Some of our missionary community (plus some visitors) at our Christmas party in Ouagadougou.
Nativity scene mural inside a Catholic church in Kaya - Burkina Faso.
Christmas peppers. Hey they're red and green right? Like those Christmas M&Ms.
The Burkina Christmas flower. That's what I'm calling it.
Seasons Greetings from
Currently the four ladies from Bartlett Baptist are living and ministering among the Vigué people.
The fact that we are not out with the
I recently did a little traveling with William Haun who is an excellent photographer and a serious computer nerd (he knows I love him). He is one of the folks responsible for a lot of what you may have seen at www.gowestafrica.com. If you’ve not been there lately you should check it out – it’s got a new look. I also highly recommend his site www.haunsinafrica.com. His wife, who’s studying to be a doctor, is a spending a few months interning at our hospital in
Praise God for:
* FBC Pearland and Bartlett Baptist – for their service among the unreached of
* the safety and health the Lord has given us in recent weeks.
* sending His Son Jesus Christ to “save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
Please pray for:
* FBC Pearland as they prepare for future ministry in Burkina.
* Bartlett Baptist as they share Christmas with the Vigué people.
* the Vigué people - that the Lord would “open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light” (Acts 26:18).
* Wade, Sherida, and us as we travel and minister together.
Final thought:
When I give I give myself.
~ Walt Whitman
Greetings from
As most of you (those who live in the States) are in the midst of another Christmas season, I ask you to ponder places and peoples who have no Christmas season. It is not only that they do not have the cultural trappings of the holiday: Santa and the reindeer, candy canes, snowmen, Christmas trees, or multi-colored lights, for that would be no great shame. But they don’t have a celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Though many have heard of Jesus, and the Muslims even acknowledge Him as a great prophet, they do not know him as Savior and Lord. This is the reality for the majority of people in this country and in many countries around the world. And for people groups like the Vigue, there may not be a single person who has reason to celebrate Christmas this year. That is a tragedy. One that we want to change. That is why Bartlett Baptist church has already sent four teams to minister among the Vigue. That is why several ladies from that church have decided to spend this Christmas with the Vigue – to share the message of Christmas and salvation with them. As you celebrate Jesus’ birth this year, please pray for those who are not celebrating. And consider how God might use you to minister to them. Let us be thankful that we have something to celebrate – eternal life with the Lord, through the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Praise God for:
* sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to seek and to save the lost.
* the Bifork Association, FBC Pearland, and Bartlett Baptist churches – for their interest in and commitment to the unengaged peoples of the world.
Please pray for:
* God to guide those from Bifork Association and FBC Pearland as they seek how the may serve Him in
* Bartlett Baptist church as they continue to minister among the Vigue.
* the Vigue people – that some would finally come to accept Jesus as Savior.
As always – thanks so much for your prayers and support. You may find some new photos at picasaweb.google.com/kerrylspencer. May your Christmas be joyous and heartfelt!
Final thought (as a Christmas bonus – an extra quote):
~ G.K Chesterton
There has been only one Christmas – the rest are anniversaries.
~ W.J. Cameron
So this doesn't have much to do with distributing Bibles but I like the pic. Just a millet field at sunset. 
Cory Wilson - former missionary to the Marense - presenting a Bible to a chief in Sagtambila.
Marense guys reading the Bible in their own language for the first time. The guy on the right is a local pastor who joined us for the trip.
Tiffany Folse - another former missionary to the Marense - presenting a Bible to an old Christian lady in the village of Tafgo.
Again - nothing to do with distributing Bibles - but how can you not love the pic? This is another Marense chief who received a Bible.
This is our vacation crew in front of the Alamo. Just kidding. Actually this is one of the "seven famous mosques" in Bani. From left to right the crew is me - Tiffany - Bianca - Nichole - Ami - and Cory Fish. Nichole and Ami serve at an orphanage in Yako (www.sheltering-wings.org). Cory and Bianca are with the Peace Corps. Tiffany is with me. Oh and she was a part of the Marense Bible distribution.
These are the dunes at Oursi.
This is an amazing baby praying mantis. Or is it a pygmy praying mantis?
This is me with my camel Smarty Jones. The guides told me its name was Emily but I didn't feel that was an appropriate name so I changed it.
Nichole appreciating an amazing chameleon we came across in the desert.Greetings from
One of the places we stayed in Gorom happened to be a Catholic orphanage. We spent part of one morning visiting the children and learning about the ministry there. Then after our vacation, I joined a few of my vacation buddies for another short visit to the orphanage in Yako (Nichole and Ami – part of our vacation group – serve there). Each time I visit this special place I learn more about the many challenges they face in caring for about 40 orphans. Each time I leave the orphanage I leave with a greater appreciation for the ministry and witness they are providing. Caring for widows and orphans is one of the many ministries that God has entrusted to us as the body of Christ. Please pray for these orphanages in Gorom and Yako.
Now that vacation is over, it is time to get back to the ministry God has given me at this time. Tonight we will welcome a team of five men from the Bifork Association of Baptist churches (TX). They are coming for the first time to take a vision trip to see how the Lord might use them among the unreached peoples of
Praise God for:
* sending the Word of God (now in written form) to the Marensé people.
* the blessing of fellowship with good friends and a short time of vacation.
* sending the Bifork Association to explore the opportunities for ministry in Burkina.
Please pray that:
* “the Word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified” among the Marensé people (2 Thess. 3:1).
* God would provide for and bless the ministry to orphans in Gorom and Yako.
* God to reveal His will to the Bifork Association of churches as to how they can serve Him in Burkina.
* God would move in the hearts and lives of the Dogosé and Komono peoples.
Thanks so much for your continued prayers. I am truly blessed to have your support. God bless!
kerry spencer
Final thought:
I want to know one thing: the way to heaven. God Himself has condescended to teach me the way. He has written it down in a book. Oh, give me that book! At any price give me the book of God. Let me be a man of one book.
~ John Wesley
Greetings from
The other big happening over the last couple weeks was Southside Baptist’s (
Before taking on their current role on the Engagement Team, my supervisors, David and Tami Wood, were the leaders of the Marensé team (during my first term). The Marensé are a small people group found in north-central Burkina. Part of the ministry that some of the team members took part in was to begin the translation of the New Testament into Marensé. Even after full-time missionaries left their area, Marensé believers continued the project. The Marensé New Testament has just recently been completed and has now been printed. Several former Journeymen from the Marensé team (some of my very good friends) are thus coming back to help dedicate and distribute the New Testament. The first of the team members will arrive tomorrow (the 17th) and most will be gone by the 1st of November. That is what I’ll be up to the next couple weeks.
Immediately after that I’ll be taking a four day vacation/adventure to northern Burkina to see some dunes, camels, and other deserty stuff. I’ll be joined by several of my good friends working here in Burkina (peace corps and orphanage workers) and one of the former Marensé team members.
Praise God for:
* the many churches and believers among the Zaorsé people.
* the completion of the New Testament in Marensé.
* Southside Baptist’s dedication to reaching the Sambla for Christ.
Please pray for:
* God’s direction in your own life concerning how He can use you in the Great Commission.
* the upcoming dedication and distribution of the Marensé New Testament. Pray that there would be many opportunities to share the Truth and that many would accept it.
* a safe and enjoyable vacation/adventure to the north.
As always thanks so much for your continued prayers and support. I also want to inform you of a new website for viewing some of my photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/kerrylspencer. I plan to update the pics periodically. Enjoy. God bless!
Final thought:
Our young men are going into the professional fields because they don’t “feel called” to the mission field. We don’t need a call; we need a kick in the pants!
~ Jim Elliott
Just another example of African ingenuity. This is a load of cloth strapped on the back (and front) of the moto with a couple strips of rubber. This belongs to a merchant who came to sell his cloth in the market. [All these photos are courtesy of David Myers - superstar volunteer.]
Nice silhouette of some palm trees at sunset in the Western Karaboro village of Tengrela.
Kid holding up a tree? No he's (or she's) watching the Jesus film. See photo below.
One of several groups we showed the Jesus film to last week. You can't quite see it but the film is being shown on a small portable DVD player (on a chair behind the limb). We usually show the film at night but decided to squeeze in a matinee under the mango tree.
We did a lot of praying for the needs of the Western Karaboro. The word got out and many people can to us to be prayed for. Others were brought - like this young boy, who has some leg problems (you can really tell when he walks). If you look closely you can see a couple leather pouches hanging around his neck. These amulets are given - for a price - by the local witchdoctor. They are supposed help the boy or protect him from whatever spirits might be causing his problems. The people were surprised and delighted that our prayers were free! Please join us in praying for the Western Karaboro to know the love, power, and grace of Jesus Christ.
Greetings from
I spent the past week with two volunteers from
We also spent a few days with an old friend, Pastor Alphonse, and helped him with his ministry among the Senara people. There we also showed the Jesus Film two more times and visited among the people. One young man asked us the question, “If one decides to follow Jesus, will the evil spirits immediately leave him alone.” We of course responded with a “yes.” We spoke with one old man who said he’s almost ready to throw all his idols in the fire and follow Jesus. This is a picture of the kind of radical life-change we hope to see in all the Vigue, W. Karaboro, and Senara. Please continue to pray “that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1)
Up next: The third team from Southside Baptist (
The apostle Paul wrote, “I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men . . . this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1, 3-4). Here are some ways to do that:
Praise God for:
* opening the door for us to pray and witness to the
* new relationships with two local pastors interested in partnering with us to reach the
* sending laborers to aid in the harvest (Bartlett Baptist,
* the seeds of the Gospel sown among the Vigue/W. Karaboro/Senara to grow in people’s hearts and minds (1 Corinthians 3:6).
* the
* God to move in the upcoming time of ministry among the Sambla people.
* success in my next research trip.
As always I thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers for me and the unreached peoples of
Final thought:
For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business.
~ T.S. Eliot
Unfortuntely my camera is back in Kentucky being repaired so I don't have any new pictures for you. Fortunately I have a "random Burkina" folder on the laptop. Here are a few I picked out for you. This one - a tree.
Handicapped lady selling papers and phone cards on the side of the road in Bobo.
I've been stuck in the mud a couple times in the past month. This is an example of a place where that might happen. Although I'll say the places I found to get stuck were much more treacherous.
Driving into a storm front.
Dude getting coconuts or fixing the phone lines or something.
Greetings from
* the Churches and believers that we have found well established in some areas of Burkina.
* safe and successful research trips despite the difficult conditions.
* the commitments of Bartlett Baptist and
* the Lord to send laborers to the Dogon and Loron of Burkina – that they might hear and accept His Word.
* the Vigue,
* us and the churches coming to partner with us from Bartlett and Raleigh – that the Lord would lead us and use us for His glory.
* the meeting with local pastors that we will have on the 23rd – that the Lord will give us all wisdom and guidance concerning how to approach the
I am truly blessed to have your support in the ministry over here. I thank God for you all. Blessings.
kerry spencer
final thought:
If you look at the world you’ll be distressed,
if you look within you’ll be depressed,
but if you look at Christ you’ll be at rest.
~ Corrie Ten Boom
**Sorry but this newsletter is a little dated. I typed it up 9 nine days ago and forgot to post it.**
Greetings from
On the most recent trip we traveled among the Samo, to the northeast of Bobo. The Samo are quite a large group consisting of several different dialects. Yet the Lord allowed us to find some key people to give us the necessary information. Upon traveling to our last stop, a pastor far out in the bush, we encountered a road better suited for a canoe in some places than a car. We gave it a valiant effort but our rugged 4x4 truck finally succumbed to the mud. After fruitless efforts by Rodolphe, myself, and a hitchhiker (pastor’s brother we happened upon) to free the vehicle, it was decided that the hitchhiker and I should walk (and wade in water up to our knees at times) the rest of the way the pastor’s village. After just about 30 minutes we arrived and got the necessary information from the pastor. He then escorted me back to the truck and recruited man power from the folks working in the fields along the way. A couple hours, a half a dozen strategies, and 15 strong Africans later the truck was emancipated from the mud pit. As we drove off, Rodolphe said, “We sure do have a lot of ‘experiences’ together.” I could think of a lot of other words to substitute for “experiences.” In the end though, God is always good, our research trips are successful, and we have stories to tell. I’m happy to report that there are churches already doing good work among the Berba and Samo peoples. We need only encourage them and support them in prayer.
Tomorrow I will take another research trip, this time with Chris Long, an EMT who is volunteering with us for about a month. We will travel to different areas along the
Praise God for:
* successful research trips among the Berba and Samo – including the adventures.
* the good ministry already going on among the Berba and Samo people.
* good rains which cause mud pits and crops to grow.
Please pray for:
* continued safety and success on upcoming research trips.
* the ministry among the Berba and Samo to continue to advance.
* the peoples of Burkina who do not have the blessing of many churches and believers: the Vigue,
Thanks so much for your continuing prayers and support. God is with us! Blessings!
final thought:
Sympathy is no substitute for action.
~ David Livingstone
My good friend Rodolphe (the guy in the photo) and I recently took a research trip toward the Benin border. On the way we saw this elephant (and another) on the side of the road. Later we had a couple fan belts break and were stranded for about 5 hours on the side of the road. During that time we encountered some of the bugs seen below.
The amazing dung beetle rolling his ball of dung.
A couple sculpting the ball out of a fresh cow patty.
This is a big stinkin spider! His rear end was bigger around than my thumb!
Butterfly on Nalgene.
Michael Roach was one of the many volunteers we had this summer. He is quite a good photographer and was very kind to share his pics with me - and you. This is one of the fine roads we travel fairly often.
This is a view from on top of the Peaks of Sindou - one of the most beautiful areas of Burkina.
Donkey carting a load of mangoes.
Cute girl pumping water with a foot pump.
Local meat market. Beef. It's what's for dinner.
These are young Fulani girls. The Fulani are a people group with very distinct dress and jewelry - such as the nose rings seen here.
This lady is pounding the shea nuts which are seen on the group and on top of the mud thingy. I would describe the thingy as a smoker. There is a fire in the bottom and the heat rising helps to dry out the nuts. This is part of the long process of making shea butter - for those of you ladies who know what that is.
More dudes on a truck.
The guy in the middle is Amadou who, as I explained in newsletter #25, recently decided to follow Christ. Please continue to pray for him and Pastor Denis who has the task of discipling him.
This was one of the three soccer matches we played against local village teams during the ISF sports teams time here. We actually tied 1-1 this match - our best outcome. (Thanks Alaina.)
Greetings from
I recently got back from
The month of August I will be returning to the task of researching the unreached people groups of Burkina. We hope to finish our research responsibilities before the end of the year. In August we only have one volunteer coming to serve with us: EMT Chris Long. We plan to give Chris many opportunities to use his medical skills among the various people groups we’ve been working with. He will also accompany me on some research trips. I cannot yet give a detailed schedule of the month but I know that tomorrow I will head toward our border with
Praise God for:
* how He used the volunteers from Southside Baptist (+ Ginny and Lauren) among the Sambla and for the salvation of the man in Badara.
* the mystery and majesty of the Lord’s ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).
* for the wonderful time of fellowship He gave all of us at Advance.
Please pray:
* for the upcoming research trips: that we acquire the necessary information and encourage any pastors/believers we come in contact with.
* that God would continue to cause growth among the people groups we have planted seeds among even in our absence: the Vigue, Dogose, Komono, Senara, Turka, Tiefo, Sambla, and others (1 Cor. 3:5-7).
Thanks again for your support and prayers as we continue to aspire to preach the Gospel where Christ has not been named (Rom. 15:20). God bless!
Final thought: (how about a poem this time? OK good.)
I asked for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I had asked for,
but everything that I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered;
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.
~Unknown Confederate soldier
Again - it never ceases to amaze me what (and who) they can pack on and in a vehicle.
Washing dishes.
Sunrise in Douna.
This is a Fulani woman who came by selling milk (in the gourd bowls on her head). The Fulani are a peculiar people group - very distinct from the others. Traditionally they are nomadic cow herders.
Grilled rat. No we didn't partake.
