Team Report – #626S
| Location: | North Africa (Sahara) |
| Date: | Dec 27-Jan 10 2009 |
| Sending Partner: | STEM Share (Mixed Ages) |
“The hand is the original spoon!” Our North African friend teased us as he showed-off the neatly formed ball of rice and sauce in his hand. The rest of us, more accustomed to silverware, were messily working to imitate him — with a very humbling level of success! Sitting there in a tent on a sand-dune we are able to share some good fellowship with a few people from a small minority in their land — followers of Jesus. The math says they are about 1 in every 16,000 people who live here. And yet, in a land where following Jesus is actively discouraged we are encouraged by hearing that our dear ricey-fingered brother has recently gathered a roomful of non-believers to show them the “Jesus” film in their language!
This bold stand is not without cost. His son is not being allowed to advance to the next grade in school because he won’t memorize verses from the Koran.
God once made a promise. “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore…and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." (Gen 22: 17-18) In this land of endless sand our team is here to pray for the answer to that promise. And pray we do! From the top of the highest building in the nation to the place in the Sahara where the road ends. From the quiet peace of the local “House of Prayer” to the boisterous streets of the marketplace.
The team shared their life witness of Jesus in word and deed with North Africans as they interacted with them in University English classes, English clubs, in Sahara tents and treks through the desert. Our simple prayers call on the Lord to “let your kingdom come, let your will be done, here, in this land, as it is in heaven.” With faith that the answer to the promise is coming we return home with new vision and vigor to align ourselves with God’s plan to call the nations to worship Him!
