Prayer Partner Updates: 2008/03

Friday, March 14, 2008

[Beens Prayer Partners] from Dan and Robin Been

Dear Friends,

We ask you prayers for the following issue.

1) As we informed you the other day there was a cyclone that hit
Northern Moz. An area where Dan has been teaching for over 2 years,
Netia, was hit by high winds due to the storms that moved through.
The high winds destroyed many crops that were about to be harvested.
Dan has received two letters asking for help as they anticipate
starvation now that crops have been destroyed. Please pray for this
situation.

2) There is a church leader who has had morality issues, we will
call him John. In this culture it is very difficult to discipline
people as everyone is afraid of "burning a bridge" that some day will
be needed. However, John has been offending people, lying, and
cheating for too long and FINALLY church leaders are standing up to
him. He is not repentant and is trying to do anything he can to
control people and keep power. He is talking against Dan, trying to
get him "kicked" out of Netia. John has threatened Dan before,
saying he has the power to end Dan's ministry in Netia and get him
thrown out of the country. We aren't concerned for ourselves; we
know that John has no power over this ministry as God is protecting
it and it is not yet time for it to end but we do ask that you'd
please pray for John's heart to be touched to repent. Also please
pray that the Churches would see and understand the truth, to not
believe his lies (about so many things) and not be afraid of him (he
is known to have used the power of Satan to get his way in the past).

3) A new ministry? What? Is Dan crazy? Yes, (to a new ministry -
to being crazy . . . ) Dan has started a new ministry. It is a
simple one, however; Dan got an idea from a teammate about writing
letters to churches. Dan made a list of 8 areas and talked to
contacts there. He wrote a sample letter and everyone seemed to like
it. Basically it's a letter of encouragement but also a reflection
on a Scripture from Matthew 5. Everyone seemed to think people
within the churches would study the letter, re-read it, read it to
others, etc... He therefore has written 8 more letters of
encouragement looking at Mat. 5:3-11. Each month Dan will send one
letter out to each church in these areas. In total they will go 8
areas where there are 116 churches that are led by people who need
training. This is a way to encourage many more brethren within the
church, multiply the training process and reach more people without
having to drive hours and hours. Pray for this new ministry.

Thanks so much for your prayers and partnership!

Dan and Robin

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Monday, March 10, 2008

[Beens Prayer Partners] 2 prayer issues

Dear friends,

many of you may have heard of the cyclone which hit Mozambique a
couple days ago and has continued down the coast line. Other than
torrential rains it hasn't effected us personally, but we ask that
you please pray for the many, many people who have lost their homes
and crops, etc. I haven't heard a death count, though I'm sure many
have died as well.

On a much more minor issue, can you please pray about our energy.
Since yesterday we've had major problems - no energy for a while and
then it came on, however not appropriately. I can't explain
electrical things very well, however here we have electrical phases -
our house having 3. When the electricity came on 1 phase was working
normally, one not at all (meaning anything on that phase had no
energy) and the 3rd phase had super high electricity - 300-400
(remember we're normally on 220) so anything on that phase couldn't
be turned on or we'd risk it blowing, burning up or catching fire.
Things stayed that way through the night & due to no electricity
outside, 2 of our security lights were stolen.

All day today people have been working on the issue (it isn't only
our house) but have also said we may not have any energy tonight. Of
course lots of other minor irritations have occurred to magnify this
minor stress so your prayers would be appreciate.

Thanks so much

Robin

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Monday, March 03, 2008

[Beens Prayer Partners] 6 great iPhotos

Dear Friends, 3 March 2008

URGENT REQUEST: Each year we've had some issues with our landlord as he's threatened to raise our rent and/or sell part of the property we rent, despite our four year contract. Well this year he's finally making good on the threat. He and his wife have said they are breaking contract but want to create a new one with us for higher rent that will increase in intervals every 2 years. We can agree with that, however they want to "retro" the new price to make it effective as of last January despite the fact that we pre-paid 6 months of rent. We've told them we'd accept the new terms but didn't want the new price effective until July when we'd need to pay again. Up to now his wife is not accepting those terms. Please pray that the heart of our landlord's wife would be softened to accept our proposal. Pray for wisdom for us – to know what we should do should she not accept – do we pay the extra money or do we not accept and begin looking for something different. We don't want to move really. We truly believe God let us to this house in 2005 – it was everything we'd been praying for. We've also sunk quite a bit of money into the house and most likely would have to do that with any new place we found, however we're also losing confidence in our landlord and aren't sure we can trust him. Help us pray this situation through – he's said he'll let us know something tomorrow (Tuesday the 4th). We do know if the Lord leads us elsewhere (in Nampula) then he'll provide to meet our needs.

PRAISES:

v The interns have decided they want to stick with and persevere through the curriculum. We're excited about their desire and decision to stretch themselves through this learning time.

v Dan's normal teaching times in Netia, as well as the "True Love Waits" seminar held there this past month went very well!

v Shawn and Sarah Gardner had a wonderful week at the Blessing Ranch in Colorado this past month. They came away feeling very refreshed as well as excited over some plans made for the future (see below).

Please join us in praying for the following:

v Karunia has been having real sleep issues (and night time behavioral issues as well) over the last month or so. The last couple nights have been better so we pray things are about to be completely resolved, but in the meantime please pray for good sleep for her – for trust and obedience and respect. Also please pray for us, particularly Dan who's been the main one dealing with her, as we're both absolutely exhausted – from the issue itself but also from the lack of sleep.

v Daniel and Melissa Maddux with their two children, and Patty Maddux (both of which have interned with us in the past) will be arriving in Mozambique for full-time work this upcoming May. Pray for them as they finish their preparations to depart the States, as they look for vehicles in Maputo and then make the drive north to Nampula. Pray for their adjustment to life here, for wisdom as they seek out their specific place for ministry (they aren't planning on working at the Mustard Seed or with the internship), and for us as we oversee their 6 month mentorship.

v The annual GNFA mission retreat will be held in early April – please pray for the preparations of that taking place this month.

v Shawn and Sarah have new plan for ministry which they feel will allow them to continue the necessary care for Caleb but still maintain their involvement with the ministry here in Nampula. Basically the plan, though by no means set in stone, is that they will live and base in Nelspruit, S. Africa (where we go for medical care) and live there for 2 months, during which time Shawn can study and prepare lessons and such and Caleb can receive his therapy. Then the family will come to Nampula for the period of one month to even more actively engage in ministry and then return to S. Africa. Their current thought is to try this for 9-12 months and re-evaluate at that time. Plans are either that Shawn will arrive in June with the rest of the family coming in July, then heading to Nelspruit in August or else the entire family will arrive in July. Pray for them as they prepare to head back to Africa and for wisdom as they begin to implement this plan. Pray now for their time remaining in the States and for Caleb's recovery.

v Continue to pray for Dan, his teaching times, the internship program, and the development farm projects.

Thanks for your partnership in prayer!

Trusting and serving Him,

Robin and Dan Been