Marense Bible distribution

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.

Great Northern Adventure

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.
See more photos of our adventure at http://picasaweb.google.com/kerrylspencer.

Burkina newsletter #31

Greetings from Burkina Faso! The past few weeks have been a break from the norm – a blessed break. It started with a reunion of several former missionaries (and great friends of mine) to the Marensé people. They came to distribute the newly-printed Marensé New Testament. In all we visited and distributed the Bible in 13 villages. The reception of the Word was almost universally enthusiastic – even among non-Christians. This causes me to ponder whether I still have the appropriate joy over the fact that I have always had the Word of God written in my language and that I am literate enough to able to read it. It was a great privilege and experience for me to travel with the team as they shared the written Word of God with the Marensé for the first time. It was also a great time of fellowship with dear friends. I am thankful for these opportunities.

After most of the Marensé Bible distribution team left, I took a short vacation to northern Burkina – the sandy part. It was fascinating to explore another very unique part of God’s creation. It’s not everyday that you get to ride on a camel, see a chameleon, watch countless shooting stars, and sleep on a sand dune. This was also another great time of fellowship with several of my good friends serving in different ways here in Burkina. [Coming soon: photos of my vacation and the Marensé Bible distribution on kerryspencer.blogspot.com and my new photo site: picasaweb.google.com/kerrylspencer ]

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 Burkina Faso. We are going to take them to scout out the land of the Dogosé and Komono peoples of far southwestern Burkina. Having already taken three trips to visit in the area I can say that these are some of the least evangelized and most difficult to reach (physically speaking) people groups in Burkina Faso. Reaching them will be a huge challenge. Pray that the Lord will provide the strength, wisdom, and endurance to meet the challenge.

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

Burkina newsletter #30

Greetings from Burkina Faso! A couple weeks ago I did some research among the Zaorsé people. We knew there were many Baptist churches among them but needed to update our statistics. I was pleased to learn that there are 57 Baptist churches and almost 5,000 believers among an ethnic group of only about 28,000 people. That’s simply amazing! Unfortunately there is no other people group in Burkina in which we have seen similar results from Baptist work. So of course we look at this example and try to learn some secrets of this spiritual success. Ultimately we know that God gets all credit and glory for the fruit that has been seen there. Yet if we look at the missionary dealings among the Zaorsé we notice that this is one of the places where we had the longest, sustained presence of full-time missionaries. Our team’s main purpose is to connect churches and short-term teams with unengaged people groups. We are truly thankful for the churches who are answering this call and God is using them. However this strategy has come about largely because there are not enough full-time, long-term missionaries to get the Gospel to the plethora of unreached people groups. Still the ideal is long-term, sustained ministry. So I just want to take this opportunity to challenge each of you to consider and pray about your role in the Great Commission. The Lord uses all sorts of people in all sorts of roles: prayers, givers, senders, short-term and long-term missionaries. All are necessary and important. May the Lord guide and use us all.

The other big happening over the last couple weeks was Southside Baptist’s (Lufkin TX) ministry among the Sambla people. Although the team was somewhat hindered by a little sickness, still the love of God was shared. New relationships were built and old relationships were strengthened. The team also picked up a little language. Please continue to pray for the Sambla people.

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 17^th) and most will be gone by the 1^st 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

Pics from the Western Karaboro

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.

Burkina newsletter #29

Greetings from Burkina Faso! I’ve spent the past couple weeks mostly with two people groups among whom I’ve never met a Christian: the Vigue and Western Karaboro. We’ve always had a warm reception among the Vigue and our relationships built in Karankasso-Vigue (their primary village) only continue to grow. I’m told that as the Bartlett team left this time they gave the chief a few blown up photos of himself and their past teams. The chief shed tears upon receiving the gift. Each time we leave he tells us that he hates to see us go. We continue to share the Gospel and pray for the Vigue but thus far have not seen fruit. We trust that the Lord has a plan for the Vigue people and ask you to continue to pray for them. Bartlett Baptist has another trip planned for December.

I spent the past week with two volunteers from Compassion Church (Raleigh) among the Western Karaboro and Senara peoples. Unlike the Vigue, the W. Karaboro chief has not welcomed us is the past. We decided to give them another chance instead of shaking the dust off our feet and continuing to another group (Matthew 10:14). In our initial meeting the chief was again cold and inhospitable. He told us that his people are not interested in our religion (we perceive that they are very interested). However, each day that we met with the chief he warmed up to us more and more. We were even allowed to show the Jesus Film twice in two different parts of the village. Our other main ministry was to simply pray for people’s needs. One evening we walked from family to family asking if we could pray for their sicknesses and needs. The people were very open to that, and we prayed for many people. The next day we were planning to do the same only before we started walking around people began coming to us and asking for prayer. We even had a hard time leaving because people just kept coming to be prayed for. Something that struck me is that I recall at least four people who asked us to pray for them because they are constantly afraid or worried. I can only imagine that this is attributed to the evil spirits that are so much a part of their lives. The W. Karaboro and Vigue will each tell you that they are 100% Muslim, but it seems that animism/voodoo/African traditional religion is still the religion which reigns. Through our prayers God has the ability to make His love and power know to the W. Karaboro. Please pray that he does. Another exciting thing about our time with the Karaboro is that we built a good relationship with two nearby pastors who are planning to follow up on the ministry we began. They are also excited about continuing to partner with us and Compassion Church in the future. Praise the Lord for this.

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 (Lufkin, TX) arrives on the 3^rd. They will be ministering in a couple Sambla villages. The last time the team was here they saw a man come to receive Christ. Please pray for more of the same. I will likely spend part of my time with the team and part of my time researching.

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 Western Karaboro (Colossians 4:3).
* new relationships with two local pastors interested in partnering with us to reach the Western Karaboro.
* sending laborers to aid in the harvest (Bartlett Baptist, Compassion Church, Southside Baptist, and others).

Please pray for:

* 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 W. Karaboro to give glory to God for His response to our prayers for them.
* 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 Burkina Faso. God bless!

Final thought:

For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business.

~ T.S. Eliot

some more random Fasopics

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.

Burkina newsletter #28

Greetings from Burkina Faso! Two and a half weeks – 3 research trips – 9 different people groups – many more adventures. That’s the summary of what’s been going on since last time. The good news is that I was able to confirm that the Lobi, Birifor, and Nankana are some of the most evangelized peoples in Burkina. A number of denominations are well established among each of these groups. The Dogon and Loron peoples, on the other hand, have very few Christians among them. The other groups (Kalenga/Gan/Kusasi) are somewhere in between (we were only able to locate a very small number of Bozo). I must leave out the harrowing African adventure stories at this time to tell you more about what’s to come.

As we have wrapped up another round of research trips, we are now preparing for another wave of volunteer teams. Wednesday, I’m going back to Karankasso-Vigue with a few Burkinabé believers to prepare the way for another team from Bartlett Baptist (their 4^th). The team arrives on the 17^th. I remind you that we still know of no believers among the Vigue. Karim, Ali, and Boureima are a few of the men with whom we’ve shared the Gospel – you can be praying for them. Soon after the Bartlett team begins their ministry I will have to leave for Ouagadougou (our capital/airport). That is because we will welcome back the 2^nd team from Compassion Church (Raleigh) on the 22^nd. They are hoping to minister among the Western Karaboro people – who like the Vigue have no known believers. However the last time we were in their main village (Tengrela) their chief told us we were not welcome to come share our religion there. We are thus arranging a meeting (Sept. 23^rd) of some of the pastors in the area to discuss how to go about taking the Gospel to the W. Karaboro. We feel that our white skin is part of the problem and that local believers might have a better chance of penetrating the W. Karaboro. We may also pay another visit to Tengrela and see if things have changed with the chief there. If so we will gladly stay and do whatever ministry the Lord allows. If not, our backup plan is to do some ministry among the Senufo-Senara further west. The Senara are a strongly animistic (African traditional religion) people who are only about 0.1% Christian. Obviously, unlike the Lobi, Birifor, and Nankana (mentioned above), the Vigue, W. Karaboro, and Senara are some of the least reached people in Burkina Faso. They need the Gospel and they need prayer. Please join us in praying for the Word and love of God to be shared during the next couple weeks. Both the Bartlett and Compassion teams will leave on the 29^th.

Praise God for:

* 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 Compassion Church to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Please pray for:

* the Lord to send laborers to the Dogon and Loron of Burkina – that they might hear and accept His Word.
* the Vigue, Western Karaboro, and Senara people – that the Lord would open their hearts to the Gospel.
* 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 23^rd – that the Lord will give us all wisdom and guidance concerning how to approach the Western Karaboro.

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

Burkina newsletter #27

**Sorry but this newsletter is a little dated. I typed it up 9 nine days ago and forgot to post it.**

Greetings from Burkina Faso! August is the heart of rainy season here in Burkina. That is good for farmers and bad for researchers – as you’ll soon learn. Since last time I have been on two research trips, the first toward the border with Benin (Berba people group) and the second toward the border with Mali (Samo people group). Both trips proved to have a little adventure but were nonetheless successful. Minutes after having finished the research on the Berba some fan belts in the truck snapped leaving my traveling buddy Rodolphe and I stranded for about 4 hours while we waited for our rescuers to arrive from the capital. Fortunately we had finished the research and were able to use the time for reading (had some books), rest (had mats), worship (had a guitar), prayer (had the Lord), and some exploring in the bush (see photos below).

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 Mali border to search for the Dogon and Bozo peoples (yes that’s their real name). These are both people groups native to Mali who spill over a little into Burkina. We actually know very little about their locations so it will truly be a hunting expedition. Pray that the Lord will help us find them. After that – more research and adventure.

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, Western Karaboro, and Komono, to name a few.

Thanks so much for your continuing prayers and support. God is with us! Blessings!

final thought:

Sympathy is no substitute for action.

~ David Livingstone

Bugs

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 photos

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.

more of Mike's

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.)

Burkina newsletter #26

Greetings from Burkina Faso! In my last newsletter I left off praising and thanking God for His protection and provision during our busy summer of ministry with volunteer teams. I didn’t say this, but in the back (or front) of my mind I was thinking that we (David – Tami – myself) are pretty important in the hosting/leading of the volunteer teams so it’s a good thing God kept us healthy all summer. Soon after I wrote/thought that I came down with malaria again. As a result there were a couple days when the volunteer team from Southside Baptist (Lufkin, TX) was without any of us in the village of Badara. (They did have two local pastors and a translator with them though.) So what happened? Did they panic or starve or get eaten by cannibals? No they did just fine, and in fact, they lead a man to the Lord. Lesson: I’m a mere servant of the Lord and He is the One capable of changing hearts so I need not overestimate my importance in His plan for the nations (1 Cor. 3:5-7). I continue to learn that the Lord works in wonderful and mysterious ways so that He gets the glory. We praise Him for how He used the volunteers from Southside (along with “independent” volunteers Ginny and Lauren) among the Sambla people.

I recently got back from Dakar, Senegal and our annual “Advance.” Advance is like a retreat only the opposite – or something like that. Actually it is the time when all the IMB missionaries of West Africa come together for fellowship, learning, and worship. At this year’s Advance I experienced such oddities as a view of the ocean, Oreos, fellowship with other young singles, air conditioning, 5-on-5 basketball (by moonlight thanks to a power outage), and worship/messages in English. The fellowship, as usual, was the highlight. We have such fine folks living amazing lives across West Africa. It is a privilege to count them as brothers and sisters.

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 Benin in search of the Bialaba people.

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.)

The Blessing of Unanswered Prayers

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

interesting stuff

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.

ISF and HBC youth

Team ISF (International Sports Federation) plays hard. And unfortunately this little girl hasn't learned to put the "dodge" in dodgeball. Don't worry she was ok. Just a little blood and tears.
Me and ISF minus Lolly (TJ, Alaina, Pat, and Paul (left to right)).
Paul and Pastor Denis sharing the Word with Vigue man Boureima (on the left). He says he will think on what he has heard and wants to hear more next time. Please pray for him.
Hardinsburg Baptist Youth on one of the peaks of Sindou.
Cute girl braiding Alaina's hair in Dakoro.

Burkina newsletter #25

Greetings from Burkina Faso! The last line of my last newsletter was “we think we’ve got all the bases covered (speaking of logistics for the volunteer teams) but we’re not above asking from prayer either.” Little did we know. I should know by now that I/we can never have all the bases covered, unless it’s by God’s grace and help. In this case, we had a pretty good plan . . . up until Tami (1/3 of our team) received news that her father had suddenly passed away of a heart attack. We thank the Lord that Tami was able to get from the village of Sindou to Ouaga to Florida in plenty of time to be with her family for the funeral. Unfortunately this coincided with our busiest days of the year (4 teams: totaling over 30 people were with us for a couple days). Many logistical plans had to change but the most important plans did not. By the grace of God we were able to continue the ministry as planned. God provided helpers (Deron/Mary Beth/Julien/Seni) to help with transportation/translation/cooking and much more. Furthermore, throughout the whole action-packed month of June we didn’t have a single illness that caused anyone to be taken out of the village prematurely. Through this somewhat frenzied month the Lord was our “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). I cannot say enough about His provision. We give Him praise and thanks.

So what have we done the past several weeks? In brief these four teams have ministered in five villages among several different unreached people groups. Our main goal in each village was to encourage the local churches/pastors and to aid them in their ministry. We ministered through praying for the sick and lost, playing games and loving on kids, showing the Jesus Film and “The Passion”, sharing a cultural exchange, and sharing the Gospel one-on-one. Amadou, in Ngafongo, prayed to receive Christ as his Savior. Boureima, in Karankasso-Vigue, says he wants to think more about it and hear more next time we come. Please pray for these men and the many others who have recently heard the Gospel. Pray that God will cause the growth in their lives and be glorified (1 Cor. 3:6-7).

It was truly a privilege to serve with each of the groups of the recent weeks: ISF, Davidson St. and friends, D/MB and Mike . . . but to have served with my former youth group from Hardinsburg Baptist was a special blessing. I want to especially thank Brad, Sarah, Penny, the youth and their parents, and all the members of HBC who made the trip possible. Thanks.

Currently we have two volunteers, Ginny (a returnee from last summer) and Lauren, who are wrapping up a week of ministry with Pastor Denis in Ngafongo. Tonight we welcome another returning “engaging church”: Southside Baptist from Lufkin, TX. After their previous vision trip they decided to partner with us in bringing the Gospel to the Sambla people. Southside leaves the 13^th and then Ginny and Lauren a few days later. On the 20^th I will join all other West Africa IMBers in Senegal for our annual meeting. Please pray for us to finish this summer of ministry with God’s strength.

Praise God for:

* His amazing protection and provision through a very hectic time.
* the opportunities we had to encourage, love, and share the Gospel.
* the large number of volunteers interested in working among the unreached peoples of Burkina Faso.

Please pray for:

* the seeds that were planted in so many hearts – that God would cause the growth. And that Amadou would be faithful to follow his Lord.
* the volunteers/churches who have gone back to continue to have a heart for the nations.
* the coming time of ministry among the Sambla people – that the Lord would continue to give us opportunities and courage to share the Gospel.
* God’s consolation for Tami and her family as they continue to mourn and for David as he remains separated from his wife for another week (Tami arrives back in Burkina on the 11^th).

Happy 4^th of July to my fellow Americans! I truly believe the adage “we are blessed to be a blessing.” Seek how God would have you be a blessing to the less fortunate. Thanks so much for the blessing of your prayers. God has been so good. I am thankful.

final thought:

Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease;
While other fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas?

~ Isaac Watts

Pics courtesy of Wade Whynot

It's always for to see what the Burkinabe can stack on top of a vehicle.
Have you parents with young children considered getting your child a live chicken to play with? The kids love them!
If you look closely you will see that this child has a small wooden statue around his neck. This is not a fashion statement or a toy. Instead it's what the people here called a "fetish." It is bought from the local witchdoctor and is supposed to have spiritual power to protect him from evil.
Any of you teachers think your classroom is overcrowded? How about this guy who has 101 first graders in one room.
This is the mosque in Noumoukiedougou outside which (to the left under the trees) we had opportunity to share the Gospel with 80 plus Muslim men.