Changes Ahead…

2003 will be a year of change for our family.  We are making arrangements to pack up our home of 10 years and move to Niamey , the capital city of Niger to assume a position in field leadership. 

 How We Got To This Point Of Change?

In 1992, having been married not yet 2 years, we moved to Niger to join the team of missionaries working among the Tamajaq people.

Our first task was to learn Tamajaq and through learning the language, we developed friendships and opportunities came to tell of the hope, love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

 

In 1996, Steve was asked to be the Tamajaq Team leader and in 1999 he agreed to help part-time with field leadership as a Deputy Area Director for the Central region of Niger .

 

When we returned from our home assignment in 2002, we were asked to consider accepting a larger role in field leadership.  Our initial reaction was to say “no” and stay where we were most comfortable.  But the Lord was doing a work in our hearts to make us more available to Him.  We were learning the difficult lesson of obedience.  Obedience means saying yes to the Lord no matter where He leads you.

 

The Lord used a text by Oswald Chambers to nudge us toward surrendering.  These words hit us with such force that they could not be ignored:

 

“If you seek great things for yourself, thinking, “God has called me for this and for that,” you barricade God from using you. As long as you maintain your own personal interests and ambitions, you cannot be completely aligned or identified with God’s interests. This can only be accomplished by giving up all of your personal plans once and for all, and by allowing God to take you directly into His purpose for the world.”

 

“… When I stop telling God what I want, He can freely work His will in me without any hindrance. He can crush me, exalt me, or do anything else He chooses. He simply asks me to have absolute faith in Him and His goodness.” (My Utmost for His Highest)

 

When we read this, it seemed as though it was written directly to us.  After much prayer, we wrote to the Area Director to let him know that we were available to serve along side him even if it meant changing jobs and changing location.

So What Will We Be Doing?

Steve will be a Deputy Area Director in the western region and will be working closely with the Director.  The directorate’s job is one of casting vision, tending to the pastoral needs of the missionary family and encouraging partnership between SIM and the local churches.  Our goal here in Niger is to see the Church of Jesus Christ strengthened and equipped to do the work of the ministry.

 

What about Tamajaq Work?

Our hearts will always be in Tamajaq ministry.   Niamey is the home to many, many Tamajaq people who have been driven to the capital by famine conditions in the bush and the hope of finding steady work.  There is also an emerging Tamajaq church planted in the capital city.  We will have opportunities to use our Tamajaq and to be an encouragement to the believers there.

 

When Do We Move?

We will be moving August 1 in time for the kids to start at the SIM school in Niamey .  We have a house waiting for us there.

 

We Need Your Prayers

·        For Steve as he adjusts to a very different kind of work.

·        For the children as they will be going from homeschool to a classroom and making new friends.

·        For Mikki as she considers all the options open to her to minister in Niamey