IMPRESSIONS OF SIERRA LEONE - AN EXTREME MISSIONS JOURNEY

Planes, Trains, Ferrys, Boats, Mini Buses, Automobiles and Motor Bikes... using almost every mode of transportation, Jeff and I successfully made our journey all the way to Sierra Leone and back! Our adventurous trip was a success and our time with the Youth for Christ staff (YFC) rocked. Plans are now underway for another exciting Royal Servants mission trip to Sierra Leone this summer!

After seeing it for the first time, here are some impressions that Sierra Leone made on me:

1. "You've gotta see it to believe it!"

Sierra Leone is really not a place you can fully describe in words—sights, sounds, smells, etc. One of the phrases that often came to our minds was, "You've gotta see this to believe it." I've traveled around the world and been in some pretty hairy places, but I was surprised to experience a fair amount of "culture-shock" in Sierra Leone. At the same time, I was not debilitated by what I saw, but eager and excited to serve. The warm, friendly and hope-filled YFC staff are truly a light in the darkness, and I am thrilled to partner with them to continue making a difference in Sierra Leone.

2. Crowded and Chaotic

Imagine traveling to any major world city and NOT seeing a single traffic light to bring order to the busy streets. Then imagine taking the majority of the people throughout the country and placing them along the streets of that city. Such is the everyday crowded and chaotic capital city of Sierra Leone, Freetown. There are over 1 million people who live in Freetown. Most are "refugees" displaced from the civil war that took place in the 1990's. Many of these people now reside among the three major slums within the city. This influx of people has created countless needs and overwhelming challenges to overcome.

3. Religion NOT Relationship

Though the majority of Sierra Leoneans profess to be Muslim, you might also get the impression that they are deeply Christian. After all, gospel music on the radio and Christian slogans on vehicles and billboards like "God will provide" are common place throughout the country. Yet, you don't have to look far to see that Christianity in many cases is simply just another religion to accept so that you may be "blessed" by God. One street vender even commented to me that the "gospel of Jesus" was his favorite religion, in hopes of earning some business from me. It breaks my heart to see Sierra Leone embrace religion and not a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is just one of the challenges with sharing the gospel in Sierra Leone.

4. Poor In Possessions But Not In Hope

The country of Sierra Leone is ranked the seventh lowest on the "Human Poverty Index." Most people live on less that two dollars a day and have very little possessions. Despite their poverty, they do their best to go about their lives as normal as possible. And though I saw hurt, I also saw hope in their eyes. I believe that is a God-given grace that all humanity shares. No matter what the situation is, there is always hope. I saw it in the school teachers as we passed through the slums, I saw it in the children playing in the orphanage, and I saw it in the eyes of YFC staff, who love their country. I thank God for the hope that he has planted in all our hearts - a longing for love, peace, and justice. The hope for Sierra Leone is only found in Jesus Christ and in his Kingdom. Pray that their eyes look upon Jesus for the hope that is in their hearts.

These are just a few impressions we experienced while we walked the streets of Freetown and traveled to the outer villages of Sierra Leone. All in all, we are stoked to be taking another team to Sierra Leone this summer. Whether working in the slums, loving on kids in orphanages or sharing Christ in remote villages; the ministry opportunities in Sierra Leone abound and lives are ready to be changed!

MATT IN SIERRA LEONE—PLEASE PRAY!

Preparing for Royal Servants Mission Team—2010

“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” —Jesus

By the time you receive this letter Matt will be on the ground in Sierra Leone. Matt and his colleague Jeff Bell will be meeting with ministry partners, such as —Youth for Christ.

God has been using the Youth for Christ ministry to penetrate Sierra Leone with the Gospel for many years. We plan to visit orphanages, schools, hospitals, and the slums to meet with the key leaders who are helping to make a difference among the hurting and hopeless.

The Youth for Christ staff in Sierra Leone are looking forward to again partnering with us as we help meet many of the overwhelming needs in their communities. We will be spending time devising strategic ministry plans for our up and coming student mission team this summer.

As we have said before, Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world with a population that is 70% Muslim. There are also 12 people groups in Sierra Leone that are considered “unreached” —those who have little to no access to the gospel.

As you can imagine, we are sure to encounter difficult conditions as well as spiritual opposition.

Jeff (who lead the Sierra Leone mission team last year) said that his experience was unlike any other mission trip in his 20+ years of ministry.

“The opportunity for the gospel to shine in Sierra Lone is unprecedented. They are so open and ripe to receive Jesus.”

Please pray for protection and safety for Matt and Jeff as they travel. Also pray for wisdom as they plan out their summer ministry.

GOD’S PROVISION IN TIMES OF NEED

Update on Matt and Jenni’s Support Development

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” -Phil. 4:19

As you know, we raise our financial support for 100% of our involvement in Reign Ministries. This year, we have been working hard to raise up some needed funds due to a short-fall in our support. God has been absolutely faithful to provide, as step by step he has honored our efforts to re-raise these lost funds.

This is a long and stretching process, but we are very encouraged by God’s provision through the people he has placed in our paths. So far we have raised over 50% of our monthly need to replace our short-fall of support. Praise God!

At the end of 2009, we needed to raise $15,000 in order to finish the year strong. I’m here to testify about God’s faithfulness as he completely provided for this need. Praise the Lord!

Words can not express our grateful hearts at how people have been receptive to the Lord when he has lead them to commit to our financial & prayer support team!

Please keep us in your prayers as we work diligently to raise the remaining monthly support in order to continue faithfully serving him!

NEW 2010 ROYAL SERVANTS BROCHURE

The new 2010 Royal Servants brochure (one of Matt’s many projects) has gone out to thousands of students across the US and Canada. Our hope is that this brochure will encourage teenagers and college students to step out and serve on the mission field this summer.

Recently, at a Prayer Summit for the Zhuang unreached People group of China, we reconnected with Andrew. Andrew served amongst the Zhuong on the China Royal Servants team, and shared about his experience;

“My summer with Royal Servants changed my entire life. I am here to pray for the Zhuang today, and my hearts desire now is to serve long term. I am planning to sell everything, get Bible training and go to serve amongst whatever unreached people groups that God specifically leads me to.”

We are so encouraged to see God working powerfully. Please pray God would use this brochure to accomplish his purposes in students like Andrew.

FEBRUARY PRAYER & PRAISES

Sierra Leone
Pray for Matt as he travels to Sierra Leone to set up ministry opportunities for the summer mission team. Pray for health, safety and protection. Also pray for solid relationships with our ministry contacts and for a good productive trip.

ADOPTION!
Our homestudy is almost complete. We hope to have our adoption “dossier” sent to Ethiopia within the next few months. Pray for God’s sovereign hand on this process as we take steps of faith to adopt a baby girl.

New Monthly Ministry Partners
We praise God for new monthly supporters and are very encouraged by God faithfully meeting our needs. Pray for the on-going work to re-raise needed funds.

Brochure & Recruiting
This is our busiest recruiting season. Matt is working hard to contact interested students and respond to those pursuing our mission opportunities. Please pray for God to call the right students to join our teams!

A PRAYER FOR HAITI

The Below prayer was sent to us from a friend so we thought we would share it with you. Jenni's very first international mission trip was to Haiti as a 14 year old (see picture to right). It was a life-changing experience and part of her heart is still very much there today.

LORD,

I just want to say THANK YOU, because this morning I woke up and knew where my children were. Because this morning my home was still standing, because this morning I am not crying because my husband, my child, my brother or sister needs to be dug out from underneath a pile of concrete, because this morning I was able to drink a glass of water, because this morning I was able to turn on the light, because this morning I was able to take a shower, because this morning I was not planning a funeral…

But most of all I thank you this morning because I still have life and a voice to cry out for the people of Haiti. Lord I cry out to you, the one that makes the impossible, possible; the one that turns darkness in to light, I cry out that you give those mothers strength, that you give them peace that surpasses all understanding, that you may open the streets so that help can come, that you may provide doctors, nurses, food, water, and all that they need in a blink of an eye. For all those that have lost family members, give them peace, give them hope, give them courage to continue to go on! Protect the children and shield them with your power.

I pray all this in the name of Jesus!!!

AMEN

Merry Christmas from the Halseth Family!

“Good Christian men, rejoice,
with heart and soul and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Joy! Joy!
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened the heavenly door,
and man is blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!”

We trust and pray that you are have had a blessed 2009! Here are a few Halseth family highlights of 2009:
 
Joshua is two, and charms all our hearts.  Every day he has a new word.  He loves to run, skip and jump.  Trains are his favorite toy and he loves to read his books. Joshua is SO cute when he gets a cookie and he calls them “kikies.”  Mommy remains amazed by how fast two year olds can transition from giggles to tears to giggles! 
 
Abby is five and her sweet nurturing personality is a treasure.  She loves to mother whoever lets her and always has at least one baby doll with her.  Abby enjoys attending pre-school two days a week, and is VERY disappointed if she has to miss church, “My friends will miss me Mom!” she says.  Abby played on Nathan’s soccer team, but she had more fun holding hands with her friend on the soccer field - rather then trying to score a goal!  J
 
Nathan is seven and in first grade.  This is the first year he rides the bus and he attends school all day every day.  At first he thought it was too much work and not enough play! Academics seem to come fairly easily to Nathan. He is very verbal and loves to read. Nathan particularly likes to play with light sabers. He LOVED soccer this summer and just started basketball.   
 
Matt continues to love working with students and leading mission teams. His team in 2010 will be going to Sierra Leone! He also enjoys his men's Bible study. This fall Matt built the best kids tree house ever out of scrap lumber from Grandpa Halseth.

Jenni still enjoys leading a Mom’s Bible study and had an awesome time going to the “Hearts at Home” conference in Nov.   We all had fun in August camping on the North Shore and at Bear Head State Park.
 
Our most exciting news is that we have begun the process to adopt an Ethiopian baby girl. We hope to be able to bring her home by the end of 2010! 

Praying your Christmas shines brightly with many of His blessings!

Love, The Halseth Family