Espy: South Wales

After many months of intercession and prayer walking for the Somali people in Cardiff, The Cardiff/Bristol Beltway team gives great praise to God for the things they see Him doing now. Though getting a visa into Britain has recently become more difficult, the visa for Brad and Julie Hamilton, who are coming to work with Somali people, was granted in just two business days. The team leader, Troy Blankenship, after some weeks of being away in the United States for a bereavement, returned and was quickly able to find a good housing arrangement for this new family.

 And while in the community looking for an available Somali language teacher, Troy met the manager of a building where Somali tribal elders council members live and meet. The downstairs, formerly The Red Sea Café, had been closed. When questioned about it, the manager said their plans are now to open a Somali community center there. Troy told him about our work in another area of the city where we have English classes, a ladies sewing class and recreation times for men. The manager said this is the kind of things they would like to have. A meeting was set up for discussing plans for a work to begin. Pray that God will continue to open not only doors but also hearts of the Somali people to His love and truth.

We are grateful for a new small group of men from Sudan who have recently come to the men’s recreation times. As a point of contact, Troy told them he is studying Arabic (their language). As they began to help each other with Arabic/English, Troy remembered the team had recently bought an Arabic-English Bible and had it available on the bookshelf in the hall. So as he began to use that as their reference, one of the men falteringly read in English the introduction to the Bible, which includes the gospel. Then they were given that Bible and also a copy of the “Jesus” video in both languages. The next week, one of the men said he wanted to talk more about “that Jesus book.” Now that the door is open, pray that the team members will effectively share and that these men will become the first believers in our area from Sudan.

Tom and Ann Espy
South Wales