Dear Friends,

 

The past couple of days have included comments like this:

 

Judy: “Hey, my computer just went into standby while I was working! That never happens with a desktop! Oh! It just did it again! Why is it doing this?”

Vicki: “Where did the corrections go on this document? I spent half the day yesterday adding those!” and then, “This computer is not showing my flash drive, and I need to save this lesson so I can move it to the other computer!”

Judy: “The phones are out; we can’t get through by the land line!”

Vicki: “Oops, the cell network just went off in the middle of that call” . . . !

 

. .  . and on we could go. Finally today I stepped back, thinking “What’s going on?” and it hit me. . . our battle has intensified at this time! Why did we not recognize this and spend more time in prayer? It is amazing that sometimes I can be in the thick of conflict originating from Satan and it can be so subtle that I do not recognize it. That is no one’s fault but mine, being too preoccupied to pray sufficiently. I am “not ignorant of his devices.” ( 2Cor. 2:11).

 

Well, there’s a reason for the battle being stronger than usual. My friend and colleague, Vicki Ivester, has come to Togo for a few weeks to help with some of our literature and literacy needs. As an expert with much experience in linguistics, languages, and translation, she is certainly the one to assist with projects here in Togo. She resides in the States to care for her mom, but visits Togo and other countries whenever she can, in order to help with language and translation projects.

 

This week, the work is with our BVI (Bible Visuals International) Visualized Bible series we are working on in order for our churches to have some teaching materials. For the next two weeks, it will be primer construction for the Anufo and Tamberma languages, so that these people can be taught to read the New Testament that is already available in each of their languages. As we seek to further the understanding of the people of Togo and W. Africa in God’s Word, obviously we are going to experience opposition from the enemy of our souls, who does not want God’s Word to be readable or understandable to anyone.

 

I am asking you to pray with us through November 3, which is the day Vicki arrives back in the USA. Pray for the members of the primer construction teams, as they have no experience in writing primers, and some of them will be hearing the gospel for the first time.

 

A pastor friend recently stated, “We LIVE in the throne room of God. He tells us to make our requests known.” I had not looked at prayer in that way before, and am challenged by the very fact that I am in His throne room. He will never leave me; He is near, and invites me to come boldly before His throne. Same for you, my praying friends.

 

The Lord has already helped us make great progress with the BVI lessons. We praise Him for that! Please pray for continued success in this effort, as well as for successful construction of the primers needed to teach the Anufo and Tamberma people to read their Bible.

 

THANK YOU for joining us in this effort!

 

Serving joyfully in Togo,

 Judy