West Africa Scrapbook Kit

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

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

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

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

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

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.