Just wanted to let everyone know that we made it back to the USA. Our flights were all on time and uneventful. We actually arrived in Atlanta a full hour ahead of schedule with all of our luggage. We appreciate all the prayers that were offered up on our behalf.
It has been a few days now and we are getting used to be being here, I think. The obligatory trip to Wal-Mart was a bit overwhelming, not to mention the 3 hours I spent at an AT&T store getting cell phones for Elaine & I. You forget about the pace of life here. Everyone is going 100 MPH all the time. Oh well...
I will write more later.
Blessings,
Steve
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Between two worlds Part II
This past Friday, we left the town in Burkina that has been our home for the past four years to come here to the capital city, where we will fly out from. The days preceeding that were filled with visits from our friends wishing us farewell and lamenting the fact that we will be gone for almost a year. This was a very difficult time for everyone. I think the most difficult thing we did though was when we went down to the village of Savannah, and said our goodbyes there. Africans due not usually show emotion during these times, but there were many, including Andrew's older sister that were just outright crying. I thank the Lord that somehow, we have made an impression on people here. That through our witness, we have been able to show them the love of Jesus Christ. I pray that He will break the hearts of these stiff necked people, and that they would turn from their ways and follow Him.
I know that this is not about me or my family, but about the One who sent us here. We can do nothing without His power, His mercy, and His grace. I am just humbled that He has chosen to use us to bring His message to the Jula here in Burkina. And some Jula are responding. In fact just htis week, I heard from a co-worker of mine that lives in another city in Burkina that his teenage son led a young Jula man to the Lord! God is working.
In less 30 hours, we will board a plane that will take us to a city in North Africa, and then on to the US. We will make it back to Atlanta on the same day that we leave here. In some ways we are ready, but in many ways we are not. As I type this, Elaine is trying to recover from her latest run in with Malaria. There are times when I think about those that came before us in the days prior to air travel; when it took weeks and sometimes months to come back from their field of service. How did they do it?Next week at this time, we will be back in he land of plenty. I don't know if I am ready for that.
Please pray that our transition will be smooth. More later.
Stephen
I know that this is not about me or my family, but about the One who sent us here. We can do nothing without His power, His mercy, and His grace. I am just humbled that He has chosen to use us to bring His message to the Jula here in Burkina. And some Jula are responding. In fact just htis week, I heard from a co-worker of mine that lives in another city in Burkina that his teenage son led a young Jula man to the Lord! God is working.
In less 30 hours, we will board a plane that will take us to a city in North Africa, and then on to the US. We will make it back to Atlanta on the same day that we leave here. In some ways we are ready, but in many ways we are not. As I type this, Elaine is trying to recover from her latest run in with Malaria. There are times when I think about those that came before us in the days prior to air travel; when it took weeks and sometimes months to come back from their field of service. How did they do it?Next week at this time, we will be back in he land of plenty. I don't know if I am ready for that.
Please pray that our transition will be smooth. More later.
Stephen
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Between two worlds- Part I
It has been a long time since our last post...
Stephen was away for two weeks in a neighboring country attending seminary classes. Then the rest of the family joined him for the region's annual meeting for one more week. We are happy to report that the classes and the meeting went very well.
This week, we are in the process of packing up our house here in Burkina. Although we don't leave for the states for another 2 1/2 weeks, we have to move out of our house on Sunday, since they will be doing some much needed repairs to our home. We will move into a guesthouse here in Bobo for our final two weeks in Burkina.
The atmosphere in our home is kind of different right now; the packing and bare walls have driven home the point that we are leaving. Our African friends are sort of avoiding us as if they don't want to have to say goodbye for now. Emotionally, we are not ready to leave...this is our home now. We have built friendships and seen the Lord do so many amazing things in our almost four years here. We have experienced loss and also have really grown as a family. However, we also know that it is time ot return to the US for a while. There are things there that we need to do, people we need to see, and rest that we need to take. Lord willing, we will be bcak here in Burkina already this time next year.
Please remember to pray for us as we go through this very difficult transition.
Until next time.
Stephen (for the Habers)
Stephen was away for two weeks in a neighboring country attending seminary classes. Then the rest of the family joined him for the region's annual meeting for one more week. We are happy to report that the classes and the meeting went very well.
This week, we are in the process of packing up our house here in Burkina. Although we don't leave for the states for another 2 1/2 weeks, we have to move out of our house on Sunday, since they will be doing some much needed repairs to our home. We will move into a guesthouse here in Bobo for our final two weeks in Burkina.
The atmosphere in our home is kind of different right now; the packing and bare walls have driven home the point that we are leaving. Our African friends are sort of avoiding us as if they don't want to have to say goodbye for now. Emotionally, we are not ready to leave...this is our home now. We have built friendships and seen the Lord do so many amazing things in our almost four years here. We have experienced loss and also have really grown as a family. However, we also know that it is time ot return to the US for a while. There are things there that we need to do, people we need to see, and rest that we need to take. Lord willing, we will be bcak here in Burkina already this time next year.
Please remember to pray for us as we go through this very difficult transition.
Until next time.
Stephen (for the Habers)
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Wedding Day
Our family just returned from a trip to our friend's wedding in Savannah. Jula weddings take place on a Thursday, but the celebration lasts for almost a week. First, we were in the bride's village for dancing and fellowship. Then the party continued in Savannah where Elaine, Elizabeth and Alex helped prepare food for a hundred people or so. What an exciting time, yet sad as all the questions started coming in about our upcoming departure for America. We were told by many that we are now African and should not be returning to America. We were deeply touched by comments like these.
Our emotions are all over the place....we are still counting down the days (57) till we are with friends and family in America. Some nights we are so excited that we can't sleep with the thoughts of AC and college football dancing in our heads. Yet, we will miss our life and friends here. Elizabeth and Alex handle change differently....one thrives with constant change and motion. While the other mourns over any change at all.
Please continue to be in prayer as we say our goodbyes and pack up our home. Stephen leaves in less than two weeks for several weeks in Abidjan. He will be attending two weeks of seminary classes and then we will be together for our annual regional meeting. We are thankful for this time to say our goodbyes to other m friends from all over West Africa. We will then be moving out of our home within days of returning to Burkina.
We appreciate all of you and your prayers for our family and our work over the past four years!
CHECK OUT OUR NEW PHOTOS!!
Our emotions are all over the place....we are still counting down the days (57) till we are with friends and family in America. Some nights we are so excited that we can't sleep with the thoughts of AC and college football dancing in our heads. Yet, we will miss our life and friends here. Elizabeth and Alex handle change differently....one thrives with constant change and motion. While the other mourns over any change at all.
Please continue to be in prayer as we say our goodbyes and pack up our home. Stephen leaves in less than two weeks for several weeks in Abidjan. He will be attending two weeks of seminary classes and then we will be together for our annual regional meeting. We are thankful for this time to say our goodbyes to other m friends from all over West Africa. We will then be moving out of our home within days of returning to Burkina.
We appreciate all of you and your prayers for our family and our work over the past four years!
CHECK OUT OUR NEW PHOTOS!!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Blinded to the Truth
We sat in a hot, cramped, dark room visiting with one of Andrew's father's wives (he had four.) M. has been sick for a very long time now. The woman that used to greet me with a song and dance-literally-every time I came to visit her courtyard could now barely sit up straight. She looked at least 25 years older than her 50 or so years. She was fading away before our my very eyes. I knew that her time, just like the rest of us, on this earth was growing shorter and shorter. I prayed and asked the Lord to give me the strength to tell this woman the story of His Son. So in the company of two of my friends from the USA and Andrew, I shared with her the Truth. Also in attendance was her mother. Both women have been enslaved by a false religion all their lives. Both women listened intently as I told them that because of our sins, our time on earth was numbered, and that the time to decide where we would spend eternity was now. I explained to them how Christ came and conquered death, and that if we would just choose to become one of His followers we can be sure that once we left this world, we would spend eternity with God. Unfortunately, M. and her mother were and still are blinded to the Truth. She said that she was tired, and that she could not think of such things now. She only wanted to rest. I prayed for her and her mother and left them there in that dark room, knowing that the god of this world has them and millions of others blinded to the One True God.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
New Life
This past week, I headed down to Savannah to help the team from Arkansas wrap up their time there. The mood amongst them was somewhat subdued; I could tell that they were ready to get back to the friends and family they left behind in the US. However, I also sensed the sadness they had in leaving their new "famliy" behind. I was pleased to see the bonds and the relationships that had been formed between these five twenty-something Americans and a whole village of Africans, who ranged in age from just a few months to well into their sixties. What they lacked in language ability they made up for in a desire to communicate the love of Christ. Even after a month of eating village food and living in very close proximity to a lot of people, the spirit of this team had not been dimmed.
My other reason for going down to Savannah was to baptize some of the new belivers. A few days earlier the team reported to me that there was a desire amongst the new belivers to follow the Lord in baptism. So, I went down to the village with great expectancy. My plan was to baptize all of the new belivers in the village together. However, the Lord had other plans and my plans quickly did not come to fruition. I only had the opportunity to talk to three of the belivers about getting baptized the next morning, and one of them said he was not ready. So, the next morning, we got in my truck with two of the belivers to head out to the lake. As we were pulling out, one of the belivers that I had NOT talked to the night before asked where we were going. I told him what we were going to do, and he said "I want to be baptized as well." "Get in the truck" I said. We all headed to the lake, and right there, In a place were cows came to dirnk and people came to wash their clothes, we witnessed three new members of our "family" make a public profession of their new life in Christ.
My other reason for going down to Savannah was to baptize some of the new belivers. A few days earlier the team reported to me that there was a desire amongst the new belivers to follow the Lord in baptism. So, I went down to the village with great expectancy. My plan was to baptize all of the new belivers in the village together. However, the Lord had other plans and my plans quickly did not come to fruition. I only had the opportunity to talk to three of the belivers about getting baptized the next morning, and one of them said he was not ready. So, the next morning, we got in my truck with two of the belivers to head out to the lake. As we were pulling out, one of the belivers that I had NOT talked to the night before asked where we were going. I told him what we were going to do, and he said "I want to be baptized as well." "Get in the truck" I said. We all headed to the lake, and right there, In a place were cows came to dirnk and people came to wash their clothes, we witnessed three new members of our "family" make a public profession of their new life in Christ.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
May Update
Another month has come and gone here in Burkina Faso.
Our summer students Michael, Jamar, Betsy, Jamie and Jessica are back in their village for another ten day stay. The Lord blessed their first stay there! One young man was obedient to God's calling on his life and surrendered all to Jesus. The team has been sharing Bible stories and discipling the new believers. The guys on the team also spend their days hunting with other men. The girls on the team have really been helping out the women in their host courtyard with cooking and chores. Even with some of the team members getting sick, they have really persevered. Please continue to pray for their health and for open hearts in the ones they share with.
Our family will be leaving tomorrow morning for a 4 day trip to Mali. We will be taking care of some medical stuff and then visiting with our new team members Donna and LaVerne. Pray that we would have a safe trip and a blessed time of fellowship.
On a very sad and difficult note.....our family said goodbye to a special member of our family this week, our dog Snickers. We have been blessed for the past three years with the greatest dog in the world. Sadly, Snickers died in her sleep yesterday and our family is deeply missing her. We are thankful that she did not suffer and that we have our other dog Sahara to love on. Please pray for us as we deal with the loss of more than just a pet.
Thank you and God bless!!!!
Elaine
Our summer students Michael, Jamar, Betsy, Jamie and Jessica are back in their village for another ten day stay. The Lord blessed their first stay there! One young man was obedient to God's calling on his life and surrendered all to Jesus. The team has been sharing Bible stories and discipling the new believers. The guys on the team also spend their days hunting with other men. The girls on the team have really been helping out the women in their host courtyard with cooking and chores. Even with some of the team members getting sick, they have really persevered. Please continue to pray for their health and for open hearts in the ones they share with.
Our family will be leaving tomorrow morning for a 4 day trip to Mali. We will be taking care of some medical stuff and then visiting with our new team members Donna and LaVerne. Pray that we would have a safe trip and a blessed time of fellowship.
On a very sad and difficult note.....our family said goodbye to a special member of our family this week, our dog Snickers. We have been blessed for the past three years with the greatest dog in the world. Sadly, Snickers died in her sleep yesterday and our family is deeply missing her. We are thankful that she did not suffer and that we have our other dog Sahara to love on. Please pray for us as we deal with the loss of more than just a pet.
Thank you and God bless!!!!
Elaine
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Lost and found
Last week, my friend "Andrew" & I made a trip from Burkina down into Northern Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). We met up with two guys in a main town and then we headed out to the village of "Chicago" in order to secure housing for the two new team members that were coming to live in Chicago and work with the Jula early next year.
We made it out to Chicago and found housing for them, praise the Lord. What left the biggest impression on me though was the destitute of northern Cote d'Ivoire and it's people. The country that was once called "the most stable in all of West Africa" is now little more than a state run by bandits, at least in the north. After crossing the border from Burkina, we were stopped several times at "checkpoints" by the former rebels. Each time, instead of checking our papers or passports, all they did was ask for a "gift." I was expecting this, but I had been holding out hope that now that the peace deal between the north and the south had been signed, some semblance of order would have been restored. I was looking for professional police or military, and instead found young men dressed in all types of ill fitting camouflage uniforms and flip flops. We never felt threatened, instead I became very sad. Sad at the fact that these guys were shaking down people. Sad that a once prosperous economy was still in ruins. Sad that an entire generation of children have now grown up without going to school, since they have all been closed since the outbreak of the war. Theirs is truly a lost generation. The only hope that they have is to find Christ and to give themselves up to His rule, His authority, and His grace.
On a much brighter note, yesterday I visited with "Y"; a young man that I have seen off and on here in Bobo for the past two years. Several weeks ago, I gave Y a cassette tape that told the story of Jesus, and how one can become a follower of Him. Y works at a local restaurant parking motos (motor scooters) for it's customers. Yesterday morning, Y and I sat down at the restaurant, and immediately he began talking about the cassette. He listened to it, and he said that he wanted to do what he heard and become a follower of Jesus. We talked about it some, and he was very excited. I told him how one becomes a follower of Jesus and what it means to do so. He asked me if he could become a follower right then. So right then & there, I led Y in a prayer to give his life to Christ. Y was found. He was no longer lost, but is now a child of God. The Good Shepherd found one of His lost sheep and returned him to His flock.
We made it out to Chicago and found housing for them, praise the Lord. What left the biggest impression on me though was the destitute of northern Cote d'Ivoire and it's people. The country that was once called "the most stable in all of West Africa" is now little more than a state run by bandits, at least in the north. After crossing the border from Burkina, we were stopped several times at "checkpoints" by the former rebels. Each time, instead of checking our papers or passports, all they did was ask for a "gift." I was expecting this, but I had been holding out hope that now that the peace deal between the north and the south had been signed, some semblance of order would have been restored. I was looking for professional police or military, and instead found young men dressed in all types of ill fitting camouflage uniforms and flip flops. We never felt threatened, instead I became very sad. Sad at the fact that these guys were shaking down people. Sad that a once prosperous economy was still in ruins. Sad that an entire generation of children have now grown up without going to school, since they have all been closed since the outbreak of the war. Theirs is truly a lost generation. The only hope that they have is to find Christ and to give themselves up to His rule, His authority, and His grace.
On a much brighter note, yesterday I visited with "Y"; a young man that I have seen off and on here in Bobo for the past two years. Several weeks ago, I gave Y a cassette tape that told the story of Jesus, and how one can become a follower of Him. Y works at a local restaurant parking motos (motor scooters) for it's customers. Yesterday morning, Y and I sat down at the restaurant, and immediately he began talking about the cassette. He listened to it, and he said that he wanted to do what he heard and become a follower of Jesus. We talked about it some, and he was very excited. I told him how one becomes a follower of Jesus and what it means to do so. He asked me if he could become a follower right then. So right then & there, I led Y in a prayer to give his life to Christ. Y was found. He was no longer lost, but is now a child of God. The Good Shepherd found one of His lost sheep and returned him to His flock.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
April Update
OK...so it has been a while since our last update, but so much has happened and continuues to happen so we will try and get you all up to speed.
Family News
Praise the Lord we have all been very healthy. Alex has a cough now, but enjoying the opportunity to relax and watch Star Wars. Please pray for healing!
Elizabeth finished 6th grade last week with mostly all A's. Alex completed 3rd grade with all A's. The girls have this week off and then we start the 2008-2009 school year next week. This gives us the freedom to take time off from school while we are in the states.
Speaking of which we leave Burkina and head to America for our year long stateside assignment (furlough) on Aug.26th. Friends of ours gave us a countdown clock...118 days to go! That is almost the same as our daily temperature! At times it is hard to believe we have been here almost four years. We can look back and see His hand throughout our time in Burkina. We are looking forward to time with family and friends. Not to mention all the conveniences America has to offer. We have even booked all of our required speaking engagements.
Elizabeth went on her first mission trip and spent a week in a village about 6 hours away. She worked at an orphanage run by an American woman. Her only challenge that week was trying to convince us to adopt several kids.
Stephen has just finished his spring on-line seminary class and is preparing for the two classes he will take this summer.
Ministry News
Since January, we have seen a great harvest amongst our people! In three different villages, we have seen nine people come ot the Lord! On this past trip out to Corpus Christi, four people became followers of Jesus. Now there are at least six Belivers there that we know of! Bible study with Ike has been going well. It is very exciting to see him growing in his faith each week.
Last week, our two new team members Donna & LaVerne arrived in West Africa to begin their training to work full time with us. Lord willing, they will arrive in "Chicago" March of 2009. Also, a family that has committed to working with us here in Bobo came for a visit last week. Currently they are working in a neighboring country and their current assignement ends in July '08. If all goes well, they will be back here in West Africa mid-2009. God is answering your prayers for new team members!
Prayer Requests:
Family News
Praise the Lord we have all been very healthy. Alex has a cough now, but enjoying the opportunity to relax and watch Star Wars. Please pray for healing!
Elizabeth finished 6th grade last week with mostly all A's. Alex completed 3rd grade with all A's. The girls have this week off and then we start the 2008-2009 school year next week. This gives us the freedom to take time off from school while we are in the states.
Speaking of which we leave Burkina and head to America for our year long stateside assignment (furlough) on Aug.26th. Friends of ours gave us a countdown clock...118 days to go! That is almost the same as our daily temperature! At times it is hard to believe we have been here almost four years. We can look back and see His hand throughout our time in Burkina. We are looking forward to time with family and friends. Not to mention all the conveniences America has to offer. We have even booked all of our required speaking engagements.
Elizabeth went on her first mission trip and spent a week in a village about 6 hours away. She worked at an orphanage run by an American woman. Her only challenge that week was trying to convince us to adopt several kids.
Stephen has just finished his spring on-line seminary class and is preparing for the two classes he will take this summer.
Ministry News
Since January, we have seen a great harvest amongst our people! In three different villages, we have seen nine people come ot the Lord! On this past trip out to Corpus Christi, four people became followers of Jesus. Now there are at least six Belivers there that we know of! Bible study with Ike has been going well. It is very exciting to see him growing in his faith each week.
Last week, our two new team members Donna & LaVerne arrived in West Africa to begin their training to work full time with us. Lord willing, they will arrive in "Chicago" March of 2009. Also, a family that has committed to working with us here in Bobo came for a visit last week. Currently they are working in a neighboring country and their current assignement ends in July '08. If all goes well, they will be back here in West Africa mid-2009. God is answering your prayers for new team members!
Prayer Requests:
- For all the new Belivers to grow stronger in their Faith day by day, and for them to get together to form small groups.
- That our new team members will be strengthed and develop, and that God would begin to show them where He wants them to be working.
- For our family to finish this term well. Give us endurance as we close out our first four years in West Africa.
Thanks for checking out our new "blog." We hope to use the latest techonlogy more efficeiently in order to keep you all up to date.
Grace to you,
The Habers
Welcome to our Blog!
Hey all...we have created this blog to keep our friends, family, and prayer partners updated on our life and ministry here in Burkina Faso. We HOPE to update it pretty frequently, so check back often!
In Him,
The Habers
In Him,
The Habers
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