The hot weather is almost here.  For the past couple months we’ve had dry season.  There hasn’t been a single drop of rain and everything has turned dusty and brown.  Where there were once large fields of green grass, there is now nothing but charred ground, having been intentionally burned by the locals to prevent forest fires later.  The roads that used to be full of muddy potholes are now covered with dust which flies up in the air anytime a car or motorcycle goes by.  People literally run and hide when we drive past. 

  The nice thing is that this season has also been cooler.  For us Americans it hasn’t really seemed cold, but it’s been comfortable.  In the mornings we would actually wake up feeling chilly, slip on a sweater and drink tea to warm ourselves up.  The afternoons were warm, but bearable, and overall we were enjoying the season tremendously.  But suddenly the coolness vanished.  We had two days of unexpected rain showers, and with them a shift in the seasons.  The rains are gone, and it’s now starting to feel just plain hot.  Surprisingly our mango trees have also noticed the change in season and are starting to bear fruit.  I don’t know where they get the water from, but they’ll be quite prolific soon.

     By comparison, things with the Jahangos have also been heating up, but in a good way.  After years and years of prayer and service, the team is finally beginning to see signs of fruit.  For the past few months the Snetselaars have been bringing Dalouba to church with them.  Though very young and primitive in her understanding of the gospel, she seems to display a genuine belief in Jesus and a hunger to know and experience more.  The young men around Cees’ house have also been discussing and reading passages of the Bible, asking questions and expressing their concerns and opinions.  After watching a video titled, “God of Wonders,” they told Cees they felt this was indeed the truth.  Emma and her Jahango husband, Soriba, have also been coming to church regularly.  They tell us they pray and read the Bible together everyday.  This is quite miraculous as Jahango couples don’t normally do anything together. 

     These stories and many more are evidence of the fact that God is on the move.  In fact, God has been moving this whole time.  Just like the underground streams bringing water to our mango trees, God’s spirit is present, subtly working in people’s hearts, throughout the community, drawing people to himself in the most unexpected ways.  As proof of this, last week Cees and Andres traveled to Conakry where God brought them into contact with a Jahango man who has been a Christian for over 20 years.  No one from our team even knew this man existed, and here we find that he is a mature believer, working for a Christian Bible institute, living and teaching in the capital city.  We’re very excited about the role this man could possibly play in the Bible translation project, reaching his own people group, and more. 

    Finally, to top it all off, we’ve received word this week that there are three major evangelistic crusades coming to Boke in the next three months.  Boke is a small town by comparison to Conakry or other big cities of Guinea, and yet there it is.  Half jokingly Andres proposed we rent a bus and cart everyone from Correrah to these events.  We’re not sure what it will mean for the Jahango, but it’s for sure that they’ll hear of these events and quite possibly be curious enough to attend on their own initiative.

   I’m not really looking forward to the hotter weather.  April and May are supposed to be especially unbearable.  But if it means we get to witness all of Boke, Correrah, and the Jahango people on fire for Jesus, then I’m all in.  Now is the time to pray, even more fervently than before.  God is starting to manifest Himself in visible, tangible ways, we are starting to see the fruits of years and years of labor, so let us double our efforts that we may share in the victory that He is sure to accomplish.  To God be the glory!

     “We praise you Lord for the fruit we are beginning to see amongst the Jahango.  Thank you for the Snetselaars and their many years of faithful service.  Thank you for the Galvez and their commitment and service amongst these people.  Thank you, Lord for your faithfulness in reaching the lost and bringing your Kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven.  Please, Lord, continue this work in our midst.  Cast out the darkness and bring forth your light.  Protect the believers from persecution and harm.  Open people’s hearts to knowing and believing in you.  Pour out your power and love, Lord.  Display your glory.  Amen!”