Our support is coming along and we're so very humbled and excited to see the ways the Lord is leading His people to support this ministry. I am in awe of Him and His love and grace in our lives. To think, we deserve NOTHING and honestly don't feel worthy to ask for anything from Him. Yet He is our ever-present provider and sustainer. He is Love! And He shows His love for us daily, if we'll take the time to look!
This weekend I was floored when I received an email from my cousin, Terri Cochran. Late last night (after we should have already been in bed...hehe) an email came through saying that this past week her church, Pinegrove Baptist Church in Picayune, raised an extremely generous amount of money during their VBS offering to go towards the ministry our family is preparing for in Africa! I called her just a second ago (as soon as we got home from church) and she mentioned that every day as the offering plate was passed the pastor would ask the kids where the money was going to. The kids would all respond, "The Kysers!" I started crying! I wish we could hug each child and family that poured their hearts into this offering! I'm in awe of Him and His use of this small little church in Picayune (small in size only!!!! Boy, do they have a heart for missions!!!)! The Lord will use His people in mighty ways! And the best part is that He will use them for His glory alone! He will enable churches and people to do things seemingly impossible to the world. In that...He gets all of the glory!!!!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below! Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts! Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
VBS Week 2010
VBS was held at our church this week and I was honored to be the 2nd grade missions teacher. What a blessing those kids were to me! We learned so much about different missionaries around the world and there were 9 professions of faith out of the 2nd grade! 11 total!!! The Lord was really working!
We were very honored to be the recipients of the missions offering this year for our VBS. I've never been in the position to be on the receiving end of an offering and to be honest...I feel a lot more comfortable being on the giving end. But the Lord is teaching our family so very much. One of the things He's teaching us is to be able to humbly accept His gifts and the gifts of His people so that, in turn, we will be able to go to Africa and give even more! For this short period we will be the receivers so that we will be fully equipped to be the givers again! (It's still hard though.)
Bro. Joseph (our wonderful Children's minister) set some goals for the missions offering. If we got to the first goal then he got a pie in his face. If we reached the second goal then Mrs. Kathy (our worship leader for VBS and wife of our Minister of Music) would get a pie in her face. If we reached our final goal then Bro. Greg (our pastor) would be the recipient of a pie as well! On Friday we reached our final goal and our family was asked to put the pie's in our precious Ministers' faces! Oh, that was hard. Tink and I put the pie in Mrs. Kathy's face. We tried to be good and not smear it too much! I knew she didn't want whipped cream up her nose. But Bro. Joseph and Bro. Greg were not so lucky. Bro. Joseph's wife, Jennifer, put the pie in his face and she smeared it all over the top of his head and all over his face! yuck! And Jeremy and Prince put the pie in Bro. Greg's face! Jeremy emptied the bottles of whipped cream into the pie plates! It was a huge pile. Bro. Greg thought he'd be smart and put his cap that covered his head over his face...but Jennifer and Jeremy still made sure to get his face! It was a lot of fun and the kids had a blast! What a great memory!
We do love our home church so very much and are so grateful for the support that they have shown thus far in our missions effort! We are so very blessed and can't wait to send them back many many pictures and stories of how their VBS money is going to help the people of Malawi, Africa!
We were very honored to be the recipients of the missions offering this year for our VBS. I've never been in the position to be on the receiving end of an offering and to be honest...I feel a lot more comfortable being on the giving end. But the Lord is teaching our family so very much. One of the things He's teaching us is to be able to humbly accept His gifts and the gifts of His people so that, in turn, we will be able to go to Africa and give even more! For this short period we will be the receivers so that we will be fully equipped to be the givers again! (It's still hard though.)
Bro. Joseph (our wonderful Children's minister) set some goals for the missions offering. If we got to the first goal then he got a pie in his face. If we reached the second goal then Mrs. Kathy (our worship leader for VBS and wife of our Minister of Music) would get a pie in her face. If we reached our final goal then Bro. Greg (our pastor) would be the recipient of a pie as well! On Friday we reached our final goal and our family was asked to put the pie's in our precious Ministers' faces! Oh, that was hard. Tink and I put the pie in Mrs. Kathy's face. We tried to be good and not smear it too much! I knew she didn't want whipped cream up her nose. But Bro. Joseph and Bro. Greg were not so lucky. Bro. Joseph's wife, Jennifer, put the pie in his face and she smeared it all over the top of his head and all over his face! yuck! And Jeremy and Prince put the pie in Bro. Greg's face! Jeremy emptied the bottles of whipped cream into the pie plates! It was a huge pile. Bro. Greg thought he'd be smart and put his cap that covered his head over his face...but Jennifer and Jeremy still made sure to get his face! It was a lot of fun and the kids had a blast! What a great memory!
We do love our home church so very much and are so grateful for the support that they have shown thus far in our missions effort! We are so very blessed and can't wait to send them back many many pictures and stories of how their VBS money is going to help the people of Malawi, Africa!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The Waterbottle!
Isaiah 65:24
This is a story written by a doctor who worked in Africa . One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates).
'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa
it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts Your job is to keep the baby warm.'
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen?' I just did not believe that God could do this.
Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored.. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.
Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be?
I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried.
I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!'
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'
'Of course,' I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator.
And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.'
'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)
This is a story written by a doctor who worked in Africa . One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates).
'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa
it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts Your job is to keep the baby warm.'
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen?' I just did not believe that God could do this.
Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored.. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.
Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be?
I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried.
I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!'
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'
'Of course,' I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator.
And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.'
'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)
Monday, June 14, 2010
VBS Week 2010
I've just started working my 8th VBS in a row! We are doing Saddle Ridge Ranch at my home church, Morrison Height Baptist Church. It's a lot of fun and this year they asked me to be a missions teacher (go figure)!
I love having the opportunity to teach the Word and to teach missions to these precious 2nd graders that are in my room. Today we learned about a family from South Africa who works with the XHOSA people to run an ostrich farm! It is amazing to me the different ways the Lord allows His name to be proclaimed throughout all of the earth!!
As a family we were very humbled a few days ago when our Children's minister asked if they could donate the missions money received during the 5 days of VBS to our support raising efforts. We were asked to turn in pictures of our family, the ABC campus, and Malawi to be shown each day as the offering baskets are passed. Wow, I can only say that I was speechless. We are simply in awe of the different ways that the Lord is leading His people to help us raise support to get to Malawi. I am honored to be able to see the fruit of His labor in person. So many times the Lord blesses us and we don't recognize or realize it. How many gifts, honors, blessings has He given that I'm unaware of or that simply went without giving thanks? I pray each day that I will see His work around me and in His people. And that I will remember to praise Him for all that He is doing and will do! The Lord is sooo good! He is awesome! And when you open your eyes to see the everyday blessings, big and small, in your life you will live again in AWE of Him!
I love having the opportunity to teach the Word and to teach missions to these precious 2nd graders that are in my room. Today we learned about a family from South Africa who works with the XHOSA people to run an ostrich farm! It is amazing to me the different ways the Lord allows His name to be proclaimed throughout all of the earth!!
As a family we were very humbled a few days ago when our Children's minister asked if they could donate the missions money received during the 5 days of VBS to our support raising efforts. We were asked to turn in pictures of our family, the ABC campus, and Malawi to be shown each day as the offering baskets are passed. Wow, I can only say that I was speechless. We are simply in awe of the different ways that the Lord is leading His people to help us raise support to get to Malawi. I am honored to be able to see the fruit of His labor in person. So many times the Lord blesses us and we don't recognize or realize it. How many gifts, honors, blessings has He given that I'm unaware of or that simply went without giving thanks? I pray each day that I will see His work around me and in His people. And that I will remember to praise Him for all that He is doing and will do! The Lord is sooo good! He is awesome! And when you open your eyes to see the everyday blessings, big and small, in your life you will live again in AWE of Him!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Pics of Malawi- ABC College Ministry
I have been stealing (with their permission) pictures that some of the missionaries in Malawi have taken and I thought I'd share some of them with you. These first ones are of the college and their students. We will be serving on the campus of African Bible Colleges and the motto of the college is "training Christian leaders to transform Africa".
As a family our heart has always been with college students and ministering to them. In our home church we are college SS leaders, mentors of college students, and we have them over in our home every week for a meal and fellowship. What a wonderful gift the Lord has given us to be able to serve at another college where we can pour our hearts and love into still more college students. We are so very excited to be a part of this ministry that helps to bring up the future leaders of Africa in the Lord's ways, so that they may then go and minister to their people.
We can't wait to serve the Lord in Africa!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Going Forward With the News!
This past Sunday we were able to announce to our church family our exciting news about Africa. It's been such a long process (yet quick at the same time) where we have not been able to mention to anyone our intent or our possibilities about missions. It was hard keeping the "secret" until all of the right people were informed first. But this past Sunday, two days after mailing out our first commitment letters, we were able to share our mission with our family at Morrison Heights Baptist Church. Both my mom and Jeremy's parents were in attendance as well as many many friends. All were so very excited.
When we walked down during the invitation we motioned for Melissa Morgan to come with us. Melissa will be serving in Malawi at ABC beginning in August. She will be working in the clinic with the medicines. I love hearing her story and the way the Lord delayed her medical school for a year or two for this very purpose. Mrs. Jan and I spoke to her about ABC and within 2 days she'd already filled out her application and later that very week she had the first draft of her support letter. I mean it when I say, "when the Lord calls, sometimes HE works fast!". Wait for that timing and then be ready!
So Melissa and the Kyser family walked down to the front during invitation and Dr. Charles (our pastor, Dr. Greg was out of town) asked if we'd say a few words at the podium. Well, we weren't expecting that. After the invitation and offering we were all onstage (kids and all) and Jeremy and Melissa were able to share our mission and the ABC ministry with our church family! What a blessing! We are so very blessed to have such a close and caring church family. Their support means the world to us!
Later that night my official announcement came of Facebook. For weeks I'd been teasing my friends with an announcement that I would soon make. All I said was that the Lord had been doing some pretty amazing things in our family and I couldn't wait to share. Of course, everyone thought I was pregnant! But I longed for the day that I could shout to the world that we are serving the Lord as missionaries in Malawi, Africa! That was a precious moment! What a wonderful day!
God bless!
Jill
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Our Mission
It's Official! The Kysers Are Going To Malawi!
The Kyser family is moving to Lilongwe, Malawi to serve on the campus of African Bible Colleges. We are so very excited to be following the Lord's call in our lives and we know without a doubt that this is His will! It's amazing that He speaks in such clear, audible ways when you least expect it. It's hard to explain exactly how or why we know that this is where the Lord wants us. All we can say is that there is a "peace that surpasses all understanding" and that we can't imagine not following the Lord here. When He calls He means NOW!
So what now? Well, we are sending out support letters and beginning the process of raising funds and prayer support. These are both very important to our ministry as we would NOT want to go to a third world country (or anywhere for that matter) without the support of our prayer warriors back home. Prayer is the most important thing for us and we'd be honored if anyone feels led to be on our prayer team. We will sending our prayer team info on specific needs that need prayer in both our family lives and our ministry. We will mostly be communicating through the internet (email, facebook, and this blog) since I understand that the "snail mail" is very unreliable in Africa.
Also, this is not a paid missionary position. All of the missionaries at ABC are supported by churches, friends, and family back home. Therefore, the importance of funding is extreme. We will need one time gifts for the container which will take our household items to Malawi, a car (they drive on the other side of the road over there), appliances for the kitchen and laundry (they have 220 volts), our plane tickets, and many other items. We also are in need of monthly support to live overseas. We will be responsible for our own global health insurance, utilities, food, gas, etc. We know that if the Lord has called us to this mission field that He has also called His people to support us as we create a team to minister together with us.
In the book of Matthew the Lord gives us this command, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19) As Christians we are all a part of the Great Commission that the Lord has commanded yet we are all called in different ways. Some of us are called to give prayer support and protection to the Lord's missionaries on the field. Others are called by the Lord to give financial support as the missionaries go to proclaim His Word. And still others are called to actually go as missionaries to make disciples of all nations.
We, as a family, have been called to be the feet that actually go to the field. Might God be asking you to be the legs to support us, or the heart to pray for us? Thank you for praying with us as the Lord establishes His powerful and mighty team.
If you have any questions please feel free to email us at: kysersinmalawi@gmail.com
I'll be updating this blog frequently so please check back soon.
In His Service,
Jill
The Kyser family is moving to Lilongwe, Malawi to serve on the campus of African Bible Colleges. We are so very excited to be following the Lord's call in our lives and we know without a doubt that this is His will! It's amazing that He speaks in such clear, audible ways when you least expect it. It's hard to explain exactly how or why we know that this is where the Lord wants us. All we can say is that there is a "peace that surpasses all understanding" and that we can't imagine not following the Lord here. When He calls He means NOW!
So what now? Well, we are sending out support letters and beginning the process of raising funds and prayer support. These are both very important to our ministry as we would NOT want to go to a third world country (or anywhere for that matter) without the support of our prayer warriors back home. Prayer is the most important thing for us and we'd be honored if anyone feels led to be on our prayer team. We will sending our prayer team info on specific needs that need prayer in both our family lives and our ministry. We will mostly be communicating through the internet (email, facebook, and this blog) since I understand that the "snail mail" is very unreliable in Africa.
Also, this is not a paid missionary position. All of the missionaries at ABC are supported by churches, friends, and family back home. Therefore, the importance of funding is extreme. We will need one time gifts for the container which will take our household items to Malawi, a car (they drive on the other side of the road over there), appliances for the kitchen and laundry (they have 220 volts), our plane tickets, and many other items. We also are in need of monthly support to live overseas. We will be responsible for our own global health insurance, utilities, food, gas, etc. We know that if the Lord has called us to this mission field that He has also called His people to support us as we create a team to minister together with us.
In the book of Matthew the Lord gives us this command, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19) As Christians we are all a part of the Great Commission that the Lord has commanded yet we are all called in different ways. Some of us are called to give prayer support and protection to the Lord's missionaries on the field. Others are called by the Lord to give financial support as the missionaries go to proclaim His Word. And still others are called to actually go as missionaries to make disciples of all nations.
We, as a family, have been called to be the feet that actually go to the field. Might God be asking you to be the legs to support us, or the heart to pray for us? Thank you for praying with us as the Lord establishes His powerful and mighty team.
If you have any questions please feel free to email us at: kysersinmalawi@gmail.com
I'll be updating this blog frequently so please check back soon.
In His Service,
Jill
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