We are the first ones going through the language course offered by New Tribes here in Africa. Prior to our arrival, missionaries would go to Quebec or France first and do a year of French. Upon arrival in Africa they would be connected with an African host family from the local church who would show them around and help them get familiar with life here in Africa. These host families have played an integral role in connecting missionaries with the local church and involving the local church in the ministry of reaching the people outside the cities with the gospel. The partnership between the local church and the mission is growing in an exciting way. In a recent meeting one of the pastors from a local church said “when we agreed to host a missionary family, we thought we would be helping them to become familiar with the ways of Africa. Instead what happened is that we caught the vision and have now sent out our own missionaries.”
When we arrived we knew that we would be in all day language training for 6 months. We also knew we would have to play it by ear and be flexible as the trial run program but we knew nothing beyond that. At this point we know that at the end of 6 months training we will have to move out of our apartment. We will move to a new location hopefully near to a host family who will take over our language and culture training. When I first heard this my heart dropped (but I JUST moved!). However God has been working on my heart and reminding me that just because I followed and went once doesn’t mean that I am done following and going where God leads. So now the question that remains is where is this host family and host church for us to work with. We have been asked to consider the possibility of moving to a city about an hour or 2 from here. Would you pray for us as we consider this option? The upside would be that we already know some people who live there through Joel’s parents and it would be a great opportunity for New Tribes to strengthen connections with the local church outside of Dakar. The downside would be that we would be the only New Tribes Missionaries there in the city. We would once again be figuring out our surroundings from scratch, but we would at least have a host family to walk with us through the process.
Would you pray with us:
-As we consider the possibility of moving for the next phase of our language and culture learning.
-Pray also that God would be preparing and pointing to the right host family to help us through this process.
Yes, my dear. The following never stops. We are praying. The nice thing is that wherever you go, He goes with you.
Love,
Dad
I know moving again must be a difficult pill to swallow. You’ve just gotten comfortable and begun to be familiar with your surroundings and now you are being asked to start all over. I can’t imagine how much of a challenge that must be. I will just remind you (needlessly) of how many times the Apostle Paul had to make a new journey at the Lord’s leading. It must have been much the same for him. DONT you just hate people who ‘scrituralize’ when it is you not themselves they are pointing too. Sorry, about that. Carolyn Gaupo
Yeah, it is so hard to move around when you just want to get established and put down roots. I am praying for you all. I know this will be another transition, regardless of where you end up. I’m glad you are in God’s hands and he knows what he’s doing. Love you all!