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God's Strength
04/02/2011
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Where are your Riches?
03/22/2011
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PRESSING ON . . . .
03/07/2011
“… But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal …” Phil. 3:13-14
 Even as we watch Cote d’Ivoire continue down a path that is uncomfortable for us, we know that God is still at work. He has a plan and we are seeking to follow His leading. We cannot continue to put ministry on hold. So, we are pressing on toward what is ahead, knowing that plans may change from day to day. But God’s plan will finally be accomplished and we want to be involved in it wherever we can be. As the old Church of God song affirms, “I’m going on, I’m going on, until the final triumph, I’m going on!”
Today, students will be traveling to Yamoussoukro to begin classes tomorrow at IBAO (West African Bible Institute) with the Church of God. Some of the students will need to pass through different military check points, please keep them in your prayers. Larry will be teaching for the next two weeks on the Doctrines of the Church of God. We ask that if you feel led, please pray for these students who will leave their families for 2 weeks to study.
Also, some Pastors and Leaders of the TEE (Theological Education by Extension) program will be traveling to Yamoussoukro for a staff Meeting with Kay Critser set for tomorrow.
One of our main thrusts for the Church of God in Cote d’Ivoire is to teach up and coming leaders to be prepared as those who will follow after us to lead the church effectively with vision and competence.
Pressing on together for Him,
Larry and LeAnn
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There is always Hope !
03/05/2011
What does the word HOPE mean to you?
Webster’s Dictionary describes hope as ”to cherish a desire with expectation of fulfillment” or “trust of fulfillment”.
As we look around the world at this moment many people are expressing their HOPE for a future with more freedom and possibilities. These people are even willing to put their lives on the line to express the desire of their hearts! This week there were 7 women killed in Abidjan as they tried to express peacefully their HOPE for their Presidential Candidate to be given his rightful place after winning the elections. We all have witnessed the HOPE that Egyptians, Tunisians, Libyans and other persons have expressed overtly seeking freedom from overpowering governments that do not represent or respond to the aspirations of their people.
This idea of hope has gripped at our hearts the last several months and especially this week as we have watched what is happening just 3 hours away from our home -- at this time still a safe haven. We have watched people put feet to their hope, such as women peacefully marching, congregations having all-night prayer services to lift up their hope in the Lord’s ability to deliver Cote d’Ivoire, women from across northern Cote d’Ivoire gathering together to study the Word, despite not having electricity or water (Praise the Lord, the electricity was restored today!), and people under attack for expressing their beliefs without seeking retaliation.
Do we have hope? Yes, we do! Where does this hope come from? Our hope comes from the Lord. He is the HOPE of Glory! He is a God of hope! We have been reminded this week of a couple of scriptures that encourage us to continue to hope. One is in Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Another one is in Romans 15:13 :“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” The hope we carry does not necessarily come from us, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit in our circumstances of life no matter what they may be.
So what are you hoping for in the coming weeks ?
Hoping in the will of God,
Larry and LeAnn
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Il n'y a pas de . . . . . . . . . .
02/19/2011
Presidents Gbagbo and Ouattara
The French phrase above means “there isn't any . . "
This seems to be a common phase about many commodities throughout the country these days. The latest and perhaps the most concerning is that there isn't any money. Is this true? We do not know, but what is true is that seven (7) international banks closed their doors this week. With banks being closed, people will not be able to get to their funds. More and more people will have less and less funds to use for meeting their basic needs. Four of these banks have been seized by the incumbent president Gbagbo. He ordered troops to break into these banks and secure them. He says that this is so that Ivorians can have access to their accounts. Critics think it is so that his government can have access to much needed money to pay government workers and the military who are the ones keeping him in power. The opposing government is condemning this as illegal bank robbery as is most of the international community including the USA. Many see this as a last ditch effort of desperation by the outgoing president to hold on to power. He also reinstated curfews for this weekend and heightened military presence to try to keep the opposition from holding demonstrations planned for many areas of the country. Reports are coming in of some clashes in areas of Abidjan during the night and today as demonstrators try to march despite the crackdown. Many are calling for “Revolution Egyptian-style” to push out the incumbent president and install the newly elected one.
Along with lack of funds there are certain items that are becoming more and more difficult for the people to find. Cooking (propane) gas is non-existent in many areas. Some taxis have changed their source of fuel from liquid to propane gas because it is cheaper to run. However, with a shortage on propane, many taxis are not operating. There are fears that diesel and gasoline may run short in the near future as well. This along with the general insecurity have caused transport costs to increase, which in turn has increased the prices of most commodities that people consume regularly. So the economic consequences of this current crisis are far more worrisome and critical to the ordinary people than is the political intrigues that fill the newspapers and media every day. We are already hearing of cases in the North especially of people dying in villages of easily treatable conditions because they cannot afford to go to the hospital. The sister of a wife of one of our pastors bled to death this week after giving birth because she could not get adequate medical care in time.
God in His providence has provided a bountiful harvest at just the right time of many fruits, vegetables and primary staples that people depend on for food. So, though money is in short supply, people can still find something to eat at least in the countryside.
These next few days are likely to be decisive in what direction the country will take. Please pray with us for Cote d’Ivoire, the panel of five African presidents coming on Monday, and for God’s solution to this crisis to be sought and applied.
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Which one do we obey ?
02/18/2011
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This is one of those funny things that, when it happens you catch yourself asking, “Which one should I obey”? Which one would you obey ? Those of us who drive cars or motorcycles do our best to obey the traffic lights, but when their wires get mixed up it leaves the motorist with a decision to make!
Yesterday we traveled to Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivoire to do a few errands. The trip usually takes about 2 ½ hours each way, depending on traffic. We needed to go downtown to a government building. As we approached an intersection, we noticed the traffic light had both red and green lights lit at the same time. It presented us with a dilemma. Which light are we to obey? If we proceed, we will be disobeying the red light. But if we stop, we will be disobeying the green light. Either way, disobedience is inevitable.
It struck us that this is what the people here in Cote d’Ivoire are facing at the moment. We have two men claiming to be president of the country. Each one is giving opposite orders to the people. For instance, one president is telling people that they must pay their taxes to the government, as he is the one in the position to receive those funds. But the other president is telling people not to pay their taxes in order to keep the funds from going to his opponent. The big question is whom do you obey. This is being played out in many areas of life and business. The population is caught in the middle and is not sure how to proceed. So, much of life is on hold and people do not know whether to stop or go.
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24) Which one will you obey today?
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Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take. Jer. 31:21
02/15/2011
Why would the Lord tell Jeremiah to put up road signs, guideposts and to take note of the highway? Is this a message that should be of importance to us today?
Two weeks ago we made a trip into Burkina Faso, we had never been to Ouagadougou, the capital city, so we sought the advice of others for the best way to go, we made sure we had a map and we even took Pastor Yassia who has been to Ouagadougou on several occasions. We made note of the road and its condition as we traveled to help with on our return trip. As it turned out, the trip was not difficult as the road is well marked with signs and guideposts, so it was easy to follow and to return back the next day. The signs and guideposts that were obviously put up by those who went before us and knew the way to go made the trip much easier and more enjoyable.
God frequently sets up signs and guideposts for us along life’s way to make the trip easier and more enjoyable, and to help us get to the final destination. He uses others many times to help us take note of the highway and watch the road that we take. We are thankful for so many who have provided guideposts for us along life’s way. We think of older missionaries who were instrumental early in our missionary career to set up some well-placed guideposts for us to help us stay on the right road. We would have had a much bumpier trip had it not been for their forethought and willingness to share from their experience.
Now that we have been traveling down the road for several years, we would like to share some of the guideposts and reflections that we have had, even as we continue to benefit and learn from those set up before us. For this reason, we are starting our first attempt at keeping a blog – to put up some signs and guideposts for other fellow travelers on the road. This blog will seek to inform you of what God is doing in us and in West Africa through us and through others as well. And perhaps we can offer a few insights on the trip and the sights we see as we bump down the highway.
We hope you enjoy it and find it helpful as you make your way down the road as well. We hope to include photos from time to time of the scenes we may see along the way. Unless otherwise stated, all photos are our original work. Our prayer is that this blog may make your trip a bit smoother and more enjoyable as you head on down your highway.
Bon Voyage,
Larry and LeAnn
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