Blessing a pastor's family for dinner and doing an Easter activity dying eggs with their kids
Helping with a traditional Fijian ceremony for relatives
Trainees receiving certificates after teaching Hope for Kids in a local church
Maba's surprise birthday party - fun times with great family friends
Mudpool adventure! Relaxing and soothing!
We love quality time with our nieces and nephews :)
Outreach and fellowship in Lautoka with Nikita and her sister
Palm Sunday lunch with Maba's mom
Visiting university students to encourage them
“But he
said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness.’…That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults,
in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am
strong.”
2 Corinthians
12:9-10
During
the month of April it seemed like we were white-water rafting down a raging
river. There were lots of twists and turns, bumping into rocks, and going with
the current. As we experienced God using us in more ways to greatly influence
others spiritually and accomplish His purposes, we also faced stronger
persecution and opposition for persevering in what God has called us to do here
on the mission field. God drew us closer to Himself in very special ways as our
Defender and Redeemer and Champion! And God allowed us to grow deeper in our
marriage as side by side we surrendered all things to Him, letting our mighty
Savior fight our battles. We encountered His power and grace that lifted us up
and give Him all the praise and glory for stretching us in new ways to conquer
unexpected circumstances.
April Mission Highlights
·
Organizing and
Promoting EE trainings – Maba visited different churches and was able to confirm a venue for
upcoming trainings. He also attended meetings for local pastors and traveled to
the local churches to share about EE, distribute brochures, and invite their
church leaders to the next local trainings. He received great feedback from the church community and
many are looking forward to being equipped with the tool of EE and using it!
·
Hope for Kids – This month I completed a
local workshop for 7 local Sunday school teachers, which was a great time of
fellowship and learning. It was amazing to see them catch the vision of
teaching children to share the Gospel and they will use the Hope for Kids
materials in their Sunday school classes and afternoon Kids Clubs in different
residential areas. Also during April, I refined the manuals I use for
staff-training, followed up with local H4K workers, and obtained 2014 Ministry
Plans from the different nations in Oceania. I look forward to all God will do
through Hope for Kids this year.
·
Ministry
Follow-Up – Maba and I met with a dear
couple (Ranjini and Vashneel) in Nadi and friends in Suva to encourage them
spiritually and in their local ministries. It was wonderful to hear how they
are stepping out in faith and using EE in their local areas. Two university
students who we trained in January in Kadavu taught a basic presentation of EE
during their campus ministry Easter camp to students from different local
universities. We also caught up with young people in our local area with whom
we have ongoing mentoring relationships. It is a great blessing to invest in
them and speak into their lives.
·
Reaching a
Hindu Family
– Maba and I have a close friend named Nikita (we’ve shared stories about her
before). She’s the only Christian in her family. Recently her family was facing
some hardships and she asked us to come help and encourage her family members.
Usually they put up walls when we have visited them before but this past month
we saw God move in powerful ways and break down some of those walls. We were
able to share with them the hope we have in the one, true living God. They also
let us pray with and for them in their current situations as we saw they were
extremely disheartened and feeling helpless. We saw Nikita’s mom’s (the
strongest Hindu in their family) expression and response to us soften and after
we prayed her eyes were filled with uncontrollable tears; all this really
touched our hearts. We are praying that Nikita’s whole family will come to know
the Lord.
·
Starting a Bible
Study – My relationship with Nikita has grown stronger and
she is family to us. She is also one of our main financial supporters here in
Fiji. She is such a blessing to us, ever ready to help us. It was fun and
encouraging to see her desire to begin Bible study sessions with me. She wanted
to know more about God’s promises and His plan for His children. We had our
first one in town at a coffee shop studying God’s Word and sharing about this
topic. I look forward to more times of fellowship like this with her!
·
Expanding our
Ministry Network – We have been meeting new people from different churches lately as we
attend different kinds of fellowship such as small groups and campus
ministries. We really enjoyed attending the Christian Fellowship at Fiji
National University hanging out with students and offering to be involved in
any way we can help and serve. We along with another local EE worker have also
been reaching out in a remote village by getting to know a confident, bright
young lady who will soon attend the Pacific Internship and training others in
the village in using EE. There are only 2 churches in their area so we pray
that EE will be effective and many will hear the Gospel.
·
Local Church
Community – Through God’s leading we
have been getting involved in a new church the past month. We attended their
young adults group and were able to encourage them and offer suggestions for
fellowship. We also hosted a pastor’s family in our home for dinner and had a
great time blessing them with a meal and dying Easter eggs with their cute
daughters. During Easter week we participated in evening services and helped
with the church picnic, which was fun times in the park playing sports.
Recently, the senior pastor and his wife hosted a married couples event in
their home where we had a feast and were able to get to know other lovely
couples and share how God brought each of us together as husband and wife. It
was the first time Maba and I had attended something like that since being
married so we had good fun with everyone.
·
Birthday – Maba’s
birthday came around April 15th. He got lots of treats and a fun
surprise birthday party. We even went to a few natural mudpools for some
relaxation at a nearby hot spring! And I found a bakery that sells Filipino
bread if you make special orders, which Maba loved! We also celebrated with
Maba’s family which is always special.
Prayer Needs
· Promotion and Organization for
EE trainings in May and June
· Assisting with the
Leadership Development Training at the EE Centre for about six weeks
· Raising up more young people
to expand the EE ministry and build up the local churches
· Need for increased Financial
Support
Thank you for continuing to support us through your prayers and giving! We are
incredibly blessed having you all have the desire to be part of what God is
doing here in Fiji and internationally through the ministry of EE! God
demonstrates is faithfulness and power as He uses us here and carries us
through. We hope you have been encouraged by the testimonies we have shared.
Please feel free to share this ministry update with those who will also be
encouraged and/or led to support financially!
Ways to Support:
Online - www.eeworks.org
*Click on "Support" then "Online Giving"
*Type "Sarah Maba 6124" in the box provided
*Type in amount and complete the given instructions
*Click on "Support" then "Online Giving"
*Type "Sarah Maba 6124" in the box provided
*Type in amount and complete the given instructions
*If
support is to be monthly – please indicate
-OR- Make checks out to Evangelism Explosion International and on memo line write "Sarah Maba 6124" (all checks tax deductible)
Mail to: Evangelism Explosion International
P.O. Box 23820 Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33307-3820
-OR- Make checks out to Evangelism Explosion International and on memo line write "Sarah Maba 6124" (all checks tax deductible)
Mail to: Evangelism Explosion International
P.O. Box 23820 Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33307-3820
Blessed,
Sarah & Maba