Fati

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.