I appreciate the way that FIRST STEP ministers to the people of Sierra Leone by empowering them to participate in international industries that lease land from FIRST STEP in partnership with the government. As the felt need of a job is met, people are more receptive to the good news of abundant life in Jesus through acceptance of His sacrifice and Lordship. Currently the Africa Felix juice concentrate production plant occupies the site and employs dozens of locals. Several additional industries ranging from mineral refining to jewelry and textile production are planning to move into the country because of the special economic zone.

God gave me opportunity to share my testimony with Claudio, the European owner of this juice plant as we discussed the work of EMI around the globe and our motivation through Christ’s love. I also met and talked with several of the nationals who work for FIRST STEP as they had a special parade and celebration to commemorate the successful work over the past couple years.

This EMI team was a joy to lead. God worked powerfully through and to us, as we designed and as we exalted Jesus. One unexpected way that God worked through us by His grace was to the family who owned the motel where we stayed in Waterloo. Claudio had spent time there before, and he told us that the people never smiled and always seemed depressed. We had a much different experience, as we saw them smile back at us and engage in conversation. After our time of devotions and worship singing one morning, the owner’s wife Elizabeth asked me if she could have a copy of the lyrics to the songs we had been singing. I gladly gave her a copy of our worship lyrics, and I pray that God continues to touch her through the words that lift up the name of Jesus.

In sickness and in health, this team was a testimony of God’s grace to provide the needed strength and more. The Lord taught the less experienced volunteers and interns that their contributions were valuable because His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). One young volunteer shared that he was also encouraged to live out his faith even more intentionally (Romans 12:2). Our South African volunteer shared perspective on the body of Christ as the answer for the world, and he is asking God for wisdom on how he can step in as a bridge, connecting people to resources. The Ghanaian volunteer praised God for healing his pain due to previous surgery during our trip, and he endeavors to continue using his professional abilities to help people, loving them with the love of God.

God is at work in Sierra Leone, and I look forward to walking alongside nationals in the work He has planned ahead. This trip provided a glimpse of what is to come, and I believe many more will turn to Jesus because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Thanks for praying with me for these people that God loves. May Sierra Leoneans rise and reflect the light of Jesus to regions of West Africa!

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
(Isaiah 60:1-3)

Celebrating the EMI Interns at Lunch on Wednesday

Every term the Lord blesses us with groups of aspiring engineers and architects who desire to use their gifts to further His kingdom. He inspires me through how He teaches and molds each of them during their brief time here. The testimonies today reflected growth through challenges and trials, increased desire to worship the One who is holy, the beauty of God’s creation, the Lord’s leading step by step to grow character, and God’s love displayed through His body. I praise the Lord for each of these interns and how they have served over the past four months. He will continue to lead and guide them by His Spirit, bringing fruit from what they have sown.

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:10-15)

What is keeping you from pursuing Jesus more than anything else in your life? He alone is worthy of our utmost attention. There is so much that I tend to focus on and can be anxious about: the things of life that I desire to plan for and to engineer solutions to…everything from meals to clothing to relationships to future life plans. But Jesus says “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

This season is an amazing time to seek Jesus and His kingdom. I have been tremendously blessed by working at Engineering Ministries International and through the church body in which God planted me. Both of these places have encouraged me to walk in my gifting from the Lord. I am excited about the upcoming ministry opportunities: first in Sierra Leone with an EMI team and then in the Philippines with the Freedom Church team. Please join me in prayer throughout the coming weeks for Jesus to be made known and for God’s kingdom to come through these two trips. Pray for God’s provision of an architect, structural engineer, and surveyor for the Sierra Leone project.

YHWH, Jehovah, have Your way for Your glory! Let me be wholly surrendered to what You desire to do in and through me.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

- Jud­son W. Van De­Vent­er (1896)

I look forward to the journey ahead. Some things to expect posts on in the coming weeks, days, and months:

• EMI Sierra Leone project for the First Step Special Economic Zone industrial parks near Freetown
• Freedom Church mission trip to one of the few remaining unreached people groups in the Philippines
• My plans to partner through EMI long-term with Mercy Ships serving at Sierra Leone government hospital maintenance staff and infrastructure projects in 2013

Praise the Lord for faithfully leading and sustaining my life day by day! I pray that Jesus is exalted and you are encouraged as you read testimony of His work here.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:19-25 (ESV)

Thanks for praying for the recent EMI conference in North Carolina last month, too! I enjoyed making some presentations and connecting with past and future EMI volunteers at the disaster response training and the conference. May God continue to stir passion in the lives of design professionals to spread the gospel, offering hope in Jesus as they use their technical skills.

Please join me in lifting up two significant EMI family prayer requests that have been heavy on our hearts.

Ryan Hoffman is the son of Craig, an EMI staff member in the Colorado Springs office. Ryan, almost 2 years old, fell into a pool unnoticed and nearly drowned on October 13 while his family was on vacation. Ryan experienced seizures in his brain and has brain damage that could permanently range from learning disabilities to needing full assistance in everything from eating to going to the bathroom. Please join me in praying for Ryan and believing that God will reveal His glory in and through this situation. Visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ryanhoffman for more of Ryan’s ongoing story.

Jim Hall, EMI’s CEO, was diagnosed with melanoma and had surgery on his lymph nodes late last month. Praise God that the cancer is out of his body! Only one node had a bit of cancer in it and the rest were clear, which his doctor called miraculous given the depth of tumor and that it had spread to the sentinel lymph node. Jim is recovering and on bed rest, but he is eager to return to EMI. Pray for healing, patience, and rest in God’s peace as Jim recovers.

I will be a couple in Virginia who I have not seen in several years and sharing more about my role at EMI with some of their contacts and at their church. From there, I travel to Asheville, NC to give some presentations and lead worship at EMI’s Association of Christian Design Professionals (ACDP) Vision 2020 Conference. Please pray that this time would encourage past and future volunteers and that God touches lives with greater passion to spread the gospel around the world, bringing hope through professional designers using their technical skills.

Throughout my recent time in Ghana and Nigeria, God directed my heart to rest in the stillness of His peace. West Africa can feel like a crazy place: different languages, raised voices; roadblocks by villagers on the Ghanaian road; feeling alone and vulnerable at the Lagos airport; overwhelming poverty; intense greed and desire for money; being asked to preach with 3 minutes notice; police stops with questioning along Nigerian roads; taking your live meat home to slaughter in the back yard; and intense wind and downpours during the rainy season flooding design work areas at inopportune times.

Throughout all of this, I experienced God’s peace that is deeper and security that is stronger than anything this world can offer. God’s Spirit enabled me to say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6) Knowing that the Lord does not leave or forsake me gave me hope and encouragement during the times I felt most alone and unable to relate with the people around me. God granted me good rest throughout my stay in southern Nigeria, and He continues to guide relationships with the Ukpe and Ikpe families that I visited there. The included photo is of me with Jane and Vine Ikpe. Thank you for your continued prayers, especially as Jane and I consider our future together by God’s grace. Please join with us over this next week, asking God to lead us in His way for His glory.

Several high points from the Ghana project trip include the following:
Our witness and testimony while we worked among a predominately Muslim community, partnering with the ministry to rescue at-risk children who are rejected by their community
Meeting with George, a past EMI volunteer from Ghana, and seeing his enthusiasm to get other design professionals from Ghana and West Africa involved on future EMI projects
Time on a radio broadcast with project co-leader Gary when we returned to Accra
Visits to villages where we were able to take the hands of children and walk with them
Meeting with a passionate believer named Jesse in Accra after the rest of the team left and learning more about his ministry and hope for an upcoming building project
God used this trip to grow my faith in Him and my heart of compassion for the people of West Africa. The picture of rejected children being taken in and loved will remain in my mind, and I have a new appreciation for our Father’s heart to take us from the ashes, transform our lives, and express His love through us. Praise the Lord that He used this trip to realign team members’ priorities through the ways that Sister Stan joyously gave, even with how little she had. Continue to pray that God provides and gives grace to her as she serves in northern Ghana. May God’s light spread in this dark region through the brilliant spark of Sister’s ministry!

Psalm 33
Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
For the word of the LORD is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts the deeps in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

The LORD looks down from heaven;
he sees all the children of man;
from where he sits enthroned he looks out
on all the inhabitants of the earth,
he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.

Gary and my short time on the radio in Accra went very well, and we shared about EMI, how to get involved, and the orphanage project we worked on in the north. God also provided opportunity for me to share some of my story–how I left my engineering job for full-time engineering missions work. Praise God!

After the team left on Wednesday evening, I spent some time around Accra with a man named Jesse. I learned more about his ministry to children and youth, training them to fear and honor the Lord. He desires to add to his existing structures so that he can host youth conferences.

I departed Ghana on Friday morning and landed in the crazy, sprawling city of Lagos, Nigeria. I had realized at the last minute when booking my flights that it was not going to be possible to have less that a one day layover in Lagos. Praise God for connections from my last time in Nigeria who were able to pick me up at the airport! My time at the airport included a period of feeling helpless and alone as I waited for my ride. God led me to some police officers who I waited with and was able to converse a little with. My friend John finally arrived and we started the tedious journey to his home using several taxis, trying not to over pay for their services.

After spending Friday night with John and his family in Lagos, a friend of theirs drove me back to the airport, where I waited 2 extra hours for my delayed flight to Akwa Ibom state. I have spent the past 3 days here with the Ikpe family who are storing supplies and equipment for the nearby Prayers Farm Nigeria project. Construction on this project that EMI sent a team to design last year will likely start in a couple months, as God provides.

I preached unexpectedly, with a couple minutes notice, on Sunday morning at the Ikpe’s church, and God used that message to encourage and challenge the body. The Ikpe family is so grateful for EMI’s work on the Prayers Farm report that I have shared, and everyone is looking forward to what God has ahead. Yesterday we spent time praying and fasting specifically for Prayers Farm and those involved. Today I will deliver the report to Chief Thompson, president of Prayers Farm Nigeria.
Praise the Lord for the time I have been able to spend with Jane and Vine (the eldest Ikpe children), and the rest of the family: Mr. Matthew, Sister Anam, Deborah, and Emmanuella. God continues to grow us closer together, and I cherish this time to overflow into their lives as we pray, sing, worship, eat, play, and share life together. Please pray especially for Jane and me as we prayerfully wait on the Lord for what He has ahead in our lives.

Also pray that God would continue working in and through me as I enjoy 5 more days in Nigeria, meeting with a national architect and everything else that God has planned. To Jesus be all praise and glory!

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
- Jude 1:24-25

This past Saturday the team had opportunity to visit more children in need at a village near the Togo border referred to as Witch’s Camp because of their witchcraft practices. We met with the chief and presented soccer balls to him for the children to play with. The children immediately started playing soccer, and it was a privilege to bring some hope and smiles to them. Before we left, we shared bread and candy with the children. Sister Stan hopes to rescue some of the orphaned and outcast children from this village when the children’s home opens.

We were reminded that God has set eternity in the hearts of these people, as they strive to offer animal sacrifices and call on demonic powers. May God use our work and short time here to give believers many more opportunities to share the love and truth of Jesus, enabling it to go forth and change lives, even the whole community. Please join me in praying for these people and the many others here in Northern Ghana who do not know Jesus’ love personally.

As the team prepares for their return home, today we are on the road north toward Burkina Faso to see some crocodiles. Please pray for the team’s health these next few days while we travel the length of Ghana from north to south, as many have struggled with upset stomach. We leave Sang early in the morning tomorrow for a long drive to Accra, from where the team will depart on Wednesday night. I will spend a few additional days around Accra before journeying on to Nigeria. Pray that God directs my footsteps and interactions throughout my remaining time in West Africa.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support! God is working mightily in and through this team you have helped send!

May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!
Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.
- Psalm 20:5-8

We have been able to help hold and feed a couple infants, as well as to interact with the few orphans who live here and other children from the Sang village. I took the included picture outside where we are staying with part of the village in the background. Yesterday morning we met with the local chief, and we participated in parts of Catholic mass last night.

As I write this, I can hear the Muslim call to prayer from the mosque next door. Please continue to pray for unity among the small number of local Christians and that God will use this EMI team to build bridges and share truth with the Catholic church in this region. May God be glorified in Sister Stan’s vision to build a prayer and worship chapel to unite and encourage believers in this area, as well as through her heart to care for disabled orphans!

“Through [Jesus] then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Hebrews 13:15-16

Thanks for your continued prayer as we prepare and present designs over the next 4 days!