We just finished watching Anne of Green Gables as a family tonight. As I am sitting here to write this last installment of "Your 138", I am trying my best to refrain from using words like "bosom buddy" and "kindred spirit". Here goes....

It was 65' and sunny here today. What a welcome surprise after a long, cold and extremely wet winter. After of 135 miles of running in the bitter cold, Josh traded in his thermal running gear for a pair of shorts today to finish running the last 3miles. I am looking at the final crumpled piece of paper with the groups, Yazeed, Zaghawa Ambized, and Zaghawa Zghaua scribbled on them. (Yes dear, scribbled.) And I am loving the symbolism of ending this journey on a day that reminds us of the new life spring brings. Because a new life is what we have been praying for, for all 138people groups.

Thanks for not being afraid to pray for big things. Thanks for following this journey. Thanks for your 138.


Your kindred spirit in spreading
His love.
(almost made it :)
denise

Stupid "O"

Right now I am currently distracted by the "O" button on my computer. It all of the sudden decided it needs extra attention if I expect it to preform. Of course, that is just the latest distraction of the day. I have been distracted by my daughters choice of p.j.'s, the delightful blueberry buckle dessert that is leftover, and the load of laundry I forgot to throw over. That would be the summary of the last 5 minutes. I have such good intentions; wonderful things to accomplish, but I get sidetracked. Sometimes with good things (like dessert), sometimes with not so good things (stupid "O"). The problem is when we let distractions become the priority and forget what is truly important. I set out to do this blog and must admit I have become distracted. Let me clarify by saying, this blog is of absolutely no importance at all, but my prayer life for the lost is. I am so lucky God put me with someone who is ruthless about commitment. He is staying true and running the course. Faithfully praying for the people groups of Sudan. Today marks the 1 month point of his 138. He has logged 87 miles, and 87 people groups. Because I am your host on this journey, and find it somewhat boring at this point to list the people that I have failed to keep up with, I am going to choose one to tell you about. I encourage you to pray for them by checking out the Joshua Project Link. Today he got through the group Magalda, Dagik. I am anything but consistent so I may go back to the lists later:). The group of the day is....
'
BEJA. This people group makes me smile. Their nick name is the "Fuzzie Wuzzies" because of their fuzzie crown of hair. They love coffee and have long noses and oval faces. They are actually descendants of Noah's grandson Cush and have lived in the same area for over 4,000 years. There are almost 3 million of these people in Sudan....and they need Jesus!

I am praying to one day share coffee and His love with them. (Guess I better pray I learn to like coffee too.)

Lord, please help me be wise when seemingly innocent things become traffic jams in my life for you. Keep me moving! Keep me focused! Keep me growing in YOU.

Here's hoping you aren't focused on the small stuff, aren't devoted to the temporary, and aren't distracted by the "O"

Trash

Next to my laptop there are 3 wadded up pieces of paper. I move them aside. I set them on my keyboard. I have even rescued them from the trash. The sight of them causes me anxiety, excitement, and hope (probably in that order). They are delivered to me almost daily by the sweaty hands of my husband after he runs. You see, before each run he writes the names of the people groups on a small sheet of notebook paper, which he pulls out and prays for during his run. Of the many things this piece of paper has been through by the time it ends up on my laptop (folded, wadded, sweat and rained on...), I hope it has never been in the role of Kleenex; because I hold those worn pages in my hands as I sit here to write (using hand sanitizer now...just in case). Despite my daily effort to keep my home free of trash, I welcome these weathered reminders. When my day begins at 5:30, like it did today (sick kiddo), and I have 16 hours to do the teacher, chef, chauffeur, housekeeper, errand runner, nurse, (and hopefully get a shower), shuffle; it is easy to not have my focus on the lost. So as I pass by my laptop and see the "trash", my mind stutters, and I remember. I get anxiety...because I have one more thing to do (write this silly blog). I get excited....because we are really going there to help those exact people! And I have hope....because I believe the lost can come to know their savior. But most of all, I get a chance to refocus my mind, my heart, and my attitude around something my savior cares pretty deeply about.

Here are the names of people groups off the lists from the last few days (no sweat included).

Delen, Warki; Dilling, Arabized ; Dubasiyin; El Hugeirat; Eliri, Nding; Fa-c-Aka, Aka; Fertit, Baggara; Fezara, Juhayna; Fongoro, Gele; Fulani, Sudanese; Fungor,Ko; Fur, Forok; Saam, Ingassana; Garko, Kithonirishe; Gawamaa, Jawamaa; Ghulfan.


So thank you to the 3 people who read this...(including my mom). You give me reason to refocus everyday on the lost.

Waiting for more trash,
Denise




















I pray that God will bring something to draw your attention to Him everyday.

From the Wheel Barrow

I heard a story today about a man,150 years ago, who was completely taken with Niagara Falls. He loved it so much that he wanted to try to walk across it on a tight rope. He studied it, he practiced, and one day, he strung a piece of hemp rope across and actually did it. He didn't stop there, he kept doing it. There is actually a picture of him cooking an egg on the tight rope and lowering it down to people passing below. The tourists were always amazed. One day he filled a wheel barrow with 150lbs.of sand and asked the crowd if they believed he could walk across the tight rope pushing the wheel barrow. They all cheered that they did. He then asked if they believed that he could do it with a person instead of the sand in the wheel barrow. The applause grew louder as they said they did. And then he asked for volunteers. Quiet....until one man stepped forward. He was a local and had seen and believed in what this man could do. So he put is faith in the tight rope walker into action.

Many of us believe that God cares about the lost. We believe that he WILL seek and save them. We encourage those who are going to share the good news with lost, with applause and with admiration. And then we go back to life as usual, like a good little tourist. But what if God is calling us to live where He lives; to be a local. What if He wants us to have a front row seat to what He is doing, can do, and will do? What if He asked you to get in the wheel barrow? Is there anyone more worthy of our trust? If we truly believe that God cares about reaching the lost, then WE need to care about reaching the lost; in more ways than the empty encouragement of an un-invested tourist. How do we show we are different? Answer "Yes" to God first, and then ask "What's the question?". Don't just give empty encouragement that costs you nothing. Be a sender, be a goer, be a true prayer warrior. If you are taking the time to read this, I hope you live your life in a way that no one ever guesses where you live. And in case you were wondering....the guy in the wheel barrow made it across the falls.

Josh has been busy running. For those of you following along on his prayer journey, his list is as follows:
Baggara Messiria
Baggara Selim
Banda, Togbo-Vara
Batahin
Beygo
Bederia
Beja Bedawi
Beja Bisharin
Berti
Bideyat
Birked
Burun Arabized
Burun Lange
Dair, Thaminyi
Daju Dar Fur
Daju, Dar Sila
Dar Hamid
Debri, Wei

From the wheel barrow..
Denise

I watched a movie tonight with the fam. One of our favorite things to do as a family. I especially love it during the winter time because I have 2 hours of uninterrupted (not counting snack and potty breaks) "scrunge" time with the kids. "Scrunge" is a very important word coined several years ago by my then 3 year old Rylee. "Mom, lets "scrunge" altogether on the couch." So we scrunge. Tonight one of the phrases in the movie made me think. I love words and phrases, and this one is my pick for the night to ponder. It went something like this. "I may have been embarrassed for the day, but I will capture every imperfect and embarrassing thing about your existence with my pen, and you will be humiliated for eternity." When things are written about, they can live forever.

I wonder sometimes if writing this blog will really cause anyone to pray for the lost. Maybe...maybe not....and maybe not today. But it is written down, so maybe tomorrow.

Here are the 3 to pray for today:

I'll pray for them. I'll pray for you too. Now, I'm off to scrunge.

A few hours ago I sat in a room with a very bright Sudanese gentlemen who will probably hold a high place in Sudanese government in the future. I listened as he spoke of the war and of the miracles he experienced while serving. Miracles like an unexplainable rain in the middle of a drought that saved soldiers who had been stranded in the desert for 7 days with no water. And an unplanned convoy trip through the dessert who then picked them up. Because of these miracles, several soldiers now believe. We then asked him about those suffering in Dar fur, "Do any of them have the hope of Christ during their time of suffering?" . "No." he replied. "How can they know. Nobody will tell them".

Six more miles. Six more people groups. Today they all are bound by Islam. One day I pray they will meet the Savior who will set them free.

I tried a new format today....what do you think?

I have heard from so many of you about your 138. Thank you for doing something....anything to remember the lost. I have also heard from some of you who have less than ideal suggestions. No Mike Schrage....drinking 138 cups of coffee, which you probably consume in a week anyway, is not your 138. And no, sleeping 138 hours doesn't count either.

-Denise

3 miles, 3 people groups, It begins:

We have about 4-6 inches of snow on the ground here in Joplin, and my indoor/outdoor thermometer reads 7 degrees. Mother nature did not seem to care that today is the day Josh begins his 138 miles for the unreached. So Josh cowboyed up, put on his "wonder pants" (as my kids call them), and along with our teammate Amek, headed out to pack snow and pray for the lost. I will in turn begin my trek with you tonight. We will start where every good list should...from the beginning. And for those "Type A's" out there, we will even do it alphabetically. For clarification's sake, in order for a people group to make the list, (and this is not a contest they should be excited about winning), they have to fall into the category of less than 2% of their population that professes Christ. Of the 246 total people groups in Sudan, 138 fall into that category. Will you lift these precious people up with me?





1. Acheron -Total Population 9,800 Religion- unknown There is no



reported Bible translated into their language. They live among the



Nuba Mountains




2. Afitti, Ditti - Total Population 8,700 Religion- Islam There is no




reported Bible translated in their language. Their is no photograph




available of this people.





3. Ageer - Total Population 18,000 Religion- various ethnic and tribal



religions Portions of the Bible were translated between 1920's and



1950's but there is no known complete translation.





You've heard it said..."Beautiful are the feet that bring good news.". Well, I stuck my beautiful feet in a pair of galoshes tonight and took my daughter and a friend to the movies. The parking lot had mountains of snow, but I had no fear as my highly fashionable shoes and I blazed trails. (Didn't you hear...the "I look like I just shoveled manure and hopped in the car" look is sooo in.) Unfortunately, my daughter's friend had on flip flops. She was far more timid about the parking lot expedition. As awesome as they looked with her outfit, she had absolutely no confidence in their ability to keep her feet warm and her body upright. Her slow and steady tiptoe was proof. I on the other hand stepped with reckless abandon as I had complete confidence in my unattractive footwear. Later, during the insanely long movie, I was thinking about that whole complete confidence thing, wondering, do I believe that God can do what He says He can do? Do I trust His Word just as I trusted the claims on a piece of paper rubber banded to my boots? Do I march ahead with complete confidence in Him or tiptoe in fear?



36,500 people, 3 people groups, 3miles down. It seems like such a small thing to do; to write, to run, but not to believe that it will make a difference. I believe that God can do what He says He will do. So I move forward with confidence. One people group, one prayer, one blog, one day at a time


My God is in the business of moving mountains. Ones made out of fear and ignorance, and some days, even ones made out of snow.