July 28, 2006
July 17, 2006
Two Chiefs and a Son
On the right is the chief of Dakoro (a Senufo Senara village) who I go to share with during my short stay there. On your left, is his right hand man, I believe he was an uncle. [Photo courtesy of Donald Page, master photographer, janitor, and ultimate fighter.]
Here is a little language lesson with the chief of Karankasso-Vigue. The chief loves to share his language. He's a jolly, kind old man. Please continue to pray for him and his people. [Photo courtesy of Kelly Womack - I'll mess with Texas if I want to!]
This is Karim, one of the above chief's sons, who runs the little "convenient store" in the background. Here we are discussing something from the Jula New Testament in his hand. I know the picture looks posed, with the thumbs up and all, but it's not. [Photo courtesy of Emily Yoran - Go Wolfpack! Beat Duke and UNC!]
July 16, 2006
Burkina newsletter #9
Greetings from Burkina Faso! Our summer of ministry with volunteers is over. We thank God for their coming to this random country and serving with us. The second half of the summer, I accompanied a new team to Karankasso-Vigue. It was good to go back having already built some rapport with many people in the village. I told you earlier of three men we were able to share the Gospel with. We got to continue that process with one of them, Karim. This time out we also were strengthened by God to share with about four other individuals: Zinadine Zidane (a nickname some of you might be familiar with if you watched the World Cup), Noufou, Karim (another one), and the local pharmacist (who’s name I can neither spell nor pronounce). Back to Karim (the first one), we came to learn this time that he had once been the local Jula literacy instructor. Therefore, we asked if he would be interested in a Jula New Testament. He said he would so we gave him one. He read portions nearly every day we were there (his wife read some as well). Sometimes he would point out things and we would discuss them. Other times I would point out things to discuss (such as the “Romans Road”). He was and remains very interested and open to the Word. I thank God that His Word does not return to Him void, without accomplishing what He desires (Isaiah 55:11). Please continue to pray for Karim and these others that have heard the Gospel.
Another exciting development came on a visit to another Vigue village, Dogochoro. We only went there because a Baptist pastor who we know was born there and when he heard we were ministering in the area, he wanted to go visit (for the first time since he was 7 years old). He is not Vigue, but Lyele, one of the groups of outsiders who have settled on Vigue land. Nonetheless we got to visit with the Vigue chief of Dogochoro. There we were told that the village has no church or mosque, therefore the people know nothing. They said if we would come share with them they would gather the people to listen. They even considered arranging a meeting the next day or the following week, but decided it would be better to wait for another time. Therefore, we have an open door in this village, an answer to your prayers (Col. 4:3). Other good news: we have a church that is coming for a vision trip in September and one of the groups they will be looking into ministering among are the Vigue. While ministering to the Vigue our team quickly realized that more workers were needed among them. Therefore we started praying for that, as the Scripture instructs us to “beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2). We see this church coming as an answer to that prayer. I also expect to have opportunities to return and follow up on the work we have begun there.
I wish I could explain all that went on during the summer, but with the exception of four days, I spent all of my time with only two of the seven teams we sent out and was among one of the four people groups we worked with. Therefore, I have chosen to share only what I saw and experienced first hand. Know that God also worked through the other teams among the Tiefo, Lyele, and Senufo Senara. I feel we had a wonderful summer of ministry. The volunteers provided much refreshment and encouragement for me. I thank God for them and their service.
What now? Monday-Wednesday I have a short research trip planned to the Turka and Cerma people groups. I will be accompanied by Pastor Denis, who is a Burkinabe missionary to the Tiefo and has traveled with David and I once before. On Thursday I will leave for Togo (that’s a tiny country to our southeast) for our yearly West Africa missionary gathering called “Advance” (because retreats are for losers and wimps). Immediately after that trip, which will be about a week, the Woods and I will go up north for a few days to visit among the people groups they worked with before joining the Engagement team: the Sinikere and Marense. After that we will settle back into research mode while also hosting a few more volunteer teams throughout the fall.
Praise God for:
* the summer volunteers He sent and the ministry He empowered them to do.
* open doors for the Gospel and the ability and privilege to share His Word.
* the other laborers He is raising up to work in His harvest.
Please pray for:
* the Vigue who we have shared the Gospel with and ministered to (particularly Zinadine Zidane, Noufou (actually a Mossi guy), the pharmacist, and the two Karims).
* us to be able to walk through the open door in Dogochoro and to share the Gospel there.
* the volunteers as they reacclimate to their American culture, tell their stories, and consider their future ministry.
* “Advance” to be a refreshing and beneficial time for all the missionaries of West Africa.
* God to continue sending more laborers into His harvest.
As always thanks so much for your prayers and support. Coming soon to kerryspencer.blogspot.com: new summer pictures! God bless!
Another exciting development came on a visit to another Vigue village, Dogochoro. We only went there because a Baptist pastor who we know was born there and when he heard we were ministering in the area, he wanted to go visit (for the first time since he was 7 years old). He is not Vigue, but Lyele, one of the groups of outsiders who have settled on Vigue land. Nonetheless we got to visit with the Vigue chief of Dogochoro. There we were told that the village has no church or mosque, therefore the people know nothing. They said if we would come share with them they would gather the people to listen. They even considered arranging a meeting the next day or the following week, but decided it would be better to wait for another time. Therefore, we have an open door in this village, an answer to your prayers (Col. 4:3). Other good news: we have a church that is coming for a vision trip in September and one of the groups they will be looking into ministering among are the Vigue. While ministering to the Vigue our team quickly realized that more workers were needed among them. Therefore we started praying for that, as the Scripture instructs us to “beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2). We see this church coming as an answer to that prayer. I also expect to have opportunities to return and follow up on the work we have begun there.
I wish I could explain all that went on during the summer, but with the exception of four days, I spent all of my time with only two of the seven teams we sent out and was among one of the four people groups we worked with. Therefore, I have chosen to share only what I saw and experienced first hand. Know that God also worked through the other teams among the Tiefo, Lyele, and Senufo Senara. I feel we had a wonderful summer of ministry. The volunteers provided much refreshment and encouragement for me. I thank God for them and their service.
What now? Monday-Wednesday I have a short research trip planned to the Turka and Cerma people groups. I will be accompanied by Pastor Denis, who is a Burkinabe missionary to the Tiefo and has traveled with David and I once before. On Thursday I will leave for Togo (that’s a tiny country to our southeast) for our yearly West Africa missionary gathering called “Advance” (because retreats are for losers and wimps). Immediately after that trip, which will be about a week, the Woods and I will go up north for a few days to visit among the people groups they worked with before joining the Engagement team: the Sinikere and Marense. After that we will settle back into research mode while also hosting a few more volunteer teams throughout the fall.
Praise God for:
* the summer volunteers He sent and the ministry He empowered them to do.
* open doors for the Gospel and the ability and privilege to share His Word.
* the other laborers He is raising up to work in His harvest.
Please pray for:
* the Vigue who we have shared the Gospel with and ministered to (particularly Zinadine Zidane, Noufou (actually a Mossi guy), the pharmacist, and the two Karims).
* us to be able to walk through the open door in Dogochoro and to share the Gospel there.
* the volunteers as they reacclimate to their American culture, tell their stories, and consider their future ministry.
* “Advance” to be a refreshing and beneficial time for all the missionaries of West Africa.
* God to continue sending more laborers into His harvest.
As always thanks so much for your prayers and support. Coming soon to kerryspencer.blogspot.com: new summer pictures! God bless!
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