Hymn - Blessed Be The Name

Blessed Be the Name 

All praise to Him Who reigns above

In majesty supreme, 

Who gave His Son for man to die,

That He might man redeem!

 

Refrain

 

Bless’d be the Name! Bless’d be the Name!

Bless’d be the Name of the Lord!

Bless’d be the Name! Bless’d be the Name!

Bless’d be the Name of the Lord!

 

 

His Name above all names shall stand,

Exalted more and more,

At God the Father’s own right hand,

Where angel hosts adore.

Refrain

 

Redeemer, Savior, Friend of man

Once ruined by the fall,

Thou hast devised salvation’s plan,

For Thou hast died for all.

Refrain

 

His Name shall be the Counselor,

The mighty Prince of Peace,

Of all earth’s kingdoms Conqueror,

Whose reign shall never cease.

 

The Bible contains so many names that apply to Jesus!

This hymn contains but a few of the title/names that apply to our….

Redeemer – Isaiah 59:20

Saviour – 1 John 4:14

Friend – Matthew 11:19

Counselor – Isaiah 9:6

Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6

Conqueror – While the Bible does not use this word to describe Jesus the definition fits. He is and will be the Victor over Satan; He will be the “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16)

 

But the name that is above every name, the name at which every knee shall bow is the name of Jesus. Philippians 2:9-11 says “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

 

It brings glory to God when the name of His Son is praised,

which is a reminder to praise Jesus daily!!!

 

Aimée

 

Random Pictures (That always make me smile)

 

 

 

 

JM, thinking he is the driver

 

Sierra Leonean kids are always ready for "Snap"

(Having their picture taken)

This little girl is affectionately known as the "Cute Twin"

(Because I could never recall the sisters name!)

Spying on the white girl

Two silly, but protective, dogs

Yusif and pup

Salt Lake City Oct. 2014

 

  The Mormon religion is worldwide and wealthy, but hopelessly lost.

This year it was my privilege to join a group from my church 

going to preach the Gospel in Salt Lake City.

 

 

 

The "Temple" of the Mormon religion

 

 Thousands of people waiting their turn to enter the Conference Center

to learn what their "Prophet" had to say.

 

Witnessing

 

 

God's Creation

 

 

Galatians 1:8

But though we,

or an angel from heaven,

preach any other gospel unto you

than that which we have preached unto you,

let him be accursed.

 

 

 

 

 



Home

After a few delays, some flight changes, a couple long days of travel

She's back in Florida.

(but we know....some of her heart she left in Sierra Leone!)

 

Her family is thankful for a daughter/sister willing to

give her heart to the LORD and allow Him to use her.

 

We are thankful that our GOD is always able to do above all that we ask or think,

that His faithfulness is sure,

and that His love for us helps us to endure things we do not understand.

 

How thankful we are for God's reminder to us of where to keep our confidence!

 

Psalm 118:8

It is better to trust in the LORD

than to put confidence in man.



My Year is coming to an end

1 Thessalonians 2:4

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel,

Even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

 

   It is with mixed emotions that I set fingers to the keyboard to prepare a final email from Sierra Leone. My mind is still struggling to grasp the fact that in less than 10 days I will once again be in my native country, after a year in the land of the Lion Mountains. Words fail me to express what a blessing and a delight this year has been for me, God has truly blessed me exceedingly abundantly above all that I could have ever possibly thought would take place in this past year! What a sobering thought that God has allowed me, ME, to speak His word in another country!

  It has been a privilege a to teach Bible verses, stories and songs in several area schools! In a week’s time, roughly 300 kids were being taught God’s word. It was a joy to hear some 80 kids recite a verse learned the week before, and they were always excited to say it. What a thrill to ride through Baomahun and the villages before Baomahun and hear your name shouted by dozens of kids who are happy to see you, to know that in a minuscule way you have had an impact on their lives!

   What an experience to have been able to travel over a large portion of Sierra Leone, visiting various churches, helping with evangelism, and getting to know those men from Baomahun who love the Lord Jesus Christ just like I do! One of the best parts of any trip along the roads of Sierra Leone is the time of singing! Oh, to hear 3-6 voices singing praise to the Lord as we fly down the dirt roads, that can give you goose bumps!

   It was both a pleasure and a denial of the flesh to go into town with Moses, (Mojo) and talk Bible with various groups of people. I can still remember one week he came everyday in the week to come get me to talk with someone else.  There were days the flesh did not want to go, but on many of those days, God would just make those listening so attentive, or have many questions, and I would feel ashamed for my wrong attitude! Mojo and the lessons he taught me will not soon be forgotten!

   Things did not always gone smoothly, plans could change in a matter of minutes, or the kids could choose the day you are tired to act crazy, and I mean really crazy! Someone could fail to show up on time, it could rain when you wanted it dry, you could get completely blank stares as you talk in your very best attempts at Krio, but that is life!

  Since the early part of the year, West Africa has been dealing with a deadly disease that has claimed the lives of over 1,000 people. There will be many lives lost in Sierra Leone before this disease has run its course, have you considered where these souls will spend eternity?  Would you pray that the Christians of Sierra Leone would stand up and boldly speak the Gospel to those around them who might have only a step between them and death? Those of us who are saved know, no matter what happens to us, where we will spend eternity, the majority of Sierra Leoneans believe that it is “all left with God”, but that is not the case, God has left the choice with each person to choose Him. Please pray!

  My heartfelt thanks to all who have prayed for me during this year, may my lips ever offer to God the thanks that is due to Him for saving my wretched soul and allowing me to serve Him! Nothing else, no one else is worthy of praise but Christ!

Hebrews 13:15

By him therefore let us offer

The sacrifice of praise to God continually,

 That is,

The fruit of our lips

Giving thanks to his name.

 

Aimée (Nyadavo)

With Zainab

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH of Aimée

This month is Aimee's Birthday Month.

We do things just a bit differently in our family.

It helps keep us on an even keel!

It also allows us to celebrate all month long....

and we LOVE IT!

That's our girl!!

She is sandwiched in between 2 boys that dearly love their sister.

Ever wondered what it would be like to have a personal bodyguard, or two?

Ask Aimée sometime.

She is fiercely defended and protected by two adoring and loving brothers...

affectionately known by her as 'bothers'.

They are also two of her biggest supporters as she serves the LORD in Sierra Leone.

 

Psalm 138:8

The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:

thy mercy, O LORD, endureth forever:

forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Precious Boys of Sierra Leone

New pictures that came this morning from Aimée.

Parting with these precious boys is going to be very hard for Aimée!

 

Psalm 119:18

Open thou mine eyes,

that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Baomahun Boys

As the only daughter, Aimée is well adapted to working with the boys.

She has thoroughly enjoyed her time getting to know the boys of Baomahun,

sharing the gospel around the village of Sierra Leone with them,

bantering with them, playing football with them,

and just plain enjoying their fellowship!

 

What a blessing these have been to our daughter!

We are thankful for each of them!

 

Psalm 119:63

I am a companion of all them that fear thee,

and of them that keep thy precepts.

 

 

Jesus Loves

Precious children

 

Luke 18:17

But Jesus called them unto him, and said,

Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not:

for of such is the kingdom of God.

Pictures from Sierra Leone

 

We are keeping up with the news of EBOLA in Sierra Leone,

and are aware of the seriousness of this epidemic there.

Aimée is scheduled to fly out of Sierra Leone on her way to Brussels,

then on to Newark, NJ, and finally to Orlando on August 25th.

 

We, her family and Aimée, have been thankful that this year has passed with very limited sickness for Aimée. She takes after her dad when it comes to health.

(another thing to be thankful for!)

 

We are not fearful of EBOLA....but are wanting to be wise in choices that are made.

We know that GOD is in control, and that our trust needs to be completely in Him.

He is able to give a peace that can only come from Him,

 when trials come that we do not understand.

We are a pretty calm family!

 

Aimée sent some pictures and asked me to put on the blog....

 

here they are....

 

 

 

 

Three headed pineapple

 

BoMart where shopping is an adventure

 

Guard Dog 1

 

Guard dog 2

 

How are you feeling today?

(that is how Aimée had this one captioned)

 

 Mantis

 

Mini Mantis

 

Pekins (children)

Look at that smile!

 

Sunrise of Bhun

 

 

Trailer surfing.

(mom would not doubt if Aimée has done this!!)

 

 

Psalm 119:160

Thy word is true from the beginning:

and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Tendabu School

The school in Tendabu has been one of Aimee's favorite places to teach.

She has enjoyed the children there,

and they have responded wonderfully to her.

 

BOBO...

(I, mom, have asked her to bring Bobo home with her....she says no.

But then it would give her a good excuse to go back to Sierra Leone...to return Bobo!)

A smile and Bobo!

 

Children 

 

 more children,

 

 and more children,

 and more children!

Aimée thought I (mom) was nuts when I wanted to teach the children in our

GOOD NEWS CLUB at the YMCA the song....

"I'm inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time"

Aimée was certain that it would wind up our already wound up kids.

She took that song to Sierra Leone and taught it to the children there.

:)

 

Who needs brothers with this many boys around??

 

The ladies at our church made some jumpers a while back for the Holts to take to Sierra Leone.

Here Mustafa is being offered a jumper.

A few girls with new tops.

Aimée and I had made many shorts for the boys.

We even had Todd and Bear helping us pull the drawstrings through, too

Aimée enjoyed passing those out to the boys!

Each pair of shorts has a pocket in the colors of the Wordless Book.

Here Aimée goes over each of the colors and what they mean.

 

Black

....man's sin separates him from GOD

 

Red

....Jesus, the perfect Son of God, died, was buried and rose again to pay for man's sin

 

White

....the blood of Jesus will wash away our sin, and make us pure before God.

We must put our trust in JESUS.

 

GOLD

....God is in Heaven, and wants man to be there with him.

There is NO sin in Heaven.

 

Green

...when we have put our trust in the LORD JESUS CHRIST as the Savior from our sin,

we are to GROW in the LORD.

 

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

June Thoughts

The month of June is swiftly coming to a close, but it brings with it this year’s observance of the Ramadan.


 

Islam, the religion of “Complete submission to the will of Allah.” Some 70% of Sierra Leonean’s claim to be Muslim, but most are nominal Muslims at best.

Here are a few things that I have learned in regards to Islam in Sierra Leone.

There are two frequently asked questions that stem from a misunderstanding of Deuteronomy 18.

1. Is Mohammed mentioned in the Bible?

Seeing as he was born near A.D. 570 and the Bible was finished by at least A.D. 90, a difference of 480 years, no he was not mentioned in the Bible.

2. Doesn’t the Bible say that “The Prophet” will come? 

Deuteronomy 18 does speak of a prophet coming, but a good question to come back with after reading the passage to them is “From what country did Mohammed come out?” Saudi Arabia. Ok. So in Deuteronomy 18:18 It says a prophet will be raised up from among the BRETHREN, and that he would speak God’s words. God is speaking to the Jews, of a man who will be of their nationality, Mohammed is not a Jew, and even worse, he does not speak God’s words, but his own. So no Mohammed is not mentioned in the Bible as the Prophet that would come!

3. Doesn’t Jesus say that someone greater than Him would come after Him? 

This question surprised me the first time I heard it and I really had to think about what was being asked, but then I realized that John 1:26-27 has been twisted out of context.  John the Baptist is the one in John 1 that was speaking, not Jesus and John says that there is one that “STANDETH” among the people whose shoe latchet he, John, was not worthy to unloose. Mohammed was not standing on the earth during the time that John spoke these things. Also, what can be mistaken for this notion is John 14:16 where Jesus speaks of sending another Comforter, but the one qualification to be the Comforter was that He would “Abide with you for ever.” Mohammed is dead and in the grave! So he is not the one who would come after John, nor is he the Comforter that should come. (It is amazing what perversions are taught by lifting verses out of their context!)

4. Did Jesus really die on the cross?

Islam says no! Actually they say, Judas died in Jesus place. God put a face like Jesus over Judas’ face so that men would not realize it was not Jesus who died! Some people believe Jesus came down off the cross; He then went to India, where he married and had many children!

5. One of the strangest things I have heard was in regards to the story of Cain and Abel. .

According to one young former Muslim I talked with, when Cain and Abel were born, they both were born with twin sisters. Now there was nothing taboo about marrying your sister, but you could not marry your own twin! Both brothers had twin sisters, but Cain’s twin was more beautiful than Abel’s twin was. Cain wanted to marry his own twin, but Abel told him he could not. They went to sacrifice to God to see who God would say was right, Cain or Abel. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice, but rejected Cain’s, thus Cain was prohibited from marrying his twin. He got angry, that God accepted Abel, so Cain killed his brother!  Makes for an interesting story, but I will stick with the Biblical account!

6. You must know a special language to get into heaven –

Somewhere in either Islamic writings or verbal tradition, they have taught that when men stand before God at the Judgment they will have to know a special language (AKA Arabic) in order for God to let them into heaven. That works out all right for you if you are from Saudi Arabia and other staunchly Arab countries, but not for everyone else.   

7. We all serve the same God!

It would be impossible to count how many times I have heard this comment! Sadly, it is not true and the Quran itself is confused on this issue. Surah 3:85 say, “And whosoever seeks a faith other than Islam (-complete submission to the will of God) it will never be accepted from him, and she shall be of the losers in the hereafter. While Surah 29:46 states, “…We believe in all that was revealed to us and in that which has been revealed to you, and our god and your God is one, and to Him we stand resigned.” These two Surah’s contradict each other. One says that if you do not follow Islam, that Allah will not accept you, but then later the Quran says that “we” (Muslims) believe their own writings (Quran) as well as God’s writings (Bible)! In truth to the ONE, TRUE, and Living God they will stand resigned, but not in the way, they think!

One day I got into a conversation with a young boy about Islam. He was trying his level best to prove that I was wrong about Mohamed, the Quran etc. Near the end of our conversation, I learned that this boy, probably 12 years old, was not able to read. Everything he knew about Islam, he had learned from his father. He did not have the ability to read the truth, but had the utmost faith in what his father had told him. While it is great that a boy would put great faith in what his father tells him, how sad when you realize that father is leading him down a path that will end in separation from God forever! The only hope that boy has is for someone to continually tell him about Christ, until there is doubt in his mind about his religion that he will seek for the truth.

 

Please pray for the thousands of children whose faith in Christ will have to come about by HEARING the word of God, because they will never be able to read it for themselves!

 

Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing,

and hearing by the word of God.

What happened in June?

Here are some pictures from June....

 

Michael and Beatrice welcomed a

baby girl.

Aimée celebrated her brother Bear's

SWEET SIXTEEN birthday with cake,

and with a very rare phone call home.

This picture Aimée sent to us...

we know what is cooking....

do you?

The birthday celebration cake....

Mantis

 Sierra Leone Garage

Tool box

Aimée with Leo

 

Jeremiah 17:7

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD,

and whose hope the LORD is.