Sharing in the Fields

More Sharing and Pictures

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June 23, 2001
We have arrived in the Gambia. Things are going well. We are just now getting our footing so that we can begin ministry. Things in here move much slower. It is different than the West.

I am still hoping to send pictures. That may be tomorrow. Thanks so much for reading this. Wow! It's hot!

God is good though. We have already shared with so many people.
Right now I am limited on time.

Rhonda

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Sunday, June 24th
We landed in Dakar, Senegal, where Isatou (The mother-in-law to the Pastor) met us at the airport. I recognized her because she wore the shirt from last year's missions conference. She was such a beautiful site to see. From there we rode through the streets of Dakar to the hotel where we would spend the night. We had not yet made our final destination. There was still ahead of us a ten hour drive to the Gambian border.

On the journey to The Gambia from Dakar, we were touch by the poverty and the lack of job opportunities for the people. Still, We were so blessed by the hospitality of the people. When we arrived in The Gambia it was very emotional for me. As we sat in Barra and waited for the ferry to carry us across the river, we met a lot of people and shared Christ with many of them. I talked to about four and invited them to church.

While we waiting to make a phone call at the tele-center, many people gathered around us foreigners. Some of them wanted us to give them money or to buy things from them. Some

Click for Woody's testimony

just wanted our address so they would have a friend in America. I personally prayed for two people that came to know the Lord as their Savior that night. The situation became a bit hostile when one person converted from Islam in the presence of his friends. The boys came to me very upset that I would try to convert them. The guy had to stand up for his decision right away. His friends seemed angrier at me than the guy that gave his life to Christ. They began to challenge me. I told them about the love that Jesus had for them. I said it is for every man to make his own decision on how he will leave this life and enter into eternity. No person can make that decision for them. I challenged each of them individually to make a decision for themselves. It will make no difference what their friends do. They will answer for their own life. In this communal society that is such a foreign concept. But they seemed to understand me. With that, I invited them to come to the church. And Praise our God! They came and there was peace.

On that Sunday, we had to send money for a bus to pick up the children that wanted to come. When the children arrived at the church, it touched my heart. I know it must have touched the heart of God. The truth is, I don't really know their motives for coming, but I did know that they would encounter God on that day through our worship of him and the message.

Glory be to our God and to his precious Son in whom we have our Hope.
Ronda

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July 1, 2001
Dear brothers and sisters,
It is week two that we have spent in The Gambia. We spent two nights in a small village called Bulock. Since our last visit, the former Witch Doctor who had been saved, has entered into eternity with our Lord. We were able to visit and minister to his family. Since his death there has been no one in the village to step up to that position. In Bulock there are many needs.

I have a new friend in Bulock Village. His name is Basiru Jobe. I met him while sharing the Gospel. He is a very bright child and is in the 6th grade in school. While sharing with another adult, Basiru came up to me to defend the belief in Islam. He was very bold and outspoken, yet very respectful in his delivery. He listened very attentively and when he disagreed, his reply was always, "No, I don't know that." I plan to keep in touch with Basiru because I know that the Lord is calling him. My words to him were, "When you read Sura 3 in the Koran, the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart. When He speaks, listen and respond to the love of Jesus." I told him that I was confident he would come to know the truth and Jesus will make him free.

Basiru took care of me while I was in Bulock. Please pray for the people of Bulock. Most of them are Mandinka, Jola and Fula. There are many Jola refugees from the Casemance (Southern Senegal) area that have fled there for safety. While we were there some of the rebels from that region (Southern Senegal) came through for food and necessities. Basiru told me that as long as people don't disturb them, there was no cause for alarm. I praise God for his grace which extends far beyond our own senses. He is faithful.

Hallelujah forever!
Ronda

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July 30, 2001
Praise God!
God is so good! It is so wonderful that he not only extends his grace to us, he allows us, through his grace, to join him in kingdom business. I praise the Lord for each of you who have stayed in prayer for us while we were in The Gambia. It was your prayers that sustained us and your prayers that caused the hearts of those who came to Christ to be ready. It is only God that draws them in. It is so awesome to walk with him and see first hand what he is doing.

In working with New Life Fellowship International Church in The Gambia we were able to go with them on their evangelism teams and share with many Muslims. We spent a few days in a remote village and went out from there. It was a very exciting time because we saw many come to Christ. The biggest challenge in the stronghold of Islam is that a decision for Christ means giving up one's relationship with one's family and the provision their family may have. That kind of rejection is hard to face in such a communal society as this. Please continue to pray for the people in The Gambia who are being challenged to make that decision.

God has shown me that the condition of man is the same no matter where he is and what he has. Man is always seeking until he actually finds his purpose in Christ. It is only then that he is fulfilled. It is very exciting what God is doing all over the world. It is just like what David said, "If I climb upwards on the rays of the morning sun or land on the most distant shore of the sea where the sun sets, even there your hand would hold on to me" I conclude as David did. There is no where we can go that God is not. He is not only there, but he is already working. We glory in him using us. God has used you.

I would like to talk to you more about what happened in The Gambia. If you would like to know more, then send me an e-mail. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

God Bless,
Ronda Tyson
US Contact
New Life Fellowship International-The Gambia