MEHANNA ROAD

Post by David Walden (June/July 2009 Trip - Village K)

There are many experiences I could blog about. However, I think what touched me most was Dave Adcox reading from Matthew 25: 35-40 to Chief A.

If anyone is not familiar with this passage, it speaks "For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me."

Since the chief has indeed been sick in the past, and now he is better because of our mustard seed prayers, and since he did indeed let us come into his village and Bible story to his people; and since they did indeed feed us three different times at the school we painted; I was overwhelmed with tears running down my cheeks. Since we now know some of the results of our trip, that scene at the school as become even more of a blessing

Email update from Gerri Adcox during June/July 2009 Trip - Village K

I just spoke with Dave, and he said that everything is going very well. They painted almost all day Monday and then spent the night in the village last night. They attempted to story today, but because of the timing of the rain this year, almost everyone was in the fields working. They storied with about 20 women and children today.

 The headmaster of the school has been very gracious and pleased to have them there. Dave spent time with him today, going through the plan of salvation with him, and then gave him a New Testament and a copy of the Jesus film. Dave said that the headmaster was excited to get the New Testament.

 Dave tried all day to find the chief to ask permission to show the Jesus film tomorrow night, but the chief was in his fields all day. The headmaster said he would speak to the chief on Dave’s behalf and tell him how hard Dave tried to find him. The headmaster said, "You have done great work. We are very pleased. The chief will be glad for you to show the film." Please pray that the chief will be as agreeable as the headmaster thinks he will be!

 The team is at the guest house in Niamey tonight, but will return to village K tomorrow morning. Two of them will finish painting the school tomorrow while the other two will go to Village Y (a larger village) and try to story to a larger group.

 They are planning an open house at the school Thursday morning. The chief has already told them that he will be there and will bring his entire council.

 As you can see, they have MANY praises to report! Dave said that no one is sick and everyone is holding up well. The headmaster’s wife has brought lunch to them two days in a row, and they had to eat it in order to not offend her or her husband, but Dave said they all still remain well, which is an answer to prayer. He said to keep praying because he thinks she may keep feeding them. :-)

 Dave said that the murals Cindy painted are beautiful. They have trees, boats, and the river, and at least one of them is painted next to a window that overlooks the river. He has pictures he will share when he returns.

 Dave said that as they painted yesterday, they left their paint supplies outside of the school. At one point, they went outside and the village children were painting their clothes and shoes with the paint! He said that no one seemed to mind, and that it was very entertaining.

 Thank you for your prayers. Dave said that the entire team feels the presence of God and appreciates all of the prayers that are being lifted on their behalf.

 Gerri

April was a great month on the Mehanna Road and we give God the Glory. Here is a an overview of the month from Abdourahamane.

"I first thank God for all that He did for us on the Mehanna Road. We started with visiting all the believers, praying for them, visiting their families and encouraging them. After that, we went out and did evangelism, telling the story, praying and singing. There is one thing that I discovered, that Mehanna Road has been chosen by God." What was amazing is the way the people listened and their desire to know more. They were great with us and welcomed us with open arms. We are praying for three persons who are ready to follow Jesus and our hope is that you will continue to pray with us for the Gospel to spread on the Mehanna Road. Amen, Your Friend Abdourahamane."

Cool - keep on praying!

Jeff W and myself (Mark K) recently returned from the Mehanna Road after working to implement a new teaching/training method for discipleship and evangelism to believers and seekers alike.

The temperatures were in the 120's while we were there with only a slight drop below 90 at night.  Jeff and I were able to spend additional time in KK and T while we slept in tents.  Laoualy and our new friend (and Mehanna Road discipler) Abdraman were our translators and guides during the week.  Both are great and we are excited that Abdraman will be partnering with Laoualy along the road.

The Songhai have an oral culture for learning, teaching and storying.  Many of the Songhai are not literate so oral teaching is the easiest and best way to pass along history and learning.  We were privileged to story to about New Testament passages of Jesus birth, the feeding of the 5000, Jesus walking on water and calming the sea, healing the Gesarene demoniac and the story of the master's banquet invitation.  Believers and  non-believers alike welcomed us graciously with their time and resources.  We were able to meet with believers in all three villages we visited, and if we were unable to locate the believer(s) in the village, we simply approached a group of people and asked if we could story to them.  Each time we were welcomed as honored guests.

We were able to teach the Songhai some songs and found that singing is a great way to draw a crowd (as it putting up or taking down sleeping tents).  We attempted to get everyone to enter into a discussion about the teaching segments and ask questions about the storying and teaching time in an effort to generate discussion for a few reasons: 

1. We want to make sure the teaching is fully understood by everyone.  Asking questions to and from the teacher ensures that everyone comprehends the meaning of the lesson.
2. Additional discussion helps the believers gain confidence in their knowledge of the Bible and will hopefully cause them to generate discussions with friends and family around them about their faith.  We want the believers to be more vocal in their beliefs to share Jesus with others.

Historically, teaching involves listening and then leaving.  No discussion time is included after the teaching to ensure comprehension.  By making interactive storying our new teaching method, we hope to strenghten the believers to share what they've learned with others where they live.

Kids are kids no matter where you go.  The kids I saw in Africa are dirty, their teeth are rotting, they haven't eaten anything with nutritional substance for days, if ever, and they constantly have a swarm of gnats and flies following them wherever they go.  Most sleep on the ground - no pillow, no blanket, no favorite stuffed animal.  They attend school sometimes but no one takes them to class, they have no school supplies, and their desks are falling apart.  Yet, amidst all of these things that would make an American child think he was literally about to die, they are the happiest children I have ever had the privilege of meeting.  They fashion toys out of tin cans and sticks.  They ride donkeys and play in the dirt.  They make up songs and take care of each other.  Not being able to communicate with them was the most difficult challenge for me but a simple smile, no words needed, and a wave had the ability to light up every face in the village.  They giggled when we tried to speak their language and oftentimes mocked our accents but their sweet faces only forced us to keep trying if only to make them smile.  They would greet us at the gate every morning and run behind or beside our bus each day as we left.

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
They are PRECIOUS in HIS sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

I'm certain I will never forget the faces of some of the children I met along the Mehanna Road.  I realized that I have so much to learn from them and I pray the Lord will send someone after us to help them understand how special they are and how much they are loved.  I pray that I will learn to live with such joy even in the midst of such dire circumstances.

"I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever... Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power."
Psalm 145:1,3-4