Pushing Back Darkness

Hello Friends and Family,

He is Risen, He is Risen indeed!! I know Easter Weekend has past but I urge you to never forget that we serve a living God, and that His life is inside each of His Followers.

My God is alive and active in the USA, in Saudi Arabia, Washington D.C., Philippines, Sierra Leone, and all over the world!!!

We can never ever go anywhere in this world that God is not there, that is not a threat, but a beautiful promise.

I’m now on the down slope of my stay here, with only two full months to go. When I leave it will be heart wrenching no doubt. These next months will continue not only be full calendar wise but schedule wise also.

Every day is packed so full here! There are endless needs in Sierra Leone; to teach, to minister, to love, to feed, to give, to heal and to encourage. God has taught me a lot, and one thing I know deep within me now. I can’t do everything for everyone that has a need, but I can and must do everything He calls me to do each and every day. He doesn’t need me, I need Him.

He has called me to teach the children at Wellington Orphanage. During the week my teaching and tutoring the kids takes up most of the day, and it is such a delight and joy to be able to see right before my eyes their understanding expand, their interests sparked, and to watch their eyes light up or hear them giggle during story time as I read African tales and books to them. They truly are learning and valuing the importance of education in their own lives.

I smile with joy when I sit back and watch Martha preach with passion and fluency, knowing that someday her dream will come true and she will use her gift of communication and compassion to serve her people in the medical field.

When Teresa and Lemon walk around humming and singing bible verse songs they are learning, I praise God that they have hidden His Word in their hearts, and someday they will be ministering and preaching to other Sierra Leoneans and people around the world when they are older.

Elisha asks me to help him practice speaking English so that he can succeed at becoming a leading figure in the government so he can rule justly and fairly and bring reformation to the current government system.

They all serve, work and study so faithfully, they will soon become the mighty men and women, mothers and fathers, pastors, doctors, accountants, and above all faithful followers for the Lord.

I know and believe more firmly each day that God has placed such a beautiful mission and plan for each of these children and they have the potential to impact the world for Christ. But I also believe firmly for that to happen we cannot forget them, they are still only children and so greatly need the continued support, love, training and prayers of many to help them succeed.

I want to thank every one of you who supported me so that I could come, those who have faithfully prayed throughout, and those who have written and called to encourage me in this endeavor. Through your giving and love, you are helping fufill the plans of God in their life. As you continue to support me and others who are walking with, teaching, guiding and training them as they grow up you are making an eternal impact on their lives. I can’t thank you enough. All glory and praise goes to God for everything good that is accomplished. Being able to watch and participate as God works and moves in mighty ways is more than enough reward or payment for me.

I praise God for you! May you cling close to Him all the days of your life, I close beautiful word spokem by a Missionary who died at the hands of the people He served. May each of our hearts cry out with this same prayer.

“God I pray thee light these idle sticks of my life that I may burn up for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine, I seek not a long life but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus” Jim Elliot

In His Love,

Deborah Lange