Friday, May 9, 2014

Covered in His GRACE

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 StudyMy 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.


·      BirthdayMaba’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
*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

Blessed,
Sarah & Maba