On Thursdays in Sindou the Hoch's run a Children's Health Club. The goal of this is to teach the kids simple and helpful health practices to increase their quality of life and decrease preventable life-threatening diseases and illness. With the help of some close local friends, the Hoch's are able to teach about 60 kids each week. Along with learning about health and nutrition, the kids also get to hear a Bible story each week that is integrated into the curriculum, which is what I got to help with last week.
Though the impact that these stories will have on the children cannot always be seen immediately, from Isaiah 55 we can rest assured that His word does not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He desires.
Burkina Faso is completely filled with beautiful and wonderful people. At times is can be heartbreaking to think that some of them may never come to know Jesus Christ. Sometimes I wonder if it is fair that I grew up in an area where I had access to the Gospel at a young age and I can follow Jesus without social oppression, while it is so rare for so many people around the world. But I must remember that God is just and righteous.
This week, I ask that you please pray for the people of Burkina Faso and that they will come to know the Lord. I also ask that you pray for more Christians to be willing to travel into the remote areas of the world to share the name of Jesus. Matthew 28:18-20 is a command for all believers, not just a select few.
Jake
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Update 4: Planting Seeds
Hello! Things are going great here in Burkina Faso!
Today I want to tell you about Shalom Farm!
Andrew and Pulsheri Gordon are CMF missionaries that have created a farm about 45 minutes from Sindou. The goal of this farm is to demonstrate sustainable farming techniques, to supply local farmers with resources and agricultural advice, and most importantly to impact their lives by showing them the love of Christ.
Each week I get to spend two days out on the farm working with Andrew and the three local workers; Bob, Jack, and Shek (shortened names). The work is hard but fun and I can tell my efforts are impacting Bob, Jack, and Shek and giving me an awesome chance to become their friend. Each morning, after talking about what needs to be done on the farm that day, Andrew Gordon gets to share a Bible story with them. The men all seem very interested and ask many questions, Shek in particular. I would ask that you pray for Bob, Jack, and Shek and these storying sessions that are impacting their lives.
I got to see another impact of the farm this week. Wednesday morning two men from the village of Kawara (a place where Ken stories often) came by. They knew Ken, had heard about the farm and wanted to see it as well as ask for some advice. The men where trying to raise hens that would lay eggs in order to sell them and make a living. The hens were having serious health problems and could no longer walk. Andrew talked with them about the hen's diet and other concerns and with his veterinary background came to a conclusion that it was a vitamin D deficiency. Andrew talked to them about what they could do and feed the hens to correct this problem and then gave them a powder the mix into the hen's food that is made from Merringa plants grown on the farm, and gave the men Merringa seeds to plant their own. Before leaving the men gave Andrew their number and invited Andrew to come and visit them later in the week.
Through these simple acts of love, a relationship was formed and I have full confidence that these men will continue to tell other's about the farm and God will continue to open doors. This event reminded me of the parable of the growing seed in Mark chapter 4. Verses 26 and 27 say "He(Jesus) also said "this is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how." By Andrew being obedient to God's prompting and showing Christ's love, a seed has been planted in these men's heart.
I hope these updates are an encouragement to all of you and are demonstrating how God is at work here in Burkina Faso. At this point, I am still about 450 dollars short of the amount needed for my internship. CMF was still willing to let my come with faith that the money would come in sometime during the summer. I thank all of you that have been so generous to give to this cause and I ask that you would pray and consider giving again if God is leading you to do so. I have faith that God will provide and as always, your support through prayer is the greatest thing you can give to this cause.
God bless,
Jake
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Update 3: Storytelling
It's been a busy few days but wonderful!
I would like to tell you about Bible storytelling today!
Ken (the missionary I am with the most) has been able to start several Bible storytelling groups through out Sindou (were we live) and Kawara, a nearby town. I've been able to sit on on several of these. A few nights ago Ken and I were in Kawara and the men we were with asked Ken to tell them one of the stories. While Ken was sharing with them about Moses, I noticed the men get more and more drawn into the story. Several of them would say "Mmhmm" after every one of Ken's sentenced urging him to go on. One man kept scooting closer to the edge of chair, while another man was so drawn into the story that he did not notice his tea boiling over for quite a while beside him. This is just another testament to the fact that His word is spoken it does not return void. There are power in these stories that God has laid out for us.
I ask you to pray for these men as they eventually consider following Christ. The point of starting these storytelling groups with several people in them is hopefully that several of them will decide to follow Christ together in order to help each other through the social pressure and oppression that will likely follow.
I also ask that you pray for Ken as he shares God's word. Please pray that God will give him exactly the words that these men need to hear.
God bless!
Jake
I would like to tell you about Bible storytelling today!
Ken (the missionary I am with the most) has been able to start several Bible storytelling groups through out Sindou (were we live) and Kawara, a nearby town. I've been able to sit on on several of these. A few nights ago Ken and I were in Kawara and the men we were with asked Ken to tell them one of the stories. While Ken was sharing with them about Moses, I noticed the men get more and more drawn into the story. Several of them would say "Mmhmm" after every one of Ken's sentenced urging him to go on. One man kept scooting closer to the edge of chair, while another man was so drawn into the story that he did not notice his tea boiling over for quite a while beside him. This is just another testament to the fact that His word is spoken it does not return void. There are power in these stories that God has laid out for us.
I ask you to pray for these men as they eventually consider following Christ. The point of starting these storytelling groups with several people in them is hopefully that several of them will decide to follow Christ together in order to help each other through the social pressure and oppression that will likely follow.
I also ask that you pray for Ken as he shares God's word. Please pray that God will give him exactly the words that these men need to hear.
God bless!
Jake
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Finally in Sindou!
Greetings from Burkina Faso!
I finally arrived in Sindou, the town that I will be living in, on Thursday afternoon. The nine hour drive there gave me a chance to see some of the amazing African landscape and many people. During our travels we met an older woman named Ruth who has been a missionary for most of her life. She set up and has been operating an orphanage for several years and is now thinking about starting a medical clinic.
The two missionaries I am with are named Ken and Anita Hoch. There is a missionary family called the Gordons that a little over an hour away that I will be spending a few days a week with out on their farm.
On my first day in Sindou, Ken took me around the town to meet some of the people they knew well. The name that the local people will know me as is Yakuba, the Jula form of Jacob, because it is easier for them to say and remember. As I am learning the language, I will have several tasks to complete each day as I walk through the town, so meeting these people gives me a good language route to practice my Jula. One of the people I met was a young muslim man named YaYa who will come to the house most mornings and tutor me in speaking Jula.
The people of Sindou live in extreme poverty but are extremely welcoming and generous.
Already we have had lost bags, power outages, water cut, and car trouble but it has been and blast and wonderful adventure!
I ask you to pray for Ruth and the two interns with her, Ashley and Emily, as they continue the awesome work that God has called them to.
I also ask you to pray for YaYa as he teaches me Jula and will likely become a very close friend.
God bless!
I finally arrived in Sindou, the town that I will be living in, on Thursday afternoon. The nine hour drive there gave me a chance to see some of the amazing African landscape and many people. During our travels we met an older woman named Ruth who has been a missionary for most of her life. She set up and has been operating an orphanage for several years and is now thinking about starting a medical clinic.
The two missionaries I am with are named Ken and Anita Hoch. There is a missionary family called the Gordons that a little over an hour away that I will be spending a few days a week with out on their farm.
On my first day in Sindou, Ken took me around the town to meet some of the people they knew well. The name that the local people will know me as is Yakuba, the Jula form of Jacob, because it is easier for them to say and remember. As I am learning the language, I will have several tasks to complete each day as I walk through the town, so meeting these people gives me a good language route to practice my Jula. One of the people I met was a young muslim man named YaYa who will come to the house most mornings and tutor me in speaking Jula.
The people of Sindou live in extreme poverty but are extremely welcoming and generous.
Already we have had lost bags, power outages, water cut, and car trouble but it has been and blast and wonderful adventure!
I ask you to pray for Ruth and the two interns with her, Ashley and Emily, as they continue the awesome work that God has called them to.
I also ask you to pray for YaYa as he teaches me Jula and will likely become a very close friend.
God bless!
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Update 1: Travel
Hello supporters! I first want to thank you all for your prayers and financial support of my internship! I made this blog in order to keep you all as up-to-date as possible on how God is moving in Burkina Faso!
At the training that all of the CMFI interns attended, I saw Christ's love like never before. I witnessed brothers and sisters in Christ come together in love to learn and grow and prepare to serve God on the mission field this summer.
Right now I am waiting for my next flight as I travel to Burkina. As I am not traveling with a teammate, I am trying to use this time to meet people and show them Christ's love through conversations as our path's cross. I have already met several amazing people, including a brother in Christ that was a great encouragement to me!
I ask you to please pray for all of the other CMFI interns this summer as they travel across the world. I also ask that you continue to pray for the people of Burkina Faso.
Thank you and God bless
Jake
At the training that all of the CMFI interns attended, I saw Christ's love like never before. I witnessed brothers and sisters in Christ come together in love to learn and grow and prepare to serve God on the mission field this summer.
Right now I am waiting for my next flight as I travel to Burkina. As I am not traveling with a teammate, I am trying to use this time to meet people and show them Christ's love through conversations as our path's cross. I have already met several amazing people, including a brother in Christ that was a great encouragement to me!
I ask you to please pray for all of the other CMFI interns this summer as they travel across the world. I also ask that you continue to pray for the people of Burkina Faso.
Thank you and God bless
Jake
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