Thank you once more for your support and prayers. As you probably know, I am now back in the UK. On my arrival, I was ordered by my church leaders to take a holiday, which led to a lovely week in Scotland, including the Isle of Skye! I am now back in Cardiff.

HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS
This time in Burkina Faso was very taken up with building 31 houses. This was for vulnerable people who lost their homes following the flood in August that destroyed half of Gorom-Gorom. Thank you once more for your generosity that enabled us to do this. Your gifts have not only met people’s needs, but also brought thanks to God and prayers for his people (see 2Cor 9:12-14). I am now writing up a full report and accounts for the project, and will also put more details on my website in the coming weeks.

• The Houses.
You can see in the photos the two types of houses we built: one type was made from mud brick, with a tin roof, plastered in tar, and with a cement belt at the bottom to protect them from rain and flooding. The other was “woodless construction”, built entirely from mud bricks, including the domed roof. This a much better house both for the owner (it keeps a better temperature), and for the environment (given the problem of deforestation). But it is a new technology for our area, and not many of the beneficiaries wanted this style!

• The Beneficiaries.
Those who gained houses were all vulnerable people with no-one to help them, mostly older widows and widowers, or blind. All are Muslims, from different ethnic groups. It has been great getting to know these people, and to be able to help and put first those whose experience is that they are the last and the least. Real friendships have developed with them as we have visited them and involved them in the process of building their homes. Please pray for God’s blessing on their homes and for the continuing friendships.

• The Team.
A team of volunteers from the Gorom-Gorom churches worked tirelessly to manage the project. You can see them in the photo - from left to right: Serge (liaison with local authorities), Seydou (carpenters and plasterers), Pastor Pascal (advice), Tamini (builders), Pastor Daniel (advice), Pierre (brickmakers). It has been a privilege to work with such a great team. People in town have praised them for the work they have done, and I ask you to pray God’s blessing on them.

• A Spiritual Impact.
The work has given us tremendous relationships not only with the beneficiaries, but also with many others, from the builders and brickmakers to the mayor and police chief. It has left a strong impact within the town, revealing Christ who cares for those considered the least. Many people have commented that it was only the church that has effectively helped people. Even the imam commented to one of the pastors: “I know that you are not a development agency. What you are doing is the work of Jesus.” Please pray that people will respond to the God who loves them and has revealed himself in Christ. Read here about people’s response during the ceremony we had for handing over the keys.

EMPOWERING LOCAL WORKERS IN MINISTRY
As you know, my way of working is changing. One new focus is to try and find ways to empower and facilitate local Christians and pastors in the ministry. To this end, I have been visiting the pastors in the region, to see what we can do to help them move forward in the ministry, and explore how partnering with churches in the west might contribute to this. There have also been two particular things we have been working on:

• The “Barke Alla” Group.
A number of Christians and pastors in the region are trying to form an inter-denominational group called “Barke Alla”. Their vision is to work together for the advance of God’s kingdom in the region through evangelism, supporting pastors and churches, and social ministry. I have been helping them to develop this, and am excited by the possibilities. The name “Barke Alla” means “the blessing of God”, and is understood in all three local languages. It expresses the group’s vision that God’s desire is to bring his blessing to the region.

• The Gorom-Gorom Ministry Centre.
We have also been building on the land I acquired in Gorom. I hope that this will become a base for ministry in the whole province, and a centre that can be used by pastors, local Christians, and the “Barke Alla” guys. We have built a house for a pastor, a meeting place that can be used for social gatherings, ministry training, Fulani cell groups, or literacy classes, and a “woodless construction” with a bedroom and a store room,. Pastor Moumouni was to have moved in to join us, and had even started moving his stuff in. But then he got recalled to Dori to head up his denomination’s ministry in the region. He is now looking for another pastor to join us. I hope next year to build another house and an office, and we really need electricity and a phone line, neither of which we have been able to get yet. Please pray for all these things.

This time has been very busy and tiring, and at times frustrating. At times I felt more like a building manager than a missionary! I had to start planning in times to go and simply walk round town and talk with people. But it has also been exciting. I have seen God do many things, and it feels like we have been laying foundations for the future of the ministry in the region. Please pray that God continues to lead us.

SO WHAT NOW?
I am based in Cardiff for the next few months, but am still working for the progress of the work in Burkina. I will also be travelling quite a bit.

• Partnerships.
One thing I will be doing is to try to build partnerships between churches in the north of Burkina and in the west. This is partly as a means of joining with the churches there in their mission to the region. But it is also to enable them to bring a challenge to the church here, as they are rich in areas of spirituality and community that we have lost.

The first partnership that is coming together is that of my home church, Glenwood, with Gorom-Gorom. A team from Glenwood came out in January to begin building relationships with the church in Gorom, and to explore what might follow. One of the first things to come out of this will be a children’s camp in Gorom this August, run jointly by the two churches in Gorom and a group from Glenwood. We are exploring many other ideas too. I will write more about these partnerships in future letters, and also on my website.

• Admin Stuff. I need to write up the report and accounts of the building work for phase 2 of the flood response, as well as vision documents etc for the future. I do also need to update my website to reflect this new phase of ministry and the developing partnership concept.

• Back to Burkina… I hope to return to Burkina just for a few weeks in June with another small team from Glenwood. Then I will be back in the UK for Steve’s wedding on 7 July before returning again to Burkina later in the month.

OTHER NEWS

• Fulani Believers: “H” really benefited from his month of intensive Bible study. “B” is progressing spiritually and singing in the choir, but struggling with her school work. “J” is making progress and is now more regular at church. Please pray for these and others.
• Steve: has been working on the radio station. The paperwork is now with the government, awaiting their decision. Please pray. His second children’s book has also just been published, once more set around Gorom-Gorom. It is called “Sophie and the Locust Curse”, and should be available from all good booksellers.
• Eyes: Both Pastor Daniel’s son, Nathaniel, and Seydou and Monique’s daughter, Olivia, have problems with their eyes at the moment that are not easily treated. Please pray for healing.
• A Visitor. One day I had a visitor from a friend who has leprosy and is almost blind. He feels very neglected by everyone including his family. We had a very good talk, and he expressed strongly his desire to know the life and hope that is in Christ. Please pray for Seydou and Pascal as they follow him up.

Sorry that this is so long! There is just so much happening at the moment… (and there is so much that I haven’t told you about too!)

Thank you again for all your support and prayers. They are invaluable.

Keith