-Further opportunities to get out into outlying villages
-Good first impressions all around
-A promising traveling season to come as the rains and Fasting ends

-I found out today that a package from 2007 (read that again) is coming
tomorrow on a plane! How's that for speedy?

Du'as:
-Please lift up Col., my teammate, and I in these next weeks to come. Lift
us up above discouragements, as there have been many since the start of this
project and do continue. I've shared a few of these with you in previous
letters.
-Please lift up changes in our team. Certain members of our team will be
leaving the country for a while, so this will be a big change. I am
confident that we will be able to continue strong but also fairly confident
that there will be some tough times ahead. Pr'y for our advance against the
sprtual darkness in this place.
-We have around 6 weeks left in our town before we head to training in AMS.
Pr'y for remaining time here that it would be a focused time on G0d and the
work we are here to complete before we head for training.
-Lastly, but not leastly, continue to lift up our request and need for able
and willing and available people to work with as we craft stories with them.

I am certainly thankful for you all, loving your email responses which are
so encouraging and your pr'yers are priceless, truly known in value only to
the One we direct them to. I am still learning to be thankful in the small
things, to worship in the everyday, and to praise in the ordinary. This, I
believe is the living way of real saints. And real saints are His specialty.

-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 22

The phone rang, but there was only an automated French voice. It told me the
person I was trying to reach was out of coverage area. Where can he be, I
wondered. Finally, in the night I got through. After the standard greetings
and "afe's" I get around to asking him where he's been all day. "I was
working in the field," he replied. The field. The very place I should be, I
thought. "Can I go with you tomorrow?" I ask.

"Tomorrow" turned out to be a few days after that. Work in the field
is still contingent on the weather (when it rains horizontally, there is
little work to be done in the field) but finally the weather cleared and
finally I got hold of my friend again. "Tomorrow," he said. "I am going to
my field tomorrow." So, I went with to his house at the early hour he'd set.
We drank coffee and ate some gateaux for breakfast, packed some provisions
for the field (I think people eat better in the field than they do in their
house) and set out with the donkey.

We get to his field and finally get down to- drinking more coffee
and bariya, a soupy grain drink mixed with sugar and spice. After this, he
hands me a jarai, the tilling tool of choice, and we get to his field with
his children. There were laughs at first as I was getting the hang of
tilling my first field ever, but soon I could pick out the plants that we
were working to save and those slated for uprooting. In this learning
process, I killed my fair share of good plants and it caused me to till
cautiously, asking his children who were beside me, "Is this plant a good
plant?" "No, it's a weed; kill it."

I worked only an hour or so, not enough even to callous my hands,
but it is hard work indeed. We drank more coffee and set out again for home.
I was offered the donkey to ride on the way back and though I deferred at
first, I was compelled to ride and so I did. Many people were surprised at
seeing a white person, wearing nasara clothes (they're better for field work
than the long local dress) and a turban to keep the sun off, working in the
fields and riding back to town on a donkey.

This was my first field work experience and I went in order to build
up the relationship with this man and his family. I think I made a good
impression- after all he called me "Bub tileh" - father of farming- though
maybe he was quick with his praise. Later that same week, I went out to
another field belonging to someone else and worked longer though again not
to calluses. It was here that I did my first field test.

We were taking one of the long necessary breaks from working under
the hot African sun, and during the downtime, I took out my recorder and
played a story for the man I went with. I asked him what he thought of it
and some more questions related to it. I was glad at his answers and his
willingness to hear it. I am also glad at the portability of the story. But
even though it is portable and takes only a few minutes to hear, it is
sometimes difficult to discuss the story. This particular time was not, but
it is a frequent obstacle me and my teammate have seen in sharing some of
the stories.

For this, I have a few Requests you can be making for me and the
team here. But first, the Hamdu's:

Hamdu's:
-My first time out in the field and the impression I made on those I went
with (dead, good plants notwithstanding)
-Further stories crafted and begun on their process to completion
-I'm learning again to praise Him for the small things and be thankful in
the little things. Small steps forward, are still steps.

Du'as:
-Lift up the story crafter need, as it is constant and becoming a greater
need daily as we want the stories to branch out
-Lift up a change in schedule for our team here- it involves us leaving the
town earlier and traveling to the capital. After staying there for a while,
we will hopefully return to the town where we have built our main
relationships and done our main work. Please lift up this time of
rescheduling for our team and that the time in the capital would be used to
good effect.
-Lift up the various stresses of change*, that it would work for us and not
against us.
-Finally, lift up the next few weeks that we would be working diligently to
complete the many tasks on the stories in time for our next training in Nov.


In our Study of the Book, we are looking at Ecc., that often
perplexing book, mixed as it is with "vanity" and true wisdom. I feel the
same can be said of our work here, it is mixed with blessing and stresses.
Yet through this, I am learning that old, old lesson again: That Je5us meets
us in our trials and gets to know us better under our afflictions. And I am
learning (again) to trust Him in the midst of change. Trust Him with me!

-Youssef

*If I should count the many transformations of this work since the time I
first heard of it, I would run out of fingers and toes! Through all the
changes (coming, leaving, coming back again, etc.) I believe strongly that
this work is of Him and He will use our work, complete or incomplete, for
His glory.

Joey Update Vol. 21

I find it amazing how when you give your plans over to the Lord, He will
give them back to you, enriched by His having touched them. It was the day
after I wrote the piece on idolatry that the actual plan, no longer an idol
to me having given it to Him, came to pass. Indeed, the very day after I
wrote, we were on the road towards Yao.

This came after a month of rather frustrating stops and starts, but
definitely more stops. We took a truck to a central town and got out there.
We rested a little from the journey of 75 bumpy kilometres. We were told
there might be another truck to take us right to Y. As we were inquiring
into this, a rainstorm overtook the whole area. It rained such that it was
not so much "falling" as being hurled from heaven. Needless to say, the rain
washed the air clean, but also washed our road and the way of our truck out
of our plan.

New plan. Take a pousse the 50 kilometers from this town to Y. A pousse is a
cart drawn by a single horse and driven by a young child, at least ours was.
No problem, except for money and time. The cost was great (due to the recent
pelting rain) and the way was an eight hour sun-baked and bouncy experience.
Still, it was my first ride on a pousse and THE way to travel authentically.
We crossed the river which is now in full swing and at one point the horse
stumbled in the water and we all had to bail off so he could stand up. We
waded the water. During our travel, we got to see much of the countryside.
Picture a scene of savannah minus all the cool animals like lions and
elephants. This, punctuated by the invasive scent of rotting sheep and cows
who died in the recent rains and been left to their rot, and you have a good
picture of our travel. Did I mention the sun was hot and burny?

Anyway, we arrive in Y, greet the sultan and actually get to stay at his
house! Also we salve our burns with some ancient sunscreen I happened to
bring with me (I always forget my nose though). Our time there was good
although we did not share any stories. We mostly hung out with the sultan
and his staff. We were treated to a tour of sorts that was also a quest for
telephone reception, a particularly iffie opportunity in Yao. We found it at
last and saw much of the countryside around Y. When we returned, we were
treated for a trip on Lake Fitri, the lake on which Y. is built. We took the
sultan's boat and motor, which clogged with grass every few minutes and told
not to touch the water from the boat for the many fishing lines that are
left in it. The fishing line is just that, a stick with a string of ten to
twenty hooks tied on at various intervals and planted in the water to wait
for the fish to bite. Large ones I'm told are sold to other countries, while
the small ones are dried and eaten locally.

Although we did not share stories, this being our first trip out, we did
make a few good contacts and establish some presence in town. If people were
surprised that two white guys would travel by pousse all the way to Y.
(which we did and they were) they were likewise surprised and pleased that
these same white guys could speak N. with them! We met the family of the
person who acted more or less as our guide to Y. They invited us back which
we said we would take them up on. In this culture there are certain channels
to go through if you want to meet someone properly and often being
introduced to someone through someone else is better than meeting them
alone. Our friend and guide knew the way and the channels properly and I for
one was grateful to him. We plan to return when the rainy season stops.
Our trip back was the trip there in reverse. Another eight hour trip,
although the sun was now taken into account, another fall- this time due to
a break of the rope that tied the pousse to the horse. No one was too badly
hurt. We did get back home after it all. It was good to finally get to go
and I do hope more comes it than I now know. While the trip was good, it was
not terribly productive as far as direct project goals is concerned.

Hamdu's:
-We finally got to the Bil. Capital!
-The many meetings there were blessed
-My first ride on a pousse!

Du'as:
-Our opportunity to return to the Bil. Capital after rainy season
-The few good contacts we made there
-Our relationship with the man who took us out there- I'll call him Sherman.
He lives in our town but has family in Y.
-Progress on stories now that we're back

Thanks for lifting me up through some of the hard times of waiting. A desire
accomplished is sweet to the soul! I hope to further see my desire to see
the transformation of this PG through His word in their language! Keep on
lifting this up.

-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 20

Hey everyone. I just wanted to let you know that our Father is so good! It
was not 10 minutes after the request for rain was sent to you all, that it
rained over the whole area for about an hour! His timing is impeccable!

Be encouraged.

-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 19

I was walking in the wilderness, or so it seemed today. It was actually the
riverbed but it was dry as a bone. This is how the Batha usually lies most
of the year. The first time I saw it though it was a happy muddy river. That
was at the end of last rainy season and the new rains have not fully come
yet. There been sporadic showers but the hit and miss quality of them has
been such that the other night, a man on a loudspeaker has called for a
three day fast so that the rains will come.

It is now "a dry and thirsty land where there is no water" (Ps. 63:1) at
least not in sufficient quantity to water all the fields and cows and sheep
that need it. While you all lift up this request to our Father, please
remember that the souls here are thirstier than the land. As you petition
the Father for rain, remember to ask likewise that He would send that Living
Water (Jn.7:38) to quench the deepest thirst.

Last year, I remember I heard reports that the rains were heavy and while
they provided water for the fields and animals, they were so heavy that they
also brought down several of the mud brick (and there are considerable
numbers of these) houses and injured people. As you p'ay, trust that He who
you ask knows just how much to send and the exact places to send it. Lastly,
as you p'ay, please remember that He has said, "My glory I will not give to
another" (Is. 42:8) so ask that He send this rain in such a way that He
alone gets all the glory that is due Him.
He knows.

Hamdus:
-Story work is still going ahead
-Continued positive responses

Du'as:
-Opportunity to meet the sultan of Yao soon
-Opportunity to go to Yao soon- again see Rom. 1:13
-Lift up a friend of mine named Ahy. He has been a great help (and seeming P
o'P- Lk.10:6) to the work. The other day I had the happy vision of him
becoming a leader in the Body. Lift him up to this end.

Thanks for p'aying for these things. I will soon share the good news of how
our Father answers!

-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 18

Hello and happy belated Independence Day to all my fellow Americans! My own
day was celebrated in fine style with friends- but alas no fireworks.

As far as project related things, I am learning the importance of
flexibility and must constantly remind myself that this is His project work
first. Through it He is shaping me exactly as He wants me, in order to more
completely do His will and preparing me also for future work with Him.
Needless to say I am learning lots from Him, but this lesson more than any
other: The great importance and necessity of abiding in Him. He said, "Apart
from me you can do nothing." (Jn. 15:5) I do not want to do nothing and so I
go on reminding myself that abiding is an effortless resting in His grace.

So, as I was resting in Him, things got done. At the beginning of last week
a friend who speaks our language came over to help us with stories. We
managed to get three stories crafted with him. While this is a lot and we
rejoice over it, there remains much work to be done on them. One of the
greatest needs we have now is find someone who is consistent (our friend
lives out of town so it is harder to meet regularly with him) and knows the
language to the extent that he thinks in it.

Also, the plan to get out into surrounding villages, specifically the plan
to visit the capital town where the sultan of a large part of our people
lives, has been frustrated by circumstances. At first there was a serious
problem where a man attacked and killed his former wife. The person was
arrested and sent to prison. However, due to connections here, it turns out
that one of the two men who was going to take us to Yao, the capital town,
was related to the killer and could not travel that week.
After a week of waiting, still working on other parts of our project, we
were ready to travel again. The brother of the man in prison was ready, but
our friend who first invited us to his home in Yao is not. His wife just had
a baby girl and he needs to stay in town until the naming ceremony at the
end of this week. It is customary to name babies one week after they are
born. My friend just last night gave us good news that she is doing well
(both his wife and his baby girl) and further that he wants to name his baby
Sue, after my mom! Mom, be honoured, you may shortly have a little girl
named after you here in my country! I'll let you all know how it turns out.

So, here we are, back to planning our next move forward. It is encouraging
that we ever move forward, even if we are slowly advancing. As always your
p'ayers are needed greatly:

Hamdus:
-Three stories begun on their long process
-Positive responses to the testings of the stories
-Opportunities to travel to other villages

Du'as:
-For a consistent person who knows our language very well and who is willing
to work with us to tell the stories
-See above
-For the opportunity to visit Yao, the heartland of many of our people, soon
and for good first impression and connections
-For my friend's baby girl- health and strength in this critical time in her
life
-Continued encouragement in the work and steady progress

Thank you all for bearing with me again in the sometimes long silences from
this front. I am also eager to hear news and p'ayer requests you have so
write to me! Or, if you dare to brave the international phone charges and my
country which is especially thirsty for phone credit (as among other things-
Jn. 7:37) fuddal (bring it on). My number for you all to call from the
States is: 011 235 944 6349. Remember I'm five hours ahead of the Eastern
seaboard so take it into account. And don't worry for the international
rates; I'm well worth it to call. :)

Blessing on you all!

-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 17

Hey everyone! This is the Guide we've come up with. Thank you for joining us
in it.

-Youssef

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING…
Joey Howell and Colin Wood

SUNDAY
THE WALK (Ephesians 4:1-3)
x Delight in our Father
x Love for the “N” people

MONDAY
THE PROCESS (Mark 4:33-34)
x Culturally relevant stories
x Forming groups for seekers

TUESDAY
THE PEOPLE (Romans 10:14-15)
x Helping tell and translate
x Willing to hear the stories

WEDNESDAY
THE DEADLINES (Phil. 3:12-14)
x 12-15 stories by November
x Patience for revising stories

THURSDAY
THE LOGISTICS (Phil. 4:19)
x Safekeeping of electronics
x Being prepared but flexible

FRIDAY
THE TEAMWORK (Luke 10:1)
x Mutual encouragement
x Needed times of refreshing

SATURDAY
THE OUTREACH (I Pet. 3:15-16)
x Enrich existing friendships
x Ready to share the Word

You are also invited to join us on the first Friday of
every month to fast and lift up the needs of the “N”
people.

Joey Update Vol. 16

He was at my house before I returned. I had only just called him and invited him, as I did not find him in the sugu (market). It turns out that he brought a friend, something that gave me a good hope for a group. We drank some tea (standard practice just about) and I invited them inside my house. My teammate was busy with another matter, so I started the session off and he would join me later.


I got right down to the task at hand. I explained that what I wanted to do, what I was going to do, was tell a story from the Word, have them hear it several times through and then have them tell it back to me in the N. language I am working in. I soon found out that the friend he brought over did not speak the N. language at all! No matter, he would hear it in his own language first anyway.


I played the recorded passages for us all to listen to in the trade language they both spoke. After this, I asked a few simple questions (What did you like in this story? etc.) and then, I told the same story, in the very manner I wanted them to tell it in, conversational. In this first telling, when I paused in my story to take a breath, the first, who I'll call H., retold what I just said and explained it to his friend, M. They were automatically doing just what we hope all the groups will do. After I told the story a few times, I asked the one who did not speak the N. language to tell it. He did. Afterward, I asked the first to translate and tell it in the N. language while I recorded him.


The process was smooth this time- sometimes it's more difficult, but I find the better relationships I have with those who tell the stories, the better the stories generally turn out. Mostly because those friends I've made have the necessary patience required to complete a crafting session. Since we told the story many times, I hope that H. will remember the story and tell it to others. It seems the particular story set we are working on is one most people here have not heard before and therefore very interesting to them. We've lifted this set up many times that it will grip the hearts of the N. people we are working with and set off an unstoppable movement among them.

And it all begins quietly. It all begins with a story.

-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 15

Sesegeh lunjemge! We've been having some fruitful times here. More work on
the firstfruits that is. Let me tell you.

I started walking in search of someone to help me take the next step with
the story in getting it closer to Eng. I thought of a few people who I've
known for a while but they were out and away somewhere. Undaunted, I turned
to my next plan, to find a house I'd forgotten the exact location for. This
usually does not bode well when trying to find something and alas, I did
not. There remained only my last place I thought of going. It was on the way
so I continued my walk.

On the way, I started p'aying, mainly so I could understand this particular
fellow well. He has a way of speaking which usually gets me lost in his
rapid fire style. While p'aying, I also asked that I would be successful in
getting this story translated one step closer to Eng. and that he would
understand it and we'd have a good discussion in N. over it. This and get it
all recorded. It was a big request I know, but I so clearly heard His voice
and His voice said, "You have my blessing."

The man I was seeking was alone and he had plenty of time on his hands, just
what I was looking for. So far so good. We greeted each other and I brought
the conversation around to hearing this story and explained what my plan was
for him to listen and when he knew it, to translate it into Ar. He was
agreeable even to being recorded. I played it a few times, he saying while
he heard it, "G'd is great! (that's something I've found people do here when
they like something). Afterward, I played it back piece by piece and he
translated. We talked over it and had a really good recorded session of him
discussing the questions I was asking him about what he thought of it. G'd
is great indeed!

Just today, we got started on another piece of another story.

This particular story is in the works, as are a few others. We're doing
revisions this week on some of them. It behooves us to have a few stories in
the works at once, so we don't get bogged down on one but keep moving along.
We had a talk just today about how to better meet the goals we've set (or
had set for us) and things are looking up. P'ay we continue to trust Him for
all things.

Hamdu's
-We got a p'ayer calendar in the works and it is ready but it must be shrunk
down to send from here. Them's the brakes.
-Things are continuing along at a fair rate- ie: we're not behind yet- may
it never be!
-Progress on the stories started

Dua's
-Boldness in asking Him for helpers and them to help us
-Take more opportunities that come our way (like the piece we got done
today)
-Focus on the task and a guard against sloppiness in our joy to have
something recorded.

Thanks as always to you all for p'aying for us and for keeping my informed
of how you're doing. I love to hear back from you guys, so please write or
call. Get plenty of minutes on your cell phone, remember I'm 5 hours ahead
of the east coast, and dial: 011 235 944 6349. When in doubt keep dialling,
it'll let you into the system eventually. Thanks everyone!
-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 14

Sesigeh tarbema! Nugudi habar chigi? Man moho habar fassa wa man
shekarkisigeh at-shan sig sallaha te zig aye ma roh, man girni nash.

Greetings my family! What's new? I have good news and I thank you all
because you p'ay for us everyday, I know it.

It was a day that seemed sluggish in getting started, if you ask me. To tell
you the truth, I was getting discouraged toward the end of it. I'd had some
goals I wanted to see met and as far as I knew, there they were, sitting
right where I left them, untouched. But it so turned out that I was looking
in the wrong place!

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not lack." Whatever it was that I was
lacking, just yesterday the Shepherd knew it and met me in it. I went for a
walk and invited Him along with me. As usually happens when He comes, things
turned out for the better and best. When I returned home I met a friend who
invited us out to his village sometime soon. He first had to check with the
village chief to ask if it was alright we stop by (that's standard protocol
and it's best not to bypass the proper channels as it's a great snub to the
chief).

Then, as the time whiled down towards night, there comes a man who wants to
help us get a story crafted! I was only considering the time and how it was
slipping away, doubting if we had time enough to see this story properly
crafted, as it usually takes a few hours. In any case, flexibility is key to
our work and it is good because schedules are made and broken here all the
time. You have to jump at the opportunities that do come your way.
Well, we let our friend listen to the story a few times and he told it back
to us, but it was largely based on their Book. So, we let him listen again
and asked him, in a more roundabout, culturally appropriate way, if the
things from their Book were present in this particular recording. When he
heard, he acknowledged, "No, those things are not in this story". So, we had
him retell the story he heard in the N. language and we recorded him. This
means, we have our first story recorded! This we lift up as the firstfruits
offering of old (Deut.26:2).

It is a great adventure we live with G'd, even if some days take us through
valleys and it seems to us that not much is being accomplished outwardly.
While no excuse for lazy work or a chance to sigh, "This is His field, He
can do what He wants with it" as an excuse for our lacking, we can joyfully
acknowledge in truth, "This is His field, He can do what He wants with it."
We believe that He wants us in it, working hand in hand with Him. So let us
work with Him, invite Him into all our moments, and speak with His voice the
very words of G'd.

Hamdu's:
-The Firstfruits of our stories*
-The invite to another outside village
-We also had the chance to follow up with that village that was burned a few
months ago. It turns out that someone in town broadcasted over the radio the
people of the village's thanks to us for helping them in replacing some of
what they lost! May His goodness show in us!
-The water in town has been turned back on! This was a problem because we
had to, every few days get someone to bring water by donkey from a well to
our house. Now that the water tower has been fixed, just this morning, water
now flows through our pipes again.

*Just because we have this story recorded, does not mean we are done with
it. It is but the first step in a long process, but I find often the first
step is the hardest. And here it is, already taken! So, the remaining steps
(and they are considerable) must be lifted up for Du'as.

Du'as:
-The remaining steps of backtranslation, testing and retesting for this and
other stories.
-Stamina in seeking out testers and other people to help us in the process.
-That the wide nets we are casting will bring in some of every kind, and
that He will gather them together (Mt. 13:47-48)
-Continue to remain close to the Shepherd of our souls for the strength we
need on our team and singly.

Man shekarkisigeh kwi! Man kelisig mutuk.
Thanks again you guys! I love you all very much.

-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 13

Hey everybody! Much has happened in the past month. Here's a brief summary:
I was in AMS doing one of three things. I took some little break, I helped
in teaching and I also learned a bunch of computer stuff. I've run the gamut
of experience it seems. I did take some pictures of some of my excursions,
but I'll have to see about putting them up some other time.

While there in AMS I heard news that fighting had begun in my country. This
was made more clear when the team here moved from the town to the capital,
which they would only do if the situation warranted it. I said some prayers
for a clearing of the situation and soon after it began, it ended! It was
not as bad as it might have been, all fighting contained and stopped out
east of our town. Praise Him it was no worse and praise Him again that now
it is quiet again.

Since I arrived back on Sunday, I was in preparation to hit the ground
running and still am. We have some ambitious goals to reach in the next
weeks and months. This might be helped because we have no more travel plans
for 5 months, so that means we stay put to get down to business.

I've missed being away; a month is a long time to be away from people and
places you've grown to love. I am glad I am back. While in AMS I listened to
some recorded stories from N. speakers as part of training and it made me
miss them all the more. Well, now I'm back and look forward to getting this
project work properly started. From here on it, language learning is not our
chief goal (though it will of course continue) but to get stories crafted
and recorded. The first to come this week. Here's our rough schedule:

By 8 weeks from now, we want to have 5 stories crafted, recorded and tested
multiple times.

By 12 weeks, we want to have our first house group meeting regularly
together and functioning like a normal house (hur(h.

By 4 months from now, 10 to 12 stories finished crafting, recording and
testing widely and ready.

By 6 months, we want the first house group to have started another group to
start the multiplying groups.

Ambitious goals I know, but that's how they stand. As you can imagine,
p'ayer is of utmost importance to us and our work.

Hamdu's:
-My time in AMS was a good well-rounded experience of resting, teaching and
learning
-The fighting has calmed down and now everything is quiet here- Big Praise!
-My language is coming back, albeit slowly.

Dua's:
-For lang. to return and continue strong
-For these above goals, right now for the first story and after for the next
4.
-For great wisdom in choosing and crafting the stories in such a way that
they reach the people's hearts
-Continue building and enriching the relationships we have with the people.

Thanks for bearing with my silences. And thanks always for your p'ayers! I
hope to report excellent news in my next update. Think s@lvations.

-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 12

Nugudi habar chigi? What's new, indeed. Well, let me tell you.

From last week, I wanted to first thank you all for your p'ayers as we did
get to visit that burn village and even went back today. The first meeting
last week was mainly introductions, terribly important here. They also were
wowed that two white guys living in such close proximity to them (their
village is only about 3km from where we live) could speak their language.

They showed us the places where the fire ate some buildings, we counted nine
that day, plus granaries. They showed us some charred khalla, the staple
grain here. It was cone shaped and the individual pieces of khalla were all
black. A strange thing was as we were going around with them, writing down
names of the people who lost houses, they told us how much each thing cost.
Maybe they thought we were UN guys who might be connected to a big payload
to quickly rebuild their village. Anyway, we offered up a great Hamdu l'llah
because no people or their animals were hurt in the fire. Also, when we were
there the first time, there was a group of people rebuilding a reed-thatch
roof, a good sign of bouncing back.

We p'ayed over the village last week for a way to help them, but not make
them dependent on us to solve all their problems with our money. This is a
constant struggle we find and we are searching for ways to give but not
fulfill their expectations that that is our only role. Going to the white
guy for money is not a good testimony, for them or for us. So, we formed a
p'ayer-laden plan (the very best kind I find) and today we set out.

We brought them essentials, a bourish, one of the chief pieces of furniture
here, it being a straw mat, for each of the houses we counted last week.
Also for each of them, teapots and tea glasses were given. I am convinced
that the teapot is the symbol of peace here*.

Anyway, today was a good day of visiting them. The bulama, or village chief
was not there today but we were able to give each thing to each person who
we bought it for. Some of the women were sitting together, apart from the
men as is customary here. We went over to them to greet them and tell them
why we were seeking to bless them. We told them of the great Gift of His Son
to us and that was our motivation. They agreed to this** and then blessed us
saying "G'd give you many children". We said "zig zoho dokgeda", we don't
have wives yet. "G'd give you wives," they replied. They said this so much
that it seems when I'm married I'll need to have at least eight children, to
fulfill their blessing on me!

After this, we had some tea and ate some rumu, the staple food here. They
made one with the charred khalla which was burnt brown and not merely dirty
white like normal. It seems some of what was burned is still useable. They
also told us that those families which lost houses are not destitute as in
having no place to stay. In villages, people chip in together to help each
other. They are staying with family or friends in other houses for now.
We've been talking a little to perhaps get into a habit of visiting there
once a week, as it is a high concentration of N. speakers, and are already
thinking of going back next week.

One other thing on the fun side related to this trip, we rode there on a
pousse. This is a horse drawn cart, a traditional way of getting around,
better than walking and cheaper than motorcycles. It was a good ride,
carrying us and all the stuff we brought as hadiyas. So, to note at this
point in country, I've ridden: a horse, a camel, a few motorcycles, a market
truck (an adventure indeed), plenty of taxis, and now a pousse. Next, I'm
looking to find and ride a rhino and round out my exotic riding adventures.

Things to p'ay for:
1. We have about two weeks left in town here until we leave again for AMS.
We need to get two more Stories recorded and backtranslated from N. into Fr.
or Eng. Opportunities are abounding but p'ay that we would indeed make full
use of them and get our task done.
2. P'ay for the relationships we've been watering here in our town and out
in the burn village.

Thanks, as always, for p'aying and giving to my work here. I'm excited that
the Father is working and I am seeing Him work in and through us. May you
all, in each place He's called you, be His hands and His feet and speak with
His voice to those people around you. Our p'ayers affect the future history
of those around us and things around the world, if only we ask for them! Ask
Big!

-Youssef

*A few weeks ago, I made a thermos full of tea, spiced it with cinnamon, and
took it to the market to some N. friends I've made there. It was a big hit!
As I was carrying the bright red thermos through the market to the place my
friends were, I heard many whispering "Hey look, he's bringing tea" almost
expectantly. It caused a stir, as is not uncommon when I go to the market.
They said the tea was "lele" meaning I'd added enough sugar to make teeth
scream. Now, they joke with me, "what, no tea today?" when I arrive in the
market lacking thermos.

**The people here accept J. as prophet, even a great prophet, but not a Son.
It remains one of those hurdles to be overcome. Send up the Big P'ayers!

On a side note, our water faucet in our kitchen had to be replaced. Not
having running water is a bad thing I find, but just yesterday, we got it
fixed. That means: We have water! (that one's just for you, mom)

Joey Update Vol. 11

Sesegeh tarbema!

Greetings and peace to you all, my family. My last few days
have been busy and especially productive in terms of project goals. Let me
share what I've been up to and how I've been working with the Owner of the
harvest field.


We had an opportunity to go out to a village about 20km from our town. This
is a primarily Ar. Village but there are a few followers of the Way there
and they had some great news for us! They know some people from our group!
There were a few there even who spoke our language and I might add, a few
followers. We talked with them over much tea* and they were excited to help
us in our work. They shared some ideas of getting the News out to our people
in their own language. I am encouraged that they p'ay for us and are "ready
to go today and share the News." We would appreciate your p'ayers for wisdom
not to douse the zeal but to direct it in the best way so we can see these
groups they shared with us come into the Kingdom.


We also went back for a naming ceremony just yesterday. Naming ceremonies
take place a week after a baby is born- it is a critical time for newborns
as infant mortality is rather high here. All seems well for this baby
though, praise Him. There we also talked more about how to effectively reach
our people. There was some talk of getting a vehicle to travel in, either a
car or motorcycle. We need to p'ay some more about it because there are many
factors involving these vehicles. We do not want, for example, to be seen as
the white guys who have lots of money and will give money to anyone who
asks, as this detracts from our work. Please also p'ay for this opportunity.


Also we are planning today to go out to another nearby village where our
people are. I happened on one of those chance meetings our Father gives, to
have met the chief of this village back in Jan. I want to go visit him and
his village because we heard news that a fire ate some house in their
village, to use the N. expression. The contacts out in these villages are
key to getting an opportunity to visit them. It is not the best idea to just
walk into a village uninvited and without knowing anyone there. Fortunately,
I do know a few people now from there and I will take this opportunity to
visit them and see what I can do to help. I heard the fire also ate their
granaries with the village's whole food supply for the rest of the year.
Please lift this up too. Perhaps our Father will see fit to send another
Joseph to help in this time of their famine (Gen. 41:33-36).


Thank you all so much for your constant p'ayers for me and for this work. We
are seeing more openness to hear stories and things seem to moving smoothly
so far. We still have much work to do in these three weeks left here. I am
confidant that our Father hears our p'ayers and knows our needs and will
keep us on task. You see, He's had our people in His mind before we did and
the whole goal of this spread of the News through them is His work. He's a
big G'd so lets p'ay big p'ayers to Him. I have been p'aying that He would
even use our people to jump start this "dead heart of Africa"** that His
life may flow from our people to the rest of the nation and spread to other
nations. I've been p'aying that He would use even us in His work to
accomplish this. Please join me in this weighty work. Remember that He said,
"If you believe you will command this mountain and it will be cast into the
sea for you." It does sometimes seem that our task is just that, but He is a
power stronger than dynamite.

-Youssef



*Tea is terribly important here. They call it the "key to the mouth" and I
find it true in my case. It seems to help my language flow better. I will
even liken it to spinach for Popeye- though it is tastier than spinach.

**Before I ever came to this land I wanted to know all I could about it.
There was precious little info at that time (I did manage to see a picture
of a camel in a desert though, supposedly from this country). I found the
"dead heart" saying somewhere online and it has since stuck with me. It gave
me a good hope because I know One who steps into hopeless situations and
breathes new life into them. May the dead heart beat again!

Joey Update Vol. 10

Sesigeh! My first week back in the town of A. has been a good one. My day
begins with p'ayer (my partner and I have been meeting together regularly at
a wee early hour to seek His will for our day) and recently, I've been
longing to see Him more and more throughout our day. Well, He promises that
those who seek Him will find Him, but mainly because He seeks those who seek
Him first! Let me tell you a bit about our first days back.

We committed our plane flight (with necessary bumpy landing) to His hand and
He guided us smoothly through the sky. The dust was really kicking up and so
it was hard to see the ground or get a decent picture, sorry folks. After we
landed, we began almost immediately in meeting and reconnecting with those
people we left a month and a half ago. For the most part all has been well,
though it is a bit sad that some of the people we knew have moved to other
places for work.

On one day, we plucked up the courage to boldly enter people's houses. It is
almost expected in this culture and even greatly honors those in the houses
we enter, just to know that they are sought. So one day, hovering at the
entrance of the door of one of our friends, my friend Col. Encouraged me
with the words, "just go in Joey." So, against my Western inhibitions, on I
went. This particular visit we did not see the person we were looking for,
but news travels well here. He later met us and almost apologized at being
absent!

We heard another bit of news, just to give you all the nature of how things
travel here. It is not newspapers that spread the news but networks. It is
my theory that everyone here knows most everyone else, or so it seems, and
so news travels fast and beyond our imaginings.

One of our guards, who lives in a village 30k away from A., said one day his
moto broke down. This is not so uncommon and neither was what he found out
in the tiny village he went to for help. He said the people there mentioned
us, the two crazy white guys who are learning the N. language! Ok, they
didn't call us crazy, but they were surprised that we would want to learn
their language. Having never visited this particular place, just think what
the news will be when His word is introduced into the N. language! If these
networks travel farther and faster than we ever can, then perhaps an entire
people group in the heartland of C. will be reached for His name! That's the
plan.

P'ayerwalking continues and we lift up our neighbours by name frequently.
One of our visits to the souk, the local market here, was a great success.
We usually cause a stir of some kind wherever we go (we're the crazy white
guys learning N. remember?) but the market is especially intensive in our
stirrings. Just yesterday, Col. happened to tell a story from His word in N.
It was amazing to me how closely our audience followed the story and this
without any interruptions! That is a big thing to ask for but perhaps our
Father knows we're serious about the work. With this subtle change I see in
some of the people we've met again, coupled with the new boldness to enter
people's house and their welcoming this boldness, I have a great hope as I
see the Father working and as I see His hand in our activities.

Please lift us up today and this next week especially. We are planning to
visit outside villages, our first visits to these particular places this
next week, as well as share the recorded story we have so far. Travel and
grace with the people would be especially high on the List.

Man shekarkisigeh wa man shekarki Bubzig bu!
-I thank you all and I thank our great Father (for you)!

-Youssef

Joey Update Vol. 9

Hello all. I have returned from a journey, a necessary journey off the very
continent where I live and work. I traveled to another country to received
the next of the "just in time" training so important to my task. This was
held in AMS, my frequent way station, and was very much appreciated. It was
a break from my five month stretch in country as well as a time of good
learning. Let me tell you a bit a about it.

We began with stories. We are all story driven people or so we will hope we
become as this project continues. All the training was done orally, in story
format, and writing was not allowed past drawing pictures as a memory aid-
badly, by me. We storied through the Acts in hopes of learning some of the
great nuggets the Book has to teach about planting reproducing house groups.
It was a lesson in modeling the stories and the very method of learning,
which we were to take back to our respective lands and put into practice.
This was taken over two weeks and the climate change was very different both
ways. Cold and rainy (and sometimes even snowy) directly opposed to the hot
and dry clime where I live and work. Still I was happy to see the snow this
year and thanked the Father for sending me some. The in between times of
listening to stories and learning others to tell, was spent in good
fellowship or sightseeing and p'ayerwalking. This we did most every day as
it is a most vital part of our work. It is about having a conversation
between partners (who are seen plainly) and between the Wind (Who is not
seen as plainly).

So, after this training time, we boarded a few planes (the second of which
was the smoothest transition I've yet known- praise Him!) and returned to
our land. We set almost immediately to implementing those things we learned
at training. Already our goal of having a story told, recorded and
translated back to a tongue nearer to our native one is roughly
accomplished. We are excited for the process and the progress and already we
have seen a few good signs that the process works. Let me explain.

As we told the first story, we asked a few basic questions that some of you
have heard already. The first person we told them to answered the questions
and pulled out other questions we had not even considered! This happens in
storytelling of course but it is always amazing to me that it consistently
happens. We all learn together through the questions and each person with
their point of view brings out a new element we did not know was even there.
But my favourite part of this first session was when he asked his own
questions and that he was free to ask! This last part is the most important
as it might be a clash with the culture that relies more on rote
memorization and less on asking questions.

Needless to say, I was encouraged
as the process began.

In this please be lifting up our work. Here's the du'as:
-further language learning -always
-the Process of telling and retelling and recording and translating back and
testing stories- we're story driven see?
-for still more people of our PG with which to meet and build relationships
with.

As for the Hamdu's, they are many but here are the basics:
-Peace reigns in our land, which was not case last year.
-The first of the process has gone well and looks promising.
-On their way back to country, a family was coming who had a little girl. At
the airport, not a few hours from departure, the little girl had a seizure.
They went to the hospital and stayed doing tests in Fr. For a few weeks
before returning to the US. The doctors in Fr. advised they stay out of
country permanently as seizures cannot be treated well here. The US doctor
did further tests and as a second opinion said there were no abnormalities
to be found in the little girl. This, the doctor said, could give them
clearance to return to country after a month of seizure free time. So far so
good. The interesting thing though is the US doctor said there was something
in the room in Fr. that caused this scan to come up abnormal. Again the scan
taken in the US was clear of any abnormalities. Perhaps the p'ayers offered
up consistently for this family banished the presence of those
abnormalities. In any case, it is still a request but still a praise at this
good turn of news.

Thank you all for bearing with me. I will write again when I have
opportunity.

-Youssef Mungare

PS: This last epithet I have chosen myself. It means "son of the king" which
indeed I am, if only by that great adoption. I chose it in preference over
Youssef Dungus, a name clapped me by one who called himself "prince". This
last name is rather common here and means "trash pit", a sort of luck charm
against pride and other harmful things- the thought being if you're named
"dungus" you'll be less noticeable to those evil forces.

Joey Update Vol. 8

Great story from Joey about how he is allowing God to use him and encouragement to us to not miss those simple opportunities.

I only saw him out of the corner of my eye. I was back in the big market of
NDJ and was headed home. He was sitting by the side of the road, as so many
others and that's when I saw him and something told me to go back. I took
the advice.

He was sitting because he couldn't stand. He hadn't reached out to me
because he couldn't move his arms- they were shrivelled and twisted around
him. He did not call to me because he could not speak very well.

I crouched beside him and got an idea. I removed one of the bananas I had
just bought from it's black plastic bag. I saw his hands folded, so I began
to peel it for him. I handed the banana to him expecting him to take it.
That's when I noticed his arms would not move from their position around
him. Another idea. I would be his hands for him.

He took a big bite and chewed it only a few times before swallowing. I asked
him his name. "Adam," he said. It was the only word he spoke to me. After he
spoke it, I concluded his mouth must be empty. I held the banana to his
lips. Another big bite. Based on how fast he was eating, I thought he'd
probably not eaten much for a while.

With each bite, he had a look in his eye, I noticed, like he expected me to
suddenly take the rest of the banana with me and leave. But I dropped the
last bite of it into his mouth. Then, I prayed for my new friend Adam right
there in Ar.

Maybe I will see him again and maybe I won't. But maybe Adam will not forget
it. I know I will not.

Matthew 25:35-40

*Father, forgive me for missing so man opportunities in my life to feed You
when You were hungry. But thank You for today's opportunity. In those few
moments with Adam, I was changed.