All my thoughts are random

the AfricaStories 2

2010-04-22T18:57:00.004+03:00

AfricaStories is a tabloid magazine designed to tell what God is doing in Africa and to share God’s passion for the peoples of Africa.

Complemented by the multi-media resource http://www.africastories.org/, this issue features stories about human trafficking in South Africa, HIV/AIDS awareness in Sudan’s cattle camps, rebel soldiers finding Christ in eastern Congo, and more.

the Teens Camp

2010-04-16T11:58:00.002+03:00

A weekend away in the hills outside of Johannesburg, South Africa. I went with a group of youth for four days away and as one of three camp photographers. We took pictures of paint balling, rock climbing, swimming, archery and the many talks about relationships.We put together several videos documenting our time. Enjoy. I know I did.

Photos by: Stacie, Jesse and Denica

Song: Tonight by Tobi Mac featuring John Cooper

Photos by: Stacie, Jesse and Denica

Song: Needle and Haystack Life by Switchfoot

Remember these youth. Life is hard for any teenager!

the World Cup

2010-04-15T15:58:00.002+03:00

The 2010 World Cup has taken over. For the last six months, I've traveled to most of the cities hosting the games and gotten to see the beautiful country of South Africa. I, along with fellow teammates, gathered content for a new website. We got the stories of South Africans, the stories of everyday life in South Africa. We interviewed gang members, single mothers, teens looking for a better life, entrepreneurs, aid workers and many others. Find out more about South Africa, even if you can't come to the games, at www.worldsoccerjourneys.com.

Learn about what makes South Africa a great place to call home or a great place to visit.

Africa Stories

2009-11-19T07:06:00.003+03:00

Recently, I helped pull together some of the content of this site www.africastories.org. Please read about some of the things I've gotten to experience and enjoy during the last couple of months. I've written a few of the stories and some of the photos are mine, but for security reasons I can't tell you. If you what to know shoot me a message and I'll let you know in an email.

If you would like the free printed tabloid version click here.

the loss

2009-10-26T15:39:00.003+03:00

This is dedicated to a friend who just experienced a great loss. Remember this friend, the family and myself as I try to be a friend through it all.

sadness overwhelms
as it surrounds me
pain is all i feel
from deep inside me
my heart is heavy
within me

here is my cry
listen as i scream
without a word
the world does not hear

deep is the doubt
believe for me
longing to know
have faith for me
anger is all i have
love for me

here is my cry
listen as i scream
without a word
the world does not hear

i am lost in myself
guide me
i know you are there
show me
i turn within
heal me

here is my cry
listen as i scream
without a word
the world does not hear

God you are always near
you know my heart
you know my pain
love me always

carry me

The song

2009-10-07T20:28:00.007+03:00

Friends of mine reminded me of this song yesterday and I want to share it. It encourages me that even now I am being constantly molded.

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME

By: Joel Hemphill

CHORUS:

He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be, He's still working on me.
1. There really ought to be a sign upon the heart,
Don't judge her yet, there's an unfinished part.
But I'll be perfect just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master's loving hands.
CHORUS:
2. In the mirror of His Word reflections that I see
Make me wonder why He never gave up on me.
He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
Remember He's the Potter, I'm the clay.
CHORUS:

The teaching

2009-09-24T20:09:00.004+03:00

Recently, I visited a township called Freedom Park outside the city of Rustenburg, South Africa. A township is a poor neighborhood of shack homes (made of tin) or small brick houses (government provided). Some have running water and electricity some don't. Freedom Park doesn't.

Thousands of people live in Freedom Park. And the vast majority of them are migrant workers from other African countries.

My friends Mary and Lesley work in some of the many schools that the children of these migrant workers attend. They teach True Love Waits, life orientation (basic life skills) to the students. They also teach a Bible study during an after school program.

Lesley and Mary playing games
with the students during an after school program.

*Photos and edits by JAL, shot with Nikon D90

The soccer match

2009-09-16T10:58:00.005+03:00

Soccer is a big deal, at least here in South Africa. And it's an even bigger deal because the World Cup is coming here in 2010. Part of my job right now is to visit some of the cities with World Cup stadiums. While visiting we document the lives of the South Africans that live surrounding the stadiums. In the city of Rustenburg I actually got to go to a game. The Platinum Stars (the local team) played the Kaiser Chiefs. The Chiefs won. But hanging out with the fans was great. Such energy and zeal.

Me and fellow media worker, Stacie.

The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.

A community owned stadium, the only one in South Africa.

With our hosts, Lesley (left) and Mary (center).

The glass blowing

2009-09-12T12:01:00.002+03:00

I, along with two friends of mine, Mary Beth and Lusy, went to a glass shop and got to make our own glass paperweights. It was a cute shop and a very community type outing. We all enjoyed the time out and being amongst other people. The picture above is a man showing us how to make the decorations and mold in which to pour the hot, melted glass.

a shot of the studio and show room. i tried to take a panorama...

My friend, Mary Beth before she gave birth,
putting in the finishing decorations on the melted glass.

Lucy concentrating on her work of art.

A glass blowing demonstration.

The actual blowing.

*taken by JAL with a Sony Ericsson camera phone

The East London (South Africa) beach

2009-09-07T01:05:00.000+03:00

Not too long ago, I took a trip to East London, South Africa. It's a cute little city right on the eastern coast. I got to go to the beach in July. But, was wearing a thick winter jacket because of the cold. So cold. Below is what I saw. It is really a beautiful place.

My friend, Roxie on the boardwalk looking out to the ocean.

*Photos and edits by JAL, shot with Nikon D90

The Samburu

2009-09-02T15:20:00.002+03:00

The Samburu people are starving.

They are located just above the equator in eastern Africa.

The Samburu people live in the highland forests of Kenya, at almost 7,800 feet above sea level. An ongoing drought and post-election violence in 2008 gravely disrupted the area's food supply, contributing to the starvation of animals and people.

Hunger is a very real problem all through the drought stricken Rift Valley region of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Thanks to the generous gifts of SBers to the World Hunger Fund, local workers are able to plan hunger relief projects to help alleviate some of the suffering. God is blessing these efforts. Pray for good rains this next season.

They are traditional warriors.

For more on how to help visit www.gobgr.com.

*photos taken and edited by JAL, taken with Nikon D90. Video by DM.

The Mug and Bean

2009-09-01T17:29:00.007+03:00

Some days I've just got to get out of the house. Right now my bedroom also seconds as my office and the four walls really do close in.

Kristen, Ethan and I decided to spend the morning at a local coffee shop. We worked hard and ate good food. Kristen had a bottomless cup of coffee. (for those of you who don't know, there are no free refills here, so a bottomless cup of coffee is the "promise land").

*all photos by KNS, editing done by JAL, shot with Nikon D90

The Ode to Kristen

2009-08-25T12:39:00.005+03:00

This is dedicated to my flatmate, teammate, friend and all around awesome person Kristen Nicole Sayres.

Kristen has left for almost two months.

She is traveling around America for work.
This is her packing.

Ode to Kristen

by Me

You have left. Gone.

For so long

I walk by your door

And you are gone.

I wait to hear

You shout DANCE

I DANCE in your memory

You are gone.

I miss your music

Oh so loud

There is silence

Because you are gone.

I am here

Waiting for your return

I am alone

You are gone.

Hurry home Kristen. Hope America is fun and stress free.

The light

2009-08-21T23:40:00.002+03:00

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12 (New International Version)

The new baby

2009-08-20T22:55:00.003+03:00

This is Kylie Elizabeth. I lived across the street from her parents in West Africa and am now just down the road from them again. I spent a couple of hours with Kyle and her mom Mary Beth today. Enjoyed every minute. She has beautiful deep blue eyes and a very expressive face!

The equator

2009-08-20T00:21:00.004+03:00

A few months ago I took a drive into central Kenya. On my way, I passed over the equator as it runs through Kenya.

Now I have stood over the equator on two continents, Africa and South America.

The new friends

2009-08-18T19:34:00.005+03:00

Another self-portrait. This one at my friend Stacie's flat (apartment). We ate pizza. Talked. Listened to music. All good fun.

This is Stacie. She is a new friend.
Like me she's lived in Africa for a while.
We have fun.

Made some new friends. They are spending a couple of months
working in South Africa. They just get younger and younger.
Maybe it's me that's getting older!

You HandsOn guys will do a great job. See you in a couple of months!

The workers

2009-08-17T21:31:00.004+03:00

The media team. At least part of it. We worked together today.

Well, worked and played and danced and sang and cooked and ate.

And I took a self-portrait.

The heart beats

2009-08-16T14:05:00.003+03:00

The heart beats
by me

The pain rips my heart.
Beat-by-beat it takes it apart piece-by-piece.
The ripping leaves pain.
The pain that rips my heart.

Each rip reminds me of the anger.
The anger tries to consume.
I hurt. the anger hurts.
The pain that rips my heart.

I fight it. this pain. This anger.
With what is left of my heart.
Beat-by-beat my heart grows smaller.
The pain that rips my heart.

The heart limply beats on.
One beat after the next.
Looking for safe harbor from
The pain that rips my heart.

The pain dulls.
Doubt covers it like fog.
Choking confidence. Hiding desire. Fading dreams.
The pain that rips my heart.

Weakly beating on.
Searching for calm to rebuild.
Forget the pain. The anger. The hurt.
The pain that rips my heart.

The heart beats on.

The Children

2009-08-15T09:20:00.000+03:00

I want to share the story of some children I met traveling throughout Zambia. This story is similar to millions of other children in southern Africa. Their parents are dying or have died from HIV/AIDS. 1.1 million Zambians have the disease. Some of the children pictured here, where born with it and will not see middle-age.

This young girl has HIV/AIDS and is the caretaker of her family.

This girl lives with her other siblings.
At least one member of her family has AIDS.

Malnutrition does not stop this girl from smiling.

Their caregiver has the disease.

His mom is taking intravenous drugs to extend her life.

The Zambian nation is one of the leading countries in fighting the spread of AIDS, lowering the death rate, aiding in the longevity of life and HIV/AIDS education. Still, 56,000 Zambians died from HIV/AIDS.

The mountains too

2009-08-14T09:15:00.001+03:00

This is a normal way to keep warm during the cold June,
July and August months of winter.
Lots of layers, blankets, boots, a hat and warming in the sun.

Mountain ponies grazing in harvested wheat fields.
A run-off stream comes from the snow-capped mountains.

The snow-capped mountains

2009-08-13T11:17:00.003+03:00

This is an areal shot of snow-capped mountains in central Lesotho.
Breathtakingly beautiful in June.
I along with two other members of the media team took a ride on a
small plane through the mountains to get this shot.

Lesotho is a small country surrounded on all sides by South Africa. The people that live in these mountains are cut off from the rest of civilization. Not much has changed in the last 100 years. They are literally cut off from the rest of the world during a good snow storm.

We rode mountain ponies to get to one area.

Children saw our progression and took off running over the mountains to get to the meeting site. We watch them "fly" down the rocky mountains, through villages, shouting at each other to hurry. Really beautiful.

The bush trip

2009-05-20T08:28:00.012+03:00

This last weekend I visited a family that lives in central Kenya, about eight hours north of my city. Everyday was an adventure in the bush. The nearest paved road is about four hours away. The last morning I experienced something new, riding on a single propeller, four seat plane. This is the beauty of Kenya from the tiny plane.

what us expats call a bush plane, thanks for a great flight

the dry, central Kenya landscape
most of Kenya has not gotten enough rain for planting this season

Mt. Kenya, the highest point in Kenya

a waterfall in the mountains

Slums around Nairobi

Smog and pollution hoover over Nairobi

Landing at an airport for small aircraft.

Kenya is a vast country with many landscapes, from mountains to extreme valleys, huge citys to small villages, the rich to the poor, dry to wet. Hope you enjoyed my flight!

The Water

2009-04-04T19:03:00.000+03:00

For the earth will be filled

With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,
As the waters cover the sea.
-- Habakkuk 2:14 (NASB)

The Agta people are surrounded by water. From the middle of the island, water is only about 15km away west or east. Remember those who are bringing the true knowledge of God to the Agta people.

After her baptism, this Agta woman gathers her shoes as she emerges from the lake.

The Clearification

2009-04-02T19:43:00.004+03:00

Previous post is not in Africa. I took a trip to the South Pacific!

The Volcano

2009-04-01T16:15:00.008+03:00

Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
-- Isaiah 40:31 (NASB)

The volcano Asog, meaning smoke, blew about 400 years ago creating this natural lake covering "the old town." I hiked up into the crater of the volcano to reach a group of believers. The only way to meet with three other groups of believers was to cross lake Buhi.

Remember those who serve among these tribes, who need not to get tired and need not to become weary.

The Slums

2009-01-23T20:27:00.005+03:00

The Ostrich

2009-01-21T21:02:00.002+03:00

The Homeschoolers

2009-01-11T16:40:00.005+03:00

Kristen and I taught a two hour writing and photography lesson to kids homeschooled here in Nairobi. We had a great time and met some interesting kids. They loved Kristen! (and secretly she loved them too.)

The Safari

2009-01-03T08:33:00.006+03:00

My New Year was spent in Ambasele National Game Park in southern Kenya. The park is at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was amazing. So many wild animals. God was good to us and we saw every animal the park had to offer.

Even lions fighting.

It was a great way to start the new year.

The goats

2008-12-29T12:32:00.003+03:00

On a farm in North Africa, there lives a goat. This goat, "Bill," lives in a barn filled with other goats waiting for the day it will be given a new home. Bill is weeks old, the newest of the 50 or so also waiting for new homes.

Bill knows he'll live with a widow and her children. Bill will roam the hillside around the widow's hut with other goats eating dead grass. He'll learn the call of his shepard and come bounding down the hill towards home when he hears the call. His bed will be a small corner sectioned off by bamboo polls in the widow's rounded hut.

Every day he'll provide milk to nourish the family. This year the widow and her children will not starve. Bill is proud that he will help a family live longer and healthier lives.

Bill provides a way for workers to visit homes and tell stories about Jesus. Pray for those workers to find ways to share these stories with Bill's owners.

The Christmas

2008-12-25T21:31:00.004+03:00

Merry Christmas

the truth

2008-12-22T09:25:00.001+03:00

just spent two weeks in a beautiful North African country. the terrain is similar to that of Denver, mountainous and dry. the people are beautiful with an interesting history.

religion is a major part of their lives. traditional Christianity is what they worship. lost in the tradition of works. lost in the inability to understand the gift God has given us.

like Philip, be willing to explain the truth of Christ's saving Grace to those who don't understand.

26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road
—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."

27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch,
an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace,
queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the
book of Isaiah the prophet.

29The Spirit told Philip,
"Go to that chariot and stay near it."

30Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man
reading Isaiah the prophet.
"Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.

31"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?"
So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth."

34The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet
talking about, himself or someone else?" 35Then Philip began with
that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water
and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"

38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch
went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

39When they came up out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away,
and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

Acts 8:26-40

The Nile

2008-12-07T09:05:00.003+03:00

went whitewater rafting on the White Nile River in Uganda last weekend
loved every minute of it
cannot wait for the next adventure

The hammock

2008-12-06T15:46:00.000+03:00

relaxing in the yard

the thanksgiving holiday

2008-11-27T22:21:00.006+03:00

enjoy thanksgiving in Africa

The child

2008-11-25T00:18:00.000+03:00

went hiking with some MKs during a prayer retreat about an hour north of nairobi

The prayer

2008-11-23T19:46:00.007+03:00

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me;
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139

The smile

2008-10-21T22:07:00.003+03:00

Have joy in the work and words of our Lord.

The Office

2008-10-09T18:30:00.008+03:00

The Overseas Correspondence office in Nairobi, Kenya.

the conference room

my office

teammate Kristen's office

office kitchen

work room and spare office

the Go West Africa magazine

2008-10-07T15:12:00.004+03:00

Order the new Go West Africa magazine for free here.

This was my last project before leaving West Africa. I learned a lot taking pictures, writing, designing and laying out this magazine with the media team.

The New Place

2008-10-07T11:59:00.009+03:00

This is my new place in Nairobi, Kenya.

Thanks LMCO, the Overseas Correspondent office and Sue for such a great place.

in the Closet

Dinning RoomLiving Room

Hallway

Kitchen

Spare Bedroom 1

Spare Bedroom 2

Spare Bathroom

My Bedroom

My Bathroom

Driving Kenya Style

2008-10-06T11:27:00.004+03:00

First time for the opposite side of the road

Chill'n on my new car

The Rift Vally (about 8,000 feet up)

The original

2008-09-11T07:54:00.004+03:00

The Original Chick-fil-A
Atlanta, Georgia

Pictures courteous of K. N. Sayres

The summer tour

2008-09-08T21:22:00.007+03:00

16 states in two months

From the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains

From the Gulf Coast to Lake Michigan

Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Colorado.

Along the way I visited 25 family members, participated in one wedding, spoke at five events and spent time with countless friends.

Nephew - Andrew

Maw-maw, cousin - Brian, and Paw-paw

Little Addyson and Amy

Laura

Sister-in-law - Erin and nephew - Gavin

Cousin - Tracy

GA's at Camellia Baptist Church in Prattville, AL

Grandpa Frank

Speaking at Hebron Baptist Church in Headland, AL

Nephew - Tyler

Thanks everyone for making my time in the U.S. great. Later update on future adventures.

Paris -- Day Five

2008-06-20T20:41:00.002+03:00

Opera

Column made of Cannons by Napoleon

Egyptian Column brought by Napoleon to Paris

Olya and I had a face mask and a manicure (a great way to end my time in Paris)
See you in the U.S. tomorrow!

Paris -- Day Four

2008-06-20T11:06:00.001+03:00

The Louvre

The Mona Lisa

Paris -- Day Three

2008-06-18T19:16:00.004+03:00

The Palace at Versailles

The Hall of Mirrors

Me at the rear of the Palace

Olya and I at Versailles

The funky bushes at Versailles

Look at what I found in the town of Versailles

The place to eat if you're a Lyautey

The only street worth walking down!

Paris -- Day two

2008-06-18T09:05:00.005+03:00

The River Seine

View from Notre Dame

Gargoles overlooking River Seine

View from Notre Dame
Me in front of Notre Dame

The Gates to the High Court

Modern Art Museum

Garden at Lexingburg

Presidents work place (we took a nap here!)

Paris -- Day One

2008-06-17T10:12:00.005+03:00

Statue of Liberty - France

Sacre Coeur - Sacred Heart Church

View of Paris from Church

Moulan Rouge

Arc de Triumph

Me touching the Effiel Tower

Eating sandwich in front of the Effiel Tower

Starbucks

Champs Elysees

Effiel Tower at night

Good-bye West Africa

2008-06-15T00:27:00.004+03:00

I leave in a couple of hours to start my journey back to America.

It has been a wonderful 2 1/2 years working with West Africans, missionaries and volunteers. Though my time has come to an end -- I know I'll never forget it. I learned so much about myself, my ability to adapt to new surroundings, that I really do like media work, I can eventually get along with just about anyone, that what I believe about the Gospel transends cultures.

Those I'm leaving behind I will truly miss. Laura, Greg and Noah for feeding me. Mike, Heather, Karis and Caleb, for letting be the fifth member of their family. Randy and Kathy for treating me like one of their own. Mary Beth and Deron for being siblings, a great supervisor, and all the Gilmore Girls and Alias. To Emily for loving me when no one else would, for putting up with my wierdness and for teaching me about life.

Around the world good-bye party.

West Africa Scrapbook Kit

2008-04-26T18:23:00.003+03:00

My sping project was challanging and exciting. And a blast to do! The West Africa Scrapbook Kit is something new. We have so many partnering churches, engaging churches, volunteers, and summer missionaries who never put down their camera while on the mission field. The media team thought a great way to promote West Africa and for them to display the greatness of West Africa was with this kit. I really did enjoy working on it.

I hope even if you haven't taken a trip to West Africa you can use this for Sunday school classes, Bible studies, and missions activities. All this so more will pray, give and go to West Africa!

If your interested in purchasing one for $4.00 go to http://imbresources.org/index.cfm/fa/store.prod/ProdID/2238.cfm.

Timbuktu and Typhoid

2008-04-02T15:45:00.008+03:00

It’s a real place. And I tried to make it. It’s known for being hard to get to and trying to get there is half the reason of going.

At least I can say I tried.

Emily and I started our vacation by flying to Bamako, Mali. She came down with Malaria while we were on the plane. Me too. At least that’s what I thought I had.

We both took a treatment and Emily got better. Some of my symptoms went away. So, after two days of rest we rented a 4x4 and started our two day drive to Timbuktu.

Timbuktu is known for its trade routes, old mosques, Tuareg raiders, libraries and universities that used to rival Alexandria.

It is reported that before the late 1800’s no white man had ever made it out of Timbuktu alive! Present day is not that bad.

About an hour out of Severe (our half way stop), the chills, extremely high fever, extreme lower back pain, sore muscles and stiff joints overwhelmed me.

I knew right then I didn’t have Malaria. It…was…TYPHIOD! Again. Oh, why me!

We stayed the night at a great little guest house run by a Malian/American. Great guy. The night was long, hot and dry. I tossed and turned, when I got then energy to move at all. The next morning we went to the local doctor. Horrible little place, but great service.

I had some blood work done and they told me what I already knew and gave me some meds.

I slept the rest of the day as best as I could in the Sahara Desert.

The next day we started back to the capital city so I could recover.

Though we didn’t make it, we still have a great story. Maybe one day it’ll happen.

The brave travelers: (Erwin, Me, Olya, and Emily)

How do they make it?

Something I didn't get to see:

Assinie

2008-03-26T11:28:00.008+03:00

Our HandsOn team had their midterm retreat two weeks ago and I went a long. It was a great time of hanging out, relaxing and having fun.

We started off at the Crocodile farm.

I held a baby croc and a snake. You know the kind of snake that raps around you and squeeze. I also got to ride a turtle. All for fun!

Then a whole lot of swimming and sunning. I also had some really, really good times with Jesus. Just sitting and listening. Can never do enough of that...do some of it this weekend.

The Robertsons

2008-03-11T19:20:00.007+03:00

Every pothole felt like the truck had hit a crater in the middle of the road. Pain went from my toes to neck. The constant shifting and pushing the clutch used muscle long forgotten.

But, it was all worth it.

Halfway down the sloping hill, surrounded by beautiful, pink azaleas bushes, the small home is almost the last one before the Ghana boarder in northern Cote d’Ivoire. It’s just right for IMB workers, Jerry and Carol.

For nine years they have worked to make this small village, known only because of the boarder crossing, their home.

Young children run through their yard, peak into their windows and doors at all the times of the day.
Young believers drop by to chat, neighbors come to use the only working telephone around, and you know someone has come to get water out of the back facet when the water inside doesn’t work.

The Robertsons just take it in stride. Today is just like every other day and it’ll be the same tomorrow.

They enjoy the lack of privacy, because it means the Nafana people accept them.

At one time the Roberstons never thought they’d be allowed to share the stories of Jesus. But after showing the Nafana that they were serious about learning the language and translating 130 Bible stories from French/English/Greek/Hebrew into Nafana, did the Nafana people truly understand the dept of what the Robertsons were willing to do for the Nafana people.

The long, tiring work of translation has paid off. God has called at least 14 Nafana people to him and they have shared the stories bring 40 more in different villages.

The Robertsons share the stories in three villages with men, women, chiefs, children, and teacher, anyone willing to hear and understand.

I, along with three new, short-term workers, spent four days with the Robertsons. Pray that they continue to have the strength and wisdom to translate Bible stories into the Nafana language.

The three new workers:

Jeslyn – writer

JJ – videographer

Joshua – photographer

African Dress

2008-03-04T12:39:00.009+03:00

You know that thing called “irony?” It’s me in a skirt.

Well, it used to be.

I’ve never really had a “style.” Now I do – anything with a skirt. For years I never wore a skirt. During my younger years I had to wear one to school and after I transferred to a new school, I said never again. But, alas, God really does have a sense of humor. He sent me to a West Africa where every time I step out my door I had better have one on. That’s right–no pants, no shorts–just a skirt. I’m almost at 800 days of skirt wearing joy!

So, I’d thought I’d share with you my new style. Style: a mode of fashion, as in dress, esp. good or approved fashion; elegance; smartness. And let me tell you I am in style here.

Enjoy the following photos of me in some kind of skirt, panga (an African wrap skirt), or outfit.

(In Niger)

(with the Hausa)

(Christmas gifts)

(Sunday best)

(Cote d'Ivoire village)

(my desk at the new office)

Fati

2008-02-29T18:40:00.002+03:00

She has a beautiful smile. The first thing I noticed about her - the blue upper gum. Malian women do this to beautify themselves. But, Fati has asked us how to remove it. She moved to Abidjan years ago trying to earn money for her family. She's all by herself living with "distant family."

Emily and I visit her every Wednesday morning and Sunday afternoon while she sells vegetables. Sometimes, Emily or I will try to help bargin, but no one takes us seriously. So, we sit with Fati and tell her Bible stories.

Pray for Fati to hear and understand. She is a wonderful friend.

West Africa Summit

2008-02-29T14:00:00.000+03:00

If any of you are interested in participating in what God is doing in West Africa I encourage you to attend the 2008 West Africa Spring Summit and Student Summit. The summit, located in Greenville, South Carolina, is April 2-5. Sessions include dialoguing with West Africa missionaries, discovering partnering and engaging opportunities and discussing strategy options. The last two days of the Summit, high school and college students will gather to learn how they can be a part of reaching the lost of West Africa. For more information and registration, visit http://www.rockycreekonline.org/.

Go West Africa magazine

2008-02-20T21:02:00.005+03:00

From an extreme change in lifestyle to the extreme challenge of reaching a staunchly Muslim people, the stories found in the new Go West Africa magazine share the heart and passion of IMB missionaries and volunteers in West Africa. Read about their lives and ministries in the Winter 2008 edition of Go West Africa magazine.

Emily and I wrote the stories (and took some of the pictures along with William Haun, Justin Veneman, Amanda M. and Judy M.). Mary Beth and I worked on design and layout. And many West African missionaries and believers helped us get the information we needed to inform you.

I encourage you to order a Go West Africa magazine here (for free) and see how God can use you in West Africa, whether praying or volunteering.

Cup of Nations

2008-02-14T15:09:00.004+03:00

During the last month, all of Africa talked about football (for all you Americans it's soccer). Sixteen countries sent a team to represent them in the 2008 Cup of Nations was held in Ghana. Cote d'Ivoire, my current place of residency, sent their team--the Elephants! We were favored to do really well and we did wining three games until Egypt and then it went all down hill. We lost to Egypt and then to Ghana to place 4th.

No one was out, no rooming the streets or going to the store for the inhabitants of Abidjan when Cote d'Ivoire was playing. All eyes were glued to the TV. And when we scored, Deron pushed mute and we could hear the cries of joy ringing out through all of Abidjan. If we won, motorist drove around town with flags, honking horns and flashing lights to rejoice in victory.

We all wore our colors with pride.

But, to loose, oh the terrible loses. No one cried for joy, no dancing in the streets, no flag waving. Just heads held in humiliating silence. It took days to recover. Thanks Cote d'Ivoire for a great experience at true team loyalty.

Hopes fullfilled

2008-01-30T12:45:00.000+03:00

I’ll admit it, I was weird. What junior high student skips ahead to read what’s coming in the history textbooks? Me.

Pouring through history books I learned to love culture – ancient and modern. That love developed into desire to see and experience the things I read in those outdated, molded pages.

Stories of the trade routes through the Middle East, the West Indies Trading Company that spread culture faster and further than anyone before it, the great dynasties of China, European kingdoms, wars and colonies. The people in my history textbooks made choices that shaped nations and the future.

But what dictated those choices?

I believe it’s our hearts hopes. For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to travel. I told my parents in high school to be ready…the world was waiting and I wasn’t staying in one place too long.

In a way, I think I am fortunate. My strongest desire allows me to fulfill God’s greatest commandments – to tell the world about Jesus.

That’s why I’m in West Africa right now. I wanted to see the world God created, to understand it and help others see God in it.

My heart is content and my hope is continually being fulfilled. But, God placed another desire in me – to show others what they have to offer a world the needs Jesus.

Each missionary I meet tells stories of towns, villages and people that knew something was missing they were just waiting on someone to come tell them.

I hope and desire that what I write moves YOU to search out the world around you for some one with whom you can share the story of Jesus. Start with what He did in your life.

Don’t be let your heart be sick…because if you’re a believer in Jesus, it should hope to see every “nation, tribe and tongue” in heaven.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)

Find out how you as an individual, group or church can find the lost in West Africa at http://www.gowestafrica.org/.

Hanging with Mom and Dad

2008-01-04T18:16:00.000+03:00

They arrived and the fun started…not a minute wasted. After a late flight and eight hours of sleep, they had their first African church experience – fit with lively worship music and a great theological sermon.

But, they didn’t understand any of it.

I tried to translate the deep Biblical words spoken in rapped French by the associate pastor. I only got about one sentence out of three, enough to understand the message.

Mom nodded off once, because of the extreme heat. Even the Africans were complaining of the heat…that always make you feel better and not like a wimp. I think Dad really enjoyed the music, clapping and dancing. He got off beat quite a bit and then I would get off beat laughing at him!
All of my friends were excited to see them and that night they made tradition Ivoirian meals for my parents, included a whole fish. Monday was spent greeting and preparing for the holidays. We had the majority of our African friends and workers over for a big meal of rice and sauce. Dad greeted everyone and Mom washed dishes.
They had a habit of waking up early. So, Christmas morning they came and we opened gifts. Thanks to everyone who made this a great holiday! I had some traditional outfits made for Mom and Dad. They looked great. We dressed and went to church. Emily and I sang “The River is Here” with our English Bible study for the church and again the sermon was good, but hard to translate. They even danced the isles. After 2 ½ hours of sweating, we were all ready for a nap.

The whole mission gathered to celebrate the special day and ate really good food.

Thursday we set off for Ghana. The border crossing went smoothly…everyone in good holiday spirits. When we arrived I felt like I was in a West Africa I’d never had been before – a resort! It was great. We enjoyed two great days of a wonderful mix of sightseeing and relaxing.

Slave Castles

Tropical Forest Canopy Walk
The drive home was just as effortless. Back in Abidjan, Mom and Dad helped me make improvements to my apartment and minimize some of the stuff I’ve collected during the last two years and Mom must have washed every dish in my apartment!
Our very last activity was yesterday, Thursday, and we went to great the market ladies. It was huge market, dirty, smelly and crowded. It meant a lot to the women to meet my parents and greet them. Thanks Mom and Dad for all your handshaking, nodding, smiling and cleanin!

A great time was had by all and I was really sad to see them go last night. But as the Africans say, “It is the time.”

Thank you all for your prayers during their travels and our time together. It truly was a great holiday season.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

2007-12-15T16:03:00.000+03:00

No chilly, frost nipping at my toes, snowflakes in the air days for me.

It is 88 degrees, but it feels like 101 with a humidity of 75%. Sweat dripping from all pores. Does that feel like the Christmas session to you? Not to me! Just eight days away is the snowy white Christmas of my imagination.

It is going to be a great one! My parents will arrive a week from today. In fact, I just sent my one last request, syrup!

But, there is more to Christmas this year for me. I read this great story about what your giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering means to missionaries. I left my appendix in Bogota is a story in which I can relate.

I too, have spent the night in a hospital in a foreign country. And here recently, had a blood test to figure out what was wrong with me--Typhoid. All of these are possible through your giving. Thank you. Because of you I am healthy and have been on the field one year, 11 months and 10 days. For more resources or ideas to motivate you, your Sunday school class and church to give go to www.gowestafrica.org/lmco/.

Go check out the new West Africa Web site at www.gowestafrica.org. The lastest Media Team project.

ReNew

2007-12-04T19:58:00.000+03:00

All the new personnel in the region gathered in my fair city for a conference. I had two lovely young women stay with me in my posh apartment. (No, I didn't cook for them, that's why they are still alive and not sick and dying! The conference fed us all.)

During the day we sat through sessions about church planting, stress, supervisors, teammates and had worship times together.

One night we went bowling! The lane is from the '70's. No lying, the lanes were warped from the humidity, the wall was a pale lime green and all the balls were chipped.

But, about 50 white people had a blast.

Another night, we sat around after dinner and talked about relationships with our regional leader. It was interesting to hear how his wife and he met.

It was a great time spent with friends and learning how to be a better missionary.

Thanksgiving

2007-12-04T19:53:00.000+03:00

No turkey, no football, no afternoon nap, no leaves falling from the trees, no family gathering, no parade.

Was it really Thanksgiving?

Well, 25 people who gathered to eat chicken, sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie would say an enthusiastic - YES!

I had a blast making Indian and Pilgrim headdresses, eating way too much food and talking with friends who have become family.

Back to Niger

2007-12-04T19:41:00.000+03:00

Almost a year ago, I tagged along on the first trip made by First Baptist Church Hurst, Texas to the Mehanna Road. This church has undertaken a huge task. They are responsible for planting Baptist churches in 48 village.

This year, I went on their fifth trip to visit the Songhai people and was completely amazed by what God is doing. There are already more than 10 believers with more than half of them baptized!

Photo by Justin V.

The cool thing for me was that I was able to go with a friend from college, who is an IMB photographer. It was a little like old times, except that we were in the desert, I was recovering from Tyfloid and Justin stressed about the Malaria meds! Thanks Justin for the pictures.

For more info on partnering churches visit www.gowestafrica.org/partneringchurch/

Having Faith

2007-11-06T18:13:00.000+03:00

I have asked you to pray for rain many times in the last couple of months. Well, that is because out here, rain dictates life. If it doesn’t rain, the crops don’t become big enough to feed the family until the next rainy season. Children starve, cattle die, and life becomes almost impossible to live well.

Many times, while visiting villages, I ask the village chief or elders what I can pray for their village. Their answer, “rain.”

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah prayed for the drought to end. He had faith God would answer his prayer and sent his servant to watch for God’s reply. Recently, I heard an amazing story of a young teenage missionary kid who had faith like Elijah and wrote a short story about his experience. Below is Jame’s story. Please take a moment to read it.

Having Faith

by: Jesse Lyautey
During the summer months, 16-year-old James helps his parent’s minister to the Bissa people. During one ministry event they took summer missionaries to work in a village in northern Ghana.

The group went from household to household praying for the Bissa people. James’ group went to one compound where there were some believers. But, one man said he could not become a Christian because it was his job to do ritualistic sacrifices.

The men asked James and his friends to pray for rain. The region really needed rain. They were heading into a drought. The group prayed and then left.

After they had continued for some time, James told his group he really felt like God wanted him to go back and tell the men that God has power over all things and that it was going to rain that very night. So, they went back to the household, told the men that it would rain, and left again.

James knew God was going to prove Himself to the sacrifice man and to his whole compound that night. James knew he had done what God wanted him to do: return and declare God’s power.

But there weren’t any clouds in the sky.

James returned to the other summer missionaries and told them what he had done. “Why did you do that?” they asked. “What if it doesn’t rain? You shouldn’t have said that.” James went from feeling great about following what the Lord wanted him to do, to having doubts and fears.

There were still no clouds anywhere.

Later that night there was still no rain. James and his mom, Kathy, went outside many times to pray for rain throughout the evening. James’ father, Jay, prayed faithfully. At 3 a.m., Jay went to look at the sky. Still no rain. Jay continued to pray for God to answer their prayers because of James’ faith that God will answer those who call on Him.

A little later, it started to drizzle, then rain. Finally, it down poured. James went outside and sang praises to God in the rain.

The next evening, the summer missionaries had a sharing time with James’ family. James shared about what God had shown him through this. He said God really showed him how careful we need to be with our words, not to tear down others faith, but to build them up and realize God can use anyone to tell His message.

Next time it rains remember James’ faith. Pray for God to deliver rain to those who need it and have faith that He will.

On a side note: This is my street when it rains (it has dried a little for this picture), river-front property.

Fall Festival

2007-10-30T19:44:00.000+03:00

We had a Fall Festival! I thought you would enjoy a picture of Emily and I bobbing for apples with two new missionary kids in Cote d’Ivoire. Caleb and I tied for first with three apples each. Though I am sure Emily would have won if she hadn’t stopped to help Karis!

We had a ball toss, croquet, and a treasure hunt too!

Janaba, the wife of our night guard Saydou, made us Peanut sauce and rice for the meal and we made many deserts.

We really had a good time together and it was a good way to introduce a new missionary family to the fun of living in Abidjan.

Pictures provided by William Haun. http://www.haunsinafrica.com/

Baby Naming

2007-10-30T19:10:00.000+03:00

Sunday the Hausa team went to a Baby Naming ceremony. We arrived too late for the food…but in enough time to visit with the family. It was a great time. The first stop was at “Fatiis” (Fah-tees) house. They got all dressed up in their “fete” (party) clothes and posed for a quick picture and then we where off to the house of the new baby.

Here they wait eight days to name the new child. (They see if it will live or not. So, they wait to get attached.) This compound is full of laughter and fun. We’ve been just once before and that is when they invited us to the party. The group was excited to see us. The men were gathered under a tent in the street and the women were seated outside the compound gate away from the men. Very normal.

We visited outside for a while and then when into the sauna-like room. It was incredibly hot in this small windowless room. The smallest baby ever was laid out on the bed with a Hausa knife pointed at her head, laid very close to her head. I’m sure it is something to keep the evil spirits away. She was a twin, but her brother didn’t make it.

They handed the small baby to me to hold and then demanded we pose for pictures.

We took the time to pray for the baby. (Yes, my eyes are open and palms out, this is seen as a more respectful way to pray in the culture here.)

Then I went to play with the other little children. A good time was had by all!

Pictures provided by William Haun. www.haunsinafrica.com

The Hausa

2007-10-10T17:36:00.000+03:00

Sannu. Ina kwana? Hello. Is it a good morning?

Today, for the second time, I went to a little place I like to call Hausaland. The Hausa people come from Northern Nigeria and eastern Niger. But, there are over 100,000 of them living in Cote d’Ivoire.

A couple moved here in August and part of their job is to work with the Hausa people. Emily and I are honorary members of the Hausa team. I can barely say hello, Sannu.

Laura and I sat with the Hausa women in their dark bedroom (because the power was cut) and I’m sure they talked about life, kids, work…but, I don’t know because I don’t speak Hausa and they don’t speak English or French!

Later, we moved to a porch like area and watched the kids hit each other and roll around on the ground. Laura’s son, Noah, doesn’t know what to do with all the hitting Hausa kids.

After we sit with them for sometime and maybe Laura gets a chance to tell a story from the Bible, we go to look for her husband Greg. Greg find’s some Hausa men to practice his Hausa and to try to tell Bible stories. Today, he told the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000.

When we find him, it’s time to go down the muddy, trashy road for lunch.

Rice and Peanut sauce, my favorite African food. Enjoy it with me.

On our way back to the car, we stopped at a little stand to buy soap and sugar (don’t mix them!) and the man told me the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000! They are hearing and remembering.

Try to tell a story from the Bible this week. It’s easier than you think…(You get to say it in English!)

Tomorrow it’s off to the market to visit are wonderful market ladies.

FREE THE PEN!

2007-10-09T16:41:00.000+03:00

I am on strike. (Not really) FREE THE PEN!

If you can’t tell my strike slogan is FREE THE PEN! Chant it with me. FREE THE PEN! FREE THE PEN! FREE THE PEN!

I had a moment of mental block and started chatting with a friend from Mali, Lori. Lori is awesome and we pretty much get into some kind of trouble anytime we are together or on the same continent.

She came up with the slogan, creative genius that she is. If you listen hard enough you can hear her chanting FREE THE PEN in Mali too…

I think this got started because she wants me to come visit her in Mali and I can’t right now. So, we went on strike until such a day the pen is freed and I can go visit her!

See what semi-creative minds can do during a break. Just imagine what I could do during work hours!

Children's Material

2007-10-09T15:59:00.000+03:00

Well, during work hours I (along with my beautiful co-worker, Laura) have created material for children (lessons and activities), West African recipes and put together websites for those and language resources that Emily has pulled together.

It was a very happy day when it was all completed and uploaded to the internet. A lot of time, over-time, weekends, late nights and computer time went into this project.

The lessons are about each country the IMB currently has personnel or an SBC church is currently or will soon have work among a people group. That is 11 West African countries. Each lesson contains an intro language activity, a missionary kid story, fact finding and prayer activities. The hope is that children will become just as involved in reaching West African people groups as their parents pray, give and go to West Africa as volunteers, partnering churches or engaging churches.

Maybe one day the kids who learned about West Africa through these lessons will come to West Africa to spread the Gospel!

To view and download these products go to www.gowestafrica.org/media. (click on Children's Materials, West Africa Recipes or Learning Lanuages)

My next big project is working on Lottie Moon Christmas Offering promotion for West Africa! It’s due at the end of the month. Wish me many more long hours at the office!

Ramadan

2007-09-13T12:45:00.000+03:00

Tonight marks the beginning of the Muslim holy month, Ramadan. For 30 days Muslims around the world will fast from sun up to sun down, breaking their fast in the evening with a large meal.

Many Muslims see the months of Ramadan as a time to be closer to Allah. Much of their faith is taken more seriously during this time. They try to be more devout followers of Allah.

So devout that they will not let any food, water or even spit go down their throat.

Many Muslim background believers tell us that it is during this time that God spoke to them through dreams and visions. Telling them His Truth!

I ask that you petition on behalf of those who celebrate this holy month, a little more than 50% of the population of West Africa, that God will send the dreams and visions of His Son and His saving grace.
Also, petition the behalf of those of us serving in Muslim populations, to be sensitive to God's movement and to give us the right words to convey His message.

Sedou's Wedding

2007-08-25T21:36:00.000+03:00

Sedou, our night guard got married!

He went on vacation for two weeks last month and when he returned, he was married. His wife, Janaba had a wedding in Burkina Faso (the country Sedou is from north of Cote D’Ivoire) and came down by bus to live with Sedou.

(Emily and I with Sedou)

Janaba has lived in Abidjan her whole life, but returned to her family’s village in Burkina Faso for the wedding traditions.

(Janaba)

Sedou invited Emily and I to attend the wedding party here in Abidjan last Sunday night. And I mean an ALL night party. (We opted to stay for about 5 hours.)

We arrived and were seated in the “living room,” then about 10 minutes later we were ushered into a back room that turned out to be Sedou and Janaba’s bedroom!

We sat with Janaba and she said, “Now is the time to wait.” So, wait we did. We chatted a little with her family and watched some TV. Then the wordrobe changes started. Janaba had about 10 different outfits to wear!

Then all the married women in her family came into the room and Emily and I got to experience some African culture. (I think this was the time all the married women picked on her and other stuff I won’t write!)

(me eating with all the women)

Food was served in the room and we again ate with our hands some rice and sauce, then Emily and I went with Sedou to the house of Janaba’s sister, Fatiatu. Fatiatu made us salad.

(Emily and I with Fatiatu)

Now this was really sweet and all, but she added liver and intestines as a meat topping!!!
We ate it anyway!

After this we went back to the party and watched as the women paraded from the house to the street where a big tent was set up for the dancing!

Only the women partook in this activity. The only bad thing was the video cameria that kept searching out Emily and I. We only did one jaunt around the tent and then said our good-byes to the bride and family to let them really party into the night!

Please pray for Sedou and his new wife Janaba. Sedou has helped us with our French and he is a trustworthy night guard. He has worked for the mission for about 8 years and is still a Muslim. He listens to Bible stories in his heart language, yet is still resistant to a relationship with Jesus.

Job's Baptism

2007-08-25T21:13:00.000+03:00

One of my friend’s at church (he attends the English Bible study on Sunday nights) got baptized last Friday. So, he invited us to his baptism party at his family’s home.

Job is quite the character. He used to be a student at the university near the church, but in now in training to work in the film industry. We have only heard parts of his testimony and it is extreme. He was involved in some things during the war as a student, but is now a follower of Jesus and has turned to being involved with the things of God.

(Job)

Emily and I were honored to be invited to his home for the party and excited that it was such a big deal for the family.

We arranged to drive some other friends from the study to Job’s home. Well, Job’s home is on the other side of town, by the other side of town I mean a good 45 min. drive.

We drove to our friend Olivier’s house to pick him up, then when to the church to get the guy who actually knew where Job’s house is (but he wasn’t there so Olivier walked two blocks away to find him) and then we went to pick up Glorious (she lives a little further away, but was still getting ready so we went into the apartment to greet her family).

Finally, we got on the road. Well, we got to Job’s neighborhood, but the guy who was supposed to know where to go, really didn’t know the turnoff! So, he called Job and Job met us on the street.

Job tried to climb into are tiny car (already full), but couldn’t fit in the front. So, Emily scrunched up with three African’s in the back seat! Fun times in Africa.

Or as Emily would say, “We had to call a guy, who had to find a guy, who had to call another guy to find Job!”

It was a great time of fellowship and worship with Job’s family. They were very welcoming and served us some great African food.

(Just a few of the guests, Me, Olivier, Ashil, Emily, Glorious,

another member of the church and some guys I don't know!)

(Me eating with my HANDS! Olivier eating with a fork, his was soupy)

(Emily and I with the women of Job's family)

Rejoice with us in Job’s baptism and pray for him in his life with Christ!

(Me, Job and Olivier)

HandsOn

2007-08-21T20:37:00.001+03:00

www.hands-on-africa.com

If you know anyone who might be willing to take some time to spend in missions in West Africa. Let them know about HandsOn.

We're looking for people age 18-29 to spend 4-5 months serving as missionaries in West Africa. Our goal is to recruit 20 people for next spring. That doesn't sound like a whole lot, but here's the catch -- people who want to come in January have to apply by Sept. 1.

There are a variety of positions -- sports, mechanics, university ministry, community development, ethnographic research, evangelism, discipleship -- even four positions to come serve on our media team! We're looking for a graphic designer, videographer, illustrator, and web developer.

Mary Beth, Emily and I developed the website, so take a look and pass it on.

My FUNNY Birthday

2007-08-04T19:14:00.000+03:00

My Abidjan family did a good job of making my birthday a special day.

It started...

With a 6.30 a.m. knock on my door from Emily singing happy birthday and presents.

This is a toy Emily gave me that we put together right away on my bed, we think it is a flamingo. It is now the official office toy.

When I walked into my office, my friends had lovingly decorated it with signs, streamers and stuff for me to wear!

Then there was cheese cake. (Made from scratch by Mary Beth, my supervisor and friend.) All the regional leadership gathered in my small office to eat and talk about what they were doing when they were 24.

The day was not done.

In the afternoon the girls went Africa-Karting!

That’s me taking the turn and then passing Mary Beth! At the end, the French man who owned the place asked if we had funny! (not fun, but funny!)

We then went out to dinner where the whole crew sang Happy Birthday. It was a great and special day.

So, to all of you who sent special birthday wishes, a BIG THANK YOU! You also made me feel loved and special.

To see more pictures click here.

To add to the day, comment and let me know what you were doing at 24. So far, I have a lot to live up to!

AVANCE 07

2007-07-31T16:12:00.000+03:00

Yeah, for getting to hang out with other singles!

Senegal was a blast. I didn't get a lot of sleep, but then I had a lot of fun. (an average of about 5 hours a night for 10 nights) I have kind of taken a vow to not really sleep again until the middle of September!

When I arrived at the hotel for our regional wide meeting, Emily and I immediately went and put on our bathing suits and jumped in the pool. We laid out for about an hour or so then went and ate fried chicken. That’s right FRIED chicken, a luxury here.

The next two days were spent “hanging out” with missionary kids while their parents were in some before the meeting, meetings. We had a hotel photo scavenger hunt, swam and watched movies.

Saturday all the singles went to this awesome ropes course outside of town. It was up in some trees that are called Baobab trees. It is been a long time since I have tested my body like that. But, the pain was worth it.

The rest of the week was all business. I attended worship (it was great to sing and hear worship in ENGLISH), sessions, team meetings and spent the majority of the time talking our great personnel into sitting down in front of a video camera for me! I spent a lot of time getting prayer request, thank you's and God stories on film.

I also worked on interviews and gather photos for next year’s prayer calendar. Oh and the most important thing, meeting all the new personnel and hearing the great God stories from around the region. He is doing such great works out here right now.

At the end of each day the singles had an activity. I did them all. A luau, movie night, basketball in the dark (the power had went out), worship, game night (I actually won my first game of “hearts”).

Got a hair cut, pedicure and my teeth cleaned!

Though I didn’t get refreshed by sleep I was refreshed to spend time with some great people that God is using in this region. Can’t wait until the next time.

My unborn Nephew

2007-07-26T02:21:00.000+03:00

My older brother Jeff and his wife Erin, found out this last
week that their baby has a hole in his skull and some of
the brain is outside in the sac. The baby will not make it.
Please life up my family as we process this. Lift me up as
I am so far away and can do nothing. They will induce
labor at 36 weeks, which is about 4-5 weeks away. Then
there will be a service for the baby. Our Father knows
what he wants to happen in all of this.

Market visits

2007-07-12T17:38:00.000+03:00

About a month ago I started visiting a local market once a week. The reason: to meet African women to tell them about Jesus.

It is very difficult to meet African women in my neighborhood, Marcery. I was invited to go with another missionary woman, Stephanie after her original partner, Bobbie, had to return to the states.

At first I dreaded it. But, I knew I had to do it. Stephanie wanted someone to go with her. (Two people who can barely speak and understand French is better than one.) So, I spend most Mondays talking myself into going on Tuesday morning!

We meet with several women, who know who Jesus is. Most of them attend a local church –Catholic, Evangelic, Lutheran, and Assembly of God. Our idea is to get them to be the missionaries of the market. Inspire them to reach out to the women in the stalls next to them.

Because I am new to the visits, I am still getting to know the women, most who are 20+ years older than I am. We talk mostly about their families and work. Their work ranges from selling baby products, a tailor, owner of a nail solon, to selling hair products.

Some want us to pray for them. And we do.

We slowly plod on hoping for a chance to introduce a story, “Creation to Christ,” which tells the main stories of the Old Testament leading up to Jesus’ resurrection. I know it somewhat in English. We are trying to learn it in French.

I know I can never accomplish this on my own. I know it is only by the will, grace and help of God that I will be able to learn this story.

Happy 4th

2007-07-09T20:31:00.001+03:00

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. I know I did. The mission got together to celebrate. We ate hamburgers, potato salad, fruit and cake. We talked and it rained, all day.

Our original plan had been to play badminton, and the rain did not stop us. We played several rounds and got soaking wet.

The rain has been slow to come and not as much as we need. I think the 4th of July party has changed all that. It has rained off and on since then. And it has been cold here, as low as 75 degrees. We need a whole lot more than we are getting.

But, most of the other West Africa countries are still in need of a lot more rain. Some haven’t gotten any. For them, it has been excruciatingly hot.

Pruning

2007-06-26T17:46:00.000+03:00

It's cutting season. (When the rains come...everything gets cut, even this palm tree.) Wouldn't you like to have this guy's job?

Each evening walking home from work I see piles of freshly cut branches and bushes. It got me thinking about how our gardeners prune our bushes so they will look better next year.

Wouldn't you know the Bible says something about that:

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."--John 15:2

Ah, the life lessons in Africa.

Sleep is highly over-rated

2007-06-15T17:50:00.000+03:00

How dumb of me to forget that Thursday nights are wedding nights! Let me tell you, at 1.30 this morning I remembered. After the hundredth time rolling over in my bed and cursing the loud apartment shaking music, (I think people are tone deaf, the music was horrible.) the light bulb went off...it's Thursday night, someone’s getting married.

Yeah. Joy. Whoopee.

Lucky for me I wasn't invited, though the music was loud enough, I dreamed I was there. It was beautiful.

So, to those of you getting married this summer, thanks for not playing loud, bad, apartment shaking music. We are all grateful.

I don’t think the bad music was the only problem; mosquitoes have taken over my house.

Power, what power?

2007-06-14T18:49:00.000+03:00

Apparently everyone but the Mission Baptiste knew that the power was going to go out today! Our guard, Sisa, told us, "It's a schedule outage." I guess us missionaries should start listening to the radio.

I wonder how I would understand it anyway...

So, while the power is out I can't connect to the server or work on a video (it's on a desktop, no power...no desktop). With work coming to a halt, my supervisor, Mary Beth, and I went on an outing. Apparently our neighbor had made half of her house into an exhibit full of Indonesia products for her friends in Cote d’Ivoire to buy. It was beautiful.

After we took a look at the building that is being worked on next to my office. It is the new office (we need more working space, the region is growing, thank the Lord!). We wanted to visualize colors and all the possibilities this neighbor's house had shown us. (Don't know if it will happen, but we wanted to dream a little.)

I am about to take Mary Beth and her husband, Deron, to the airport for their two week trip to Burkina Faso. Emily left on Monday to go to Senegal. So, that means I am the only Media person in town.

Good thing I have a lot of work to do...

African transport

2007-06-12T15:39:00.000+03:00

So, Emily and I got adventurous last week preparing for her parents arrival. We decided to go to Louis’ house the way she goes back and forth to ours. (Louis is our house helper.) Now, Louis takes three different kinds of transportation to get from her house to ours and three kinds to get back.

The first is a Woro-Woro or a set route taxi. It is about 200cfa or 40 cents to get it at her house and take it to the next mode of transport a bateaubus or a boat taxi for 150cfa about 25-30 cents. This takes us across the lagoon from the other side of the downtown area to our little island.

Then another Woro-Woro (100 cfa, 15 cents) to our neighborhood, where she gets out and walks about 30 minutes to our home, or sometimes a red taxi (more expensive at over a dollar) all they way to the house, works all day then repeats the trip in reverse.

It's a two hour round trip.

Wednesday, we braved the bad weather to go with her. It didn’t start really raining until we got to the other side of downtown. And then it poured. We were soaked by the time we got to her tiny house. The road in front was already bad, but the day before the rain washed it away even more.

We visited with her kids, her sister and her sister’s kids, all who live in a tiny two room apartment. That’s not two bedrooms, it’s just two rooms.

As the rain poured outside we sat crowded together talking about life and God. It was a great time and even though they are so cramped they are all full of joy and happiness. If only we could all be so content in life.

My fight

2007-06-04T14:24:00.000+03:00

Do you remember a time where you were intent on studying a subject of God's word? Has the Devil ever tempted you in that area?

Well, for the last week or so, I've worked on a lesson about spiritual warfare. Boy, it's been enlightening.

In it I wrote that, “Satan uses things in our everyday life to gain the upper hand to move us into personal conflict with what God wants for our lives.
Satan uses our personal lives, families and friends, to make us discouraged and to feel defeated.”

Yeah, Satan is a crafty little sucker.

I’ve been discouraged about my lack of French speaking ability for a while now. But, yesterday in our English Bible study they told me my English was bad! I just can’t win!

My friends are moving on in life. They are getting married and starting families. I’m not. I haven’t attended a single one of their weddings. They are starting awesome new jobs and moving to places unknown.

You get the idea. Here I was think I’m doing this great thing, trying to help American churches prepare for the ever present spiritual warfare in West Africa and I couldn’t see Satan was using it on me.

So, today, I am rejoicing!

That my French is SLOWLY improving. I have no problem following a conversation and I’ve become bolder in entering a conversation.

Rejoicing in my friends happy lives. I am so proud of so many of you.

I wish I could have been there…

To see you walk down the isle in your beautiful flowing dress.

Watching you eagerly await the entrance of the most beautiful woman you know.

As a new little one enters your life.

Celebrating your new job.

Packing boxes.

But, since I’m not and haven’t been, know I pray for you daily. I get excited for you and brag about you to my African friends.

I also want to thank my parents. They have made life in Africa so much more enjoyable with e-mails, chats, little packages of American goodies and movies.

Today, you are a witness to the defeat of Satan’s spiritual warfare in my life.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”—James 4:7

This is just a random picture that I like...

It’s a young Wala boy and his brother parading the best donkey in the village in front of the visitors. (Burkina Faso)

The following is a story I wrote for The Baptist Digest. The Baptist newspaper for Kansas-Nebraska.

Village hut becomes evangelism tool

La saison des pluies!

2007-05-14T18:06:00.000+03:00

Its rainy season!

It has rained twice today. It woke me up by it this morning, the thunder is intense. And As I am writing this I look up and out my window to watch the rain fall.

We had planned on spending the afternoon at the beach, but God had other things planned for today…

Let me start by saying one thing: if you aren’t ready for an answer don’t ask people to pray!

Remember in the last two updates I asked for prayer about my language skills, that I would learn and God would give me opportunities to use French.

Well, that is what God did.

I started French classes (for the second time) two weeks ago and am starting to work on phrases. So, this morning after class I decided to practice what I had been learning by telling one of our guards about church yesterday.

Here I am standing on the street corner with Sisa (a Muslim man) and I tell him about or study of John 9 and Jesus healing the blind man before the man believed in him. Our pastor related it to how we as Christians should help everyone, not just other Christians. He was talking about AIDS victims. (Our church is discussing doing AIDS outreach for the local community.)

Sisa asked, “What is the church doing? Just praying? I told him no, the church is going to hold clinics, give medicine, food, and pray for those with AIDS. Then Sisa asked, “What is better, praying or giving medicine?”

Let me tell you, this conversation out passed my French knowledge. So, he told me to look up the French words and get back to him. Well, I did and still had a hard time…so after talking with Emily and looking up some more words I will meet with him again this evening.

Motivation to continue learning French.

Thank the Lord for the rain and chances to share about Him. All the in same day!

Eagerly Awaiting

2007-04-20T13:32:00.000+03:00

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
Romans 8: 18-21

Recently, Emily and I were watching a TV show (on DVD) and a character said, “I believe in Heaven. If I had to choose between this earth and Heaven, I would choose Heaven.”

Amen.

Yet, I am still here. So, what do I do? Romans 8 says we, creation waits eagerly. Do we really wait eagerly?

With the College and Career class at CBC in March I watched a sermon on missions. (If any of you are reading this can you e-mail me how to get that sermon. jesselyautey@yahoo.com) The speaker challenged those in the audience that we, as Christians, really don’t want to see God’s kingdom come.

If we did there still wouldn’t be over 3,000 people groups and almost 2 billion people in the Last Frontier (the 10/40 window) alone that still need to hear the name of Christ.

The big project I am working on right now is helping to develop training material for volunteers, partnering and engaging churches. Volunteers work with IMB personnel doing whatever is need to further God's kingdom. Partnering churches work with IMB personnel in a people group with more than 100,000 people and engaging churches take on the groups less than 100,000 in population. (They have help in the beginning from missionaries on the Engagement Team.)

In West Africa, about 40 people groups have IMB personnel working among them. The Hausa, Sokoto Fulani, Songhai, Tureg, Zerma, Jahanka, Wala, Wolof, Sereer are just a few that I worked with over the last year.

About 300 don’t have IMB personnel. I have visited the Senufo, Senara, Mossi, Konyanke, and many others. I've seen engaging churches and associations start by sharing the story of Jesus.

This project could bring hundreds of churches from America to West Africa with the sole goal: to start a Church Planting Movement.

That’s if we really are eagerly awaiting the kingdom of God.

For more information about partnering or engaging churches go to www.gowestafrica.org and click on Your Church on Missions.

Easter

2007-04-09T12:57:00.000+03:00

Today, Monday, is a national holiday in Cote D'Ivoire--Easter Day

All business and government offices are closed to celebrate the risen Lord. How cool is that? It is because this country celebrates both Christian and Muslim holidays.

Saturday night we dyed Easter eggs! Fun times

Sunday, I went to church with Emily and another couple and we looked forward to our 3 ½ hour service.

(This is the church where we have an English Bible study every Sunday night.) Well, each Bible study had to perform a short piece in celebration of Easter.

We sang.

That’s right…Emily and I stood up with our group and sang a song in English…in front of the whole church.

Our good friend Olivia stood next to me, literally shoving the mike in my face (a little uncomfortable, I think I did blush). But, we made it and the church loved that Emily and I involved ourselves in the churches activities.

I really enjoyed the Sermon on John 20: 1-10. The pastor focused on Christ resurrection and how we should celebrate. Easter was such a beautiful day with lots of dancing, singing and enjoying each others company.

Later, the whole mission gathered for a late lunch. I cooked zucchini! It was a great time of talking, relaxing and eating...

Back in Africa

2007-03-26T17:43:00.000+03:00

How you know you are back in Africa:
10. Starting to sweat as soon as the cabin door of the airplane is open.
9. At the airport, you are accosted by people wanting to push your luggage to your car for you.
8. Stopped at a military check-point as you enter your neighborhood on the way home from the airport.
7. Not being able to sleep because you lay awake listening to the sounds of the neighborhood (which you had missed the whole time in the states and had a hard time sleeping without)
6. How can you forget in two weeks how slow the internet is here? (and its faster in Abidjan than most places)
5. You take a bath after Bible study even though you took one earlier in the day, just too much sticky sweat.
4. You leave for church fifteen minutes after it was supposed to start and you are right on-time. (and its a fifteen minute drive)
3. Because you are the only native English speaker in your English Bible study they elect you to sing the group song for the Easter service. (AHHHH!)
2. At the end of the Bible study the teacher asks you to tell about your trip to the states and to give what you had brought back for the group. (you didn't realize gifts were expected so you give them blessings)
1. You go to buy butter at a little kiosk (small corner store) and ask for butter and are handed small individually rapped packets to equal a whole stick.
0. You go to make icing for a cake and find ants had gotten in the powdered sugar bag while you were gone. Not to mention cake mix that had been eaten by mice.

Dad and I went through all my stored boxes looking for music CD's to load on our new toys, MP3 players.

Things to cherish about the states:
· Entering an American grocery store and walking the isles looking at all the pre-cooked, just add water/milk packaged food. (ahhh sweat memories)
· Walking softly, not because of the mud, but because of the snow and ice.
· Putting something over my nose and mouth to protect them from the cold, not dust storms!
· Spending a whole day at church and being able to understand the sermon and praise songs.
· Eating fast food
· Having white lines on the road
· Drivers sticking between the white lines on the road and following traffic laws.
· Red lights that work and no policeman in the middle of the intersection directing traffic.
· WEARING JEANS!
· Eating fast food

Missions Conference

2007-03-17T18:05:00.000+03:00

My reason for returning to the states before the end of my term was to attended a Missions Conference at my parents church.

Sunday:
I visited Sunday School classes talking about how they could become involved in overseas missions and worked a West Africa booth at an International Food fellowships.

Monday:
The Awana's program invited me to speak to the kids about missions in Africa. They were great and it was a crazy hair day. Later, I met with the Missions Team to talk about how the church could pray for me.

Tuesday:
Joy in the Morning is the women's Bible study and I got to talk to the women about what I do and what they could do for missions. Then I met with the church staff for lunch so they could learn about missions in West Africa.

Wednesday:
I talked to the whole church during their service for about five minutes then raced upstairs to talk with the youth group. They were a great group and had lots of questions.

The Missions Conference was a great experience. The church is really excited about what God is doing all over the world and how they can be a part of it.

No Snow in Africa

2007-03-17T17:47:00.000+03:00

I knew it was going to be cold leaving Africa and returning for two weeks to the States, but Snow?

Thanks to Centreville Baptist Church I a was able to experience SNOW in March! It is really cold here.

Aaron, my younger brother, and I got caught in a snow storm in Maryland. I do not miss snow storms...but the snow was pretty.

We got stuck in D.C. rush hour traffic, rain, ice and snow.

We had plans to go to New York City, but a friend called and said there was already 6 inches in New Jersey, so we turned around and went back home.

Luckily, we were in my dad's big truck and we had no problems.

New Things

2007-02-19T15:21:00.000+03:00

I know it’s been a while…lets catch-up

Last trip as a journalist
Senegal was a blast at the end of January. It was warmer there than Nigeria, but I still walked around all day with a light jacket. The volunteers think I am crazy, they felt great! I was cold, of course. We had a great time and I got to hang out with some great people. I really do think I had the best job in the world.

Travel to places unknown
Experience new cultures
Meet interesting people
And hang with different IMB workers every month
Then tell everyone who will listen about it

In Senegal a group of second-generation Hispanic-Americans came out to see how their churches could be involved in missions. I really feel I laughed for a whole week. They were a great group and the people here loved them.

They were from all over the U.S.--Texas, D.C., New York City, Richmond, Va.

I hope they come again. West Africa needs more churches involved in the work.

(This is me eating Chee-bo gen, a great rice and fish meal)

I started my New Job as part of the West Africa Regional Media Team. I will now work on websites, training material, video, short stories, and helping missioanries in all their media needs. Right now, I am doing research to help prepare some training materials for volunteers, churches and missionaries. Interesting reading. Soon, I will know everything one would want to know about how to be a good volunteer and missionary. (Maybe I should already know this…oh, well!)

I will also get the chance to know the great city of Abidjan better.

It rained last night for the first time in over a month. That means rainy season is on its way. I will have to show you our street. It literally becomes a flowing river.

Two of our friends in the neighborhood have had babies this month. Neither told us they were pregnant. So, it came as quite a shock! That’s the way it goes here, because the baby might not survive. Madame Bambara looked like a healthy lady, quite large – a good thing here, and then when we got back from Nigeria, theirs a new baby in her house! JB, one of the mission guards, told us last week that his wife was pregnant and she had a little girl this weekend. These guys just love to keep us on our toes! Go to www.xanga.com/emilyinwestafrica to read about it.

I still don’t have a working computer. But, I am surviving and hope to get one in March. Why March, you might ask? Because…I am coming HOME! That’s right I have two weeks of vacation and I will be in the states March 8 – March 21. I look forward to seeing as many of you as I can!

And just for your enjoyment: Emily and I modeling our Christmas gifts from our friend Louis! Don't you wish you had one just like it?!?

Computer problems

2007-02-06T13:33:00.000+03:00

Please lift me up. My computer quit. It is a vital part of my work here and I do not need the destraction. The last month of work was on the computer and I have lost all of this information. Plus all of my supporters e-mail addresses. If you want to continue getting updates, please e-mail me so I will have your address.

Africa-Cold?

2007-01-17T15:03:00.000+03:00

FREEZING!

So, here I am in northern Nigeria and literally freezing to death. I do not think I have been warm…well in a long time. Listen to me complain. Some of you guys are in blizzards as I write this. I am sitting in my bedroom at a guesthouse in Jos, Nigeria and the temp. inside is 65 degrees. I am under three huge blankets, in pants and wearing multiple layers! There are no heaters here and when it has gotten down to 39 degrees for a couple of nights in the last two weeks…you think you will never be warm again. Was it not to long ago I was complaining about being in 150 degree weather?!? It is great riding down the street seeing Nigerians wearing Parkas! Even in the greetings people with ask “How is the cold?” the answer is “It is time.” Meaning that it is not good, but there is nothing one can do about it!

CAMPING

I also went camping. That was crazy cold. We set up on a hill (Mistake number 1, the wind was like ice cutting through our bodies.) to show the Jes*s film. Emily and I shared a twin size air mattress (Most comfortable bed while in a village yet, but also mistake number 2, Emily and I did not both fit on it. She ended up on the ground with all the covers!) I forgot socks! (Mistake number 3, a wonderful volunteer shared an extra pair, HUGE blessing!) It was a great time getting to know some new workers and volunteers…but oh soooo cold. Like camping next to a lake in the dead of winter! What were we thinking?

2006-12-26T14:00:00.000+03:00

Happy Birthday MOMMY!

I wish I could be there to celebrate this special day with you. I want you to know I am thinking of you today and pray that everyone around you loves on you for me.

You are a great mom, the best. I would not be half-way across the world without the love and encouragement you have always given me! You have made me a courageous and faithful follower of Christ.

Thank you for always being there for me…through tough times with friends, guys, school and work. You will always be my favorite mom and my closest friend.

I LOVE YOU!

The Beauty of a Sunset

2006-12-18T20:11:00.000+03:00

For security reasons I am going to be vague...

Five women--young and single--work in the number one least livable (hardest to live) country in the world and they are leading Muslim men and women to Christ. In the last three months more than 50 villagers have become believers. God is good.

One team (of two young women) live in a two bedroom house with their bathroom outside as a hole in the ground. Another team has to four-wheel drive the entire way to their villages because of the deep desert sand. These are young women my age and they are beautiful, faithful and excited about what God is doing among their people group.

Many people have said it will take 8 years once a Muslim has heard about Christ to believe much less hearing about Him from a woman. These girls are seeing God move, He is saying it is His time among this people group. The first story of Jesus was told three months ago, three weeks later 25 believed. One week after 7 came to Christ.

I was able to spend a week with these girls visiting four villages, encouraging them and the new believers. What a blessing for me.

I also spent time with a Texas church who has adopted 48 villages to tell about Jesus. Amazing! One chief walked them outside his hut and showed them land he set aside for them to come back to stay while they taught the village about Jesus. He said, "We are tired of the Muslim faith, come teach us. Look at all the land that can be the church. That is all yours if you want it."

God has renewed me in my work this last month. He has shown me He will be worshiped and glorified by all peoples.

I saw Him in the beautiful smile of the Chief who couldn't wait to hear another story of Jesus from two young women, in the hope of a church to reach 48 villages and in the beauty of a sunset.

Pictures from some of my adventures

This is the desert meeting a large river. The river does not give life very far from it's shore. It was beautiful seeing the quick transition from delta to desert!

This is called Harmatten (the dry, dusty season caused by winds from the Sahara picking up sand and blowing it south). If you look hard enough you can see a camel! During Harmatten nights can get to around 40 degress and days can still be over 100 degress. I froze at night!

I got to take a one cow draw cart for Christmas caroling in the desert! It snowed dust! Two other journeyman and myself went to encourage believers outside of the village and sang Christmas songs for our hour long ride back to the village. The locals looked at us kinda funny! We had a blast getting our selves into the Christmas spirit.

2006-10-31T13:11:00.000+03:00

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

To me…Today is my one year anniversary working for the IMB! Man has the year flown by quickly.

So I am going to get a little nostalgic.

One year ago today was a Sunday. I was living outside of Richmond, Va. I meet a friend of mine, Kristen at a near-bye Panera Bread (mmmm….I do miss Panera!) and we ate dinner together. Then we both got into our packed cars and drove the remainder 45 minutes to the training center to begin our journey in becoming IMB missionaries.

Three months later I was on a plane to West Africa!

I left family, friends, snow and started what has turned into a wonderful adventure.

I have visited so many people who have inspired me to be a better believer…like Pierre in Southern Senegal who questions everything about God and searches the Word for the answers and then believes with his whole heart!

Or like Helen who lives in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and prays for a godly husband or to live a life of faithfulness as a single. She wants to become a missionary.

But the biggest impact has been made by my fellow workers who daily give of themselves to do the work God has called them to complete.

The OneStory team of amazing 20 something’s. Their daily struggle just to survive is overwhelming, but they push on and use every opportunity to tell the story of Christ.

The people on the Engaging Team of West Africa drive long hard roads to find people who need to hear the gospel and then have to leave them. It is hard to meet someone and start a relationship knowing that you will probably never be a part of this person’s life. But they do it, so one day a church or another missionary can go and begin to share.

And then there are those people who spend year after year telling their neighbors about Jesus and being rejected, but keeping the joy of just being able to tell the stories of the Bible.

I wish I could let you all meet these same amazing people and the people they work with in West Africa.

I thank the Lord everyday for this experience and pray the next year will bring Him glory from my life.

2006-10-19T13:27:00.000+03:00

The places I have seen…

This last weekend I had the privilege to follow around a research, Kerry, and his boss, Jay, as they learn about the Senufo people of Burkina Faso, Mali and Cote D’Ivoire.

We started by visiting this beautiful rock formation we call “the Peeks.” They are a seemingly, random grouping of cliff like…rocks. The Peeks are steeped in animistic spiritual traditions. We took a tour offered by a Senufo tourist guide and he gave us the history of the Senufo people and what the Peeks mean to them.

I was able to catch most of the conversation (it was in French), but since my vocabulary does not include animistic words, I missed a few things I later had to get translated.

The Senufo people came from Mali to Southern Burkina Faso and arrived at the rocks and found them filled with spirits. So, they lived on the rocks and prayed to the spirits. As time went on they moved off the mountain of rocks into the surrounding area. Now they only use the rocks for spiritual ceremonies, traditional tribal initiations and to make money from tourists.

From the top of the rocks you can look out over southern Burkina and (right now) see the green, wet fields of rice and scattered villages.

It is heartbreaking to hear how they believe spirits who will protect them if they sacrifice and follow its will or harm them if they don’t.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Jay wanted to learn about the Senufo so that he can inform SBC’s about this unreached people group. He will be talking about them at the West Africa Summit in St. Louis at the end of the month.

The thing is…I could see how God had beautifully created this area of the world. Looking out over the valley into the distance I was reminded of God’s power of the earth and those He draws to Himself.

October makes 10 months in West Africa. In these 10 months I have visited 15 people groups. Each group is different. Different in how much they have heard of the gospel.

Like the Senufo some have only heard of God by seeing His creation. Others have Missionaries living with them and still others are part of a Baptist Convention.

My prayer today is in someway see these people in Heaven for He has promise Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance.

2006-09-26T22:15:00.000+03:00

LONDON: DAY TWO

Starting the day with a bus ride to the train station eating pastries and hot tea for breakfast while on the fifteen minute train ride into the city.

We arrived at Victoria station and walked a short way to the Westminster Cathedral...very large. Then another short walk back to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guards. (A lot of young men in red jackets with big, furry, black hats, taking a long time to change places!) It was fun getting pushed up next to the gate because others wanted to see!

We ate at a small pub called Bag O'Nails...I had a Jacket Potato...Basically a baked potato, and no one serves Coke...only Pepsi here.

More walking to see Big Ben, Parliament and Westminster Abbey--were more than 3,000 people are buried inside the church!

To end our wonderfully busy day...We took a double-decker bus from one end of the line to the other... 2 hours of seeing the suburbs of London! Then ate a healthy meal at McDonalds!

I am going to rest for another exciting day tomorrow!