| Andy
and Melissa Johnson |
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July
was one of the busiest months for our family since moving
to Burkina!
We
first took our turn hosting Carla and Krystina in our
home. Next came Andy’s birthday celebration with a romantic
dinner at the nicest restaurant in Dano – our house.
A few days later, Andy drove to the border with Ghana
to pick up four Harding interns who had spent their
summer at a Christian orphanage. We welcomed them into
our home for a few days before we, along with all six
interns and Aaron, headed off on our survey trip to
the Dogon people. There, we spent one luxurious week
in sunny Mali, researching all the great things about
a team moving there (lots of beach, not much ocean).
Having been back in Dano for a few days, we loaded up
again and took the interns to Ouaga to catch their flight
back to the States. Although we had a good time and
stayed busy, we’re looking forward to a much slower
August spent doing village work here in Dano.
Please
keep us in your prayers. We’ve experienced some really
trying times of late, including a miscarriage and finding
out that our adoption we announced last month won’t
be going through. Then, we recently heard that Melissa’s
folks, who were planning a visit in August, cannot come
because Melissa’s mother was diagnosed with lymphoma.
We ask you to pray for peace for our families and us.
Thank
you, and God bless!
Andy and Melissa
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| Archie,
Mandy, and Emma Chankin |
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This
month our team saw off the Carter family as they left
for furlough and the birth of their son, Noah. We also
saw off our first group of interns. Carla Burger and
Krystina Hickl were here for the last six weeks on their
ACU internship.
In
the village of Dagore where Chad and I are teaching,
there were 12 baptisms last Wednesday. It is always
a great thrill to see God working in our ministry among
the Dagara. Please pray for these new Christians as
we continue the formation and growth of a church in
this village.
Mandy
had a good check up at the Doctor this month as well.
He says that everything is progressing normally with
the pregnancy. Please continue to pray for a healthy
pregnancy for Mandy and the new baby. Emma continues
to grow and surprises us everyday with new accomplishments.
Severen
and I made our first of many visits to the village of
‘Yo last Friday. We met some of the older men of the
village. Please pray as we continue these visits and
look to start teaching there in the next few months.
Next
month, we have three visitors coming from Oak Hills.
We are looking forward to this visit. After they leave
Burkina Faso, they are going to Guinea. It will be a
whirlwind of a trip for James and Barbara Massie and
Vic King. We ask you to please pray for safe travel
for them.
God
Bless,
Archie, Mandy and Emma
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| Aaron,
Andrea, and Daniel Burk |
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This
month began with a trip to the cultural museum
in Gaoua with our interms and a 4th of July celebration
where we all enjoyed some badmitton and sunburn,
and hamburgers.
Then
the interns, Aaron, the Johnsons, and some interns
from Ghana, joined some missionaries from Togo
with their interns, and we all went to Mali to
survey the Dogon people group. This area is one
of the harshest and most beautiful environments
we have ever visited. There was work done among
the Dogon 70 years ago, and a New Testament has
been translated into one dialect. However, this
means that the others have no bible they can understand
easily and Christians and non-Christians alike
are open to missionaries. We were also surprised
to meet the Assembly of God pastor in Douentza
and find that he was a Dagara!
While
I was gone, Chad delivered our cute little puppy,
Uber. I am sad to write that not only have Uber's
mother and almost all his siblings died, but he
has been sick with a mysterious illness and after
three rounds of antibiotics and other medicines,
he is still suffering quite a bit and we're not
sure he'll make it.
Our
son also got sick on the recent trip to Ouaga,
but he he is doing much better after getting Malaria
treatment.
We
are extremely extatic over new baptisims in Dagore
and Dano-Paris. Praise God who brings the growth.
May
the LORD Bless You and Keep You,
Aaron, Andrea, and Daniel
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.
. More news from the Burks
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| Chad
and Amy Carter |
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The
Carter family has had a surprising month. Amy
left for the States on July 16th to prepare for
the birth of Noah. It turns out we cut it a little
too close and Air France was very generous in
changing their policy to allow her to fly during
her 8th month. Chad was scheduled to follow her
on August 16th but there was a sudden change in
two family funerals. Thanks to the proximity to
furlough time and because of the unique circumstances
Chad was able to see his grandfather in Kentucky
during his "Celebration of Life" service. We are
currently in Ulysses, KS for the funeral of Amy's
grandmother. After this event we will be settling
down in Dallas through the month of September.
We look forward to quality time with Richardson
East and the arrival of Noah sometime in September.
We dearly miss the people and our home in Burkina
Faso.
In
Dallas, we will be staying put in Allen. We eagerly
look forward to getting together with everyone,
catching up, and sharing with one another what
is happening in God's kingdom here and abroad.
We have a nationwide cel phone number during our
furlough time, it is a local call from the Dallas
area. 682-429-7063 Thank you for your prayers.
Please
remember the young church in Dagore.
Chad
and Amy
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