News from Niamey, Niger

 

Prayer needs:  When I was sick I know that the prayers of my friends and loved ones meant everything and they enabled me to get through a tough time. So I need you to please be in prayer for the following: My supervisor has shoulder and arm pain. It is not diagnosed as yet what is causing this, but it continues to get worse. Another missionary has knee problems, another has back problems, and yet another is facing back surgery. All have been flown to South Africa to been seed by doctors there. This is hard on the family member who must remain behind to do ministry. Please pray the Lord will give wisdom to the doctors as they test, make diagnosis for each one, and prescribe treatment. Also pray the surgery will be successful and recovery will go well. We know the Lord has all of this in His hands and is right there to give peace and comfort to each one. Being human as we all are, we can focus on the problem instead of the Lord in times like these. I know that with all of you praying for these dear missionaries they will experience the Lord’s presence, peace and healing. Thank you so much.

 

Prayer for Marie: This is my student who will be teaching ESL when I leave. In June she is scheduled to have surgery for female problems. Please pray that the Lord will heal her. Medical problems here in Niger are poor at best. She does not have the luxury of going to South Africa where there are decent knowledgeable doctors.

 

Passing the baton:  God has answered my prayers. My student, Marie, has agreed to teach ESL when I leave. I know that this is of the Lord because He confirmed this to me in my prayers for her. It is exciting to see how the Lord has worked in the lives of my students. I would ask you to keep her and me in your prayers as we go through this transition period. She will need God’s guidance and strength since she is a wife, mother of two and also works in her church as a secretary. Thank you for your prayers.

 

Praises: Last evening around 8:30 I looked out my window to see a real blessing. My student, who is also my night guard and a growing Christian, was standing with uplifted hands singing praises to the Lord. As I watched him I could see the joy on his face as he praised the Lord. He loves to sing, write music and is quite a good artist. I thank God for him. He is an inspiration to me and also to many of the lost here.

 

Thanks to all of you for your partnership with me here in Niamey. I could not have done this without your faithful prayers and support. YOU ARE GREAT!!

 

Bonnie

Niger News

Matthew 6:19-21:  I praise the Lord for all the prayers that were prayed while my friend and sister in the Lord, Gayle, was here because I know this had a great affect on events that followed her time here.

            On the night of Feb. 12 at 5 am we had a person (we think a man) break into our house. My room mate was awakened by the flash light as he searched the night stand next to her bed. She, thinking it was me, asked, “What are you looking for?” Upon hearing her, the thief turned and left the room closing the door behind him! When Emily realized it was not me she got up in pursuit. She was not thinking clearly. Thank the Lord he had left by then. We then turned on lights and found our computers were gone, my external mouse, some money, a pair of earrings from my dresser. God protected all of my money and more important He protected our lives. I believe with all my heart our Lord had us covered by the palm of His hand and no harm came to us.

            We kept praying that God would receive glory in this. The very next day one of my newest students, James, came for class in the morning. While two men were working on installing new locks on our doors, this dear young man was lead to the Lord. He prayed to ask Jesus into his heart and all heaven rejoiced. It can’t get much better than that! Our computers will be replaced by insurance and money given back and nothing can take away our peace in our Lord. We celebrate in James’ salvation. We celebrate in the Lord being our refuge in times of trouble and our protector against harm. We celebrate the power of prayer and fasting and how the Lord answers.

            The week before Gayle left, we both presented the plan of salvation clearly to our guard, Mohamed. But he did not want to pray. Now he has been fired as our guard because he was asleep when the robbery took place. Please pray for him and that the Lord will work through this in his life.

Colossians 2:6:  Today I went to turn on my air conditioner with the remote control, which is the only way it can be turned on, only to discover it had been stolen as well! I became angry and frustrated about this and all kinds of negative thoughts flooded in uninvited. But praise the Lord that my new I-pod with all my Christian music on it was not taken even though it was sitting on my desk next to my computer. I put on this praise music and had to listen to many songs and cried some healing tears until the flood of negativity was gone and I was able once again to be positive and go forward. One of the songs about God’s faithfulness and then the song reminding me that my help comes from the Lord has ministered to me in this storm. He has never left my side and I praise Him. Yes, I must work at building myself up in my faith but He is faithful even when I am weak. I realize I must put into practice His word when the hard times come. Oh, how awesome to be ministered to by our Lord, for it is 5:00 in the morning and it is just me and my Lord. Oh, how loving He is.

            It is in the hard times that we see just how wonderful our Lord is. Thanks to all the people who continually lift me up in prayer, I will be fine and continue to finish this course. God bless each of you with His most rich blessings.

            Thank God for the director of Samaritan’s Purse for the use of his old computer until I leave for home in August.

 

Love and prayers, Bonnie

 

A Salute to Volunteers:

          Many of our volunteers are committed to come to a place they have never been and stay with strangers while they are here. They commit to pay their own way and all their expenses while they are here. Then they go the extra mile and want to give the missionaries gifts from home, supplies needed, or treat them to a meal at a restaurant all at their own expense.

          While they are here they pray for many things they see and realize need to be prayed about. They lift up those who live and work here and the lost of this land. They pray for the government officials, the lack of food and medical needs of the country. They pray for the missionaries and their children as they see needs and become aware of our lives here in a foreign culture. They do willingly all that is asked of them while here and ask nothing in return. They just want to help and serve and share the love of the Lord with all. They give their time, energy, talents, without complaint or restraint.

          In their enthusiasm they bring much encouragement and hope to the missionaries and their families. They come as strangers and leave as part of our families. They go home with a story to tell and hearts bursting with love for a people and culture they never knew existed before and they will never be the same. God uses each volunteer in ways they could never have dreamed of and He changes their lives because they had the faith to come.

I praise the Lord for each volunteer He has sent to work here in Niger. THANK YOU!

 

    The Joy of the Lord: This is what a 73 year old Tameshek believer looks like when he dances before his Lord to bring Him honor and praise. His testimony is that he loves the Lord and thanks Him for saving him and keeping him well and gives him life. Continue to pray for these people here to know the Lord and His grace in their lives.

Thank you all for your prayers for me and those here in Niger.

 

Bonnie McMinn, Colossians 1: 9-14        

September 2008 Update

Beats the mortality rate!

Sunday at the African church I attend, an old man got up and said in Tamashek, today I am 73 years old. It is only by God’s grace because if not for being a child of God I would be dead by now. (Not an exact quote) Then he proceeded to worship the Lord in song and dance. He does this every week faithfully. I too praised the Lord for his life in Christ.

 

An African Church

I arrive at 10:30 and the service is in full swing and I do mean swing! I love the music. There is a key board, many kinds of African drums, percussion instruments with the people singing in many rhythms. I can not stand still, I must move my feet, clap my hands and sing as best I can, for I do not speak French. But I am getting to know the songs that are sung over each week. The men come forward dancing and singing with such smiles on their faces and you can not help yourself, you join in and smile and know that the Lord is good. But this dancing to the Lord is amazing. All of this continues to perhaps 12 noon and then the pastor, a very fine preacher of God’s word, will give his sermon. (Interpreted for me) He is so animated that he can not stand still and is all over the church. At the end when it is time to worship the Lord with giving. A basket is put on a table and all will give what they can as they all come forward in dance, and clap to the music as they put their offering into the basket. It is awesome to see smiles as they give.  I am always so blessed to go and worship among people from every tribe, nation and tongue as it should be. Thank you, Lord, for such a great blessing.

 

A Godly wife

One of my students asked me to pray for him. I said I would and asked what is your need? He said he wants a Christian wife. He wants, a women who loves to follow Jesus, she doesn’t want to paint her nails and face and wear tight clothes. He said there are not Christian women that truly follow Jesus. He is 43 years old and loves the Lord. So I prayed, then he prayed in the Tamashek language. You see in this land of Islam, a Christian women, is very hard to find. But with God nothing is impossible.

 

Rain and Malaria

Praise the Lord for all the rain we have had. We have been getting rain every night and sometimes in the day as well. I have never seen the millet here in Niamey so high. But along with all this wonderful rain the mosquito that carries malaria is very plentiful as well. I have medicine I have to take each day I live here to prevent me from contracting this disease. Unfortunately, the African does not have the knowledge or the funds to take preventive medicine. So many contract malaria and suffer.  Many die. So please pray for these lost souls to survive another day to hear about the love of Jesus for them.

 

Ramadan

During this month of Muslims prayer 5 times a day and fasting each day I would ask that you pray very aggressively for the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin, to see the futility of their lives, and to seek to know the truth of God’s Word. 

 

I thank all of you for your continued prayers.

God bless all of you,

Bonnie McMinn

News from Niamey

Abubacar:  The door bell rang; my student came to visit because he had missed class for a week. He and I had prayed together for the Lord to give him a job. He was so excited and said God answered our prayers. I have a good job but it starts at 7 at night and I can’t come to class. He was so happy when I told him to come in the mornings. This has changed the dynamics of my class for the better. This student was at a higher English level than his class mates and now he can go forward at a faster pace. God knows what is best and He is faithful.

 

Hands On and ESL:  Eighteen young adults from America , in the Hands On program came to our ESL class to share their testimonies with my students. They all sat on mats and my students introduced themselves. Then they listened while the others shared what Jesus had done in their lives. There were times of laughter, times of just listening. When it was over I could see that my students had questions. Some of them understood more of what was shared than others. One of my students laughed and said “they just kept saying, Jesus this and Jesus that, Jesus did everything.” My prayer is that one day these students will know our Jesus, the only Name by which man can be saved. (Acts 4:12)

 

Rainy Season:  Yes, it is the rainy season. Keep praying for the needed rain in Niger . The crops are not good this year due to lack of rain. I have seen the Lord give us rain each time we have prayed for Him to do this. We are still praying and need you to continue to join with us.

 

Conversations: While mentioning to one student that I only have a year left before I return to the States, he asked me if I would come back. The Lord used this to openly share my heart’s desire with him. I stated that I followed where the Lord told me to go to serve Him. He brought me to Niger for a season and He will show me where I am to go next. But I also said that when I die I know I will go to heaven because I believe in Jesus. I told him that my prayer is my students will know and believe in Jesus as well. Then if we never see each other here we will meet again in heaven.  This student, while he reads his French Bible, is still not a believer. Please pray that when the Lord opens up such conversations they will have the affect upon the person that God intends them to have. I could see in his expression he was very thoughtful.

 

Phone lines: For what ever reason, we have been without a phone line at my house for about a month off and on. When this happens we can not use our internet to reach out to all of you. Nor can I receive information and communication from home. It is such a source of frustration to me and the rest of our mission community. Our office internet is not working well either. We need you to pray it will all get fixed soon. 

 

God’s blessing upon all, Bonnie

Philippians 1:3-11 

July News from Niamey, 2008

On July 7^th my Mother went home to the Lord. She had suffered many years with ill health. She is no longer suffering but in the arms of Jesus. For this I am grateful. It is so hard to see your mom struggle and not be able to help. I praise the Lord for my Step- Father, Joe, who took such loving care of my mom for many years. I also thank the Lord for my two sisters who were able to travel to be with her in her many times of illness. Please pray for my Step-father, Joe in this time of grieving and for all of my family.

 

When I returned from my vacation I was blessed with 4 new English students. I now have 2 different classes in the morning and 2 in the evenings. God continues to bring the Word to these men and I am so thankful. Please continue to pray for their Salvation. One of my students has asked for prayer because his family does not want him to come to class. They want him to work at night as well as in the day time. Please pray this situation will change and he can continue to come to class.

 

 It is the rainy season here in Niamey. Since we are a desert region, we do not get much rain fall and then only at certain times of the year. We have had several storms with high winds and a great deal of rain. I have managed to maneuver down the muddy roads and have not gotten stuck. For this I am very thankful. A few of the trees are now missing from the front of the house due to high winds. Oh well, I guess the goats will have to find their next meal somewhere else! I thank the Lord for each rain we have so it will produce the needed food crops for the people. Please pray for the rains to be plentiful and the crops to be abundant.

 

Well, I love to travel but there are occasionally slight mishaps. I went to take a picture of this awesome storm today only to discover my camera no longer works. I guess it was dropped and bounced around in my luggage one too many times. So unless I can borrow a camera, I will not be able to send any new photos in my news letters, sorry.

 

Thanks to all of you for supporting me in prayer. The Lord is awesome and I am getting to join Him in His work here in Niger. I am blessed.

 

Bonnie

June 2008 News letter from Niamey

Thanks to all of you for your prayers. My time in the States was so good. My flights were good. I made all my connections and when I returned to Niamey all my luggage arrived with me on the same plane!! That was surely answered prayer!

As with all grandparents, I will take a second to brag. I was able to see not only 4 of my grand children but also spend time with my great grandson. I was so blessed to see my oldest grandson play baseball and also my great grandson play wee-ball. What a blessing to watch these two fine athletic boys as they had fun at what they love to do. I was blessed by my oldest grand daughter by the fact that she is a prayer warrior and I was blessed to spend quality time with her in prayer. My youngest grandson, 15 and granddaughter, she is 5 years old, are both very smart. She loves to sing, he loves to play the guitar. They made a good pair. My sons and daughters are all well and now that I have spent time with them I miss them all the more now that I am back in Niger. Isn’t that how it always is? I thank the Lord for having such special children and grandchildren.  OK, so I took more than a second to brag!! God gave me time with good friends and an added blessing to see my twin sister for a weekend. It was great and I am blessed.

When I returned I received a phone call from one of my students to welcome me home. I was so blessed. His English was much improved and I could understand him over the phone. These students have been faithful to attend English class since June of 2007. We had a celebration meal together and they turned in the home work I had given them before I left. I was so blessed by them completing their assignments. It was not easy and they all did very well. The Lord has given me a great group of men to work with.

I went to visit Fatti and her family. She is well and the baby is growing. We had time to sing “This is the day the Lord has made” together and she remembered every word. She also has been listening to the Bible on tape. What a joy to see her growing in the Lord.

Please continue to pray for the salvation of my students. Since they learn English using the book of Mark, they will read the plan of salvation eventually. I pray they will understand and receive in the Lord’s time.

 

 God bless all, Bonnie