Breakthrough Power in Praise Karim came looking for Ray today- saying that a boy wanted prayer, and Paul was not at the base. As we went downstairs I noticed that some of the children in the Dining Hall were singing one of the Bambara praise songs that we had sung the day before in our midweek Prayers gathering. “Too high, too high too high, Jesus is too high. Too low, too low, the serpent is too low.” I smiled as I thought about the IHOP praise music CD's that we have been listening to on our computer these last 2 days. It is 2 different languages and music styles but the same sentiments: Jesus reigns over all and we worship HIM!. (I don't know why we haven't had our praise music on for the past 3 months! We have been praying for a break-thru, and yet were not doing some of the basic things that brings us into God's presence daily. DUH!! ) Ray went to get Joseph to help do translation and we went to the gate to wait for our guest.. An old (probably 10 years younger than Ray, who is NOT old! lol:) gray haired man, dressed in a flowing white kaftan and with a turban on his head, came to the gate and was admitted, leaning slightly on his cane. (So much for our understanding of Karim's summons—at least we got the important part-he was coming for prayer! ) Florentine, whom the cooks had sent on an errand to the local boutique, came in behind him, his hands full of cooking supplies. Between Josephs' developing English and the old man's hand motions, we learned that he was having ear trouble. To encourage the boys to be involved in praying, I took the 4 tiny bags of tomato paste, 6 soup cubes and 2 onions for the cooks, and asked Flo to stay and help pray. Ray and 4 boys-becoming-young men prayed for an elderly neighbor, and we know that God heard! We know because HE promised that where 2 or 3 are gathered, and ask in His name, He hears and answers. They were more than 2 and asked in Jesus name! How thankful we are that we know he hears! A bit later those 4 teens were chiding one of the praise singers for not coming to pray at the gate. They were treating this younger one as a fearful or weak one. It gave me an opportunity to try to talk to them about the power of praise and their different gifts. Since I wasn't sure how clear that message got thru without adequate translation, I spoke it again in our evening family meeting—with Claudia and Paul translating it, first into French and then into Bambara. I was also able to give a word of commendation and encouragement to the whole group for the unique strengths that we see developing in each of them. I told them that 'Yakou' and I have been watching them grow, and that we are proud of them!! We are proud of each and every one with their different gifts and strengths. “I think that today was a good day. I saw you living together as brothers, tussling together and playing together. Some came to the gate and prayed, some stayed in the back and prayed or praised. Know that praise is powerful. It opens the gates of heaven to us. Today was a good day!” You could almost see them sit up a little straighter and really tune in and listen. Pray with us that the lessons we are all learning- or relearning-- take root and flourish, in us and in these boys who are on the journey to being powerful men of God in Mali. As I write this I am smelling the peanut butter cookies that Julie is baking-- I am sampling them too, just to make sure they are OK, you understand. :)) I am also listening to another praise CD: the “Acclaim” CD that my cousin Gaylen Blosser gave me of the men's quartet he is a part of. (God used fb to reconnect us last spring after not seeing each other for probably 40 years, but that is another story!) Thanks Gaylen. I never imagined how powerful a part of our mission here praise songs like this would be. They encourage us and put us back on track, reminding us that the God we serve is in control. “When the facts say that you are almost defeated, the truth says that you have already won. The facts may stack up against you right now, but the truth is that God is on your side!” I need to contact Gaylen again and see if he can send me the words of all the songs so that we can translate some of them into Bambara for our boys. (If the rest of you would like to listen to some good Gospel Quartet music, contact him at Gaylen & Becky Blosser 6655 Woodbriar Lane Greenville, Ohio 45331 --or try fb lol) Be blessed, and continue to be a blessing to those God has put in your life. Mimi in Mali
Breakthrough Power in Praise Karim came looking for Ray today- saying that a boy wanted prayer, and Paul was not at the base. As we went downstairs I noticed that some of the children in the Dining Hall were singing one of the Bambara praise songs that we had sung the day before in our midweek Prayers gathering. “Too high, too high too high, Jesus is too high. Too low, too low, the serpent is too low.” I smiled as I thought about the IHOP praise music CD's that we have been listening to on our computer these last 2 days. It is 2 different languages and music styles but the same sentiments: Jesus reigns over all and we worship HIM!. (I don't know why we haven't had our praise music on for the past 3 months! We have been praying for a break-thru, and yet were not doing some of the basic things that brings us into God's presence daily. DUH!! ) Ray went to get Joseph to help do translation and we went to the gate to wait for our guest.. An old (probably 10 years younger than Ray, who is NOT old! lol:) gray haired man, dressed in a flowing white kaftan and with a turban on his head, came to the gate and was admitted, leaning slightly on his cane. (So much for our understanding of Karim's summons—at least we got the important part-he was coming for prayer! ) Florentine, whom the cooks had sent on an errand to the local boutique, came in behind him, his hands full of cooking supplies. Between Josephs' developing English and the old man's hand motions, we learned that he was having ear trouble. To encourage the boys to be involved in praying, I took the 4 tiny bags of tomato paste, 6 soup cubes and 2 onions for the cooks, and asked Flo to stay and help pray. Ray and 4 boys-becoming-young men prayed for an elderly neighbor, and we know that God heard! We know because HE promised that where 2 or 3 are gathered, and ask in His name, He hears and answers. They were more than 2 and asked in Jesus name! How thankful we are that we know he hears! A bit later those 4 teens were chiding one of the praise singers for not coming to pray at the gate. They were treating this younger one as a fearful or weak one. It gave me an opportunity to try to talk to them about the power of praise and their different gifts. Since I wasn't sure how clear that message got thru without adequate translation, I spoke it again in our evening family meeting—with Claudia and Paul translating it, first into French and then into Bambara. I was also able to give a word of commendation and encouragement to the whole group for the unique strengths that we see developing in each of them. I told them that 'Yakou' and I have been watching them grow, and that we are proud of them!! We are proud of each and every one with their different gifts and strengths. “I think that today was a good day. I saw you living together as brothers, tussling together and playing together. Some came to the gate and prayed, some stayed in the back and prayed or praised. Know that praise is powerful. It opens the gates of heaven to us. Today was a good day!” You could almost see them sit up a little straighter and really tune in and listen. Pray with us that the lessons we are all learning- or relearning-- take root and flourish, in us and in these boys who are on the journey to being powerful men of God in Mali. As I write this I am smelling the peanut butter cookies that Julie is baking-- I am sampling them too, just to make sure they are OK, you understand. :)) I am also listening to another praise CD: the “Acclaim” CD that my cousin Gaylen Blosser gave me of the men's quartet he is a part of. (God used fb to reconnect us last spring after not seeing each other for probably 40 years, but that is another story!) Thanks Gaylen. I never imagined how powerful a part of our mission here praise songs like this would be. They encourage us and put us back on track, reminding us that the God we serve is in control. “When the facts say that you are almost defeated, the truth says that you have already won. The facts may stack up against you right now, but the truth is that God is on your side!” I need to contact Gaylen again and see if he can send me the words of all the songs so that we can translate some of them into Bambara for our boys. (If the rest of you would like to listen to some good Gospel Quartet music, contact him at Gaylen & Becky Blosser 6655 Woodbriar Lane Greenville, Ohio 45331 --or try fb lol) Be blessed, and continue to be a blessing to those God has put in your life. Mimi in Mali
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