Back in Omaha with Grateful Hearts

It is good be HOME!  Our hearts are overflowing with gratefulness toward God for allowing us to go the the people of Burkina Faso, West Africa with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Pastor Teran Anderson preached so mightily at the crusades!  He came right out of the gate declaring the saving power of God… It was a joy to behold.  Both crusade nights (one in an open field on the Fetsival grounds and one downtown in the city) he was anointed, well-spoken, came with power and many received Christ in response to the preaching!  Pastor Teran Anderson may say Merrr-sayyyy instead of Merci, but when speaking of God’s MERCY…he is no joke, shaking the gates of hell to release the captives! 

I think Denny Hartford must be comfortable teaching the Word of God anywhere to any group in the world!  His teaching on the Biblical philosophy for children’s ministry just flowed out of his heart into the hearts of the people.  His presence was comforting for me and Amy…. kinda like having a Dad around (especially when we had to recruit him to protect us from a mean dog).  Watching him with PEOPLE is so fun because he’s just ooozzing with God’s love…. chatting, genuinely interested, excited about what the other person is saying, rejoicing in God’s work in their lives, focused on who they are…. very cool to witness… for real:  A True Shepherd. 

Adrian Jerry was willing to do anything for the work of the ministry!  Set things up, run the camera, play ball with kids, lead a Festival team for games, carry supplies.  All while being winsome and ready with a smile.  Adrian’s outgoing personality was used by God for him to build relationship with bunches of people.  Where I would be a little nervous to chat or reach out because of the language barrier, Adrian could just flow with no problem meeting people everywhere we went and being a great representative of Christ to everyone he met.

Femi could run the country!  Amy and I always felt safe because Femi was in charge no matter what.  He would see to it all us ducklings were in a row and counted and taken care of and that everything was arranged and precisely in place!  Always happy and singing and ready for anything. His teaching ministry on marriage was fantastic of course and the questions he got from some of the people made for some interesting moments.  He is ready in season and out of season and God used him to lead and to teach and to encourage.  The bell ringing to call us to dinner was hilarious.

Eagle’s Nest, you could nothave been more proud of Amy!  She represented you well!  God used her giftings and talents and her hard work ethic and her love for children to bring Jesus to Birkina Faso.  She is brave and willing to do anything, quick on her feet, knows what to do to fix any challenge, willing to do the HARD WORK of the ministry, sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit and has a servants heart.  Am I gushing?  (ooops, I love the stuffing outof her, I can’t help it!)  What a blast to watch her teach the adults, love the children, preach the Gospel to the kids, harass Pastor Taran, eat only bread and rice for a full week, sing and play, make props, map out and set up the entire Festival grounds… she never stopped. 

THANK YOU PATRICE FOR HEARING GOD’S HEART.  Thank you for inviting each of us to participate in the vision God gave you to reach the children and families of Burkina Faso.  The effects of this ministry trip will be told of for years to come because you heard and then responded to the call of God to GO AFTER THE CHILDREN.  Thank you, sir, for leading, praying, arranging, working and believing to make this trip happen.  Our lives will never be the same as a result of your obediance to God.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PRAYED AND WHO GAVE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. 

Much love,  Pastor Kristen

This entry was posted on 7. October 2008 at 15:36 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.