A note about our visitors...

Email the Carters!

The biggest news this month is that… we are pregnant! We'll visit the doctor when we are in Ouaga in two weeks. Please pray for health since life in Africa makes pregnancies that much riskier. Also, please pray for Noah's health. Something really got a hold of him and Emma and gave them quite the fever this past week.
The first Dagara-lead leaders meeting was an outstanding success this month (including Amy as a guest presenter of a children's class). Despite some confusion on the location there were representatives from every congregation, including some who biked over 60 km for the event. They very soundly lead a teaching session about planning corporate worship services. It was inspiring to see these church leaders discuss how their churches worship and ask for help and offer advice to others.
Also, in Muturi they are taking over more of their own maturation. They sought out Donatian, who lives in town, to help with some Sunday teaching. This has been very inspiring as they seek to deepen their faith.
The other big news is that there is now published scripture in Dagara Wule! The Gospel of Mark has been officially released among the Dagara further south of us. This day has been a long time coming and people in the Dano area cannot wait to get their own copy. There are plans underway for a release in our area in January or February.
Thanks for your continued prayers.

In Christ,
Chad, Amy, Noah, & ?

Email the Johnsons!

As you may have guessed from the introduction, we are expecting our second child! God has chosen to bless both the Carters and us with children due only days apart from each other. We are rejoicing in God's provision, particularly at a time when Melissa's parents are here to enjoy the news in person! However, owing to our difficult history with pregnancies, we are still very nervous and solicit your prayers for the safety and health of our child.

We have really enjoyed Joe and Joy's visit. Elijah took to them immediately, and they seem to think he is pretty great, too. His progress toward walking seems to have taken a hit, though, as he has barely been out of their arms during his waking hours! The only regret we have about their trip is that they are only able to stay two weeks.

We had a great time hosting our team for Thanksgiving. Everyone contributed various goodies to make for quite a spread. We enjoyed a packed table and a lazy afternoon grazing on the leftovers with an old football game running in the background.

Our most recent leaders' meeting was a rousing success! We were so pleased to see the way that the Dano-Pari church stepped-up to organize and pull-off the day's events - they even finished on-time, a feat we had yet to manage hosting meetings ourselves. It was also the first time our ladies were involved in teaching at a leaders' meeting. Melissa taught about the importance of teaching children about God, and Amy offered two creative examples of how to go about doing this. They were, honestly, the hit of the meeting. We praise God for the way he is using our wives to strengthen the Dagara Christians.

Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Andy and Melissa

Email the Chankins!

This month was full of ups and downs. We were so blessed by the visit of Archie's brother, Jim. He was able to be here for over a week and celebrated Thanksgiving with us. The kids really enjoyed getting to know their uncle and both Archie and Mandy were encouraged by his visit.

Among the Dagara, we are so happy to see the maturation of the Christians that has occurred over the last several months. The first Saturday of December, the Dano Pari church hosted a leaders' meeting on the topic of worship. While some of the teaching was done by missionaries, a large part of the meeting was completely Dagara led and it was a wonderful success. The Christians were able to fellowship with and learn from one another. Another highlight of the month was the Sunday cluster worship which took place in November. Many Christians travel long distances on bicycle or foot just for the opportunity to share Sunday morning worship with Christians from other villages. It is humbling and beautiful to see their dedication and desire to serve the Lord and each other.

Archie is continuing his weekly study in Mou and we ask your prayers for the people there to be open to the truth. At the moment, there is a Satanic initiation going on just down the road from Mou and it just drives home how much these people need to be freed from the darkness.

This month has also brought illness to our family. Jack continued to struggle with malaria (he is well right now) and Emma had an infection that caused very high temperatures (she is well, too). We ask you to lift up our kids in prayer asking God for protection for their little bodies. We also ask that you pray for us as we suffer when they suffer. We are so thankful for all of you and wish you all the happiest of holidays.

Blessings,
Archie, Mandy, Emma and Jack

Email the Burks!

We are starting to really miss Africa - with the freezing temperatures and all here. We are especially excited to get back and see our house now that we have put tile on our formerly cracked, uneven concrete floors. Thanks to the Boerne Church of Christ for their generosity and to our teammates and houseworkers and contractors who have worked to bring this about.

We are starting to get more used to being parents of two children. Our day is sprinkled with joyful moments where Dylan now starts to smile and sometimes laugh a little. Daniel is making an international Christmas tree at his Granny's house as a homeschool project.

We continue to ask for your prayers as Andrea is still having problems getting her blood pressure regulated.

Merry Christmas
And a Happy
New Year / Birthday,

Aaron, Andrea, Daniel and Dylan