Friday I Was a Total Failure. Tuesday, God was a Hero

"Friday, I was a total failure. Tuesday, God was a hero." This was the phrase that my friend, Jim, expressed to me the other day. He was coming out with Florida with a small solar system to install at a government medical center in a rural area of Burkina Faso. Just before he was to board the plane, he discovered that it would be impossible to transport the batteries. Now what? Jim wrote a quick letter to me to ask my help in finding someone who could help us locate this kind of battery.

In the meantime, a week ago, I was talking with a technicien friend of mine and found out that he is quite knowledgeable in solar systems. I called him up and explained the situation. As soon as Jim arrived in the country, I put him in touch with my friend, who took him to a qualified dealer of solar material and the right battery was located and purchased.

Now you know where the phrase came from. How often do we feel like a total failure, only to see God turn a situation around and make it positive. Jim said that now he can negotiate for these small solar systems and due to the lack of batteries, he can bring out more of them on the plane. God thinks of everything!

Dr. I

Dr. I is all I'm going to call him. He is a wonderful believer who has a heart to help people. We recently had 3 of our girls from Dorcas House who were quite sick. After trying to treat them in the government hospital, we transfered them to Dr. I's clinic. A consultation costs less than 75 cents! Above his examining table is the handwritten sign, "Touch the patient!". He speaks all of the common languages of Burkina, plus English. Our girls are all doing much better, thanks to his loving care and the affordability of his clinic. A hernia operation for one of the girls cost $45 plus medicines.

We are thankful for Dr. I and the vision he had to create this clinic. All I can say is, "may his 'tribe' increase".

Compassion International

We are privileged to have the involvement of Compassion International here in Burkina Faso. This ministry is powerful and is having a significant impact on the education scene of this country. There are currently 96 churches that host a Compassion site. Over a dozen C&MA churches are sites for Compassion here in Burkina Faso.

20,000 students benefit from these sites
18,000 students are sponsored
8,000 more students is the aim for this year.

These students would likely not have a chance at getting an education. Education is proven to be one way to fight poverty. The Gospel is also a means to fight poverty. Compassion students are given the chance to be exposed to a biblical world view. By the time they finish school, they will have a good foundation to be a model citizen and a leader.

Stop and thank God for Compassion International, if you are reading this right now. Think about sponsoring a child in this country, if you have the means to do so. Make a difference in a child's life that will last for eternity.

Prayer Changes People

You never know when a simple prayer will change the life of someone.

When I returned from my most recent trip, Amy said to me, "You know that pizza delivery guy you prayed for after he was robbed? (Actually I didn't really remember it too well). Well, he just delivered some pizzas while you were gone and he said he is now walking with the Lord." How cool is that?

In February, I made a protocol visit to a person fairly high up in government. When I entered with a man who had set up the meeting, this government official proceeded to tell us all of his problems. When he had finished, I told him that I couldn't resolve his problems, but that I would be happy to pray for him, which he accepted. After we left, he called my friend who had set up the meeting and told him how much the prayer had meant to him.

I'm going to take more opportunities to pray with people for their needs. What's the risk?

A. Diallo

A. Diallo came to Dorcas House, a desperate young girl. In her young life of less than 20 years, she's had a lot put on her. Her mother is dying of a terminal illness. She, herself, had a child out of wedlock and had come to believe that selling her body was one of the ways she could help provide for her family.

Then, one of our colleagues, Sue Eshbaugh, suggested that she come to Dorcas House. She did, and when she arrived, you could see that she was a tough girl with a "history". But then, God came into her life, and her life is changed. She'll tell you so.

You should have seen A. singing and dancing at church this morning. Tears came to my eyes as I saw the reality of Easter displayed in the life of this young girl who is a different girl today. We all know that the problems are not over, but she has become a "new creation". Praise God for Easter!

Easter - He is Risen!

We had a wonderful Easter. What makes it wonderful, you might ask? Well, Saturday afternoon, I had the privilege of helping one of our pastors baptize 55 people from our Central Church. Baptism is always a joy, especially at Easter, when the meaning is so powerfully displayed in the water. Jesus died, was buried and rose again! Wow.

Sunday morning, we were invited to one of our sister churches here in town. We decided to take the girls from Dorcas House with us, as they were longing to be in church on Easter. I helped baptize 5 people from that church. I preached on Mary Magdalene and served communion. 2 people gave their lives to Christ this morning - Easter Sunday! Can you think of a better thing to happen on Easter Sunday?

This evening, we had all of our missionaries together for a ham and potluck supper. It was great to be together with these, our colleagues, with whom we are seeking to bring the message of Easter to bear on this country every day.

It was a good Easter. I hope yours was meaningful too.

Dentistry and Jesus Go Together

I just finished a week in the "bush", meaning a rural village. I hosted a dental team comprised of three people from the U.S., and three from Guinea. It was a powerful week, as the church in that area has been going through a period of persecution. Two Sundays ago I had the joy of preaching in one of the villages where most of the believers had been persecuted. One young girl has been beaten many times by her family because of her faith. The last time, the said they would "beat her until she vomited Jesus". She is still going strong and full of the joy of the Lord. It was a privilege to worship with these choice members of the family of God.

During the week, we saw the attitude of the people change towards Christ and his church. Even the persecutors were treated for dental problems. That's what the Gospel is about - blessing those who curse you and spitefully abuse you.

The dental team accomplished the following:

1. 262 patients were seen
2. 520 teeth were pulled
3. 163 teeth were filled
4. The name of Jesus was lifted up
5. The church gained favor with the people.

Praise God for a successful week, in every way.