Pray for healing!

Downtown Abidjan

Urgent request from our Lebanese believers in Cote d'Ivoire: Please pray for our Lebanese friend, Pierre. He was evacuated from Abidjan. He is very ill in Marseilles, France. He has only one kidney. It seems that his liver and/or kidney is shutting down.

Heavenly Father, we ask you to touch and heal Pierre's body. Give his doctors wisdom. Comfort his wife and extended family during these difficult days.

Happy Easter!

Holy week is always one of our favorite times of the year. Jesus died and then rose from the dead! What power! As we pray for our Lebanese believers, in Abidjan and scattered around the world, it gives us great joy to know that their sins are forgiven. They put their faith in Christ alone for salvation. Jesus is worthy of our faith. As we look ahead, to our pastoral ministry in Tunisia, we are amazed. Thank you for going to North Africa with us through prayer!

Heavenly Father, we grieve with You the death of your only Son, because of our sin. Give us sensitive hearts to repent of our sins and trust in Jesus to be our holiness.

Ramadan is over

The fasting month of Ramadan finishes with the celebration of Feast of Breaking the Fast (Eid al-Fitr), or the Little Feast (al-Eid saghir). It occurs at the conclusion of Ramadan and is held on the first day of the month of Shawwal. For most Sunni Muslims, that was today. For most Shi'a Muslims, that will be tomorrow. West African Muslims are mostly Sunni, so today was a legal holiday in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, where nearly 50% of the population is Muslim. The Lebanese population here is mostly Shi'a Muslim, so they will celebrate their Little Feast tomorrow. Learn more about Islam at our website: http://islam.farho.net

Heavenly Father, we ask You to reveal yourself to Muslims through dreams and visions. Open Your arms to them in new and wonderful ways, so they can trust in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, for forgiveness.

God, if you exist, prove it to me!

A Lebanese man became frustrated and angry at what seems like God's indifference with what is happening in Abidjan. He climbed on the roof of his house in front of his friends and cried out, "God, if you exist, prove it to me!" That night he had a dream in which God spoke to him. He reached out and grabbed at a red star that was flying by him. The star burned him. Then he awoke, to find his right arm burned and blistered to his elbow. Now many Lebanese are telling his story of new faith in God to their friends.

Heavenly Father, we know you exist and thank You for Your presence in our lives. Open closed hearts to Jesus as they hear this man's story. Give Mike and Sue opportunities to encourage them in their faith.

Measles and Travel

I don't think our John and Joshua ever had measles. Sue and I did. How about you? Nassif (12 years old) has a bad case of measles (is actually Chickenpox). He and his dad Fauzi haven't been able to sleep, because of the irritation. Poor Nassif just had Malaria recently too.

Radwan is trying to get ready for his family's departure to Lebanon next Monday. There are many problems that are making it difficult. A tax collector showed up today with a bill for over $5,000. He is trying to sell his wife's car to pay for all their plane tickets. She and their children will stay in Lebanon.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being Nassif's healer. Give him relief from his itching sores. Radwan thanks You for meeting all his needs. He and we are counting on Your provision for his financial needs.

Wonderful news and sad news

So many important things have happened. We want to share them all: Radwan's wife is pregnant, Pastor John's new baby died, Nassif's Malaria, a Lebanese wedding, John's promotion to sergeant, Joshua's blue belt, and more! You'll have to click on links to get more information.

The greatest news came during the surprise phone call this afternoon from Pastor Gavin at Christ Community Church (CCC) Omaha. He called to let us know that the team completed their fund raising for their recent ministry with us. All the funds we needed for the orphanage supplies and Modeste Church School came in! In addition, the CCC College 8:08 group is partnering with the Modeste Bambara Church for their future facility construction plans. They will focus on raising funds for this project this fall.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for this sad and wonderful news. As our Lebanese sister Hyame says, "Everything that comes from God is good." Help us to see Your love in everything!

He's Lebanese, American and a Pastor!

A Tunisian friend was introducing me to his wife. There are over 100,000 Lebanese in Abidjan. So that isn't so special. Yes, there are many Lebanese in Abidjan with American nationality. Most of them don't speak any English. Their moms were flown to USA on tourist visas shortly ahead of their birth in America. It's very rare to meet a Lebanese-American Pastor. I'm still the only one in Abidjan.

Heavenly Father, use these divine opportunities for Mike and Sue to share Your love in Abidjan. Thank You for opening hearts to the good news through the Farho family.

Lebanese Muslims Mourning

CNN News Photo

When a Lebanese Muslim dies, they are normally buried within 24 hours, with their head facing towards Mecca.

The day of their death begins several periods of mourning.

• Their spouses and immediate family begin a one year mourning period. During this time they wear only black.
• Relatives beyond the immediate family set aside 40 days for mourning.
• Friends often observe 7 days of mourning.
• There is often a country-wide 3 day mourning period for important personalities or government officials. The outward sign of mourning is to wear only black.
• The Qur'an prohibits widows to engage themselves in a new marriage for 4 lunar months and 10 days, after the death of their husbands.

Heavenly Father, help Mike and Sue to share Your love and compassion with those who are mourning. Give them wisdom and grace as they serve You in Abidjan.

Send us your questions advice, comments or prayer requests!

Computer-Electronics-Air Conditioner Junk Yard

Visited a computer-electronics-air conditioner junk yard this afternoon. It consisted of shack after wooden shack, full of AC parts, TVs, computer parts, and much more. One fellow was taking AC compressors apart for usable pieces. Two boys were breaking up circuit boards to remove the transistors, resisters and other part that could be resold. One shack had stacks of ink jet printers that didn't work. Another had stacks of old computer monitors, many which didn't work. One man actually had some new computer accessories. He had a table full of power sources for computers and other devices. On that table, I found a power supply for a 1984 Commodore computer!

I was there with George, one of our Lebanese believers.

Send us your questions advice, comments or prayer requests!

Earthquakes Hit Lebanon February 12-15 2008

Beirut - An earthquake measuring an estimated at 5.1 degrees on the Richter scale struck Beirut, east and south Lebanon at 12:37 pm Friday causing minor damage and sending many panicked residents into the streets

Five people were lightly injured in south Lebanon according to police reports

The epicenter was a small sliding plateau south of Zrariyeh village in Tyre (Sour) province. It is not the major sliding plateau that caused the deadly earthquake in 1956.

Experts said Lebanon may witness aftershocks in the next 15 days, not being a bigger threat than Friday’s earthquake.

Moueen Hamze, head of Lebanon’s National Center for Scientific Research, said aftershocks were probable. “We urge citizens to take precautions,” he said.

People in Syria, Jordan, the West Bank and Israel also reported feeling the earthquake.

People in some areas of Beirut left their apartments and went into the streets after the jolt at 12:37 pm, which lasted a few seconds.

In the southern coastal city of Tyre, residents ran toward the seashore and began reciting verses of the Koran.

NBN TV reported material damage in the southern villages of Sreefa and Mais al-Jabal and cracks in some southern roads. It also said that some villages experienced power cuts.

The chimney on one building in Tyre came tumbling down, crushing several vehicles, but there were no immediate reports of victims.

An earthquake measuring an estimated at 4.2 degrees on the Richter scale was felt at Dawn on February 12. It was followed by another aftershock 10 minutes later. The earthquake epicenter was near the town of Tyre (Sour) in south Lebanon. The aftershock was felt as far as Bint Jbeil near the Israeli border

The largest earthquake of modern times struck Lebanon in 1956 and caused 136 deaths, destroyed 6000 buildings and damaged 1700 more. It destroyed a big part of the old city of Saida (Sidon).

In 1759, an earthquake completely destroyed Beirut and Damascus killing 40,000 people.

Sources: Naharnet, Ya Libnan, Tears of Lebanon

Send us your questions, advice, comments or prayer requests!

Why so many exciting stories?

Why do we always have exciting stories to share?

Because you pray, God prepares divine opportunities for us. Yesterday, Sue was stopped twice on a short trip to visit a Lebanese woman. When Sue offered the policeman a Gospel tract, he said,"I already have that one!" When she offered him a second title, he said, "I already have that one too! " Then he unzipped his shirt pocket, showing her that he carries the two booklets she previously gave him everywhere he goes.

Heavenly Father, give Mike and Sue patience as they seem to spend too much time at police stops. Help them to see these interruptions as divine opportunities from You to share Your Son Jesus.