2002 Missions Trip 2001 Missions Trip - read about last year's trip Read Ronda's June 10, 2002 Update Read Lynette's June 6, 2002 Update Read Ronda's June 5, 2002 Update Read Ronda's May 31, 2002 Update Read Ronda's May 29, 2002 Update Upcoming events Nov 15-16 African American Missions Conference -First Baptist Church-North Tulsa Ronda's June 22th Update: Pastor Martins with New Life Fellowship was able to do the following things to help His community because of your contribution to this ministry. Bless Foday's (a new convert) family upon the celebration of the baby naming. It is common practice that if you convert from Islam, then your family disowns you. While we were in The Gambia, Foday gave his life to Christ and then we were able to go and present a gift to his family. Now Foday has a new family with New Life Fellowship and will be able to continue to be a blessing to his family. Dr. Jah, a member of New Life and also a pediatrician at Royal Victoria Hospital was able to contribute very much needed needles, baby formula, Medications, and latex gloves along with pamphlets on What God says about Abortion, and early human development. All information provided emphasizes the sanctity of life. It was so wonderful to see the pride in Dr. Jah when he was able to share with his Muslim co-workers that his church had something to offer that was going to help the hospital. What a blessing it was to hear that when Pastor Martins went into the Red Cross to make a contribution, the secretary general had mentioned that he had seen the Church on Television and had made plans to visit. We made a presentation to Bufriut Primary School, where the School Master had just informed us that it was 99.5% Muslim and .5% Christian. After watching the presentation and receiving the toothbrushes we distributed, the children began to show their appreciation by singing a song entitled Jesus Love is so Wonderful as they waved around the toothbrushes in the air. New Life had obviously made an impression on these children before. Shannon Guillory, by God's grace, boldly shared her testimony (for the first time) of how she became a Christian at a Muslim Secondary School and began sharing more boldly as she met people. She would ask, "When did you decide to become a Muslim?", a question that seems to stump most Muslims. Then she asked them if they knew who Jesus Christ was. What tremendous growth. We got to see church members who hold there own professions in and still boldly share the reality of Jesus Christ. As with Kennedy. When Ken saw a guy on the street that had on the emblem of worship to a Marabout, he stopped him and inquired about the status of the mans heart and loyalties. He definitely heard the Gospel through that vessel. I am telling you New Life is on fire and is making a difference in their community. New Life was able to donate its services to the Banjul Bible Training Center (under the direction of Alieu Bayo) in the graduating of 128 students. Pastor Martins is currently a lecturer. New Life was able to loan out its PA system and ushers for this ceremony. There were hundreds of people in attendance. New Life is now able to lay the foundation for a secondary school in a remote village called Bulock. Land was given to Pastor Martin as an honorary citizen of the village. They will be breaking ground on that building this year. This school will serve over a thousand students. This includes students from neighboring villages with no secondary schools. New Life was able to contribute to the new clinic built in Bulock Village. This clinic received medications, vitamins, first aid supplies, and toothbrushes as well as a first aid demonstration using actual injuries of people of the village, all from New Life. New Life was able to make available Bibles and other Christian learning materials for new converts and for those people that want to grow in their faith in Jesus Christ. Also we were able to help with transportation costs while we were there. Special thanks to: Blessings International- discounted Medication J&G Ministries-Vitamins Crisis Pregnancy Center- Tracks/ pamphlets Tulsa City-County Health Dept- Health pamphlets POH-Toothbrushes Dr. Doug Jackson- demonstration packet and pamphlets Tulsa Red Cross- first aid/ health and hygiene, safety instruction and pamphlets Church contributions: Fellowship Bible Church-Tulsa Gilcrease Hills Baptist Church- Tulsa Faith Deliverance Christian Center-Muskogee St. Paul Baptist Church-Taft Macedonia Baptist Church-Muskogee First Baptist Church-North Tulsa Paradise Baptist Church-Tulsa Antioch Baptist Church-Tulsa Metropolitan Baptist Church-Tulsa Friendship Missionary Baptist Church-Tulsa North Peoria Church of Christ-Tulsa Ronda's June 10th Update: What a wonderful opportunity to share in the work of the Lord Jesus. God is truly in control all over the world! I feel like David when he said, "I have never seen the righteous forsaken." Our God is so faithful! I still consider myself a young person, but in the last couple of weeks, I have seen God move in ways I never thought possible. Of course I have faith in our Heavenly Father, but there were things I would never have dreamed of asking of Him, yet he brought them to pass. I would not have asked the Lord to place me before high government officials, yet he did. I would not have asked that we be put on a program of a major international festival viewed by the country's dignitaries and televised for the entire country to see over and over again, but God did that. What an incredible outreach! I was allowed to minister the Gospel in song before those brought to entertain us at our hotel. Not only that, but our God afforded us the opportunity to share the gospel in Muslim schools and villages as well as the hospitals. He also allowed us to pray with an Imam (Muslim priest) in the name of Jesus and still leave with peace. He allowed us to hear Muslim children singing songs of praise to Jesus (Jesus's Love is so Wonderful). Not only did He use us, but He filled us with more of a knowledge of who He really is! I have seen so much growth in the team. I know that we will never be the same because of what we have seen God do as we step outside our own abilities and allow Him to work His will in our lives. How awesome it was to see young ladies who were not comfortable sharing their faith begin to boldly share their testimony and witness to people they met on the street. Tell me God is not bigger than anything in this world, and I will show you a few young girls whose lives will never be same because they decided to yield to His purpose for their lives — bubbling over with the glorious power of God! As well as a hotel waiter who now refers to Jesus as his Lord and Savior in spite of rejection from his family. And a group of Christians equipped and ready to accept him as family at New Life Fellowship International — The Gambia. Master Jesus is in control! Oh how His light shines so bright when we all work together for His Kingdom! Thank you so much for your prayers and support for this ministry. May God bless you and prosper you in His work! Peace in Christ, Ronda M. Tyson Director of aid to Africa CFH-NLFI Lynette's June 6th Update: Dear Followers of Christ, This is just a note to let you know that all is going well with the mission trip that Ronda has laid out for us. We went to Bulock on Tuesday and spent the night in the village. The details of our night camping out will be the subject of many funny stories for years to come! I have camped out like that before only once about 20 years ago (setting up a tent and cooking over an open flame) but it was an adventure! Anyway I was able to provide some assistance to a few of the villagers. One dressed the wound of a young boy who had fallen from a tree and sustained a laceration to the scalp. Someone else had stitched it up but as boys tend not to learn from their mistakes he had gotten up in the tree again and fallen, reinjuring the area. I demonstrated to the lay nurses and the tribal elders the proper method of cleansing and dressing a wound. I also provided health information to a couple of the residents. We then discussed some the needs of the clinic. The clinic was built by a Catholic Church organization and is really quite nice. The area is spacious and clean. The real needs at this time are antibiotics, wound care supplies, antihemelitics (worm medications) and medications for Malaria. Even the Victoria Hospital in Banjul stressed the need for medications for Malaria and also the rampant TB that is now resistent to the regular regimen. Back to the Village . . . The clinic is staffed by three lay nurses. I call them lay nurses because their training was given at the village and they have not had any formal training. I am a nursing instructor at Connors State College in Warner, Oklahoma, and I spent about thirty minutes giving them a crash course on how to administer the medications that we were donating to the village and assessing their needs. I would love to be able to return for a longer visit now that I know their needs. Well this is all for now. Pray for our safe return and that we will continue to be a positive force for Christ. In His Name, Lynette June 5th Update: The Journey to Bulock is one just filled with the grace of God. This trip could have been seen as one filled with many obstacles. God allowed our team to understand patience, and rise to the point of challenge enjoying His peace in the midst of trial. We took three vehicles into Bulock and two were in very poor condition. Still, we went forward to the village. The roads are very rough and under construction now and we had to take many detours. We finally got to Bulock with time enough to set up the tent, cook dinner and head to bed for the night. The chief was very happy to see us and welcomed us graciously. He was very grateful to recieve the gifts that we had. We where able to give them over-the-counter medications and medical supplies for there newly built clinic. Our nurse Lynette Gunn was able to treat a few people while we were there as she demonstrated first aid care. The Girl Scouts gave presentations on basic hygiene, over-the-counter medications and dental care. Again, Myiesha was so anxious to give the testimony about how she came to know Christ. Melanie and Shannon ministered in interpretive dance. They really enjoyed it. The Muslims understand very well the significance of the Sacrificial Lamb. There was a call for all of the village elders and the Imam to meet with us as I presented the meds, shirts and toothbrushes to the village. The Imam wanted to pray for us and bless us. That was such an open door for us to pray with him. So under the leadership of Pastor West, we were able to pray with the Imam in the blessed name of Jesus Christ (who indeed, did have the last word). They are very excited about the secondary school project and the chief is pushing for the groundbreaking as soon as possible. There is a song I have learn since I have been here. It says "God is in control all over the world, Master Jesus, He is in control!" We shine brightest when we all shine together! Peace! Ronda May 31st Update: I don't know what time it is where you are at the time of reading this, but I want you to know that God is not sleeping! I was so blessed by the first primary school we visited. Melanie and Eboni gave there presentations on dental care. This school is 99% Muslim. Myiesha gave her testimony about how she came to Christ. After sharing with the students they sang a song for us. The title of the song? Jesus Love is so Wonderful----Oh! Wonderful Love. The children know the truth. We will be opening up the Roots Festival in song. There are African Americans from all over the US that are going to be there. We are going to sing songs about Christ. Now isn't that just like God? I am telling you, Jesus is Alive and His Glory is being seen in The Gambia. Not because of us. But He is just so great. Keep allowing God's Glory to shine thru you. His Kingdom is established. People are declaring the name of Jesus. Ronda May 29th Update: Praise the Living God! My heart is so full that I can hardly form words. But I will try. May the grace that Our Lord has shown us these last few days rest with you as well. We have not only entered into The Gambia, but we have experienced so much the glory of the God. I have talked to so many people and seen them so hungry for the Hope that Jesus brings. Even on the way God would have me sit next to a lady from Iran who was raised Muslim. Her heart was so fill with disappointment. But as she said later in her own words, "It was God that had you sit in the seat next to me." As I listened to her and tears fell from her eyes and she ask me about the peace that I have, definitely there was no other answer for her but It was Jesus. As we prayed together we made an agreement that we would keep in touch. She agreed very gratefully for me to pray with her. And before we left the BWI airport, she had introduced me to her Muslim nephew. Please join us in prayer for him, he has cancer and has had it for one-and-a-half years. The team is doing so wonderfully. God is working miracles even in our hearts, even at this very moment. This morning in our meeting at the hotel, the waiter heard all of us sharing with one another and asked for an opportunity to share. That is when he told us that he excepted Christ's forgiveness for his sins and invited him to be Lord of his life. I was so touched that I couldn't hold the tears. God is so faithful. The Gambia is coming to know the glory of God through the compassion of Christ. Join me in praising him. At this point, I just can't seem to praise enough. Please keep us in your prayers. The computer connection is very slow. But God's time is sooooooo perfect. Peace in Christ!!!!! Ronda