Thanks for praying!
Topic: Prayer
Posted on behalf of Cindy:

Dear Praying Friends,

Thanks to all of you who lifted me up today while I traveled to a village for medical outreach. As often is the case in Nigeria, things are not exactly as they seem. Yes, children have died in this village. But the actually number is closer to three in the last three months. (Still a lot in a village of 180 people.) This was one of the poorest villages I have ever been to. Most of their health problems (and the cause of these recent deaths) are the result of their lack of clean water supply. We are at the end of the dry season and the rains are late in coming. The stream this village depends on for water is completely dry. The people go to the stream, dig a hole and then drink the water they find there. This same water is used for drinking, washing, and by the animals in the area. The people do not boil or filter their water in any way.

Though we did not find the situation to be as it was described we accomplished much today. God’s Word will not return void and His plans are not always our plans. We were able to give the entire community (including the pastor and the village chief) a very practical lesson on how to strain and boil their water. All this was done with a woman sitting at the front of the group with a 6 week old infant in her arms that was just recovering from the gastrointestinal illness that another child died of earlier in the week. We were able to emphasize the cause of these illnesses is the water they drink. We were also able to teach them never to give water to small babies (a very common practice.)

The closest primary health care center to this village is a 2 hour walk. I did not see a car in the village. This village is in need of basic health care. Although we had not planned to hold a general clinic, we decided to see as many people as we could. We saw at least 85. We treated the problems we could and prayed with many. I think the people were greatly encouraged and felt the care of the Lord. Some we saw were Christians, some Muslims and some pagans.

I was able to share with the pastor and encourage him. I also taught him how to use the EVANGACUBE (a cube with pictures telling the Gospel story) to share the Gospel with his Muslim neighbors. I left it with him and he was excited to begin using it.

Please continue to pray for the people we shared with today. They are in a desperate situation. Please pray for rain. Pray that those who do not know Jesus will be drawn to Him after seeing this practical demonstration of His love for them. Pray for the pastor as he follows up on those we saw today. Pray for the many children I saw with malnutrition and diarrhea (a very serious combination.) Pray that our teaching about clean water will be followed. But above all, pray that God’s name will be Glorified in this place.

Thank you again for standing with me and the team!

In Him,

Cindy

Urgent Prayer Request
Topic: Prayer
Posted on behalf of Cindy:

Dear Praying Friends,

I will be making an emergency trip to a village about 2 hours from Jos tomorrow. Several Nigerian members of a Challenge Cinema team have been working in this area showing evangelistic films for the past few days. They return to Jos and reported in one of the villages where they went 18 children had died in the last one week. These outreach workers have no medical experience so they did not know what the sickness was that killed these children. They reported that the people are overwhelmed with grief and the local pastor wept almost the entire two days they were in his village. The local people are convinced that this is the result of evil spirits and have begun looking for the witch that is responsible. This village is made up of Christians, Muslims and pagans.

I have been asked to travel with a small team to assess the situation and see if I can determine what illness is involved. I will travel with a Nigerian pastor and some of our outreach workers. I have asked our Community Health Department to send a Nigerian doctor with me and they are working on finding someone to come along.

Please pray for this outreach.

1. Pray for wisdom that we would be able to figure out what illness has caused these deaths.
   
2. Pray for the team as we minister to this devastated community.
   
3. Pray for wisdom as we face spiritual warfare.
   
4. Pray that we will be able to get the medicines, or vaccinations we need to treat other sick children in the area.
   
5. Pray that we will have the resources we need to bring sick children to the hospital in Jos for treatment.
   
6. Pray for physical strength and safety for the team.
   

It is times like this that I feel like Esther, that maybe God has brought me to Nigeria for “such a time as this”. Please stand with me in this time of crisis, that God’s name will be Glorified.

In Him,

Cindy

Prayer Meeting
Topic: Prayer
You are very much invited to the Anthis Prayer meeting, at our house (David and Ruth Mason) on 1723 Beacon Cove Court, Katy. Tel. no. is 281 599 0357. We meet this Thursday 26th at 7:45pm until 9:15pm.

Snacks and drinks provided - newcomers always welcome - feel free to call for directions - although we are close to the Fry and Highland Knolls intersection if you are looking for us on a map.

Hope to see you Thursday!

God bless,

David Mason

Prayer Requests
Topic: Prayer
The Anthis's shared several areas of prayer need:

1) Their security in Jos. This is not just the Muslim-Christian conflict which is flaring up in Nigeria, but also from crime.

2) That Austin, Abby, and Allison will continue to adjust to living in Nigeria.

3) That the move to their new house in the hospital compound will go smoothly.

4) That Cindy will not feel overwhelmed with her new role as physician to the other missionaries.

5) That the Lord would move in the hearts of those with whom they share His mighty Gospel.

6) That Joel and Cindy would grow more proficient in Hausa.

Prayer Meeting
Topic: Prayer
On behalf of the Masons:

The Anthis-Nigeria Prayer team will meet this Thursday, October 23rd at 7:45pm in the home of David and Ruth Mason in Katy.

Our role - in partnering with the Anthises - is to support them in prayer & practically where possible - do come join us!

We look forward to seeing as many of you as can make it!

Advance warning on future dates (different from usual formula due to Thanksgiving & Christmas):
November 20th
December 18th

Prayer Updates
Topic: Prayer

On behalf of Joel:

A quick update:

The wall that was started 4 weeks ago, and left uncompleted at only 5 feet high, was completed this week to its full height. That is a praise. They are also supposed to put razor wire on top of the wall to bring it up to the local standard for the rest of the compound.

We are looking for a new guard. Pray that the Lord will provide the right person for us, who is trustworthy, dependable, able to stay awake at night, and takes his job seriously.

Pray for our intensive Hausa language study for the next 4 weeks.

Pray for a dynamic daily walk with and reliance upon the Lord for us all.

Safety and health for us all, as we do not take this for granted.

Praise that the kids are doing well in school.