Tea, Testimony, and Transformation

He pulled up a wooden chair for each of us, an then lastly one for himself along with a tiny teapot with black stains from sitting many times on the hot coals. I watched him, a weathered man of 54 years, as he poured the steaming tea from the pot to a glass, then back into the pot, then back into the glass. He tasted it, smacked his lips, and then continued to pour back and forth as if to say, “It’s not quite ready yet". He would hold the pot way up in the air as he poured, making a long, steady stream that amazingly made it into the glass below without spilling a drop. When it reached perfection, he filled a small glass cup for each of us and passed them around, waiting for our reaction. He smiled when my eyes lit up at the taste of hot African tea with a flavor of mint. 

The greatest form of hospitality here in Burkina Faso is to invite someone for tea. If the guest is an acquaintance, only one cup will be served, but for the closest of friends and most honored guests, there will be three cups. Mr. Barry served us three.

We sat under his thatched porch for a couple of hours as the first, second, and third cups brewed. We made slow conversation, watched the people pass by, and simply enjoyed the afternoon in each other’s company. There is very little emphasis on time and a much greater value of relationships. Even though Emily and I could not speak French, just being there and sitting with Mr. Barry seemed to make His day. I am continually impressed with and amazed by the hospitality of the Burkinabe people. 

Over the course of several days here, Emily and I have met many amazing people like Mr. Barry. We were given a tour around the city, including the market, the hospital, the pharmacy, and a boutique (little store). We have observed a lot of programs in which the missionaries are involved, like the CREN (Nutritional Rehabilitation and Education for Children) program for orphans, the well-drilling ministry with Living Water International (LWI), and the scholar program that helps sponsor children in school. 

On top of all that, we have spent an incredibly enjoyable time with the Richter family - having dinner, watching movies, and playing games all the while hearing about their ministry and plans for the future. It is so obvious how much they love these people, the work that is being done, and the difference that Christ is making as He changes lives. They have shared with us about their need for future teammates in 2014, especially since they want to expand and grow in many areas of their ministry. There is a need for leadership training in the churches, especially for women. They are dreaming about starting a children’s ministry in the churches, too. They also want to expand the orphan ministry spiritually as well as physically to provide nutrition and education for children older than two years old. There is even talk of starting a crisis pregnancy center or clinic for women and children.  

All this makes my ears perk up. Pregnancy crisis center? Clinic for childhood nutrition? Children’s ministry in the church? Raising up women leaders? This is exactly what I am passionate about doing, and the team here has an immediate need for more hands and helpers. When I toured the hospital and current CREN center, I loved observing, but I also felt like I wanted to be involved. I wanted to do something more. I could picture myself making rounds on the babies and plugging into the ministry there. 

As I have talked to the Richters about all this, they have been so faithful to remind me to let God lead. They have done an excellent job showing Emily and I what life is like here and what the mission involves, but they are also silent because they want God to call us, not them. “Enjoy your time here and don’t worry about making a decision,” they advised us, “Then pray about it a couple of months after you get back.” They shared with us their story of how they ended up in Burkina, emphasizing that it was an adventurous journey that involved following God one step at a time. Like holding a puzzle piece in your hand, you often don’t see the big picture at the time. You just follow day by day, and God makes it clear. It is like letting God lead you with a compass, not a map. You may not have specific instructions, but you have direction. “God will make it clear,” they said to us. 

I kept remembering those words when Geoffrey took us up the hill yesterday.  He said he wanted to “show us something”. It was a house made of bricks, surrounded by a secure wall with a gate, and decorated with a green lawn in the front. It was just the right size, not too big or too small. It is within walking distance from the CREN center, and you can see the hospital from the front gate. “Not to jump the gun or anything...” they said, “But we just wanted you to see it. It’s for sale.” 

My heart skipped a beat. This cute little house sits on the top of the hill overlooking the town. Another team member’s house is just down the road. A well has already been drilled to provide the house with water. It is kind of perfect. God will make it clear, I remembered. One step at a time. 

The best part was today when Emily and I got to attend an end-of-the-year party for the kids in the scholars program. They started studying the Bible together a few months ago, and now several of the students have decided to give their lives to Christ. Part of the party involved sharing testimonies. Emily and I got to share ours, but the best part was hearing theirs. “I am giving my whole heart to Jesus,” one boy said. “I realized there is a good and a bad path in life, and I am choosing to follow the paths of Jesus,” said another. One Muslim girl talked about God being the All-powerful God who alone can heal and save. “I want to follow Jesus.” she proclaimed. 

These are the leaders of the next generation, and they are proclaiming Christ as Lord. In all this, I realize that this is why we come to Burkina. We have loved living with the Richters, getting a feel for life in Burkina, and dreaming about how we could be a part of the team here. We loved shopping in the market, sweating like Africans in the desert heat, visiting orphans in their homes, eating antelope for dinner, and playing guitars to lamp light because the electricity was out once again. But compared to all that, this is what compels us to be a part of this ministry of reconciliation: God is raising up a church. He is changing lives, stirring hearts, and raising up a generation of worshippers that will change the world. The unreached people groups are hearing about Jesus, and the churches are multiplying so fast that the missionaries here can’t even keep up with all the second and third generation church plants. It is visible transformation.

God is moving, and it is blowing us all away...so much so that we want to be a part of it. We are praising Him joyfully for what He has done while dreaming about what may come of the future.