Coming Soon...

I can't NOT tell my stories.  Those who know me in real life know I can never keep anything to myself.  Even casual acquaintances are often subject to my stories.  I am a story teller at heart.  I can't even read a book by myself without telling everyone about it.

But honestly, if you had a famous person living in your neighborhood, wouldn't you be tempted to boast ever so slightly - especially if you actually became good friends?  Tell me you wouldn't always be on the lookout for him, and feeling all silly when you catch a glimpse.

That's my life.  I have these incredible encounters with the most amazing Person, who's not just a neighbor, but a very dear friend.  How can I not tell the tales?

After blogging off and on for over ten years, I've decided it's time.  I'm going to write a book.  Or two.  Or several.  Maybe a bunch of books!  All I know is that I've got to get the word out that Jesus is still around, that He is alive and that He still intervenes in the lives of simple people like you and me.

Earlier this year I wrote in my journal a list of priorities, asking myself the question, "What would I do in 2023 if I knew this were my last year on earth?"  One of my bullet points was to finally get my book in print.  I am so excited to be on this journey.  No more word limits for social media posts, newsletters, and blog entries.  No more procrastinating. Finally I am telling the rest of the stories!

Some of the rough drafts are contained in my personal blog, but others are still in my head.  I can't wait to share how God:

• moved a mountain - literally
• restored my life from the pit - giving me a future and a hope when all was lost
• overruled two different selection committees' rulings to place me where I needed to be
• stopped a flash flood while it was still raining
• sealed an appendix when surgery wasn't an option
• healed my son from rabies
• fulfilled specific and bizarre personal prophesies spoken over me in random places by total strangers
• turned back the clock, Superman-style, to answer my heart's cry
• saved souls in every single house we visited in one day, in answer to a prayer He asked me to pray
• miraculously provided money for a recording studio and house from the most unlikely source
• transformed me from a shy, insecure child into - whatever it is that I am today
• caused our van to mysteriously overheat so we wouldn't be washed over the mountain in a mudslide
• cast out demons with the simple name of Jesus
• appeared in dreams to various people in villages of Oaxaca, prophetically showing them we would arrive with a Bible that speaks aloud to them. Etc!
  

Oh, and then there was the time God raised a woman from the dead!  That's a story I've never widely shared.  And I have countless stories of big and small answers to daily prayers, and times when I didn't even get around to praying, but God knew my heart's cry, and moved on my behalf.

Besides the missionary stories, I'll get honest and also share scenes from my personal life.  I will definitely need to tell how wonderfully He has led me through life's many twists and turns and ups and downs.  From what I hear from too many people, it is apparent their God is too small.  Not to be boastful or anything, but my God is really really great!  My stories will display how great He is. 

Would you be interested in reading a book like this? 

My goal is to have this first memoir ready for publication by the end of the year.  Stay tuned.... 

The best way to stay in touch for now (until I develop an actual author website) is to sign up to get our email updates. Go to Audio Scripture Ministries website and then after filling in your email address, it will take you to another form where you can choose any of the newsletters from ASM.  

Please click Special Mexico Updates from the Lokers.

 

Faith Comes by Hearing (but earbuds sure help!)

Every time we visit a language area, there are certain people and experiences that stand out in my mind.  In particular, I tend to gravitate toward the elderly, as you might guess from looking at my photos.  It touches my heart to consider how these folks have lived such long difficult lives without the benefit of hearing God speak to them in the language of their heart.  Whenever God allows me to share His love with these precious souls, I go for it.  Sometimes I am even blessed to be present as they surrender their very lives to Christ.

Showing her a photo of herself

Last week I was passionately explaining to Rosa, an 89-year-old Zapotec woman, about Christ’s love, with a native pastor translating my words into Zapotec from Spanish.  Several times she said something in Zapotec causing her daughter and two other ladies to burst out laughing.  Curious, I requested a translation.  She had looked straight at me and said, “I have no idea what you are saying, but I just love how you are expressing it.”

Later we introduced her to the audio Bible we had brought her, playing the first chapter of John.  Again, she smiled and seemed pleased, but made another remark in Zapotec, causing the ladies and the visiting pastor to laugh aloud again.  She had said that she liked it very much – even though she couldn’t hear it.  Oh, my.  We were having so much fun, and yet not one word was getting through to her aside from the sense that she was loved.

Digging in my bag, I found a pair of earbuds I had gotten on the plane.  As we plugged it into the audio Bible and put them on her ears, her smile changed to an expression of sheer wonder.  She loved the scriptures from the minute she could actually hear them.  We continued visiting with the other ladies, making sure they knew how to change the volume, the books, and the chapters of the Bible.  Occasionally Rosa would say something aloud.  Translated back to Spanish for us, we realized she was quoting passages she had just heard.

“Faith comes by hearing…”  Please pray that this dear woman and many others like her will grow to trust Jesus for their salvation as they listen to their brand new audio Bibles.

What if There Were a True Cost of Discipleship?

Back in 2011, we drove to the village of Tabaa with our three youngest kids and our (then) new recording technicians, Diego and Luz.  Diego and Luz had dubbed the Jesus Film in this variant of Zapotec, and we accompanied them to show the movie and also to deliver some audio Bibles to the folks out there.

That trip was memorable in several ways, not the least of which was the fact that our Suburban chose that day to develop a fuel leak.  We smelled gasoline all the way out to the village, but once we arrived, the remaining fluids drained themselves from the vehicle, displaying an undeniable problem.  We spent the night on sleeping bags on the church floor, eventually returning to Mitla on a chicken bus.

The believers in Tabaa impressed me with their devotion to Jesus and their willingness to sacrifice in order to follow the Lord.  Back then the town officials were levying a fine equivalent to a year’s salary (for some of the folks) just for joining the evangelical church.  What amazed me was the fact that people were actually paying it.  Somehow I can’t imagine American Christians putting up with such a thing.  Many would forsake the Lord if it cost that much.

This past week we revisited Tabaa in order to get the current phone number of the pastor.  That is a whole other story in itself how we ended up essentially touring the entire Villa Alta region of Oaxaca taking a “short cut” from one village to the next along unpaved unmarked roads.  In all, we drove over eight hours covering very few miles, but in the end, we succeeded in getting the pastor’s phone number.  It turns out that the pastor’s father is close to heaven’s gates, and many family members were gathered to say their final farewell.  With that little situation, we departed and returned to Mitla the same day, having gleaned a bit of new information.

Sadly the church members in Tabaa are still under the town rule that requires them to pay the huge fee for joining the church.  Already fifteen families have paid the $30,000 pesos in the past seven years, bringing the church membership up to 40 families.  Soon we will return with audio Bibles for the new families, but in the meantime, we have taught the pastor to use the Bible app on his phone to read and listen to the scriptures in his own language.  Others can download the audio Bible onto their phones, too.  That is the good news.

Then again maybe all of our towns should grow "richer" when Christ's church grows stronger?  I would take comfort in this if it weren't for my skepticism that town leaders are not often known for their integrity.  

• Pray against corruption at every level of government in Mexico.  
• Pray that townspeople would notice a true heart change in the new believers.  
• Pray that many more would risk losing their financial gain in order to walk openly with Jesus.  
• Pray that new disciples would find great joy and peace in their sacrifice. 

Pray for the believers in Tabaa

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  

 John 8:31-32 ESV

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Thumbs Up!

The following is a letter (reprinted by permission) by one of many satisfied short-term team members this year.  John braved the trip only one day after surgery on his hand, giving him a permanent "thumbs up" demeanor we all enjoyed, teased, and imitated.  Thank you, John, for this endorsement of team trips.  Thanks to all who came, contributed, and prayed!

John's son, Jamison, is the chairman of the board at Audio Scripture Ministries, and was the leader of this team from Grand Rapids, Michigan, which also included his younger brother, Ted. 

June 2018

 Hi Jim & Jamie,

Thank you so much for hosting and leading our group to help bring the ASM audio Bibles to the people in and near Progresso, Oaxaca Mexico in April.

It was inspiring to learn from both of you the very long history of the translation efforts by Wycliffe Bible Translators beginning in the 1950’s to get Bibles in printed form by 1970’s.  Your work partnering with ASM to locate these people groups, to find native language readers, to make recordings, and do the tedious editing of the sound bites to bring the final product is truly a blessing to those who receive an audio Bible.  Praise God for the countless hours, days, and years of work by you and many others.  How humbling to participate in the distribution of these Bibles after the very hard work of so many for so long that made it possible.  To Him be all the glory and honor!

One powerful impression that keeps coming to my mind is how the people of the small churches we met with are clinging desperately and fiercely to God’s Word, the Bible.  During the worship services and prayer times with these small groups I felt their obvious passion and love for God.  You could see it on their faces.  The presence of God’s Spirit was strong.  No wonder they are enthused about having the audio Bibles for their people!  Thank you for translating for us some of what was being said during those times; it was wonderful.

And then there was the singing!!  What joy to sing God’s praises simultaneously in three languages: English, Spanish, and Mixteco.  Or, singing back and forth to each other as groups.  The unity of believers transcends language barriers, and I felt the presence of God’s love even though not understanding any words.

Another powerful experience for me was praying over each of the individuals that were given an audio Bible.  As a group we simultaneously prayed our own personal prayers for that person out loud, while laying hands on them.  Each time the same strong realization came to me during the prayer:  this person is my brother or sister!!  I did not know him/her until that day, but we are united in Christ and I need to pray for him/her and be a help and an encouragement.  This was very intense!

The people of Progresso were such gracious hosts, sharing their food and places with us.  Most of them have very little, but provided so bountifully from their hearts.  I can’t say enough about their hospitality and friendship they showed.  They set a high standard for showing their love of God in worship, caring, and hospitality.  I praise God for them and have learned a lot from them; it was a privilege to have the experience.

Thank you, Jim and Jamie.  May God also continue to bless you and the work you do, and the believers in Progresso.

In Christ,

John Worst

Dreams, Visions, and the Birth of a Harvest

Returning to the Isthmus of Mexico for the second week in a row, our prayers and ministry focus were directed to the Zapotec speakers in an area devastated by the earthquakes of last September.  Our joint evangelistic efforts proved to be a tremendous encouragement to the pastors who accompanied us.

After a day of visiting mostly “inconversos” (unsaved), we felt prompted to spend a day focusing on providing audio Bibles for the church leaders who could multiply the fruit by sharing the scriptures in Zapotec personally with their neighbors.

As we took the audio Bible to one of the founding members of the church, offering to pray for her and her ministry, she asked us to join her in visiting and praying for her sick neighbor, a man in need of our Savior’s touch.  Quickly it became apparent that God had prepared this neighbor for an encounter with us that day.

Our team prayed over Andre as he lay in his hammock, first commanding any pestering spirits by the authority of Jesus’ name and his blood shed on Calvary to depart from the premises, rendering them powerless to keep Andre in pain and unbelief.  Then we prayed for healing, thinking perhaps he had TB based on his description of chest pain and coughing up blood.

Andre then told us how some relatives had come to pray for him the night before, and how he felt the same sensation of a cool hand going over and inside his body, soothing and healing it.  We explained that the only way he would remain free was to call upon the name of Jesus himself, confess and repent of his sins, and accept the free gift of salvation. 

Andre began to relate a dream he had the night before, which our Zapotec interpreter explained to me in Spanish. In his dream, a visitor showed him a vision.  In the vision, Andre was in his hammock, and a group of eight individuals were gathered in front of him, like a chain, all inter-connected.  Before them was a big clay platter covered with ashes.  One of the eight picked up the platter and began to blow until all the ashes were blown away.  What remained on the plate were six kernels of corn.  The eight visitors debated whether they should plant the corn, since there did not appear to be any soil, just a hard concrete floor.

At this point, I was translating the dream into English for my team members, becoming more excited as the story progressed.  Just that morning, my husband Jim had again referred to the audio Bibles as “The Good Seed,” expressing a desire to only plant it in good soil.  Earlier in our visit, we were debating whether to give Andre an audio Bible.  Continuing to describe his vision, Andre said that the visitors did in fact plant the kernels of corn, and were thrilled that they all sprouted, a word in Spanish which literally means “were birthed.”  After the crop was harvested, the man in the vision burned the field, and then told Andre he used to be like that burned field, completely dead, but now he was like the fresh corn - new life!

The dream was easy enough to decipher.  There were exactly eight of us standing before Andre in his hammock, just like in the vision.  Our prayers to dispel evil forces were the breath that blew away the ashes.  The hard ground was the man’s heart prior to our visit.  The corn, obviously, was the Word of God bearing fruit.  The only puzzling part was the detail that there were six kernels of corn.  Later we learned that the man’s household totaled six souls.  We had prayed that Andre and his whole household would accept salvation that day.  In faith, we believe for a harvest of all six becoming believers even though we only had the privilege of praying with the one.  Andre cried actual tears as he prayed the prayer of faith, repeating the Zapotec words of his neighbor.

This is just a portion of all that transpired at one house on one day of two solid weeks of ministry, visiting in people’s homes, offering intercessory prayer, audio Bibles, and the gift of salvation for those ready to receive it in faith.  It was exhilarating to see so many people set free from the bondage of sin and Satan, and others healed of physical or mental suffering.  Many prayers were answered in dramatic ways, and we trust that the church leaders in the area will continue to visit the new believers and disciple them as they mature as Jesus followers.  Most of all we are thankful that God’s Word remains in their hands to help them grow in knowledge and wisdom and to bear much fruit for the Kingdom.

A MacGyver Victory

It was Holy Week in Guatemala, and we had just finished dubbing a portion of the Jesus Film, intending to show the Mam people the death and resurrection scene in their own language.  Following a synchronistic religion of Catholicism mixed with animism, most of the Mam Indians knew that Jesus died, but they had never thought of him as resurrected and alive.  

We drove out to a village down a bumpy unpaved road, carrying a large video projector which was cutting edge for the late 1980s. It was the huge kind (imported from the U.S.) commonly used in bars. Unlike the tiny ones of today that fit in the palm of your hand, it was a large box with three lights that converged.

Five hundred Mam speakers were waiting to see the very first movie ever to be shown in their own dialect.  People were everywhere.  Anticipation was high.  I plugged the video projector in just like always, but it wouldn't turn on.  I had no owner's manual, no tools, and no idea what the problem was. 

Several of the church leaders kept coming over to assure me they were praying for me and that they trusted God to help me solve the problem.  Remembering that I did have a Swiss army knife in my pocket, I found a screwdriver and somehow figured out how to open the back of the projector and pull out the "mother board" where all the wires were.  Right away I noticed that two wires had become unsoldered - probably from the bouncing drive to the village.

I thought to myself, "Great.  No solder gun, no manual.  Now what?"  It could have been a very simple repair with the right equipment.  Being the only American there, I was surprised to hear an almost audible voice speaking to me in English, saying, "Use your chewing gum."  Okay, so presuming that was the voice of God, I took out my gum and put it on top of the wires, connecting them to the solder, and I slid the card back into the slot, closed the back of the projector, and plugged it in.  It started right up!

Satan was defeated, and people's hearts were open to the truth of the gospel, and many came to the Lord that very night.  There is one more part to this story.  The name of that town was "La Victoria."  

The victory.

(This story is obviously a throw-back from our early years on the field.  Jim dictated this memory, and I typed it up almost verbatim.  Jamie)

"Let Me Get This Straight...."

My mom's infamous quote from last fall:  "So, let me get this straight.  You have one daughter with TB and one with either malaria or zika?"  We both chuckled even though it isn't exactly funny (or entirely accurate in hindsight).  Her motherly advice was for us all to stay safely in the U.S. from now on! Yeah, well, that's not going to happen.  In fact, Jim is in Central Africa even as I am writing this.  He dutifully received all recommended vaccinations and took malaria meds beforehand.  Our son, Mike, and his family are leaving for Indonesia in a few months, and on it goes. (Sorry, Mom.)

What I have noticed through the years is that certain things strike a chord with people "back home" and trigger not only prayers, but actual responses to our email updates and Facebook notifications.  Exotic-sounding diseases always send people to their knees on our behalf, but what we'd prefer are preventative prayers of protection. 

The infamous missionary ladies retreat when we all got e-coli

To date, our prayer buddies have carried us through...

• hepatitis
• esophageal reflux and failure to thrive
• miscarriages (including one at five months)
• botched surgeries
• rabies
• typhoid
• ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura)
• whooping cough
• head lice and broken ribs
• bed bugs
• dengue
• swine flu (which our children were actually at "ground zero" - giving added distinction for that)
• life-threatening heat exhaustion
• multiple concussions 
• a bug bite infection we feared was a bot fly
• e-coli
• cyclical vomiting syndrome, which is an ongoing prayer need for our daughter, Debbie

 For the record, the doctors never did decide what to call the sickness Bekah got after her mission trip to Guatemala last August, but it wasn't zika or malaria.  Also, Debbie does not have an active case of TB, but a latent case, in the blood but completely asymptomatic.  She is almost finished with her six months of medication for that.  We are not concerned.  The doctors had to treat it since she is taking phlebotomy at the vocational school, and otherwise she would not be permitted to draw blood.

So, with all this said, could you please just pray that we would have no health issues to write about over these next two months of travel for Jim?  Thanks.  Monday he flies to Nairobi, Kenya from the Congo.  When he returns, he is only home a few days before he travels for Mexico for a few weeks.

Prayers for Mike, Amy, Titus, and Silas are appreciated, too, as they embark on their own kingdom adventures overseas in April of this year.

Click on the highlighted words to read the related stories on my other blog, which I am currently revising and updating.  If you are not receiving our prayer updates by email, please let me know, and I'd be happy to add you to the list.  You can email me at jamiejofrommexico (at) gmail. 

Thanks!
Jamie