“Looking back at the ministry of Shared Blessings and what God has been doing in this nation, our hearts are warmed yet again, and it should warm your hearts as well, because this is your ministry!”

Dear Friends and Family,

Even though it is officially the “cold season” in Gambia and the Hamadan winds are blowing it is still 80 degrees first thing in the morning and in the 90’s at mid day. It does not feel like December, or that Christmas is in a few days! Don’t take me wrong, we are not complaining! I’m sure many of you would like a little warmth by now. But see, it doesn’t matter how the weather is outside, because we have Jesus in our hearts, our lives are full of warmth no matter where we are.

Looking back at the ministry of Shared Blessings and what God has been doing in this nation, our hearts are warmed yet again, and it should warm your hearts as well, because this is your ministry!

I look around and see all the people who have been touched and their lives have been changed in one way or another. So many children, adults, and whole families! I want to share with you Favor’s story this Christmas, so that even though it’s cold outside, I hope that Favor’s story will warm you on the inside!

Mary Favor Gomez was born in a Christian family from Guinea Bissau. As a young girl she was raised by her aunt and her husband, and because he was Muslim, Favor was raised a Muslim. Going to Islamic school and memorizing the Qu’ran was a must, so Favor became a devout Muslim. Her life with her aunt and uncle was much better than the conditions she would have lived in with her family. They were able to send her to school to get an education – something that would have been impossible for her parents to afford. But in the midst of it all, she lost the most important thing that her family could have given her – knowing who Christ is!

One day, Favor went to Church with a friend, and there her heart was stirred with memories from her early childhood. She liked going to church more than going to the Mosque, so she decided to continue to go to church. But her life took another turn when she married a Muslim man, so she had to go back to being Muslim. Two children later and an unhappy life, her husband left Favor and married another woman. Favor took the children and returned to her family and started attending church again, knowing that she would find peace and comfort in her brokenness.

She was hired at Emmanuel Christian School in 2005 and has been working with us since the school opened. She married a Christian man in 2006 and she had two more children with her new husband. Unfortunately, this man didn’t want to work and provide for his family, instead he counted on his wife to work hard to feed him and their children. Even when we offered him work at the school, he refused to work! Her second marriage didn’t last very long, but by now Favor was determined to raise her children to know the Lord and worked hard to provide a loving home for them. She continued to go to church and she attends the Bible Studies we have with our staff; in May 2012 she asked us to baptize her under the ministry of Shared Blessings! It was a joy to baptize Favor, because we saw how she persevered under the trials and how she got closer and closer to the Lord! Her children attend Emmanuel Mission School and they are some of the best students in the class! It is obvious that Favor spends time with them doing homework and studying at home.

Jaynaba graduated from EMC last year, Dawda is in 6th grade, little Rosie is in Nursery 2 and her youngest, Abraham, is going to enroll next September in Nursery 1.

Favor helps every week with the Sunday School program and brings her children too. They all love the Lord and continue to learn and grow in knowledge of Him! It is so encouraging to see Favor giving back to the ministry by helping with the outreach ministry! We look at her life and realize that this is not just Favor’s story, it is the story of the next generation!

Because you give, her life was changed and her children’s future will be shaped in a different way! Because of your prayers, she knows the Lord. Because of your obedience to the Lord, we can minister to many more families like Favor’s.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your faithfulness and partnership in spreading the Love of Jesus to the lost of this world.

Merry Christmas to you and your family,

Sol and Manuela Bah

Prayer Requests

• pray for the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of people
• pray for doubt and discontent in the Muslims hears so they’ll seek the truth
• pray for God to send workers; the harvest is plentifully but workers are few!