We've asked you to pray for the development and use of the Storying Cloth, which was developed to share the Gospel with Maasai, an oral-based people. Here is just part of a report from one of our team members, John Shepherd, a retired pastor who comes several times a year to the Narok area of Kenya to share Christ with Maasai, particularly the Nyankusi (old men).
There is the story about getting stuck in the mud up to the running boards and while waiting for a tractor to come and pull us out, we lead an old man and two other young men to the Lord…just as we were saying the AMEN in the prayer to receive Christ the tractor arrives, another “Missionary Moment”! Then there is the story of the Sunday gathering with eighteen men to hear more of the stories that I had shared with them the week before. When we finished, one old man stood up and said, “This is a first, never before have old men gathered on Sunday to hear stories about the Son of God”!
There is the story of the Market Day in Ntulele (this is a day during the week where small communities bring all their goods, livestock, and things to sell and to buy from each other), where 114 men prayed to receive Christ. Of that number, 38 were old men.
Then on the last day, as this trip was coming to an end, we went into a new community. Word had been sent two days before that the “American Nyankusi” was coming to share with them…they had already heard about what God was doing among the old men and wanted us to come and share with them…well, when we got there 14 men had gathered seven old men, seven young men plus four women. When we finished all 18 prayed to receive Christ. One of the old men stood up and said; "I will be glad to learn all the stories so I can teach them to these men and all the others in our area". When asked what he was going to do with his story cloth, he said I am going to hang it on the wall of my boma so I can study it and share with all who come by.
We cannot drive through our little township without being waved down by a nyankusi wanting to talk and find out when we are coming back to tell more stories. This is not a bad thing at all but very good as we build relationships with these men. The word is fast spreading all over Maasai Land about the “Nyankusi” that looks for old men to share stories about God…they all want to hear. So far, we have not had ONE MAASAI OLD MAN refuse to let us share!! This is a miracle within itself.
We now have twelve Maasai men, Pastors and church leaders, trained to tell the stories and they are busy doing just that with their own people. We also have seven zones established where men will be going to meet with those who have prayed to receive Christ and tell them more of the stories.
For more specifics and pictures of the above experiences, please see Calvary Road's website: www.calvaryroad.com
The following contains portions of a volunteer's Emails to home. Dru Montgomery was on the May team from Calvary Road Baptist
Church in Beaumont, TX. It is such a blessing to read some of what God is doing throughout Maasai-land!
Learning the stories from the cloth was very helpful as I was able to see the whole picture and was useful to talk to locals about God's plan. Observing the life style of the Massai, especially the children, was eye opening to me. Telling a brief personal testimony to the women was more heart felt than I would have guessed. The plane flight was tough, the road trips demanding, the conditions austere, and the shots were problematic. But as Jerry Bridges said, "we are suffering for Jesus."
Ken Shipper
Calvary Baptist Church, Beaumont, TX
One of the first lessons I've learned is, I went and came back from Tanzania excited but people here in the U.S. will only be excited with you for 15 minutes. They only want to think about missions during Lottie Moon Christmas Offering time. Time and money is needed to keep it, repair it, renew it, or update it, whatever it is. Ok, that is the only negative thing and I got that out first.
I still can not believe God gave me, Larry, the opportunity to share His word to the Maasai people and hundreds were saved. I never have been a part of so many being saved during a period of time like this. I witnessed to people, tell people about Jesus Christ, counseled with people and even teach 1st grade Sunday School, but with no results in numbers like I witnessed while we were there in June. To me this was very humbling and it showed me the power of God’s Word, whether read, taught, or preached from a Bible or told from a Story Cloth. When I think of it all, it’s just overpowering. I was nervous and He calmed my heart; I was tongue tied and He cleared my voice; I stumbled through the Story Cloth and He straightened it out; I tried to often to do it myself but He still used me. Too much of "I". Thank you Jesus.
On one of our trips we were with Paul Matee and at this boma a girl was having a "Clawing fit". They asked us to pray. Well, I prayed but Paul PRAYED. I asked myself if I have ever prayed before with that much authority, or power, or compassion and I had not. His prayer was from the heart - he felt the need of the parents and child; he prayed in JESUS name. This is one thing that God revealed it me during this trip. Pray with authority, power and compassion.
Larry Hinson, June team to Tanzania
1st Baptist Church
Port Neches, TX
I went to Africa strictly out of obedience to Jesus command, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” I did not want to go. I felt I could be of much greater use to God’s kingdom by staying in Beaumont and working with the Youth. I felt it would be foolish to get on a plane, fly half way around the world trying to tell a people group about Jesus when I couldn’t even speak their language. That’s what I get for thinking. When I finally surrendered and agreed to go to Africa, God immediately began to grow me. Even before I left the states, God revealed himself like never before. While learning the story cloth, I was able to see for the first time that these “stories” that I thought I already knew were really nothing more than little pieces of God’s plan that he had from the very beginning of time. God's love for mankind and His unceasing desire to connect with us.
After getting to Africa God began to reveal truths to me about his love for us while I was telling his love story to a people that could not understand my language but could understand every word that God was speaking through me.
It was painfully clear to me that I was exactly where God wanted me to be (not in Beaumont working with the youth). I saw total and complete attention on the part of every Maasai we talked to although we had been warned that many would ignore us.
The highlight of the trip was to see the immediate and total positive response of nearly every Maasai that heard the good news we had come to tell them. Their was no hesitation on their part, no looking around to see what the others would do. Just an immediate acceptance and belief of what they had heard.
In summary I went to Africa out of obedience and to go help spread the “good news” to people in Africa. What happened was completely different: God helped me to see His Power and Glory. He helped me to truly see his love for us and helped me to become a tool that he could use for his Glory right here in Beaumont, Texas. Not only with the youth, but whomever he chooses to send my way.
I thank God for causing me to surrender to his command I pray that he will use this as a beginning rather than a highlight.
Jerry Allen, Calvary Baptist Church
Beaumont, Texas
While most of the teams headed out to live in tents, some stayed at the Longido house with Susan and ministered in that area:
Our job was to go out to the Maasai that had already been visited by past mission teams and teach them bible stories in greater detail and answer any questions that they had about the bible stories or being a Christian in general. They were very eager to hear the stories and had many very deep and thoughtful questions. They shared stories with us about sick children they felt God was healing and they just had a fire in their hearts for sharing Christ with their friends and neighbors. By neighbors I mean other Maasai that may live miles away that they would walk to share the stories. One day we went out to a boma (these are the communities they live in) that had never been visited by other mission teams and they had already heard the stories from other Maasai that had. That was such good news to see first hand that they were sharing with one another.
My trip could be summed up in one word: relationships. Christ bestowed the grandest gift to us – to be used by Him to serve the people of this world. We began working in the villages of a magnificent continent by simply pulling up to their dung huts and asking if we could share with them some stories about the one true God.
He truly moved in the hearts of everyone on this trip to move past ourselves and dive into the hearts of these people. The adults of the villages watched with smiles or stared with looks of bewilderment at a race of people who seemed to ‘have it all’ come truly alive in such a barren land simply because God was there, moving, and working.
We were so privileged to spend our days with these people who we instantly considered family and friends. Whether it was playing with kids or teaching bible stories to the adults…I will never forget the tangible joy that existed in those difficult living conditions. I pray my heart never forgets the men and women who oozed out God’s goodness and towered in their faith when they had nothing of physical value but a few scrawny cattle. I pray I never forget watching a small village come under an acacia tree on Sunday morning to sing with a fervor and gusto of God’s goodness and love to which my ears have never heard in churches one hundred times as large
Brandy Boyd
Evangelism & Tradition
...The entire family accepted (Christ)--from old to young, from Moran to young women. They were extremely grateful and I emphasized that we couldn't come back often enough to truly teach them and spread the Word. They would need to meet themselves and learn by themselves (with a local pastor's help). Also, I pointed out a story of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts Ch.8) where an African spread the Word to Africans. We really hope this prevents the abandoned church syndrome. We gave them a kanga and they universally cherish it. The neat thing is how much they appreciate us telling them about God.…
Here's an interesting aside on their evil spirits: almost all Maasai have two small circular scars about three inches below their eyes. We found out that when they are babies an olioboni (Laibon or witchdoctor) takes a glass coke bottle, heats it up and sears the circles in to their skin. The reason is that they believe some evil spirits can enter through one's eyes. They create these false eyes to fool the spirits in to entering the wrong set of eyes. It is extremely common. We tell about Satan and demons, I am hopeful that our concept of Grace and the complete saving power of forgiveness helps end that tradition.
The Tuesday before we left (the US) we practiced and some were clearly nervous/overwhelmed/ afraid/all of the above. The more we do it, however, there is this kind of spiritual momentum. Everyone gains confidence, the Holy Spirit takes over and I was blown away by the confidence and effectiveness of my team members. Gone was any hesitation and that is a truly fun place to be. I will really not have any excuse regarding sharing when I get home. We've shared in front of warriors, behind cattle, next to acacia trees and it doesn't matter. God really changes you in many ways but one that was obvious was the boldness. It was very special.
Our two bomas were small but filled with very happy families. Today more than ever the loomorani (warriors) stayed focused and more were drawn to our story. It used to be only a few kids, some women and the owner of the boma (the "chairman"). Now all the old guys and the warriors are focusing. Evidently, the Word is spreading and our path is being prepared. I'm telling you it is clear God is working. As a result, … I now have 42 more brothers and sisters in Christ.
I sure am glad this Mission will continue because we simply cannot get back (to that boma) with this trip. Truer words were never said when it was written "the harvest is plenty but the workers are few".
Being Moved by Jesus' Sacrifice
...When we arrived at the church it was on a hill and looked deserted. It certainly was not. It was an affirming sight seeing all of the walking sticks stacked up next to the door and the singing coming out. They sing wonderfully, some hum, some hit high, some hit low and it's all responsive and focused on Enkai (God) and Yesu (Jesus). I love it.
Most of the people had already heard the stories so rather than summarize what happened we just stated how each story illustrated God's Plan. Knowing that they believed only enhanced our affirmation. It was a very uplifting time because these folks were just like brothers and sisters I'd never met. I have to say, I've been a Sunday School teacher for about four years and have taught many, many classes. I've never coming close to losing it as when I told the story of how God's plan to save us was realized through Jesus dying and living again. While we know that belief and that decision to recognize Jesus as our Lord is a common factor among believers, it was never more evident when you see these people with so little connection with my culture united with that common bond. We all believe, we will all see each other and it's easy to forget our wonderful a gift it is.
Miraculous Healing and Living Water
After the previous team presented the story, some folks asked us to pray for this sick little girl. She was in very, very bad shape. She was conscious but unresponsive. The only thing she could do was claw at her mother's feet. It had only lasted two days. I later saw for myself a huge bump at the back of her head, she may have fallen or developed some condition. In any event, the team prayed for her and she was immediately better. They decided to take her to a clinic and by the time they arrived she could at least sit up.
Three days later she walked to our presentation and was even able to clap and sing some. She was very weak but she looked nothing like the person they described to me.
When we were done reviewing what we had talked about, we addressed some of the lessons in much greater detail. For example, we asked them whether God knew Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit. Everyone agreed that he did, but if you will remember, he asked Adam and Eve why they were hiding. They correctly observed that God wants us to tell him ourselves. It was really affirming to see them grasp the pivotal truth that an all-knowing God still wants us to confess to him our wrongs. Plus, even though he kicked them out of Eden, they understood that God was motivated by love when he sent a plan to be back with Him that two
thousands of years, much suffering and the death of his son. It was a nice way to end a lesson on Yesu.
Well, as soon as we were done they asked us to pray for the little one. When we put our hands on her everyone grouped around very tightly. It was important to them and it made me feel like a happy little cog in a great machine to see us all working together. They understood it was important that the prayer was a group effort and had seen the power of prayer.
As soon as we were done, one of our sweet, sweet Maasai pastors grabbed her and whispered in her ear for three or four minutes. She was responsive and able to accept Christ. It was beautiful because we were very concerned over the injury/condition on her skull and her obvious physical problems. We were able to leave 1.5 liters of drinking water for her medicine but most importantly we left her with Living Water for whatever happened. I know, I know, it sounds like a cliché. But let me tell you, Living Water is more than another phrase for salvation. In this dry primitive land the healing power of Living Water has never been more evident. We were all moved greatly. Sorry if that sounds corny but it was a very moving spiritual experience and it doesn't really lend itself to easy written explanation.
The following account is written by Mike Wirfs, one of our long-term volunteers, living in Tanzania.
One story took place in a small community outside Kiserian. The name of the community is Engasuri. We were asked to go to this area which sort of lies between Noondoto and Kiserian, by Pastor Yohanne from Kiserian. I was told by Pastor Yohanne that there was no pastor working in this area and that a Laibon (witch doctor) lived out there. When we visited the area the Laibon seemed to welcome us with open arms. There had been a church built out in that area sometime in past years. It had a sign on the side of the church which read "Liberty City, Texas" (as best as we could tell). We were asked to do the storying in the church , which of course we did. This was their first hearing of the 42 stories and as a result, all 42 persons attending prayed to receive Christ. Yea, that's right 42 people: loomorani (warriors), elders and women, one for each story told, including a Laibon!
I look forward to our continuing the storying in this area using the classical method as the Lord has obviously gotten a foothold (or if your from Texas "a toe hold") in Engasuri. The June team had 426 conversions to the Lord's good grace and 1 Church started, with the possibility of a 2nd church being started in Engasuri.
