Back to Family Life

Niakara has become like any good home.  Coming back feels like you never left.



Pastor's welcome to us

We went to visit our host family in Niakara because in West Africa, you never stay away too long.  It was a little hard to schedule a visit back, but God made it happen and here we are.  It’s amazing how much can change in a short period of time, and how much stays exactly the same, so we thought we’d update you on our family and what has happened in Niakara.

Much in our family is the same, but little Miss Jessica (or “Jissi” as they call her) has grown so much.  She’s almost a year old now, is crawling around and walking using the furniture – she claps (to a beat) and says “mama” (which really comes out “mamamamamamamamama” so we don’t know if it’s really what she’s saying). 



Baby Jessica

Our family is doing well.  Mom is busy raising their three kids and two nieces and getting peanuts ready to be sold in a nearby town.  Pastor is also busy, but doing well.  Many of you know our family is from a people group called the Tagbana people.   Our host dad was on the committee for getting a Tagbana Bible translated.  It is finished and the Tagbana Bible is about to be dedicated (allowing a whole new people group access to the word of God).  They also just finished the “Jesus Film” in Tagbana (of which our host dad was the narrator).   Praise God for all the work that’s being done in the Tagbana language.

Our Courtyard in April 2012

Our Courtyard in April 2013 (with the new Benkadi/JourneyCorps building and roof on the church)

 The church is also doing well.  They put windows and doors in the new church building (we were told that one Sunday they asked who would be willing to “buy” one door or window and the groups and families in the church stepped up and got that all paid for).  They finished the “Benkadi Building” which was the building that was funded by JourneyCorps (our African name being Benkadi, meaning “fall together”).  This building is there to house people that come in for conferences or for visits and also works as extra Sunday School classrooms.

Girls Group

And finally the Girls Group.   Emily and Lina moved to Niakara just as we were leaving and graciously continued the Girls Group that was started.  Jessica got to share with the girls one of the Sundays.  It was fun to re-connect with them all.  They also continued selling the bracelets to try to earn money for the Girls Group and also the youth group – they’ve earned almost 10,000 francs for their group.  They are doing a Bible Study with the girls once a month and have big ideas for the future, including a Girls Conference that (Lord willing) will happen before Lina leaves in July.  It’s also been on their hearts to try to integrate evangelism into the Girls Group, which is a great idea.  Pray that they can get the girls in the group excited about inviting friends from school and in the community to events or projects that are being done –Lina and Emily are even registered in a gym class at the high school to get to know some students outside of the church.  It’s been amazing to see how Niakara has become (and is becoming) there home too.

Like we said, as soon as we got back, it was the normal routine again.  Steve got to work at the moto shop, prepare and drink tea with the men in the community, and visit all of his friends at their homes and watched TV (a very cultural thing, believe it or not).   



Christmas gifts from the US and Benin

Well, that’s our update.  Continue to pray for our family – for the kids, who are struggling in school, for the dedication of the Tagbana Bible (May 11^th) and the potential Girls Conference.  Pray for many of our friends who are struggling in their work and trying to earn a living and food for their family and for those who are being persecuted in their families for their beliefs.  Pray for Emily and Lina as they walk through the ups and downs of living in a family and figuring out their role in the church and community!