We give our report on Sunday, November 18, 6:30 PM.

One of us, perhaps me, will give an overview of what we did (what ministries in what places with which personnel). Then each of you will have time to share about West Africa.

It is okay to share a brief observation about something only tourists would be interested in (long flight, giraffes, the variety of food, etc.).  That adds color to what we share.  Describing the villages and their culture helps our people better understand what they supported.  But let’s largely concentrate most of our time on the missionary purpose for which we were sent.  I would also like each of you to answer several of the following questions in your presentation:

*Share an interesting or unusual memory that does not put a fellow believer in a bad light.

*What was the biggest thing that God did through you?

*What was your greatest personal blessing?

*What was one specific time you saw seeds sown for the Lord?

*What is one way God used the trip in your life?

*Why do you thank God for being part of the _______ Team  and/or How did the time in Niger affect the way you view missions, prayer, the Bible, the church, God, and/or living for the Lord everyday?  What has changed in your life?  What will change in your life?

*In what way did you grow spiritually?

To do this, it would be helpful if you keep a copy of the questions and record answers in your journal as you go.  Trying to wing it on Sunday evening will leave many important things momentarily forgotten.  I like Kenny’s approach and have used it myself.  He had the answers already written before he came home.  Every evening there will be free time to reflect and record.  There will be plenty of time in the bush taxi to write things, too.

Remember that all of us as believers are on mission all the time at work, at home, or overseas.  It is only a question of whether we are being useful missionaries or not.  Please be sure NOT to convey the concept that a person must be on a mission team in a foreign country to have an impact for Jesus Christ.  Instead, communicate how it encourages you to live for the Lord in every day life.  We do not want the impression of the church to be that we four now are an elite group who alone do missions work because we have been to Africa.  We were blessed as we did what we were called to do.  Each member of the church was also blessed through their giving, prayer, and the items they sent along if they also did by faith what God called them to do.

It is also true that no one will completely understand what you are trying to convey unless they go to West Africa.  But we cannot build up the body completing sentences like: “You will never know… “I don’t know how to explain to you…”.  Let’s spend all our time telling them what we are able and none of the time stumbling over what we cannot figure out how to convey.

Let’s pass along accurate information.  If you have any doubts about names, places, or information, please check with the pastor or another on the team.  The following facts are some of the things that most easily get confused in our church:

______ is the capital city of  _______ (a different country than _________ which is just to the south).  We stayed at the guest house in _________ and then in ______, a _____ hour drive east and a little south. We ministered among the _________ who often live with Hausa.  Many other people groups lived in ________ and ______.  _________ is what others call them.  ___________ is what they call themselves.  Their language is _______.  All the related people groups, like the ________________, are spread across all of West Africa.  They used to be nomadic herders.  Now they are largely settling their homes into one area while the cattle is lead many miles by the boys and young men to find food and water. Two months in the summer are the only times when it rains.  There are 500,000 ______ in _______.  There are another 1.5 million across the border in _______.  The main two villages we visit will likely be D___ and R______.  Our main tools are prayer, prayer walking, Bible storying, and the Jesus video (which we may or may not use this time).  (Blanks in online version are a minimal level of security for those still in West Africa).

Susan _____ is a career IMB missionary studying ______.  She lives in _____. ____ and _____ work with One Story.  They will record Bible stories in Fulfulde to distribute by cassette tape.  Mike ______ is the IMB missionary leader living east of ______.  Baker ___ is the strategy coordinator for the ______.

We have many plans for the future, but have no idea how God will lead us or the others ministering among the ______.  In missions we remain flexible to see what God is doing.  We are very encouraged to see all the resources God is calling to the ______.  God has called to ministry:  Susan, us, the one story team, four more journeymen who are farther east, a _______ language Christian radio broadcast, and other ministries.

Be positive.  Be thankful for the prayer support and the money they gave to fund the ministry.  Let’s pray that God is glorified and that all of us are challenged to live more obediently for the Lord because of the presentation we give.  Time permitting we will answer questions at the end.