Fri, Jan 26, 2007

A short note this week:

It looks like that big load of paper that contained the submission for the West Africa certificate program for preparing pastors made it through the first hurdle toward approval. That’s a big relief.

I taught Sunday School at a local church this past weekend. I like that more than preaching. As a visiting preacher, the local folks make a big deal about it since I’m THE missionary. And, the services are, by my Western standards, long and by the time I preach I’m worn out. By teaching Sunday School it is the first item for the morning, I’m awake and alert, and folks get to ask questions and comments—a lot of back-and-forth dialogue. It’s good, because I can clarify points where the Bible might be misunderstood, and I can give positive feedback when I hear comments that really hit the mark. It seems I’m giving more positive feedback than anything else. Another good thing is that I can set a good example for how Sunday School should focus on Bible study and rely on dialogue rather than being another one-way monologue before the real sermon in the next service.

The trip to Burkina Faso was . . . fast, but very good. The pastors and lay leaders were a joy to be around. There are lots of cool things happening there, and it takes some time to be there to get the real information. One of the churches has started a school in their neighborhood and has 140 kids enrolled. They also have a little stand run by the ladies in the church where they sell juice and snacks—lots of initiative and points of contact for the little church. Interesting that Ouaga is closer to the Sahara but is less dusty than Cotonou right now. Right now being the tail end of harmattan—when dry winds blow dust southward from the Sahara , bringing cooler and less humid weather for a few weeks. Funny note. The Burkina Air flight is on a chartered plane since the airline’s only planes are not working. Well, the chartered plane is from the company called Avirex. Literally that means something like rex or king of aviation. But say the name Avirex more slowly—avi-wrecks. The plane that wrecks. Not a selling point for an airline company, I’d say. But, they returned me safely to Cotonou .

The JESUS Film team arrives in about two hours. The team consists of twelve lay people from Medford First Church of the Nazarene in Oregon . Several of the team members are on their first trip abroad. Pray that all the equipment makes it through customs and that our trip to Togo and Mono region of Benin goes well tomorrow through Wednesday. Then, we’ll be in Cotonou and environs until the end of the week. We’ll be showing the JESUS Film just about every night. Pray that the team keeps up with the grueling schedule and travel, not to mention myself and the local leaders traveling with them. Also, Sonya has been working her tail off getting everything ready for their arrival. Pray that everything goes well during their stay and work in Benin . They will be leaving behind two full sets of equipment for the local JESUS Film teams, so their impact will go far beyond this coming week.

A sad update to a prayer request from last weekend. A friend and supporter from Monticello , Florida died last weekend after extended illness. Her name is Elizabeth Mims. Keep her and her family and friends in prayer. I came across a birthday card signed by her and others from their church that I received just before Christmas.

Keep us all in mind and in your prayers this coming week.

Blessings from Benin,

Matt

What an interesting New Year. I would say something about the Buckeyes, but, I’d rather not.

I need to use this E-mail to catch up on some recent events.

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The last year ended with a great set of conferences in Dakar , Senegal . The first was a leadership conference with thirty leaders from nine countries. When they came together to sing and play drums, the atmosphere was quite indescribable. One of the highlights for me was sitting in the back row of the conference room. Why the back row? I could look over my shoulder and watch the sun set off the rocky cliffs dropping into the Atlantic Ocean .

Another highlight from the conference was looking up to the adjacent hill and watching the one hundred year old lighthouse make its revolutions at night. The stars gleaming behind the glow of “La Phare” was surreal. Here we were on the literal edge of Africa attempting to catch a glimpse of God’s insight into how to better shine His light across two-thirds of the continent. It was the right place to do that.

Also, I roomed with the Liberian guys, two District Superintendents, Elijah and Garlody, and the Ministry Coordinator, Daniel Johnson. Daniel and Elijah were talking one night and I was listening in. Daniel prefaced one of his remarks with, “Back during the war, I remember . . ..” When Daniel said those words, a light flickered in the back of my mind. It reminded me of the tremendous sacrifice and courage that these guys represent in their lives and ministries in Liberia—a country that has been torn apart by civil war not once but twice and has yet to be put back together again. They have endured much to be God wants them to be.  

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In the segue between conferences, I spent a lot of time with Dany Gomis, the Literature Coordinator for francophone Africa, and Stephane Tibi, a new Nazarene missionary from France to Africa. When I watched them stand at the top of a 200-foot cliff on Gorée Island and look out across the bay at Dakar with the rest of the continent searching out to the west, it did my heart good, especially when they put their arms around each other’s shoulders. These guys are not only colleagues but great friends. I sensed at that moment that I saw the future of francophone ministry in Africa .

By the end of the week we had had a great Thanksgiving meal with the rest of the missionary team followed by a retreat together. I gave one of the morning devotions. I talked about going through transitions. This weekend we all let go of Delyna Herren who has been on the missionary team for about eight years. The boys sat on her lap and cried. She was good to them. It was sad and glorious at the same time. Delyna has already moved and will start a new assignment in Madagascar . All in all, It was a good way to spend a couple of weeks in November.

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December, well, it’s over, and we have regular electricity again. The lights are on, praise be to God.

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January 2007 has zoomed by, at least these last two weeks have.

I’ve worked on school stuff, coordinating some of the teaching for pastor prep in Benin , trying to get some things organized regarding the land for the new district center, etc. etc.

I’ve worked on a position paper regarding theological education for April’s theology conference in the Netherlands ; something to do with wisdom as the goal of theological education.

I’ve worked on putting the finishing edits on a certificate level program of study for pastors who cannot leave their ministries, jobs, or homes to go off to school for preparation toward ordination. The proposal came in at about 140 pages, about a half a pound of paper.

I will be traveling to Benin and Togo with the JESUS Film teams and possibly to Burkina Faso before the teams arrive. Next month, I get to go back to Cape Verde and Senegal . Look forward to these trips and all that is in store.

Graced,

Matt