Second distribution complete!

The second phase of the famine relief project is now complete! Click here or on the photo to the right for more pictures.

Below is Jim's report.

For the second distribution the numbers increased to 785 heads of households in the 8 villages (from 758). We used the chief’s roll to go by and compared it with the sous-prefet's roll. Those who had not paid taxes were not on the roll and did not receive the help. This time they received 100 kilos of millet each and seeds to plant ½ hectare of black-eyed peas. These are fast growing and will give them something to eat soon. Each village also received some improved seeds for millet, sorghum, and black eyed peas to distribute in the village to certain farmers. We were able to get either ‘seed du base, or N1 seed’. Seed du base planted this year becomes N1 the following year. The next year the seeds harvested would be classified as N2. The third year they would be classified as ordinary seeds.

The chief and elders were to provide these seed to the better more serious farmers
to grow the crops for their village. Those farmers would then trade the
good seed at harvest with others who only planted ordinary seeds, so that all in
the village would have good quality seed for the coming year. Also, the
women in each village were given some garden seeds and watering cans to
encourage them to do vegetable gardens. This time a scripture portion
containing the Beatitudes was given out in the villages. The chief of each
village received a set of cassettes in chant form with the book of John.

We were grateful we had decided to go with millet as rice was very
scarce in Kaffrine. We purchased the millet from Lamine (Bara)
Senyane. He was very good about holding it until we were ready. It
was very good seed and it came from some of the villages where Jean Claude Coly
has been working. We ended up with a combination of millet and sorghum,
but the people didn’t seem to mind. The grain was a good enough quality
that they could plant some of it if they wanted to. This allowed every
head of household to at least have seed grain to plant this year.

We purchased the improved seed for multiplication from Yassa
Senghor at World Vision, Jean Claude Coly, and from ISRA at Bombey. They
were limited in the amount they could give us, but they were all very
helpful. ISRA is the government agriculture research
center.

Each of the 12 believers in the disciple group received ½ hectare
of neibi melax [improved beans] and 1 hectare of either improved millet or
sorghum. We are hoping some of this will be certified to sell for next
year. They have been encouraged to trade the seed around so that everyone
will get some good seed for next year.

Before the second distribution we invited the chiefs of each village to meet with us Monday. We had lunch with them and the believers. Then we discussed how the
distribution would go. This meeting went very well and the believers
seemed to have a lot of influence. Jim gave them their vouchers and they
were responsible for collecting the money from their people. This time the
participation was 1.000 CFA. This took care of the transportation and
loading fees for 2 sacks of millet each and the seeds.

At each village for both distributions the grain was delivered and stored until we
or our volunteer teams went out and did a presentation, usually it was that day
or the next day. We told them how Followers of Jesus had heard about their
difficulties in the states and had sent money to buy food for them. Each
time we stressed that God loves them and wants everyone to be saved.
However we are all sinners and our sin must be paid for to go to heaven.
Then Jim presented the chief with his grain and received his voucher. Then
the chief gave out the rest of the grain.

There seems to be more openness in the villages now toward Christians. The believers in the villages say they are respected now. They are bolder in sharing their faith as others ask them questions. They are passing out books to their friends and meeting for prayer and study.

We are encouraging the mature believers in the area to try to follow up as much as possible. We are all sensing that God is at work in these villages. Saidou, Helen,
Youssou, and Ousman have all expressed a desire to help out. We are praying there will be some follow up in these villages.

Saidou has a big meeting planned in Kaffrine for September. We hope this will encourage some of the believers and seekers.

Finally we need to have people praying for a good rainy season and good crops.

Bev and I along with the entire Kaffrine team would like to thank each of you for your prayers and for your generosity. Your generosity has given hope to many people. It is through this food given in the name of Jesus and your prayers that we hope to see the strong holds that Satan has created over the generations torn
down.

May our Lord receive the Glory He deserves!

Update from the field

I just talked to Jim yesterday afternoon. He gave me a very encouraging report about how things have been going in Kaffrine. The believers have been involved in the distributions, helping and working in selfless ways. They have reported that they have started sensing greater respect and acceptance.

One man said that before the distributions he would just look at the ground on his way through the village, and no one would greet him. Now, following the distribution in his village people greet him almost as a hero! Pray that the believers would take the greater respect they are receiving and turn it into a chance to speak about the gospel.

Another Christian man who has been very involved in the distributions even though his village (and so he himself) is not covered by these distributions (World Vision works in his area) has brought his Muslim wife to several meetings recently. Pray for the men that have non-Christian wives and children that they would be more and more open to sharing their faith with their families like this man. Pray for those family members that they would listen to the words of life.

Still another very open Christian has been approached by the local Muslim religious leader with questions about Jesus. His questions were raised by the evangelistic tract that was distributed with the food help. Other villages are asking for still more books, because more people want to read what the Quran says about Jesus. Pray for those that are reading the booklet that their hearts would be opened to Jesus.

The price of rice continues to go up. Jim reports that there has not even been any rice to buy in Kaffrine for several weeks! The second distribution will go forward with millet rather than rice. The second distribution will take place soon and consist of 100 kgs of millet to eat, enough improved bean seed for 1/2 hectare--ready to eat in 45 days--and enough improved millet seed for about an hectare of millet. Continue to be in prayer for Jim and Bev as they carry so much on their shoulders right now.

Thanks again for your generosity--your gifts have made these praise reports possible. Continue to pray for all the goals of the project, physical and spiritual.

From the field...

Here is a message from Jim and Bev, who are continuing to administrate the project on the ground in Kaffrine.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into
practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came
down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it
did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
Matthew
7:24-25

Dear Family and Friends,

We praise the Lord
for the first phase of the distribution of rice and literature for famine
relief! We started in the villages in the middle of May and finished up 2
weeks later. We were grateful to have Tyson and Bill from Adventure of
Faith to help us in with the distribution. They went to the different
neighborhoods in Sorokogne to distribute booklets along with the vouchers for
each head of household. Later they helped us along with Saidou, Modou, and
Ousman to deliver the rice. Because of the shortage of rice it took three
deliveries to have enough for the villages. Each head of house received a
50 kilo sack of rice and a camel tract that talks about what the Koran says
about Jesus. When the people gathered to receive their rice, Jim explained
how followers of Jesus in America heard of their plight and sent money to buy
rice. We also shared that God loves them and wants to have a relationship
with them. The people said they were very grateful for the help.
When we offered the booklets, the people were glad to get them. Jim put
the Wolof into Arabic script so most of the people could read the
booklets. It was exciting to see so many people eagerly accepting the
booklets and beginning to read them.

[The distribution
of the second round of help] will take place the middle of this
month. We have a team from Mountain View Church coming to help with the
distribution in Diagle. Then the last week in June Saidou has a team
coming that will help us in Ndoj and Wande. This next time we hope to
distribute a sack of millet for food and black eyed peas to plant a half
hectare. We will be passing out scripture portions from Matt. 5-7, The
Beatitudes.

Pray with us that this food distribution will
break down the barriers that Satan has built over the centuries: the thought
that followers of Jesus are bad people and Muslims should not read the Word of
God ‘The Bible’. We have already received reports from some of the
believers that they are receiving more respect in some of the villages.
Our second prayer is that as each head of family reads what the Koran says about
Jesus and the Bible that they will go to the believers to hear a clear salvation
message. Please pray with us about these two items.

It
looks like the rainy season has come early this year. We had good rains on
Saturday and Sunday evenings. Unfortunately most of the people are not
ready for the rains. In our disciple group many don't have seeds or a
horse or a planter. One of the men just finished building several mud
huts, and one fell down in the rain. Please pray that God will provide
their needs. Also pray that they will obey God in all things so that they
will be able to stand firm through the difficulties and depend on Him for all of
their needs.

In His Service,

Bev and
Jim

Project Fully Funded

We have received news that the project is fully funded and then some! We will be able to do both distributions in full despite the rising price of rice and unfavorable exchange rate. Praise the Lord for His provision!

More pictures from the first round of distributions

We have received some more pictures from the field of the first round of distribution of food and gospel tracts. Click on the photo to browse the pictures.

Message from the field

I just received this email from Jim and Bev Vaughn, who are on the ground in Kaffrine running the project. Pray for them as they have alot on their shoulders.

We have run into a fair amount of problems getting rice locally, but the
Lord is providing. Last Thursday we distributed 65 sacs of rice to east of
us. Thursday 70,000 sacs [that 35 metric tons of rice] arrived of medium
quality rice so we paid an extra 250 CFA per bag or 13400 per sac instead of
13150.


Today 400 sacs of rice arrived [at the local store in Kaffrine] and we
bought it all and Omar [the store owner] stated that there were some very un happy people because of this. We took this rice and delivered it to 3 villages [total of 5
villages]. This rice was even more expensive. Even thought the
government has fixed a ceiling on the rice it seems like it is coming out of the
port at a higher price. It sounds like the government who said they would
pay the difference in the rice is not honoring their word. This rice was
14000 per sac instead of the 13150. We are hope another truck comes
in tomorrow morning. If so we will buy the rest of the rice to complete
the final 2 villages.

Please pray that the rice does arrive and please pray that the lower quality [less expensive] rice will come in.

In His service,

Jim and Bev
Vaughn

First Distribution!

All your giving and prayer has started to pay off--the first distribution took place this week.

To see pictures, click here.

Watch this space for more details.