Greetings from Burkina Faso! First some business. If you are used to receiving these newsletter by email and didn’t, please let me know. I’ve recently remodeled my hard drive and lost my email list. If you didn’t know you could get these newsletters by email, and think that would be cool, just let me know. Thanks.
I recently had another successful research trip. This time we took a look at the Natioro and Blé peoples. They are two tiny ethnic groups (know as “micro-peoples”) of only about 4,000 and 1,500 people respectively. The Blé are only found in one village, conveniently named Blédougou (“dougou” means town or village in Jula and “Blé” means wheat in French, which is trivial because “Blé” means Blé in Jula). First of all, how amazing is it that there are such small groups of people distinct from all others with their own language and everything. That’s God for you. Anyway, Pastor Alphonse, a new traveling partner, and I were trying to find Blédougou. We stopped, as is our custom, and asked some locals on the side of the road (as Blédougou is not on a map, nor are there signs on the road). One fellow said he was a Blé from Blédougou and he could use a ride (as is often the case since approximately nobody in the village owns a vehicle unless you count bicycles). So we take Salia (Blé guy) with us down the typical terrible road. We had already spoken to the two pastors who had, just this year, started the first church in Blédougou. In chatting with Salia we find out that he is a Christian. In fact he was the first Blé to convert to Christianity (most other Blé are Muslims and Animists) and is now the “president” of the Blé Christians. What are the odds that we stop to ask directions at a random spot on the side of the road, still miles away from Blédougou, and we find the first of the Blé Christians (perhaps in all of history)? Normally, I’d say not too good. But knowing God to be the amusing and amazing God He is, I wasn’t too surprised, but I was amused. Since the Blé chief wasn’t home we just took some more info from Salia and had a good visit with his family. He listed off how many believers there were (about 40). He told us of the verbal abuse they take and how they just don’t listen to it. He pulled out his notebook where he had noted the first church service taking place on March 26th of this year. He showed us the wooden cross he’d made and stuck in the ground beside his hut so that “whoever comes by will know that there are Christians here.” We prayed for them and made our way home.
This was a touching visit for me. To our knowledge there were no Blé Christians until this man converted earlier this year. I was encouraged by the two pastors who have made numerous treks from their villages to come to Blédougou and share the Gospel with these people. I’m glad they beat us to it. I’m glad some of the Blé have accepted the Gospel and are excited about it. I’m glad that God is still working to gather the great multitude from every nation, tribe, peoples, and tongue (Revelation 7:9). I’m glad to know this fascinating God. I praise Him for all this.
Here’s what’s going on in the coming days. Ashley Jackson, short-term volunteer, arrived on Friday. She will be accompanying us on a research trip to the Pana people. The same day she leaves, October 17th, Sam Gowin arrives. Sam will be with us several months. He is coming primarily to travel with me on research trips. After some orientation and getting settled in Burkina, we will be leaving for Niger on a very long trip. I hope to write again before we leave and will explain more then.
Praise God for:
* divine appointments such as the one with Salia – the first Blé Christian.
* the work He is doing among the Blé, Natioro, and other “micro-peoples.”
* sending Ashley and Sam to serve with us.
Please pray for:
* God to raise up more pastors/churches, Burkinabé and others, to take the Gospel to the “micro-peoples” of West Africa.
* these Blé Christians to grow in their faith and for more Blé and Natioro to come to know Him.
* God to continue to bless us with successful research trips: health, safety, the acquisition of good information, etc.
As always, thanks so much for your prayers for me and the peoples of West Africa. God bless!
Rarely do I have anyone with me on research trips who is interested in taking my picture. Fortunately I had IMB journalist Jesse on the last trip. Here's a great pic of my back. In this pic I'm chatting with a pastor (in white) who we had to track down in his field.
You may wonder what I do for fun. Besides wrestling crocodiles and juggling farming tools, sometimes I try backflips off waterfalls. OK so I only tried it once, but when you get it right the first time, why show off. Unfortunately the Nigerian judged docked me half a point for too much spash.
Here was another guy we were taking research from. This time we're in a more traditional setting: a church. The guy nearest me is Abdoulaye, a frequent traveling buddy.
