A Letter of Hope

As I stepped off the plane in Madagascar, I had a great expectation of sharing the Gospel with so many people. I was eager and ready to go. However, I was met with may challenges, and quickly realized it wasn't going to be that easy. The first few days here I was so anxious to begin learning the language so I could communicate with people. As we began our language studies I began to see how difficult it was going to be. You see, apparently it takes longer than two weeks to learn Malagasy. Who would have thought? :) So I began to get comfortable in the fact that I was going to have to be content with sharing the gospel in our presentations. We would share the gospel with easily 100 kids every week...sometime many more!! There was still that nagging in my heart that I could do more. 

Most of you probably remember the family I introduced to y'all shortly after I arrived here. I will never forget seeing them for the first time. I was so excited at the fact that there were little kids right outside my gate. We soon found out there were about three families living in that small hut. I had a big desire to share the gospel with them!! As soon as I had the chance I bought her a Malagasy Bible. As the days went by I began to see how difficult that would be. I could in no way communicate with her. I would leave our house and wave and say hello...everyday. All the while, my heart was saying..."She needs to hear about Jesus". I would just tell myself...There is no way I can tell her. And the Bible I bought her just sat on my bedside table.

It wasn't until a friend asked in an email if I had been able to share the gospel with them that I was faced with reality. I wanted so badly to tell her YES!! But I couldn't. The reality was..I had been here almost 3 months and hadn't shared the gospel with her at all. I had only given her kids suckers and played with them...smiled and waved hello and goodbye. I had already thought that before I left I would write her a letter. I would explain to her that I had wanted to talk to her but couldn't. Then it hit me!

I could write her a letter now and have it translated and share the gospel with her!! So that is what I did! I wrote her a letter...told her all the amazing things God has done in my life!! I had my friend translate it and I gave it to her. I also gave her a tract in Malagasy. She held the letter of hope in her hands!!

 I prayed as I wrote it...I prayed as I put it in the envelope...I prayed as I handed it to her and walked away. Perhaps for the first time, she will read the words that can give her more hope than anything in this world. She will read the gospel. The powerful, life-changing, heart penetrating gospel!!

So I am asking you to pray with me!! Pray for her and her husband!! Pray for the families that live with them!! Pray that Christ would invade that little hut!! It is my prayer and passion!!

I gave her extra paper an explained that she can write back if she has questions or anything!! So please pray God will work in her life and she will want to know more!!

I am excited and humbled at the work that God is going to do!! After all "..He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think..." ( Eph. 3:20)

Thank y'all for supporting me and uplifting me!! It means so much!! I will post a ministry update soon!! We have been bust with sessions!! :) God is so good!! 

Love Loves, Dani

The Cost...The Joy

 ^"So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Luke 18:29-30

This past weekend Ashley and I had to opportunity to be apart of the meeting of missionaries here. It was such a great time of fellowship!! I met so many new people who are serving God and making Him known where they serve. There were not only all the missionaries in Mada but also from another island and some from Mainland Africa! 

During the meeting each team had an opportunity to give an update on their ministry. Ashley and I shared about how our True Love Waits was going. Btw...we have shared the TLW message with about 1,125 young people and about 897 of them have committed to staying pure until marriage. We have had 17 sessions and have about 18 more booked with several more expressing interest. Glory to God!! 

As each team shared...I found myself just absorbing all they were saying. There were times of great joy...rejoicing over all that God was doing. There were also time of great cost. The things that were given up...the weddings missed...the family and friends half way across the world....babies born...deaths. Sickness...setbacks...pain. Tears of joy and tears of heartache. Sitting there hearing all these stories made me feel like I was on a roller coaster. I felt God's call on my life confirmed over and over again and yet also felt the fear of what that meant. I want so desperately to be the Hands and Feet of Jesus! I want to tell everyone who doesn't know about The Jesus!! I want them to know My God!! At the same time...reality hit me smack in the face. I saw firsthand the cost of doing just that. I felt scared and inadequate. I was reminded of God's grace and saw it poured out on their lives. I know without a doubt that God will equip me for what He has called me to do. I know  He will give grace. I know all the right things in my head...but sometimes my heart forgets. And I need to be reminded. 

He will not leave me abandoned. He will not forget me. He WILL sustain me!

A Missionaries life is one filled with the greatest of joys this life can offer. It is also filled with some of the hardest sacrifices this world has to offer. 

After the stories of how hard it was at times. They were ALWAYS followed by a story of God's grace. He ALWAYS gives grace!!

I was reminded of this verse by my dear friend as I was sharing with her what was on my heart and mind. 

^"So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Luke 18:29-30

It was a much needed reminder. The impact of the Gospel going forth is far greater than the sacrifice it costs to do it. It will always require sacrifice. But how could we not rejoice to sacrifice for the ONE who sacrificed His life for us!! 

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ isLord, to the glory of God the Father.

Phil. 2:8-11

Such a great reminder!! 

We are gearing up to have a busy month. We have more sessions booked in the next 6 weeks than we have had the whole time we have been here. We are excited to continue to share what God has laid on our hearts. We are also continuing to host our Ladies Bible Study in our home every week!!

Prayer Request:

-Pray for Ashley and I! Pray for our health and perseverance as we desire to finish strong!!

-Pray for the ones who we will be teaching! That hearts and ears would be open to what God has for them to hear!

-Pray for our Bible study and the girls we are discipling! Pray we would seek every opportunity to pour into their life!!

-Pray for all the missionaries around the world! Pray the sense God's grace and feel His presence!!

Thank you to everyone who is praying for me and supporting me! It means more than you know!!!

Love Loves!! :)

8 Sessions, A Radio Recording, and A Bible Study

Well...Since my last update we have had eight more TLW sessions. We have spoken at 2 different Universities with 3 sessions at one and two at the other. We have spoken to our biggest crowd yet at over 400 youth and we have also had a few village teachings. We also did a small session with a girls Cell Group (small group).

The Universities were a lot different than  the other sessions we have had. They were a lot older and more serious lol. It was great though!! They had a lot of questions and were grateful we came. They have asked us to come back and share something else with them. They are just hungry to hear more. It is a Christian University but there were a lot of Muslims there. So please pray we are able to reach them when we go back!! God is able!!

The other University was the big one here in Tana. We spoke to a great bunch there too! They also want us to come back and teach something else. It is awesome to see God at work in these people!!

The large youth group was awesome!! They were fun and lively and just had a good heart!! There were about 400 or more youth there and about 350 of them committed!! That is great!!

We have also spoken at a few villages!! Those are always different than the city sessions. They are more remote and the live differently. The average girl gets married at 13 or 14. Rape is prevalent and sex is common for such young kids. This message is so important for them!! 

We also did a small session at a girls Cell group. It's like a small Bible Study. There were several girl and they were so nice!! We had a good time!!

This message is so needed here in Madagascar. They haven't heard this concept taught much. They don't know anything else. They don't know that God has a bigger plan for them. For most they have never heard this message at all. Even the churches don't really teach it. It is so humbling that God has brought me here to teach this message to these precious young people. 

We also did a session that was recorded to be aired on the radio. I am not sure when it will air but it is my understanding that it will be broadcast all over the island. How cool is that?? I am going to get a copy of the broadcast!! :)

One of the University students couldn't believe that Americans were coming to tell them about purity. He thought that everyone in America had sex all the time. That's what they think of America. The media and news portray that kind of message to the rest of the world. The sad thing is...he isn't far from the truth. We are headed that way rather quickly. Oh that our Nation would wake up and realize the impact we could have on the world...in a good way. It has been a great reminder that even America needs to be reminded of the truths in the Scripture. God has given me a new sense of urgency to share with my Country what God's Word says about Purity. Not sure what that looks like yet...but I am determined!! 

We have also started a Bible Study in our home with several Malagasy girls. It has been such a blessing!! The girls are so sweet and I am going to miss them when I leave!! I look forward to every week with them!! 

Well we are gearing up for our IOI Meeting starting tomorrow (Wed)!! We will be able to meet all the M's in Madagascar and surrounding Islands!! I can't wait!! It will be refreshing time to see how God is working all over the Island!! 

We also had a great Easter!! We had a great Church service then had a Cookout at one of the M's house!! It was fun to get together with our Tana family!! :) 

Sorry there are no pics with this post...I will post some next update!! :)

Prayer Request:

Continue to pray for our sessions as we have about 6 weeks or so left of teaching.

Pray for the follow up sessions...that we would know what and how to share to them!

Please pray for our continued good health!

Please also pray for the people of Madagascar. That they would know there is more to life!! That they would know Jesus is their answer...not other people!

Praises:

We have had three Bible Studies so far in our home. We meet weekly and are so thankful for these girls!!

We have had such incredible opportunities to share God's truth with the young people of Madagascar!

We have many more sessions yet to do!!

Thank y'all so much for your prayers and support!!

Love Loves!!