Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Monday at CURE Niger

Monday morning drive to work was cool (for Niger) and dusty. We zipped along the new road that follows the power lines.

This young fellow had a cart with bottles of petrol  (I think for the motorcycles).

My little buddy Leon was heading to school as we were heading to the hospital. Everyone likes to cuddle something.

Coloring the picture of the GOOD SHEPHERD!

Yellow is nice!
Monday was a great start to my brief one week visit here at the children's hospital. There is always a warm welcome from the patients and staff. I feel very much at home here.  This week my theme is: Who is Jesus Christ?  The first Bible story was the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He is our guide, the one who cares for us, finds us and more than that Jesus gave His life for His sheep.....His people. The Shepherd is also the lamb of sacrifice.  How strange, yet such wonderful news that there is a way to have one's sins forgiven by God....by the Good Shepherd and Lamb of God...one in the same. It boggles the mind yet brings great hope for those who are lost, lonely,  looking for hope. Jesus Christ, God incarnate loves me so much that He died in my place to pay for my sins....and yours. Have you received this great gift?

I am the good shepherd. 
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:11

Monday, January 11, 2016

Sunday Fellowship in Niamey

Sunday morning view, driving to Banga Bana Church


Another view from the bridge

Look at all those glorious pumpkins.....it is the season for fresh veggies and salads!

Evodie and me.....she is such a sweet sister in the LORD. She is studying to be a teacher. She is teaching French at the Sahel Academy....I need to be in Evodie's class!
This is the decoration for the Christmas and New Year at Banga Bana Church.  The Christmas tree branches describe the wonderful characteristics of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ! What a great idea! This church is one of the many who were burned last January. The amazing thing is that it is now better than before. God is so good!


This dear sister Lucia is seated on the right. She invited me to visit Dorcas House for a meeting on Sunday afternoon. Sweet fellowship  was enjoyed by all.
A beautiful sister in the LORD Soula is a huge encourager to the widows. She gave us a wonderful Bible study on prayer. Thank you, Soula...you are so loved and respected!
Julie Korn and me by the river for after NEWS (church service) dinner. Thank you Josh, Julie and Leon for a fun, festive and wonderful evening!

Friday, January 8, 2016

Whisper a prayer in the morning......

Whisper  a prayer in the morning
Whisper a prayer at noon
Whisper a prayer in the evening to keep your heart in tune!

God answers prayer in the morning
God answers prayer at noon
God answers prayer in the evening so keep your heart in tune!

This little Sunday School chorus is one I remember well. It holds profound truths:
  • Pray regularly
  • Pray often
  • Pray without ceasing
  • Praying regularly throughout the day will keep us focused on the LORD
  • God hears our deepest thoughts and requests....no need to shout at the LORD!
  • God answers throughout the day...at any time
  • God's answers should keep our ears listening to His ways and will.
All of this brings me to the point of this little blog....I find that people say very easily, 'I'll pray for you' or 'I am praying about this or that'. As I journey to a place where prayer is a 5 times a day habit for most of the people, it makes me think carefully about prayer.  It is not just the content of my prayers but who I am praying to.  What great joy to pray to the one true God, Savior, Redeemer, Lover of my soul, Living Bread, Living Water, Good Shepherd, Resurrection, Way, Truth, Life...the more I know and understand about God from the Bible, the greater confidence and joy in my prayers. I know Him personally!
As I embark on this next journey to Niger...I am told this is my 12th or so.....please join me in whispering a prayer for this to count for eternal purposes, for kingdom proclamation, for eternal fruit, for the LORD's will be fulfilled...all for God's glory!

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Prayer Requests for Maureen Sloan-CURE Niger January 8-18th 2016

C- Children and their Caregivers
  • Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
  • Please pray that the children’s and caregivers’ hearts will be open to the gospel of Jesus Christ as Bible stories are shared
  • May the scripture memorization program produce much eternal fruit (Psalm 119:11)

U-Understanding
  • Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5&6
  • Please pray for clarity and understanding of the needs of the nursing department while we search for a new nurse manager.
  • Understanding what steps are needed to provide more excellent nursing care

R-Refreshing and Rejoicing
  • A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
  • Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:13-14
  • Niamey, Niger is a desert city. Yet a river flows through it sustaining life. May this beautiful refreshing promise become a reality in the lives of those we are called to serve.
  • Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
  • It is always a great time of rejoicing to be with my CURE Niger family
  • I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10
  • Pray for many souls to be saved by the power of cleansing blood of Jesus Christ and new life received by the power of the Holy Spirit

E-Encouraging
  • Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
  • Pray that I may have many opportunities to encourage the missionaries who labor so faithfully proclaiming the Good News

Thank you for praying! It is such a great joy to have prayer warriors while heading overseas. May the LORD bless you for your faithfulness in praying.