Jonathan and Bonnie Moore

Serving with SIM in Niger

May 2006

We are missionaries with SIM, serving in Niamey, Niger. Our main responsibilities revolve around Sahel Academy, a K-12 school for missionary children, where Bonnie teaches kindergarten and I am in charge of the construction program.

We are also involved in a local church here in the city, where I am on the Elder Board, take my turn in the preaching rotation, and help out in other training areas.

Newsflash

Sahel Academy had their annual music recital last night. Here is one of Timmy's selections. Timmy on piano

Moore News - May 2006

Written by Jonathan Moore
Saturday, 02 September 2006
We pray you all had a blessed Resurrection Sunday. Our own celebration was bittersweet as we were mourning the loss of our pastor, who died of hepatitis on Maundy Thursday. It was a very difficult time for our church as many of us spent much of the Easter weekend dealing with funeral details and such. I have written down some of my thoughts about Pastor Alassane and his ministry over the years. Pastor Alassane Church News We are in the middle of a building program, planning to build a sanctuary and a house for the pastor on the same piece of property. At the moment, there is quite a stock pile of concrete blocks that the church members have made over the last months , and we are working on breaking ground soon . Our cell group meeting at our house has decided to spend our devotional time each week discussing the sermon from the previous Sunday. This has proved to be an excellent opportunity for people to ask questions and share ideas. Some time ago, we asked for prayer for a couple in our church, who were having marital problems. There has been a lot of past hurts that never healed and a basic lack of trust on both sides. Last February, they were able to attend a marriage retreat weekend, and the theme was all about reconciliation. This seemed to begin to open both of their hearts to begin accepting the Lord's healing. Though quite faithful in attending church, Hadiza, the wife, had never made a complete commitment to Christ . This New Year's Day, during a time of testimony in church, both Bakari and Hadiza stood up to thank the assembly for their prayers during the last year and for standing by them during their difficulties. Since then, Hadiza has announced her desire to be baptized. Please continue to pray for them both, as they continue to build trust in their marriage and look to God to heal the past hurts. Language Study Bonnie's been using our second son's children's Bible to help her with her Zarma. She and her language helper hope to turn this English Children's Bible into a Zarma one, that can be used with neighborhood kids, in church, at home, or in literacy work with adults. She has added visiting to her schedule once a week, getting out into the community, and talking with neighbors and friends . She is really enjoying this . At times she gets some blank stares from people and is aware she still has areas to work on, but has been greatly encouraged by the conversations she has been able to have. So, continue to pray that her language understanding will continue growing so that she can have some deeper conversations with these ladies. Family News Russell and Anthony are continuing to do well in back in the US. After working a construction job through the fall, Russell has started full-time at York Technical College in Rock Hill, SC. He is enrolled in a welding certificate program. He is thankful that there are several people from Niger (former missionaries and MKs) in the area that he keeps in touch with; also he is only 4 hours from my (Jonathan) folks in VA. He tries to get up to see them every couple of months, or so. Anthony is in his final semester of high school at Wheaton Academy in Illinois. He had a leading role in the fall play, “A Comedy of Errors”, and has a main supporting role in the spring play, “Guys and Dolls”. He is also in an ensemble group and toured with the Academy choir over Spring Break. He is hoping to attend Toccoa Falls College in GA this fall. Timothy just turned 10 and continues to spread cheer around the Sahel Academy campus. This year, he has discovered a real gift for working with babies and toddlers. At church, he loves to help take care of the little ones. And they love him back . He is also in a Tae Kwon Do program this year, and has just recently earned himself a yellow belt for which he is very proud. Prayer: Please pray for our colleague and friend, Helene Zoolkoski, who has just been diagnosed with inoperable cancer. She and her children lived next door to us this past fall, while her husband was in Belgium for a medical course. They are back at Galmi Hospital where they hope to continue to serve the Lord for as long as He keeps them there. They have three children, ages 5, 10, and 12. We don’t know of a teacher for Timmy’s class (Grade 5/6) for next year. Please pray that God’s choice will be able to be here in Aug. There are also some big holes in the Secondary Level. The biggest one we know of is an English teacher. Do you know of anyone? Pray for our little church, EEI Bangabana, as we work through issues involved with growing, both physically (building project) and spiritually (discipleship). Pray for an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit on our congregation, empowering us to reach out to the world around us. Please pray for the school administration as they decide whether they should have kindergarten this next year or not. There may be only two students. Bonnie asks prayer for the Lord's guidance as to what He would want her to do next year. There is no lack of options, but she is looking for God's guidance in deciding among the different possibilities.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 02 September 2006 )

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