doing GOOD works

hey everyone, I haven't got an update from trace recently, so I thought I'd remind you of her verse that she chose for inspiration as God lead her on this summer, but yet lifelong, journey.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Jesus Christ to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10

TWO weeks to go

Tracy has about 2 weeks until she comes home. According to her itinerary, she is at a cattle ranch/tropical rain forest in Obudu. Then next week she finishes her trip with urban ministries in Abuja. Pray for safe travels and happy good-byes to everyone she has got to know over the past 2 months.

"Msugh" from Nigeria

I'm not sure what "msugh" means, but I received an email from trace with that in the title. She is seeing God's hand at work through so many things in Nigeria. She is in her last week of VBS in Lupwe, and by day 2 they had already seen 800 children. God is so amazing!! Pray for continued energy as they work with the children. The weather is hot and I'm sure their patience has been tested. Pray that God gives them the endurance they need to finish the week strong.

Throughout the past several weeks, when the group is not working with the VBS, they are focusing their attention on the youth in the villages. Together they have learned that they share similar struggles as young people. Tracy and her group have been encouraging the youth the step up and be leaders in their community. They are beginning to learn that they can make a positive difference within their own community.

Next week sounds pretty busy for the group. They are going to be doing a lot of traveling such as visiting a seminary, an orphanage, and then making their way back to Abuja. Remember to pray for their safety as they do travel the next couple weeks.

Other prayer requests from Tracy:

• She asks for prayers as she continues to struggle with the language barrier. The young kids don't know any English yet, there are several different language dialects she is trying to understand, and the interpreter can't understand her English "accent." She has already picked up the basics in 4 different languages.
  
• Pray for continued health for her and her group.
  
• Pray for her family as they prepare to move out of their house and into Jenison.

Overall, it still sounds like Tracy is having an amazing time. Thanks so much for your prayers and support through out her journey. Continue to pray as her journey in Nigeria comes to an end. Pray that she stays encouraged and that she brings all her excitement home with her to grand rapids.

Even More LOVE for the Children of Nigeria!

Hi all we received another email from Tracy. She first apologizes for not sending out a mass one, she is just limited on time. Things have been going AMAZING in Takem for the group. Last week they did some community service and as you read in the last post they are holding another VBS this week. God had been doing so many amazing things for this group and the people they are serving, why not just add one more to the list.
Tracy has been working with one of the girls from Calvin, Sara, and they have been in charge of the 4-6 year old group for the VBS. She said that this did not last long as a 4-6 year old group, more like a 1-6 yr old group. As you remember they had very large numbers of kids at the VBS in Mkar. She said that on the first day this past week she and Sara had 150...JUST IN THEIR CLASS! On Tuesday, there were 300...and on Wednesday they had a totally of 380 in the 1-6 year old class!!!!!! WOW WOW and WOW! That is call for some serious PRAISE to God for having all these children come. She said that they already have over 1,00 kids at the VBS and it was only Wednesday. They are making such a difference out there right now that some of these kids are coming from over half hour away just for the 2.5 hours of the VBS! GOD IS SO GREAT!!! She made mention that this is truly what they have deemed "organized chaos." We can all imagine can't we?! They were told after Wednesday that next week VBS might also grow to these numbers and the group is just waiting for more excitement and the chance to witness to many many more!

Trace also was able to use her nursing skills a bit this past week. Towards the end of one of the days some people came running to her and said that girl had fainted in the sanctuary. She said with so many kids singing and jumping up and down, she wasn't surprise with the heat. Trace went over to the girl and she was already foaming at the mouth. Trace was able to roll her on her side and knew that it wasn't an ordinary fainting. She stayed close until and a Sunday school teacher, who was also a nurse, came over and told Trace that the girl was epileptic. They stayed with her until she woke and helped the girl until she was feeling a little better.

Going into the last 4 weeks Trace asks that you pray for continued strength for everyone. They are all getting along so well and she just hopes that unity continues as they keep working each new day. Again, as the last post said God loves the little children and he is defiantly showing that in Nigeria this summer. Trace and the group are working with so many and they are changing hearts and showing these kids to Christ. Please pray for this to continue.

Tracy also has some new names...African names. In TIV her name is Doofan, and in Juken - Ama. Just thought you would all like to know.

Jesus LOVES the little CHILDREN

When trying to figure out what to say on my next post, I searched the CRWM webpage and came across Megan and Mike Ribben's Blog, the missionaries tracy is serving with in Nigeria. They have a post about the SMP (summer missions program). There is even a picture, and if you click on it I think you can even see trace! Here is the link...

http://mribbens.blogspot.com/2008/06/summer-mission-program.html

Tracy's team continues to lead a VBS in Takum this week. Pray that their planning and organizing all comes together smoothly into action. Jesus has a passion for children. He says "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Please pray that the group connects with the children on a spiritual and emotional level, so that they may crawl into the open arms of Jesus. While about 50% of the Nigerian population is christian, they never completly abandon their "traditional" beliefs, so their is still room for more ministry. My prayer is for everyone, children and adults, to see the light of Christ in Tracy and her group. If the rest of the team is anything like tracy, God's light should be shining all over Nigeria!

Four more weeks still Tracy comes home!!!

News From TRACY!

Tracy had some time to call home on Friday. She bought a 10 minute phone card and called her parents while we were all at the Allendale parade (a birthday tradition for tracy). Reg and Jerene put her on speaker phone and we all sang happy birthday to her (also a tradition, but this year we were unable to see her embarassed face :) It sounded like they were trying to make the day special for her. They wrote happy birthday in glow sticks and when she woke up in the morning, it was still dark so she could see it. She also recieved a mud cake with flowers in it. Tracy is still having problems adjusting to the nigerian food. She said she has lost quite a bit of weight, but now they are staying at a place where the cook will personally take orders and cook for them. It was so nice to hear from her. She is thankful for all your prayers and support. Continue to pray for tracy and her team as they start a VBS in Takum this week. Pray for the same success as the VBS in Mkar.

If your interested in looking at a map to see exactly where tracy is, I found this website useful http://www.maplandia.com/nigeria/taraba/takum/takum/

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY TRACY!!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know to think of Tracy today as she is celebrating her 21st birthday in Nigeria. Wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY on her blog.