I’ve been waking up early (like 5am) and can’t go back to sleep.  Getting a lot of work done!

Just about got all the packing done for the trip to Niger.  Still kind of hard to figure out how much stuff to take.  Does no running water mean no way to wash clothes?  Guess I’ll be kinda funky after a while.  Normally, I go native.  I see what the people wear, and that’s what I adopt.  Not sure the rest of the team is into that concept.  I always figure that the people that live there long term have got clothing that works best.

Trying to rest and get completely over my cold.  Still stopped up.  Please, Lord.  Speed this healing!

I want to go spend time with Jesse.  He likes going to the bookstore with me.

Peace.

On Monday, Carl & Pat Barrington, Dianne Sheintal and I will head to Niger, W. Africa for 12 days. We’ll be working with the Fulani people WAY out in the bush with no electricity nor running water. We’ll be working with Dr. Cherry Faille. The following is a prayer guide that Dr. Pat Barrington developed for our prayer supporters. Since I doubt I’ll have access to the Web, this prayer guide is the next best way to keeping up with our team. We need your prayers! The Fulani people are nearly 100% Muslim. They need Jesus and we want to show them the Light!

NIGER MISSION TRIP PRAYER GUIDE

Team Members: Carl & Pat Barrington, Tim Cummins, Dianne Sheintal

Feb. 5-17, 2007

We are fully convinced that the two major weapons with divine power in our warfare over darkness are the Word of God and Holy Spirit-empowered prayer. Prayer IS the work.

Monday Feb. 5 – 5:45 p.m. Atlanta–Paris–Niamey, Niger. We arrive in Niger about 4:00 p.m. local time the next day. Pray for our safety and adjustment to a new time zone. Pray that we will make our connection and that we will have no problems at customs and immigration. Pray for Cherry Faile as she drives to pick us up and for the hearts of the Fulani people to be receptive to the gospel. Read and pray Psalm 121 over us.

Tuesday Feb. 6 – After leaving the airport in late afternoon, we will spend the night at the Baptist Mission Center there. Pray for safety and for us to focus on our mission there and not on the circumstances of our accommodations. Pray that we will adjust to the expected high temperatures (about 100 degrees this time of year). Read and Pray II Cor. 10:3-5 over us.

Wednesday Feb. 7 – We will drive about two and a half hours from Niamey over rough roads to the village of Dantiandou where Cherry lives. Pray that Cherry’s pickup truck has no problems. We will unpack and get ready to begin our work. Pray that we will all get situated so no one will be too uncomfortable with no electricity, running water and limited cooking facilities. Pray that the powers of darkness will flee from this area. Pray for our safety from snakes, scorpions and the sun. Also pray that we sleep well in these conditions and that we will focus on God and the Fulani; not our circumstances. Read and pray Psalm 91 over us.

Thursday Feb. 8 – Meet the chief and people of Dantiandou. Pray for the people. Ask God to give us safety and prepare the hearts of the people so that He will be glorified as they are receptive to Him. Pray that our translators are ready and able to help us with everything so the people understand God’s love and His message to them. Pray that we remain healthy and able to adapt to the conditions. Read and pray Romans 12 over us.

Friday Feb. 9 – We will begin going to more remote villages for immunizations, sharing, & praying. Since 98-99% of the people are at least cultural Muslims, pray that God will reveal Jesus to them in dreams or visions so they will come to us and ask more questions and will open their hearts to Jesus and give their lives to Him. Pray that we will be flexible. Read and pray Psalm 3 over us.

Saturday Feb. 10 – In the morning, we will visit the religious leaders in Dantiandou and discuss their beliefs and get to know them. Pray that God will give us opportunities to share Jesus. We continue going to remote villages to do medical exams and vaccines and to tell Bible stories and teach about Jesus in the afternoon. Pray that we focus on Jesus and not on our circumstances. Read and pray Romans 8:28-39 over us.

Niger Prayer Guide – Page 2

Sunday Feb. 11 – We will share God’s word in Dantiandou and then in another village. Later we will visit a small group of believers in Gourmanche Village to strengthen and encourage them and fellowship with them. Read and pray Psalm 19 over us.

Monday Feb. 12 – Pat and Dianne will do medical exams and see pregnant women. Carl and Tim will go by donkey cart to two nearby villages to share the gospel. Pray that God will open the hearts of the Fulani to receive His message. We will show the Jesus film in one of the villages that evening. Pray that the response will be good. Read and Pray Isaiah 55:11-13 and I John 4:4 over us.

Tuesday Feb. 13 – We will go to another village to do medical exams and immunizations, pray for the people and share the gospel. Pray that God will bring people to us who will open their hearts to Him and receive Jesus. Ask Him specifically for new believers. We will also visit the local market to visit the people and pray for them. Ask God for divine opportunities to share with the Fulani people. Read and pray Psalm 46 over us.

Wednesday Feb. 14 – We will share God’s word to the people and do immunizations and health teaching. We will pray for the people and witness as the opportunities present. Ask God to open their hearts to receive Jesus. Read and pray Ephesians 6:10-19 over us.

Thursday Feb. 15 – We will say good-bye to the people of Dantiandou. We will teach in Wuro Hesso on the teachings of Jesus. Later in the day we will drive two and one half hours back to Niamey. Ask God to open the hearts of the people to Jesus. Read and pray Jeremiah 32:17 and Habakkuk 3:2 over us.

Friday Feb. 16 – We will be in Niamey to do some shopping and praying for the people. We will debrief and evaluate our trip. Our plane leaves about midnight for Paris and then Atlanta. Thank and praise God for His work in Niger and ask Him to continue it. Ask Him for safe travel for us to home and to Cherry in her drive back to Dantiandou. Read and pray Rev. 7:9-17 over us.

Saturday Feb. 17 – We arrive in Atlanta about 1:30 p.m. Praise God for all that He has done. Read and pray Psalm 48 over us.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Today was such a great day!

I’m finally starting to get some nguvu (energy in Swahili) back in my old body.  Glad to be on the mend.  Not my usual Tiger Tank self, but getting there.

This morning I went out with a new partner from First Baptist Atlanta–Paula Martin.  I took her over to Azalea Place, Huntington Creek and Huntington Station to introduce her to the managers and get her keys to the apartments.  She’s leading a team of singles from FBA to host valentines parties on February 11th.  I’m sure that the kids will have a great time and so will the singles.  This mission stuff is a win-win for everyone!

After visiting the missions we went over to my “Office Dos”—commonly referred to as El Torreros.  I’ve probably taken 200 people to eat over there over the years.  As we ordered, I was taken aback when she started speaking Spanish to the waiter.  I hardly EVER hear gringos speak anything but English.  I was shocked.  As we talked, I felt led by the Spirit to share with her about the Mission Service Corps program with NAMB.  She seemed very interested in the idea of raising her support as a NAMB missionary.  Very exciting to have passionate folks like Paula even considering being on the team.

Seems like lately I’ve had a number of folks I’ve led in that direction.

I’m not sure if you like movies, but my favorites are always the team building themes, whether it’s for a football team, military operation or bank theft.  I love the idea of all these different characters coming together bringing their unique gifts that results in winning the big game.  I’m all about the TEAM, baby!

I regularly have people tell me, “We need 10 more Tim Cummins!”  I’m not sure if that’s a good idea but I’m doing my best to replicate myself as many times as possible.  Pray that the Father will continue to put people in my sphere of influence that I can get in the game.

After my meeting wtih Paula I went over to my office to work on email and catch up on phone calls.  I have a cell phone, but I’m a believer in giving whomever I’m with my total attention.  When I get you on the phone, you have my total attention. Otherwise you go to voice mail.

Then on to Kensington Station with some of my favorite partners: Pastor Robert and Shelita Carter and Minister McGee.  I had an INCREDIBLE time with them introducing them to the manager of the largest apartment complex in Georgia–Carlos Martinez.  He’s a super cool guy and really interested in helping this complex come back from being a total war zone to a happy, healthy community.  When I first started working over there the cops would ask me, “What kind of piece are you carrying?  Glock, Smith and Wesson?” When I told them “the Bible,” you’d always see their eyebrows go up  like I was crazy.  Maybe I was.  “We never go there without back up.  Never.”

I always have back up, too.  Regular folks just can’t see Him.

The Carters have enormous experience working in challenging areas like Kensington Station (located on Memorial Drive just behind the Dekalb Jail).  When I first started talking to Carlos about this location I was really led by the Father to contact the Carters.  It’s taken some time but it looks like ministry is going to take off over there.

Made me think of Chris Skinner with Atlanta Youth Project–another of my favorite partners.  Two years ago he faithfully ran a basketball program for the kids there.  Because of his work the door was wide open for us now.  Blessings on you Chris!  He’s having a wonderful  ministry at Avondale High School.

After our time at Kensington Station, we went over to Willow Branch to meet with Bennett Ekandem and the team helping the kids there.  I get SUCH a kick out of seeing all these friends of mine get together, sharing, getting fired up about what the Father is doing.  Ray Vaughn with I Teams, Renee with Campus Crusade, Carters with Greater Faith Ministry, Bennett with Family Heritage Foundation. . . .what a crackerjack team!  As we gathered in a circle, Sister Shelita prayed for me as the Barringtons, Diane Sheintal and I head to Niger.  I dig Shelita!  She gets to praying and it’s a Holy Spirit thing!

My friend, I’m not sure where you are in your spiritual journey.  But PLUG IN wherever you are.  You miss the blessings of seeing the Father work all around you.  There is nothing better.

I dig being in the Whirlwind!

Peace.