Greetings from Burkina Faso! I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and an enjoyable time in Togo for our Re-new conference. I am blessed to have such a great missionary family: both in Bobo and scatter across West Africa.
I have often asked you to pray Luke 10:2 with us: “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” I praise God that He is answering that prayer. Recently we have been receiving messages seemingly every day from new people who are interested in serving among the unengaged peoples of Burkina Faso. We have already scheduled six groups for the first six months of 2007 and are still trying to make plans with several others (but there’s still room for you). God is calling and sending laborers and we are thankful.
That is not to mention the four college/seminary students who are coming this month. Due to the groups coming next year we have some work to do in preparing the way for them. That is largely what we will be doing this month and next. On the 11th we welcome two more volunteers: Mark (a buddy from seminary) and Stephen. They will join Sam and me in traveling/researching/ministering among four of the least evangelized people groups in Burkina Faso. These are four different, but related peoples in far southwestern Burkina who (for simplicity’s sake) we will call the Komono peoples. (I would refer you to Newsletter #4 if you want to read up again on the Komono – who I was calling the Dogose at the time.) According to our previous research these four micro-peoples total only about 35,000, and we know of only about 30 believers among them. We found them to be almost exclusively Muslim - of course with some traditional religion (animism) mixed in. Our purpose on this trip will be to learn more about the Komono peoples (as they are a very complex group of peoples) and to seek out where would be best for us to plug in volunteers for ministry among them. Of course, if the opportunity presents itself we would love to begin sharing the Gospel even on this trip. Please pray for that. As Paul requested: “praying at the same time for us as well that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ . . . that I may make it clearly in the way I ought to speak” (Col. 4:3-4)
The 20th – 23rd we will have a transition time with this group leaving on the 23rd and another group of two (or possibly three) arriving on the 20th. With this second group (Troy and Paul) we are planning to continue our work among the Komono and then begin preparing the way for some more work in a different area of the country. Of course, we will also be celebrating Christmas on the 25th. I hope those of you in the States have a very meaningful and joyful Christmas season. Here in Burkina Faso there is no Christmas “season,” only Christmas. Though this may seem a little sad in some respects it personally helps me to focus on the bare truths in the story of Immanuel.
While speaking of the Christmas season, I want to speak briefly to you Southern Baptists. It is this time of year that you give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Know that 100% of that offering goes directly to the IMB to support people like me (well, mostly people a lot better than me). I am deeply grateful for your gifts which make it possible for me to be here serving the Messiah. I am truly blessed through your generosity.
Praise God:
* a time of refreshing in Togo.
* that He is sending laborers into His harvest.
* the birth of our Messiah.
Please pray for:
* the Komono peoples – that God would open up to us a door for the word among them.
* us to make the best use of the volunteers who will join us in the coming days/weeks/months to reach the unreached.
Thanks so much for you continued prayers for me and the unreached peoples of West Africa. God bless and Merry Christmas!
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