Dear praying friends, March, 2017
I recently was listening to a message preached by an evangelist where he spoke harshly concerning missionaries who thinly veil requests for money under a cloak of expressing their need for prayer. It’s undoubtedly an important rebuke to heed, that when asking for prayer to make sure that prayer is what you are really asking for. Praying expresses our humble reliance on God in hopeful expectation that He willact according to His divine plan, while weoffer up ourselves to Him in hopes of being used in fulfilling that plan. As John Bunyan wrote, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”
In light of these words, I do express how thankful we are to be a part of a team of dedicated praying friends who expect great things from God. Please understand that when I ask for your prayers, I am asking you to partner with me to petition God to do a spiritual work.
Survey trips:
I have written recently about two survey trips where I had planned on visiting multiple African countries along with my sons. Both surveys have now been completed, and we are grateful for how the Lord directed and protected. He did so by both placing and removing obstacles along the way. For example, In December when my son Jamison and I were surveying Rwanda, we endeavored to go in to Burundi also but were denied access. But, when my other son, Shawn, and I were unable to go to South Sudan in February because of eruptions of violence, the door was open to visit Burundi instead. All along the way, the Lord clearly guided and guarded, directed and protected so we would go where He wanted us to go when He wanted us to get there! For that, we are most grateful! I have included a more extensive reporting of our survey in a separate letter.
Severing ties:
We had formerly reported how the Lord had brought Pastor Nicodemus and his family to our village to assume the role of pastor over our church plant. During my absence, he has been able to lead the church maturely and wisely. He has gone through much ridicule for answering the Lord’s call to come, but has stood strong both in conviction and courage. The road ahead of him will be difficult as he acclimates to this new area. Please pray that the Lord will sustain him and his family long term. Thank you for your prayers.
Soaring times:
Yes, time has flown. Thirteen years has now passed since we landed at Kilimanjaro Airport here in Tanzania. Our goals have always been evangelism, discipleship, church planting and leadership training. These goals remain the same as we look to assist in directing the Gospel Furthering Fellowship in the years to come. We pray the Lord will use these survey trips to help inspire others to pray for workers to consecrate their lives to missionary service in these places. We trust it will be so. Thank you for praying with me.
But, right now, we are looking to prepare for our departure in about 6-weeks’ time on May 2nd. We still need to pay for airline tickets. We still need to sell most all our possessions and close out the house we’ve been renting. Then, we still have dealings with seeing the new mission being officially registered so we can see future missionaries come here. These things are all very time sensitive issues and we appreciate your thoughtful prayers. We thank you for every time you pray. May God bless you for your love of the Lord and for His work.
Serving the Lord with gladness,
Rodney & Lynn Myers (Shawn, 17, Jamison, 15, Moriah, 12, & Cherith, 10)