Prayers for the weeks ahead.

As you know, our season on the ground in Kenya is quickly coming to a close come Nov. 2nd. The enemy is working in great ways to throw vast opposition our way. Yet, it encourages us to know that the Lord who is calls us is faithful and that His purpose can never be thwarted! We know that His love over Ngong far outweighs and defeats any attack the enemy throws our way. With only 2 full weeks remaining, the enemy desires for us to feel overwhelmed and discouraged. Yet, in the Lord's gentle embrace, we feel fueled for the days ahead and encouraged at how His strength is able to shine! He is most glorified in our weakness and we know that none of our efforts will succeed in us alone. We covet your prayers over these final weeks here: 

- We are finalizing all the positions at this time, but see the enemy's attacks over the leadership team. God desires unity and love to fuel effectiveness for His purpose. So of course the enemy desires discord and dissension. We pray great protection over the team as a whole and individually for the guy's relationship with the Lord to guide their steps. If you could pray for these guys by name: Elly, Vinny, Bizmark, Peter, Shadrack, Benard, Simon, Albert, Patrick: and pray for how the Lord has raised them as a leadership team and how they will combat the attacks of the enemy. 

- Pray for us as we train them in their new roles and for the guys to feel competent and encouraged in the timing in which we leave them. 

- Pray also for us as we transition from our time here to our new season in the States. It will be no easy venture to leave our family here, but we are thankful to be embraced by so many loved ones there. Pray that we can maximize these last days with the people and be intentional in our moments with them. 

- Trishia is approaching 31 wks of pregnancy and so far the Lord has granted great health for her and Grayson. Pray for continued protection and for His hand to embrace them both as we fly back and await the arrival of our son. 

Few things on time in Togo...

I (Brett) was able to spend a full week alongside Christian and his family, Vapor representatives in Togo, WEst AFrica at the Vapor Center. It was incredible to experience the different people and environment and to witness first hand how the Lord is using this center as a tool to truly transform lives in Christ.

Togoville is a village that has been taken by voodoo for centuries and it is woven throughout the entire community.  Young children who grow up in a voodoo family are recognized by the scar they bear below their left eye.  They were given this mark to carry at the early age of 2 to identify them with their rich history of idolatry.  Many homes have their man made idols in order to worship their god and ward off any bad spirits.  October is a big month for ceremonies and rituals that take place annually, so I was able to witness the height of their festive season.  It was an experience that was heavy on me throughout the trip because I was reminded of it daily.  It brought to light the idolatry that was prevalent in the Old Testament. Last week a girls body was found down in a well in the neighboring village and her chest had been cut open with her heart removed. There also was a boys body found without a head or legs. It is said that these kids were a sacrifice to the voodoo gods in Togoville. It is strengthening to witness how the Lord is using Christian and his family to shed such light amidst such darkness. God is truly using their presence to love the people into a relationship with Christ. 

1. Christian spoke on Sunday and a guy whose father is a voodoo priest got saved!  I was able to attend a voodoo ceremony and it was wild.  Walking to the party at night through the slums with the banging of the drums gave me chills as I came to an open area with low lighting, dancing, and singing.  I stood there feeling like I have interrupted something that I was not invited to.  But then Christian started going around taking video and shaking hands.  I was introduced to the priest of the area and he was extremely friendly.  I met some of the others whom Christian has developed a relationship with and they were bragging on him.  It was an experience that I will never forget.  

2. I was invited into that priests home and he wanted me to send his greetings and to bring a message:
    - He hopes we are appreciating Christian because he is doing a great work in the community
    - He recognizes that we follow Christ, and Christ did many great things while on the Earth and Vapor is following in his footsteps.  He is happy to be serving together in the community
    - The voodoo community will continue to support Vapor even if it cannot provide jobs because Vapor is changing lives and improving the community.  
    - Anytime we come to visit we are welcome to greet him.  

*What a message he gave!  Never thought I would here those words come out of a voodoo priests mouth.  This should encourage us that we serve the one true God that even the darkness can recognize.  James 2:19 “...Even the demons believe---and shudder”  

Prayers over us.

Brett left for Togo on Friday, Oct. 1st and will return Sat. Oct. 9th. He will be working alongside Christian, the Vapor missionary building the Togo Vapor Center. 

Pray for: 

-  the efficiency of their time as they solidify finishing details for the Togo center

-  Connection with the Togo leadership team and with the people exposed to the center. 

-  Protection for Brett against any sickness- When he returns we have 3 weeks remaining on the ground, so we are praying that he can continue in great health to finish out strong here. 

- that Brett can be prepared to fight against the spiritual forces (Ephesians 6) of the heavily influenced Voodoo culture. That the Lord would use him to speak forth His light in such a dark environment. 

In addition, pray for us that we can be 'imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.' Heb. 6: 12- We have offered positions to different guys, but are in the waiting stages now of how the Lord will reveal His purpose. Through different conversations, we have difficult decisions to make on who is best fit for those roles. Continue to pray for us as we solidify our final leadership team.

 Weirsbe states, "the trials of life are the tools God uses to mature us, to build our faith, and to get us to trust the Spirit and not the flesh." 

Pray for us that as we continue to face some trials here that we will allow the Lord's refinement and maturity to guide our decisions- as we trust in the discernment of the Spirit. 

"Only by the grace of God can we have the patient endurance that we need as we go through the furnace- (w.)". Pray that we may embrace the grace of God and spend these final weeks in the patient endurance to finish out strong God's purpose in this time. There are many things left to accomplish, but we serve a mighty God who has already foreseen all things unfolded.