Our recent trip to Dallas for the weekend contained several exciting events for us. Our first stop in Dallas was for our favorite food in the whole world, Snuffers cheddar fries. If you live in Dallas and have eaten at Snuffers before, your mouth is probably watering right now just thinking about the cheese fries with ranch dressing. If you haven’t ever tasted them, I’m sorry. But even better than the cheese fries this weekend (which we were able to squeeze in twice!) was the chance that we had to connect with old and new friends at the first annual Muslim Background Believers (MBB) Conference put on by Gospel for Muslims. We thought that this would be a good training tool as we prepared to serve in Senegal, but were blessed beyond what we thought when it not only turned out to be good training, but great encouragement as well. We were able to meet with and talk to several MBB’s and missionaries who are or were involved in Muslim evangelism. Here are just a few of the highlights of the conference:
First, I was again reminded that, as Jim Elliot says, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” The first session at the conference was on the cost of discipleship. I must admit that I sometimes still worry about moving to Africa, about taking a child to Africa especially. Although I have heard it before, and believe that God knows what is best for us and that the risks involved with what we are doing are worth it, I occasionally need to be reminded of this. I had tears streaming down my face as the speaker reminded us that God will always redeem the sacrifices we make and suffering we endure. It may not be in our lifetime, but He works it all for His purpose, and it is worth it.
Second, like I said, we got to meet and reconnect with many people who are interested in Muslim evangelism. One such person we met Saturday morning as we were walking up from the parking garage (yes, it was a huge church!) to the breakfast. Angelique and her family are planning on moving to Tunisia in 2009 to build relationships with people and plant churches. Through all of our conversations that day, it was encouraging to hear and share the struggles and excitement we are going through with someone who is in the same situation as us! We also had the chance to meet a couple who work at a church in Arlington, Texas, and who have made several trips to West Africa. The most exciting thing is that they told us they have a couple of people in their church who grew up as MK’s in Senegal and who know Wolof (the main tribal language). This may give us one more chance while we are preparing to go to Senegal to meet with and talk to someone who can give us insight and advice on living and serving there.
Finally, a highlight of the conference for us was hearing the testimonies of the MBBs. Their stories differed greatly – some came to Christ because of visions and dreams, others because of reading scriptures, others through the witness of friends – but all shared this in common, they were triumphant stories of people being led out of darkness and into a relationship with the living God! Most all of them came to Christ at a cost as well. Their families have disowned them, some were beaten, and many are still praying for the salvation of their lost families. It was so good to see their joy and zeal for the Lord.
Addie had a great weekend too! She was spoiled by her Aunt Kara on Saturday and her friend Katherine on Friday. We are so blessed to have friends and family wherever we go!
Prayer Requests
Please continue to pray for us as we continue our preparation for Senegal. Our big prayer request is our upcoming trip in December! Wayne and I will be heading over to meet our team and look at the college, possible cities we may live, schools for Addie, and anything else we can fit in in just one week. We are excited to be able to share with you what God teaches us through this trip!
Please also pray for us as we are beginning a time of transition. Wayne has only 3 more weeks left to work at Emmaus before we are finished with the ministry here. We will then take our trip and spend the rest of the month packing our apartment and deciding what to do with all our stuff (some we will pack for Senegal, some we will get rid of, some we will need in the near future). We are excited about where the Lord is leading us, but transition times can always be a bit stressful. Please pray that our faith in God will be strengthened through this.
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