“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.”  John Piper Pray that the Lord would be glorified by giving two weak, culturally awkward people wisdom in knowing how to love well in a new culture.  Pray God would be glorified in being our strength when we…

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach,  and it will be given him.” James 1:5 Pray that we would know how to help our kids navigate through a new culture even as will be learning it ourselves. Pray that we would truly be channels of wisdom to our children and that we would represent the character of God to them in how we live.  Pray that we would be patient and gentle towards our children even during stressful times. Pray for God to give us grace in home-schooling and that we would know how…

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”   1 Peter 5:6-7 Pray that all of our luggage would arrive at the airport.  Pray that we would learn to drive in Cameroon.  Pray that we would learn to navigate through the markets and walk away with food for dinner.  Pray that we would “get the swing of things” in Africa.  Pray that we would find housing sooner rather than later.  Pray that our children would remember not to drink…

“‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’  Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.  So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”  2 Timothy 2:19-22 Pray that we…

 “I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’  For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.  He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.  You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.” Psalm 91:2-6    Pray that the Lord would protect us while driving in Cameroon. Pray that the Lord…

“Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.”   Psalm 10:15   The terrorist group of Nigeria, the Boko Haram, has also entered the north of Cameroon and kidnapped westerners. Thus many missionaries who once lived in the North were evacuated. We will be living in the South and thus are not considered to be in the danger zone. Pray that the Lord would render the Boko Haram impotent and unable to carry out their terrorist activity.  Pray that there would be divisions within themselves which would thus render their group powerless to…

“Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”  1 Thessalonians 5:21-22  Pray that Dave and I would test what we experience in this new culture according to Scripture rather than according to American culture.  Pray that we would not renounce something because it is uncomfortable or different from our home culture, but that that we would rather abstain the things that God considers to be evil.  Pray that we would be wise in with whom we partner (or choose not to partner) in our ministry.

“If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth,  who will entrust to you the true riches?”  Luke 16:11 Pray that we would live a life of generosity and freely give of our money and our time to those in need. However, pray that we would equally guard our time in Cameroon so that we can translate the Bible (we could easily turn into the local “bank” in the village if we do not set some boundaries). Pray that God would give us wisdom as to when to give and when to not and pray that our motives would be merciful…

One friend said she prayed this verse while we were learning French: “Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead.” – Ezekiel 3:8-9   This verse, taken in the context of the book of Ezekiel, was saying that God would make Ezekiel as stubborn as the people to whom he would be ministering.  Please pray that we, like Ezekiel, would be as stubborn as the language that we are trying to conquer. Pray that our character would be refined as…