My last days in Dano were extremely fun!
After buying some supplies, the interns and I put together several sacks filled with a some basic necessities and gifts to give to the widows of a local church. On Tuesday we went out and delivered the sacks and spent some time visiting and praying with them and walking around the villages.
Widow are extremely common in this culture. Men are usually much older than the women when they marry, and the men usually live shorter lives because several lifestyle factors. Within the Christian communities in Dano, widows are usually cared for very well but periodically the team here likes to encourage and support them with these gifts. It was a wonderful experience!
Several times throughout their internships, the Dano interns have gotten to ride along with some workers for Living Water International. LWI drills and repairs wells all over the world, providing safe drinking water for thousands. The team that the Dano interns have been helping specialize in repairing broken wells. I got to tag along with them on one of the well repair visits, but the road to the well became to muddy for the truck. We got out and walked the rest of the way to the well, but the area around the well was also to flooded to do any work. The repair team made plans to come back later in the week. So after that didn't work out, one of the LWI workers invited us to come to his house! He took us around his village and gave us a full tour of several of the houses in the community.
Being in Dano was a wonderful time and I met many many amazing people. I ask that you continue to pray for Andy and Melissa Johnson as they train local Christian leaders in Dano. As well as the Dano interns; Caleb, Quinn, Chelsea, and Jessica.
I arrived back in Sindou yesterday and only have a few days left here before starting my several day journey back to the U.S. Today we did some follow-up visits with some of the fathers of kids that come to the Children's Health Club. The Hochs were able to ask them questions about the children's health and diet and if the kids are implementing some of the health skills they've been learning. These visits are great ways to open doors to building relationships with the parents of the communities and to further encourage good health and nutrition.
My last few days in Sindou will consist of visiting with the people that have become close friends here, giving gifts, and saying goodbye. I'm excited to see my family and friends back home, but part of me would be completely fine with staying here and ministering to these people that desperately need Christ. Please pray that the people of Sindou will have their eyes opened to the Gospel.
God bless, and see you soon,
Jake
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Update 8:Dano
Last week, we had Children's Health Club three days in a row. It all went extremely well! Tom and Souja Brane came down with their family and helped out.
Wednesday 4 college interns that have been in another part of Burkina Faso came down to spend a few days in Sindou with us. The Hochs got to explain their ministry and show them around town, as well as the farm in Kongora.
On Saturday, I traveled to Dano with the 4 other interns. Their names are Caleb, Quinn, Jessica, and Chelsea. They have been in Dano for almost 5 weeks staying with a missionary family there. It's been great getting to know them and having fellowship with other college students!
Andy and Melissa Johnson and their family are the only missionaries in Dano at the moment. One family from their team is raising support and visiting in the states, and the other family recently had to leave the field due to medical reasons. The church-planting efforts in Dano started around 12 years ago, and today there are over 100 self-sufficient churches in the area! The Johnsons have been here all 12 years and now focus on leadership training. The goal of this is to further equip the leaders of these local churches to reach others in the community, and to steer the churches along on Christ-like path.
Lives and communities have been changed by the Gospel here in Dano and the churches are still growing. It's amazing to see how many people here have decided to follow Christ and is very inspiring. I ask that you pray for the Johnson family, the Dano interns, and that a body of believers will be raised up in Sindou as there has been in Dano.
Only a little over a week left of my internship. It amazes me how fast it has gone!
God bless,
Jake
Wednesday 4 college interns that have been in another part of Burkina Faso came down to spend a few days in Sindou with us. The Hochs got to explain their ministry and show them around town, as well as the farm in Kongora.
On Saturday, I traveled to Dano with the 4 other interns. Their names are Caleb, Quinn, Jessica, and Chelsea. They have been in Dano for almost 5 weeks staying with a missionary family there. It's been great getting to know them and having fellowship with other college students!
Andy and Melissa Johnson and their family are the only missionaries in Dano at the moment. One family from their team is raising support and visiting in the states, and the other family recently had to leave the field due to medical reasons. The church-planting efforts in Dano started around 12 years ago, and today there are over 100 self-sufficient churches in the area! The Johnsons have been here all 12 years and now focus on leadership training. The goal of this is to further equip the leaders of these local churches to reach others in the community, and to steer the churches along on Christ-like path.
Lives and communities have been changed by the Gospel here in Dano and the churches are still growing. It's amazing to see how many people here have decided to follow Christ and is very inspiring. I ask that you pray for the Johnson family, the Dano interns, and that a body of believers will be raised up in Sindou as there has been in Dano.
Only a little over a week left of my internship. It amazes me how fast it has gone!
God bless,
Jake
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Update 7
Well, it's been an interesting couple of days!
On Monday, Ken and I stayed the night in the village of Kawara. We had dinner with our friends there and sat around talking for most of the night. Ken got the chance to tell a Bible story about Elisha which was followed by a steady night of rain! The sense of community is very different here, it's much more relational. On one of my first days in Burkina, Ken and I were visiting one of his local friends and the man asked "Why don't people in America sit around and talk? They all just go into their own houses at night and close the door." Pretty accurate statement.
On Tuesday, we took a group of kids from the health club to the Gordon's farm in Kongora. The kids have been learning a lot about nutrition and healthy plants that they can grow themselves so seeing these things first hand was very exciting for them. After the field trip I stayed at the farm until Thursday getting to spend a good amount of time with Bob and Jack, the local workers at the farm. Please continue to pray for the kids of Sindou, as well as Bob, Jack, and Shek.
Due to some health issues, my fasting has been cut short. However, Ken is still participating so I would ask that you pray for his strength and impact during this time.
Next week will be very exciting as well. Instead of having the Children's Health Club once a week on Thursday, this week we will be having three morning sessions in a row, Tuesday-Thursday! Tom and Souja Brane are CMF missionaries on the Burkina team that are going to be taking over the Children's Health Club in a few weeks. They are coming down this week to help and get the feel of things. So I ask that you would pray for them as they transition into this new role and impact these children's lives.
Thank you for your prayers!
Jake
On Monday, Ken and I stayed the night in the village of Kawara. We had dinner with our friends there and sat around talking for most of the night. Ken got the chance to tell a Bible story about Elisha which was followed by a steady night of rain! The sense of community is very different here, it's much more relational. On one of my first days in Burkina, Ken and I were visiting one of his local friends and the man asked "Why don't people in America sit around and talk? They all just go into their own houses at night and close the door." Pretty accurate statement.
On Tuesday, we took a group of kids from the health club to the Gordon's farm in Kongora. The kids have been learning a lot about nutrition and healthy plants that they can grow themselves so seeing these things first hand was very exciting for them. After the field trip I stayed at the farm until Thursday getting to spend a good amount of time with Bob and Jack, the local workers at the farm. Please continue to pray for the kids of Sindou, as well as Bob, Jack, and Shek.
Due to some health issues, my fasting has been cut short. However, Ken is still participating so I would ask that you pray for his strength and impact during this time.
Next week will be very exciting as well. Instead of having the Children's Health Club once a week on Thursday, this week we will be having three morning sessions in a row, Tuesday-Thursday! Tom and Souja Brane are CMF missionaries on the Burkina team that are going to be taking over the Children's Health Club in a few weeks. They are coming down this week to help and get the feel of things. So I ask that you would pray for them as they transition into this new role and impact these children's lives.
Thank you for your prayers!
Jake
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Update 6: Ramadan
Hello!
Since being here, I've been able to become friends with several of the young guys in my area of Sindou. I've been invited to hang out and spend time with in informal settings several times and it's been a blast building friendships with them!
Starting in a few days is the month-long Muslim holiday of Ramadan. During this time, men are not supposed to eat during daylight hours. Most of the older men here participate in the fast, but many of the younger guys my age do not because though they claim Islam, they do not hold strictly to the practices of it. This year I will be participating in the fast for two reasons. First, my hope is that these young men who do not take their religion seriously will see someone their age that does and force them to think about why they don't, and why I do. Second, during this month, a large part of Ramadan is breaking the fast with others every night with an evening meal. With Ken and I both participating in the fast, we believe that we will be invited to some of the evening meals and get a chance to explain that we are participating in the fast to grow closer to our God. In both reasons, the ultimate goal is to bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ, and open doors for potential conversations about Him.
I tell you this in order to ask for your prayers during this time. Please pray most importantly that our fasting will impact the lives of these wonderful people and create opportunities to talk about Heavenly Father. Next, I ask you to prayer for Ken and I, for our strength and perseverance during this time.
Also, God has completely provided the rest of the funding for this trip! He is faithful in providing what we need to be obedient to His calling. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through prayer and finances and for partnering with me in this adventure.
God bless,
Jake
Since being here, I've been able to become friends with several of the young guys in my area of Sindou. I've been invited to hang out and spend time with in informal settings several times and it's been a blast building friendships with them!
Starting in a few days is the month-long Muslim holiday of Ramadan. During this time, men are not supposed to eat during daylight hours. Most of the older men here participate in the fast, but many of the younger guys my age do not because though they claim Islam, they do not hold strictly to the practices of it. This year I will be participating in the fast for two reasons. First, my hope is that these young men who do not take their religion seriously will see someone their age that does and force them to think about why they don't, and why I do. Second, during this month, a large part of Ramadan is breaking the fast with others every night with an evening meal. With Ken and I both participating in the fast, we believe that we will be invited to some of the evening meals and get a chance to explain that we are participating in the fast to grow closer to our God. In both reasons, the ultimate goal is to bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ, and open doors for potential conversations about Him.
I tell you this in order to ask for your prayers during this time. Please pray most importantly that our fasting will impact the lives of these wonderful people and create opportunities to talk about Heavenly Father. Next, I ask you to prayer for Ken and I, for our strength and perseverance during this time.
Also, God has completely provided the rest of the funding for this trip! He is faithful in providing what we need to be obedient to His calling. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through prayer and finances and for partnering with me in this adventure.
God bless,
Jake
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