Relational Mapping

Within the last few years there has been a large movement to see unreached and unengaged people groups reached. One reason for much of the recent awareness is credited to many of the organizations making them their priority. One of the most common examples of these organizations would be the Joshua Project. The Joshua Project is an excellent source of data.  Data consisting of maps, tribe histories, and statistics showing the percentage of Christians among different people groups and in different areas.  The Joshua Project collects data from numerous organizations enabling it to give broad information about almost everywhere in the world.

One of the unique and exciting aspects of our North West Africa Trip can be defined as ”relational mapping.”  Relational mapping is not only having knowledge about an unreached people group, but building relationships with people as a means of access into such a unreached people group.  Over the past week our team had the opportunity to connect with some friends who are long-term workers in Senegal.  In getting to see and support the things they have going on, we had the opportunity to take a day trip out to a desolate unengaged village.  This marked one of the most energizing and exciting days for our team. Being able to experience this quaint 20 person Fulani Tribe was so energizing. Seeing and experiencing the desperate need for Jesus in this village has given us a refreshed sense of motivation and excitement to keep building on what God is doing.

After receiving a warm welcoming from the entire village, the Chief immediately offered to slaughter a goat for our team. The goat however had to be saved for another time because of the lack of time we had in the village. One of the goals of visiting the village was to bless them with a water purifying system. Unfortunately due to a lack of resources it didn’t turn out the way we hoped, but our friend in Senegal now has a reason for a return visit soon to finish the water project and continue building relationship with this village!

Now having built relationships in this area, understanding the location, living conditions, and tribal norms, our team feels confident to prepare a team to revisit.  One of the exciting things we now know about is the lone Christian living in the village. He is living in secret for his safety. As he deeply longs for his village to know Jesus, pray for this man and for workers to be raised from this harvest! Lastly, continue to pray for us as we continue relationally mapping Africa and piece together how we could get more workers mobilized to engage in these areas.

Want to go to Senegal…?

When I reflect upon the times I have needed God the most, I fail to recollect a time where I have truly sought God’s heart and come up empty handed.  One of my all time favorite promises in scripture is James 4:8a Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.  What I find unique about this promise is that we don’t have to do anything to acquire God’s affection, its already there.  The Father heart of God is an unfailing, never ceasing, consistent love.  One my favorite ways to understand this concept of drawing near is looking at it in the form of love languages. David Watson says God’s love language to us is grace and mercy.  Our love language to God is loving obedience.  The amazing part of it is that God’s grace and mercy is always available to us, its only if we desire to see it.  Ultimately God’s desire seems quite simple, obedience.  God doesn’t desire the kind of obedience where he is a power tripping King sitting on his throne, waiting to throw a lightning bolt at us when we fail.  Rather God eagerly desires for us to take delight in, rejoice in, and draw near to Him! John 14:15 If you love me, you will obey me.  So when obey God, an intimate relationship has formed.  The relationship has an opportunity grow everyday, but that relationship depends on you drawing near!

Photo by Anna Chan

Last week our team had the opportunity to explore a portion of the Sahara Desert in Mauritania. After staying a few nights in the desert, the men on our trip decided to join the fashion and purchase a turban! I happened to purchase my turban from an 18 year old boy spoke some English.  After eating two nights at the restaurant near where he worked, our team was invited over to the boys house for tea.  We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to meet his family and drink Mauritanian tea! We had tea on a carpet in the sand under the countless stars.  We had the opportunity to communicate with the boy we wanted to pray for him and his family.  After he understood through an Arabic translation what we meant, he responded that he desires to know the truth between our religions. He wants to know the true way to God. We had the chance to briefly share a picture with him that we use called the Kingdom Circles. The kingdom circles compare the similarities between our Christianity and Islam, but explains that there is one way to God that is Jesus.  I have exchanged emails with this boy and we are going to communicate through Ramadan. Please pray that as he draws near to God, God reveals the truth to him! I am filled with hope for this boy and this area because God is not the God of confusion.  His faithfulness that continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:5)

Over the weekend we have received an opportunity to build a bio sand filter for an entirely unreached village. The bio sand filter is used to purify nearly all viruses from unclean water.  We are currently staying with some workers from our organization who hope to gain access to this community. Please pray for favor!

Ps - Hawkeye sighting in St Louis...  St. Louis Senegal that is!

Atlas Mountains

Pslam 149:4a For the Lord takes delight in his people.

After an extended string of days in the Atlas Mountains, I am left more certain than ever this verse rings true.  I feel so energized and encouraged by God's love for his people it's hard to begin to place something this big into words, but I will try!  Originally our team planned to stay one night in the mountains, but that quickly changed to four.  I feel more than privileged to get experience our glorious God’s creation of the Atlas Mountains; trekking in through, and around the mountains and rivers. Although it was surreal, I am left more captivated by our God's unique creation and love for the Berber tribes.  Before we even got out of our vehicles, I knew this was a special culture.  Children flocked from the rocks and fields just to wave at our passing cars.  Nearly everyone we passed, whether in the field working or riding along side the road on a donkey was overjoyed by our passing.  Not to mention the two homes who allowed us to stop in for tea and bread.

A small town in the middle of the Atlas

At the end of our first day of travel we stopped for the night to get some rest in a small mountain town.  A team member and I were two minutes into our walk of exploring the town before we were stopped by two guys we will call Hammu and Shane. Shane was a friendly tourist from England, and Hammu was a local Berber. After hearing many stories from Shane about the numerous villages and paths that exist off the map that Hammu had led him to. We felt we couldn't pass up the opportunity to interact with more Berber's and nomads.  We tried planning a few different routes to get to some of these unengaged areas, but since they weren't on our map we weren't sure how we would get through.  Luckily for us Hammu offered to journey with us for the next few nights to take us to this villages!  Are first night with Hammu  was incredible.  The highlight came when we were able to share the gospel with Hammu from creation to Christ around the camp fire.  Besides the small viper snake beneath my tent the following morning, things couldn't have been better! Pray for Hammu, pray the Holy Spirit reveals the truth to him!

"Hammu"

The next week for our team will consist of traveling through a couple countries to reach our next destination. Please pray safety over our vehicles, health, and for divine appointments where Christ's love can be revealed!