Hello everyone we have arrived safely in the Gambia. It was a long journey, drive from incline to San Francisco, flight to Washington, and then flight to Dakar Senegal our first plane was delayed so we almost missed our second flight, but they waited for us and we were the last passengers to board, after running through the entire airport of course. Once in Dakar we took an 8 hour taxi route to Banjul where we are right now. It was a difficult journey but we thank God that we made it. So far life in Gambia is as we left it, very hard. We are going to Bansang next week so please pray we will find the garden ok and that we will have good relationships with our host family. Also pray that we are able to finish the mission center and that God would provide a national missionary to come along side us and learn about the garden and be willing to join in the work that is going on in the Bansang area. We are now trying to readjust to Gambian life and are slowly adapting once again. It’s nice to have a couple days in the city to just get used to being back. Our friend Hayden Moore is here with us now, he will be staying in the city area but it is nice to know he is around. We have been able to meet up with friends and are feeling fairly welcome. Not too bad of a change. Anyway, of course we miss you all, and we thank you once again for all of your prayer and support.
we will really try to update this regularly
love tom and andrea
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Back in America
Hey all, I know, I know I am terrible at updating, but I'm really going to try and be better at it. Tom and I are back in America, we are working on fund raising and are home to see our families and friends. This past year has been really rough for us. We have had many disappointments and alot of really tough times. But God is so good. We have come to a decision. The gospel is going to be spread through the nationals. Because of this realization, we have decided to change our focus to Natioal Empowerment. We really feel as though this is what God is calling us to, and we are really excited about it. We are still growing Bananas but now have decided that any money coming from them will be going towards sending national missionaries out to do ministry. Currently we have quite a number who are ready to do missions in their own country but are worried about funds and feeding their families. We are hoping this will be the answer to the problem. We really feel that God is leading us to do this. We believe that the nationals will be much more effective in sharing the Gospel with their fellow country men than some foreigner coming in. Please join with us in prayer, that God would over come the obstacles that may stand in our way. Also pray for the nationals and that they would continue to be ready and stoked to go out and share their new found faith.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Back in the city
We are currently back in the city. We have decided to come down for two conferences, a retreat with YFC and also a Muslim convert conference, where Christians from a Muslim background are invited to come and share their thoughts and be taught about Christian life. Here is our update on the Muslim Convert conference it was Awesome!!!!!!
The conference was a Huge success. Praise the Lord. Gambians, Guineans, Senegalese, Malians, and even one man from Guinea Bissau came together to share ideas and thoughts about their new found faith ( as well as old found faith) Each person that was in attendance was a Christian from a Muslim background. We had about 130 people in attendance and God really moved throughout that place. We were able to come together for 4 days and dig deep into God's word. Christian family and marriage was taught, and what it looks like to have a Christian family and what the Bible says about living in a Christian home, we also heard from one Missionary about the problems between Missionaries and the national Church, and we discussed possible solutions. This was also a time for people to voice their opinions and concerns. It is interesting to see how the past is still being dwelt on. Very sad, that people have so many misconceptions about each other. I feel that one of the main reason the conference was held was to bring unity back into the Missionary/Chruch relationship. We had one man come as a Seeker and decided to give his life to Christ. Tom and I were able to meet not only missionaries from Gambia but also missionaries from Guinea Conakry and Mali. We were able to hear about their experiences and share our own. We were greatly encouraged by these missionaries and hope to continue to build relationships with them. Tom and I were so greatful to hear both sides of the many problems between Missionaries and Nationals, with this new found information we hope to try and rebuild the missionary/National relationship. Many nationals are never happy about Missionaries we are hoping to show them that not all missionaries are the same by coming in with a new focus, a focus on working for the nationals instead of the nationals working for the missionary. As far as the Missionaries go we are trying to assist the Missionaries to understand the nationals and build trust between themselves and to take the step of faith to look past nationality and work together as one Body of Christ. All in all we really enjoyed this time together and learned so much. Please be praying that we are able to find our own piece of land to live on and use as a Mission base. We feel ready to leave the family compound that we are currently residing in. Also pray for the missionaries of this area as well as the nationals that they would put aside their differences and finally come together for the work of God's Kingdom. Amen
Thank you so much for all your prayers and love and support.
Tom and Andrea
The conference was a Huge success. Praise the Lord. Gambians, Guineans, Senegalese, Malians, and even one man from Guinea Bissau came together to share ideas and thoughts about their new found faith ( as well as old found faith) Each person that was in attendance was a Christian from a Muslim background. We had about 130 people in attendance and God really moved throughout that place. We were able to come together for 4 days and dig deep into God's word. Christian family and marriage was taught, and what it looks like to have a Christian family and what the Bible says about living in a Christian home, we also heard from one Missionary about the problems between Missionaries and the national Church, and we discussed possible solutions. This was also a time for people to voice their opinions and concerns. It is interesting to see how the past is still being dwelt on. Very sad, that people have so many misconceptions about each other. I feel that one of the main reason the conference was held was to bring unity back into the Missionary/Chruch relationship. We had one man come as a Seeker and decided to give his life to Christ. Tom and I were able to meet not only missionaries from Gambia but also missionaries from Guinea Conakry and Mali. We were able to hear about their experiences and share our own. We were greatly encouraged by these missionaries and hope to continue to build relationships with them. Tom and I were so greatful to hear both sides of the many problems between Missionaries and Nationals, with this new found information we hope to try and rebuild the missionary/National relationship. Many nationals are never happy about Missionaries we are hoping to show them that not all missionaries are the same by coming in with a new focus, a focus on working for the nationals instead of the nationals working for the missionary. As far as the Missionaries go we are trying to assist the Missionaries to understand the nationals and build trust between themselves and to take the step of faith to look past nationality and work together as one Body of Christ. All in all we really enjoyed this time together and learned so much. Please be praying that we are able to find our own piece of land to live on and use as a Mission base. We feel ready to leave the family compound that we are currently residing in. Also pray for the missionaries of this area as well as the nationals that they would put aside their differences and finally come together for the work of God's Kingdom. Amen
Thank you so much for all your prayers and love and support.
Tom and Andrea
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Well guess what. The truck is still not ok. We had it in the workshop for 4 days they changed the disk, the mounts, the fuel pump and then they decided to get the carburetor serviced. we thought it was running better so we loaded our entire shipment into it and headed off, back home. We got two hours up the road and the truck was not doing well, it may even be said that it all got worse. So we turned around and came straight back to the Mechanic. We had to unload all of our stuff (we're talking alot of stuff) and left it with the mechanic. So who knows how much longer it will be. Anyway, with that said, one can guess how we are feeling right now, tired, depressed, discouraged, to name a few. Please pray that God would give us rest in His love and peace about everything. We are anxious to get back home, especially sine it hasn't rained much, we have to water the Bananas. Keep us in your prayers.
Andrea and Tom
Andrea and Tom
Friday, July 11, 2008
Hello everyone, I just wanted to let you all know about everything. We are now in the city once again, our truck was very sick and we don't really have any good mechanics in Bansang, so we prayed like crazy that God would get us back to the city in one piece, Thank you Lord for being faithful! The mechanic ended up dropping the entire engine and changing the clutch disc and some mount things and also the fuel pump. Anyway hopefully it will be good now. We have our shipment out of the dock now it is in the care of one of our pastor friends, we'll take it home this trip. Anyway, prayer requests, we are part of a team that is hosting a conference, it is a Muslim Convert conference, Christians from a Muslim Background will be coming from all over West Africa to The Gambia this will be happening Aug 20-24th Please pray for safe travels, for everyone, pray for the speakers and the team that is hosting everyone, pray that God will really call these nationals into a life of ministry and devotion to the Lord. Please also join Tom and myself in praying for our vision of sending out nationals from Gambia to neighboring countries and also finding support for all of them. We are so greatful to have an amazing group of Prayer Warriors behind us, God will bless each one of you
Love
Andrea
Love
Andrea
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
bananas are growing!
Hello everyone,
This Andrea Johnson, Tom and Andrea’s friend. I called them last week and got a good update from them. They are still waiting on some final paperwork and other things to get their shipment. The Gambia is a very corrupt country so if you are not willing to pay bribes you have to wait a long time to get what you want. They said they are doing well back in Bansang and that they have half the plantation planted with bananas, so that is keeping them both busy. They have two dogs now that are going to serve as watchdogs on the land. Andrea told me that they are very healthy for the most part but we could pray for their health to stay that way. She also told me about the spiritual warfare that is going on there. There are people that are “falling down” and it is getting worse and worse, please pray for the stronghold of evil in this town would be broken and people would find the comfort they need in God. They are praying a lot and feeling led to help start a program in west Africa like Gospel for Asia (www.gfa.org) to help support the local Christians to go out in their country to their people and tell them about the hope and life they have in Christ. Please pray that God would make this clear to them and lead them in the right steps to bring this opportunity to the people of The Gambia and West Africa.
This Andrea Johnson, Tom and Andrea’s friend. I called them last week and got a good update from them. They are still waiting on some final paperwork and other things to get their shipment. The Gambia is a very corrupt country so if you are not willing to pay bribes you have to wait a long time to get what you want. They said they are doing well back in Bansang and that they have half the plantation planted with bananas, so that is keeping them both busy. They have two dogs now that are going to serve as watchdogs on the land. Andrea told me that they are very healthy for the most part but we could pray for their health to stay that way. She also told me about the spiritual warfare that is going on there. There are people that are “falling down” and it is getting worse and worse, please pray for the stronghold of evil in this town would be broken and people would find the comfort they need in God. They are praying a lot and feeling led to help start a program in west Africa like Gospel for Asia (www.gfa.org) to help support the local Christians to go out in their country to their people and tell them about the hope and life they have in Christ. Please pray that God would make this clear to them and lead them in the right steps to bring this opportunity to the people of The Gambia and West Africa.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
tower
here is the water tower that me and a mason built for a plantation in the kombo area it took the two of us about three weeks and cost about 1500 USD. It has a holding capacity of about 2000-2500 liters. I have installed two out of the 4 taps it will supply and soon i plan to install the well pump. Its a lot of work but once it is all complete it will help provide some income for a ministry called house of wisdom that outreaches to muslims and helps muslim converts learn how to live with their new faith and outreach to their friends and family. House of wisdom has one church in gambia and a affiliate church in Guinea, each church is composed of 95-100 nationals from muslim backgrounds. That is extremely uncommon in west africa for those of you that dont know. Most Churches have christians from nigeria, ghana, the west, or people who were born in a christian home. The muslims who comprise of 95% of west africas population have still been unreached despite years and years of effort by missions and churches. Yet with house of wisdom they are effectively evangelizing and seeing people come to the Lord. However they have no constant support and are a grassroots ministry struggling to do more ministry and outreach. So feel our current mission work in gambia and west africa will be to help empower their ministry by any means we can. Please pray for them and us to do mighty exploits for the kingdom that will never end! Hallelujah shouts and cheers from all people....
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