"We're Diving-In": July 2020

James and Sonya Herron, IMB Missionaries

Uganda East Africa

Island Ministry team (Upper Buvuma Islands)

The vision of the International Mission Board is to see a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ

55 in 5

Pray for the Jula

of Burkina Faso

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ.” (Colossians 4:2–3a ESV)

The Jula of Burkina Faso primarily live along the trade routes in the southwestern part of the country. The name dyula (Jula) means “itinerant trader,” and the 2 million Jula are respected for their trading abilities. They are one of the two largest ethnic groups in the country. To be Jula is to be Muslim. Islam is a part of their identity, and it is very difficult for them to separate faith and culture. Because of this, there are very few Jula believers. Their West African Islam does, however, have more tolerance toward diversity than other Islamic communities. Many Jula hold to animistic beliefs that are thinly veiled by Islam.

Pray:

for more workers to be sent to live and work among the Jula, and for the Lord would call out national believers from local churches to share the good news with their Jula neighbors.
for existing teams that are living life alongside the Jula. Ask the Lord to open doors for deeper relationships and ministry.
that the Lord would bring forth a triumphant Jula church for the glory of His name.

Praise God for the Weeks of 06^th—19^th July 2020

Thank the Lord with the Herrons for the Past Two Weeks

We Praise God for:

Traveling grace for the Herrons during the past two weeks:

We thank God for safety travel on Monday 06^th July from Jinja to Entebbe and from Entebbe to St. Louis, Missouri.
And travel on Tuesday 07^th July from St. Louis to Freeburg, Illinois
Travel throughout the St. Louis and the Metro-East area.
17^th—19^th July Travel to Lynnwood, Illinois (Metro-Chicago Area) back to Freeburg, Illinois.

We thank God for the provision and providing opportunities for our traveling from Uganda to America.
We thank God for the completed work done on the Large Boat. It has been overhauled and is now seaworthy.
We are thankful to God for the provisions to have the boats repaired in order to do ministry on the islands.
We thank God for continually keeping us in good physical, emotional and spiritual health during the last two weeks.
We praise God for providing opportunities for us to have our grandchildren for several weeks. We praise God for opportunities to reunite with our family.
We continue to be thankful for the time we have with our family during this time of lifted restrictions and the time we have been out as a family.
We continually thank God for our good and adjustment to having everyone at home and limiting our exposure to the outside world.
Our being able to continue to minister at home and ministering using the internet and phone.
The way our islands Pastor have been able to minister to their communities using different methods.

Pray for the Herron’s This Coming Week

20^th–26^th July 2020

Pray for our travel this week

James and Sonya travels throughout Freeburg and the Metro-East and surrounding area this week.
Our travel this weekend to visit our son, Jason and his family in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from Wednesday—Saturday.

Pray that we continue to redeem the time and spend time getting closer to one another and Christ during this time.
Pray for the Island Ministry Team as we adjust to ministering on the islands even though they are confined to reside.
Pray for all the people who have been displaced by the rising waters of Lake Victoria flooding homes, fields and destroying crops and fruit trees
Continue to pray for Wakikere Baptist Church, and the congregation which has been flooded by Lake Victoria has been displaced.
Pray for the people of Buvuma Island District because of the rising level of Lake Victoria and the restrictions placed on travel from the islands to the mainland.
Pray for Austin and his roommate Joseph (another IMB Journeymen) during this time of self-isolation as they adjust to this confinement
Pray for our Pastors and Church leaders on the islands as they minister to the people on the island during this time because they are unable to travel, they are not able to work to provide for their family
That God will direct our plans for resuming ministry.
That all our priorities are directed by God.
We have insight from the Holy Spirit and our plans to resume ministry.
Pray that God give us insight and wisdom to make wise decisions as we engage in ministering on the island again even though I will be stateside until January 2021.
Pray for our families in the USA

Sonya mother, Mary Sutton, in a nursing home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Our three sons and their families
Continue to pray for our oldest son Keith, that we will allow God to direct his life.
Our youngest son, Jeremy and his family as he serves in the Army in Ft. Stewart Georgia