"Let Me Get This Straight...."

My mom's infamous quote from last fall:  "So, let me get this straight.  You have one daughter with TB and one with either malaria or zika?"  We both chuckled even though it isn't exactly funny (or entirely accurate in hindsight).  Her motherly advice was for us all to stay safely in the U.S. from now on! Yeah, well, that's not going to happen.  In fact, Jim is in Central Africa even as I am writing this.  He dutifully received all recommended vaccinations and took malaria meds beforehand.  Our son, Mike, and his family are leaving for Indonesia in a few months, and on it goes. (Sorry, Mom.)

What I have noticed through the years is that certain things strike a chord with people "back home" and trigger not only prayers, but actual responses to our email updates and Facebook notifications.  Exotic-sounding diseases always send people to their knees on our behalf, but what we'd prefer are preventative prayers of protection. 

The infamous missionary ladies retreat when we all got e-coli

To date, our prayer buddies have carried us through...

• hepatitis
• esophageal reflux and failure to thrive
• miscarriages (including one at five months)
• botched surgeries
• rabies
• typhoid
• ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura)
• whooping cough
• head lice and broken ribs
• bed bugs
• dengue
• swine flu (which our children were actually at "ground zero" - giving added distinction for that)
• life-threatening heat exhaustion
• multiple concussions 
• a bug bite infection we feared was a bot fly
• e-coli
• cyclical vomiting syndrome, which is an ongoing prayer need for our daughter, Debbie

 For the record, the doctors never did decide what to call the sickness Bekah got after her mission trip to Guatemala last August, but it wasn't zika or malaria.  Also, Debbie does not have an active case of TB, but a latent case, in the blood but completely asymptomatic.  She is almost finished with her six months of medication for that.  We are not concerned.  The doctors had to treat it since she is taking phlebotomy at the vocational school, and otherwise she would not be permitted to draw blood.

So, with all this said, could you please just pray that we would have no health issues to write about over these next two months of travel for Jim?  Thanks.  Monday he flies to Nairobi, Kenya from the Congo.  When he returns, he is only home a few days before he travels for Mexico for a few weeks.

Prayers for Mike, Amy, Titus, and Silas are appreciated, too, as they embark on their own kingdom adventures overseas in April of this year.

Click on the highlighted words to read the related stories on my other blog, which I am currently revising and updating.  If you are not receiving our prayer updates by email, please let me know, and I'd be happy to add you to the list.  You can email me at jamiejofrommexico (at) gmail. 

Thanks!
Jamie

20 Vital Prayers for Team Trips

How can you pray for scripture distribution trips?  Here are some samples of prayers I have copied from my prayer journal for your convenience.

In summary, we are working so that God's Word might be readily accessible to those who need to hear it in their heart language, and praying that the scriptures would go out with the power of the Holy Spirit to

• evangelize the unreached

• disciple/train/instruct/equip even non-literate believers

• plant churches

• encourage and revitalize the saints, especially those enduring persecution

• bring conviction of sin where needed

• stir up worship and revival

Pray for...

1. traveling mercies throughout the trip, including safe arrival of each team member and all luggage
2. all audio Bibles and other equipment to clear customs without hassle
3. effective personal and group devotional times in preparation for ministry
4. the team to work stealthily hidden from the enemy's view, untouched by oppositional forces
5. hearts to be softened beforehand and prepared to hear the Good News in their own language
6. wisdom and discernment in tearing down of strongholds in the homes and villages visited
7. changed hearts and lives as people are dramatically rescued from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of Light
8. whole households to come to faith in Jesus
9. encouragement, hope, fresh vision for native pastors and evangelists we accompany
10. contagion of the gospel, spreading throughout the region, leaking to nearby villages, penetrating hearts with the message of truth, freedom, redemption, and love
11. team unity, "rhino hide and heart of a dove"
12. clear communication through interpreters
13. miraculous answers to prayer to enhance the evangelistic effort and bring glory to God
14. each team member to experience joy and delight, walking in strength, faith, confidence, health, and freedom from fear and grumbling
15. restful and restorative sleep each night, particularly for the leaders
16. protection for each spouse and family member back home and for each prayer partner involved in the spiritual battle for men's souls this week
17. flexibility and good attitudes when the plans change and God reminds everyone Who is in charge
18. the team members to catch the vision for reaching the unreached with scriptures in a language and format they can access
19. each audio Bible left behind to bear much fruit well beyond the scope of what we see and experience in one short week
20. God's kingdom to be established among this particular people group and His will accomplished this week

What else would you add to the list?  Please leave your comments below.