Hi everyone. Give Thanks! Praise God! (same thing?). I am so grateful for my time here. Thank you for supporting and praying for me.
Matt Walsh (the long term missionary that I’ve been somewhat shadowing) has just left (Dec 4) for a 7 or 8 month “home assignment”. Please pray for him and his family as they make the trek, and as they change pace in America again. I think its been 3 or so years for them.
His leaving means my inauguration into a web of responsibilities. Here’s the abbreviated list… I’ll be overseeing (as a consultant) the management of the “Survival Garden” project (mostly time management and managing finances). Of course, I will continue to lead a team hand drilling wells and installing pumps (as well as designing the tooling and pump superstructures) – this will be my main focus, at least for now. Besides general maintenance, the Missionary Station will be undergoing some repairs and additions that I’ll be heavily involved in (new buildings, electrical work, plumbing, etc.). Soon we hope to implement (in full working order) a new water distribution system for the community. In addition, there are other marginal projects to work on: setting up a wind anemometer, organizing work on the rice fields, continuing composting work on the Station (our team makes it in bulk and we sell it), overseeing the model garden implementing “Foundations for Farming” (you can look it up on the internet), sourcing and selling solar panels, working on bio-diesel, organizing the ongoing construction of the new church building, etc.
This plethora of possibilities makes it an exciting place to work (if you want to come help – let me know!). I’m overwhelmed, but I’m not stressed – and I can Praise God for that. I can also Praise God for the work that this produces for others in the area who are happy to have it (those we employ directly, the subsequent masons, welders, painters, etc.).
As I get involved in this other work, I find myself engaging more with different community members and I have been learning and using more French – yay (Praise God).
Of all the things I could Praise God for, I Praise God for including me in His Kingdom, now and the promise for the perfect solution to our brokenness. Hmm… I think it’s helpful to break down that word: “brokenness”. Maybe that’s the feeling we have when we’re lonely and depressed. Maybe that’s the sense that the world isn’t right when a loved one is incapacitated by illness or even dies. Maybe that’s the guilt of inadequacy that we feel when we consider what God really wants/expects of us. Praise God… why? He doesn’t destroy this once perfect creation because he loves us, because even though we’re broken, he still wants to fix us, and he still gives us a chance through Christ’s death and resurrection. That’s a great thing to Praise God for, and in the mean time, I suppose we can empathize and help one another, and of course encourage one another with God’s good promises.
Here’s what I did today (for those who like details)…
I woke up at 5:45 AM. I prepared breakfast (pancakes, but I didn’t have enough baking powder which resulted in some gooey pancakes, I also had a banana and a guava). I read Scripture (II Sam 20 where Sheba rebels against David… I never before realized that David sinned time and time again by failing to bring justice/punishment where it was due – at first glance it just seemed to me like he was merciful, but my Bible notes say it was disobedience to God. It says David gave mercy before repentance which was the problem.) I checked some e-mails and headed out the door for work. I met the team and we went to work at Diada’s garden. Work has been slow there due to clay. We tried a new technique today (pumping water from the base), but it didn’t prove terribly useful. The team returned to “bailing” while I went to Diada’s shop to work on a new tool – a helix auger for the stubborn clay. We made the tool that you see in one of the pictures below (the guy welding). For lunch I heated up some leftovers that the Kombari family gave me (rice and beans), as well as some yogurt that I made simply by setting out whole milk all night (it was pasteurized first). I helped Djibo (the head guard) repair a door, and changed the oil for the Station generator (which we use when there’s a problem with the water distribution). I made dinner (pasta, canned brussel sprouts, and a can of tuna). Soon after Diamuadi came to visit – we talked mostly about the upcoming work. I love that Diamuadi always asks to pray after a meeting and before work. I was walking outside when I happened upon a guard from across the street, who wanted to talk about whatever. We chatted for about 30 minutes about whatever – which was great because we were able to communicate about whatever – in French! Praise God. I came back and sent a few more e-mails to my cohorts (Joseph and Tony) in the States who help me with some of the well/pump design considerations. And now I’m writing this to you.
God bless!
Brendon
