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Things I couldn’t tweet from Burkina Faso

February 6, 2010 in Africa, Burkina Faso, Global Outreach with 0 Comments

Internet access was not as easy this time around in Burkina Faso. That meant less tweets. I take lots of notes on these trips, so if I could tweet as often as I do in the US here are some things I would have shared.

Meeting my Compassion Child was an amazing experience. I can’t imagine a better way to spend $38 a month. Next time I’m bringing the boy some shoes.

The Pastor at the LAC (Agabuse) has as big a heart for Student discipleship as anyone I’ve ever met.

Dang, it’s hot!

After doing 26 wells in the first two years we have request for 124 more with ‘more on the road’ as our friends on the ground say. We have request from over 300 km away. That’s what credibility will do for you.

“You have no idea how many people will be converted from the digging of one well.” (Pastor Tomas, Central Church, Ougagadougou)

More than 500 people have trusted Christ in the last year from the animist people group we have adopted called, ‘The Pugli’. We hope to build churches in more than three dozen villages among this group

The men that pastor these bush villages are no joke. We can learn a lot from them about leadership, dedication, and expanding the kingdom.

Can’t help but wonder how much impact my African American friends in the states would have on these people.

500,000 people died in Burkina from a famine that happened less than 5 years ago. Why doesn’t anyone know about that?

I can’t believe how hot it is!

Every woman in the US should come build relationships and encourage women here. It would be empowering for both parties.

Looking forward to putting Tony Morgan’s books in French and seeing how these principles transfer over

Answered prayer is the first step in creating ministry strategy

Our friends in the bush just spent a month salary feeding our team three meals. That’s humbling.

Great test of friendship and the people you work with is traveling like this. It’s a little strange to me, but I still like all these people.

A frozen Tampico is the nectar of the gods

The more people come over here, the more impact we will have in Burkina and in our own families and churches.

Time For Some Execution

January 26, 2010 in Africa, Burkina Faso, West Ridge Church with 0 Comments

A couple of years ago I came to West Africa for the first time. Pastor Brian Bloye and the elders at West Ridge Church had said that it is time for our church to play a role in God’s work on this continent. Through a family connection of a missionary on the field we ended up in a country called Burkina Faso in a part of the world called, ‘The Sahel’ (Sub-Saharan Africa).

Over the course of several trips and lots of prayer and discussion we have come up with a strategy to help play a role in spreading the gospel to unreached people groups in this country. It’s bigger than one church or any one organization. I’ll talk through more our strategy in some upcoming post.

As all of our plans came together one very important component came to the foreground; we needed personnel on the ground to host teams and look after the strategy as it developed.

After a couple years of prayer and a lot of bold moves by West Ridge Leadership I am sitting here in Ouagadougou with Chris and Connie Feilds and their 5 kids. These kids are so excited to be in Africa they can’t stand it. The four year old keeps asking, ‘Where is the pool?’ Thankfully, the US Rec Center has one. Chris and Connie look like you’d expect after bringing 5 kids, all their luggage and a dog with them across 20 hours of travel.

There is more to this little plan of ours. I’m actually going to sleep in another part of the plan later tonight. More than anything each of you have a role to play that I will be explaining as well.

Follow our trip this week by visiting Brian’s website and Tony Morgan’s Site.

For now it is time for a little rest.

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

Merry Christmas, Now Get Out

December 21, 2009 in Africa, Burkina Faso, Global Outreach, West Ridge Church with 0 Comments

A few weeks ago I wrote an announcement to try and draw attention to the Global Trips we are planning at West Ridge. In tongue and cheek fashion I gave a recommendation that you send your spouse oversees as a way of saving your marriage. Evidently, I was right on as several of you have talked with me about giving Global Trips to your spouse for Christmas.

This may be more than just an exercise in marriage intervention. Many of you have come to me and said that it was actually a spouse that encouraged you to go on your first trip. Sometimes we have to give each other permission to take the time, or spend the money.

If you have a spouse that has talked about wanting to see the savannahs of Africa, the Amazon of Brazil, or the hidden treasure of Cuba, let’s make 2010 the year. God is allowing us to partner and do some amazing ministry in these countries; digging wells, building churches, and being a part of community transformation in these three countries. Whole tribal groups of people who have never heard the name of Jesus, are being told about Him first from West Ridge and our partners.

I would encourage you to sit down, talk about this together, and choose to make the investment of your family’s time. There is some money involved, but most of it you can raise through fundraising and networking. We will provide guidance in this. We are very interested in helping you see what God is doing in the world, and engaging His global kingdom.

Sign up by visiting www.westridge.com/global

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

It’s Time You Meet Pete

October 21, 2009 in Africa, Burkina Faso with 0 Comments

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to meet a Missionary in Burkina Faso by the name of Pete Brokopp. God has given this man a ton of influence in this West African country. He has opened several doors for our ministry there.

This Sunday he will be at West Ridge Church during our three services. He will share for just a couple of minutes in the service, which is not nearly enough to help capture all that is happening. For that reason, we are hosting a reception for Pete at 4:00 p.m. in the Discovery Room at West Ridge. It will be a ‘drop-in’, so come and go as you like. We will be wrap things up just before the 6:00 p.m. service.

If you have any interest in traveling to Africa with West Ridge with us you should come. Our confirmed trips are up on our website at www.westridge.com/global. If you have sponsored a child in Burkina through Compassion International you should come. All in all this is going to be a great afternoon hearing about what God is doing. It will expand your view of Him and just might expand your faith.

Pete has become a great friend to me and our church. I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to get to hear more.

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

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