Wishing you God’s richest blessing for 2009 from myself, Seydou, Monique, Pierre, Asetu, and all our family in Gorom-Gorom. Thank you again for your prayers. I have been back in Burkina nearly 2 months now, and it has been a busy and exciting time.

Water of Life
We spent a month drilling for water in dry villages in the north of Burkina Faso, together with teams from HICF (USA), Glenwood Church (UK), and the guys from FiA.

It was a hard month, and we didn’t find as much water as we hoped – we ended up drilling 9 holes, but only getting 3 with water. We also had problems with illness, breakdowns, etc, which delayed and disrupted the programme. Chuck, the FiA worker said it was the most difficult trip he had done. However, as well as the three new pumps in, we have replaced 5 old, broken ones with new ones:

• Deou: One new pump (in the pastor's land) and two replacements.
  
• Lila was dry.
  
• Tasmakat Two new pumps: one in town, and one in the pastor's yard. Also one replacement.
  
• Cekol Koba was dry.
  
• Coffalboy: one replacement
  
• Gorom-Gorom School Ground was dry. This was a big disappointment. We have repaired a nearby pump, which we can use for the school for a temporary solution. But we are looking at other long-term options, including water harvesting, and locating water elsewhere.

It was disheartening not to find more water – more so, of course, for the villagers than us. It did emphasise the need for water here, and the impact of a good ministry in this area. The work definitely left a good testimony everywhere we went, and opened up many opportunities to share Christ. Seydou is going to do a pump repair course, with a view to using this skill alongside his evangelism. He is also hoping to help the well-drilling teams from time to time, which would help him support himself in ministry. Please continue to pray for him, and for water for the school.

Birth and Growth – Gorom-Gorom Fulani Convention
“B” is a Fulani man who used to be a religious teacher. He confessed faith in Christ a few years ago, but had never publicly identified himself as a Christian. Recently, Jesus has appeared to him in dreams, saying “I am your Saviour. Follow me.” He came to the Christian convention, and stood publicly to say he wanted to follow Christ, one of a few Fulani who made definite commitments to Christ during this time.

This was the first-ever Fulani Christian convention of Gorom-Gorom, and it was a great encouragement. We had between 15-25 Christians from around Gorom-Gorom most days, mostly Fulani, but also a few Songhai and a Tamacheq lady. As well as teaching and evangelism and fellowship, we also went out one afternoon together to clean the local hospital. Everyone seems to have really valued and benefited from the time. Please pray for them to continue to grow in the grace of Christ.

Christmas
This year, we had a small Christmas service in the Fulani church that Pierre is starting in our yard. Pierre calls the church: "Church of the Nations." It was the first Christmas for most of the congregation - "R", "A", and "I" have only come to know Christ this year. It was a simple service, sitting on mats, everyone wrapped up because of the "cold". We sang a few songs, without instruments, just our ragged voices. We told the story of the birth of Jesus, and celebrated the long-awaited salvation that God inaugurated that day, most of the church hearing the story properly for the first time.

But this Christmas service has been probably the best Christmas service I have ever been to. To be with a small group of Fulani and Tamacheq Christians celebrating for the first time the coming of Immanuel, has been wonderful. To see the church of Christ coming to birth among the Fulani, Tamacheq, and Songhai of Gorom-Gorom and the province of Oudalan, is incomparable. It is as if Christ has come to a stable in Gorom-Gorom, and these are the first few, like the shepherds, who have the privilege of recognising him. Please pray that they may continue to grow in him.

Gorom-Gorom School
The school has finished its first term! We have 23 local children being taught in a rented house for the first year. We are thrilled that we have Nicodeme as the teacher - he is obviously loved by the children, and is committed to seeing the school impact the sahel. He says: “My vision for the school is two-fold: firstly that we can train children to be good citizens, with good morals and values. And secondly that they may give their lives to Christ.”

We are learning a lot, and discovering various challenges as we proceed and the local church has now started a committee to help Nicodeme with running the school. We have started providing lunches for the children, Please pray for:

• Nicodeme as he teaches the children, and as he runs the practical side of the school.
  
• The children to learn well and to be drawn to the love of Christ.
  
• Wisdom for the right design – and for Richard and team as he comes out in Jan to check things out on the ground.
  
• Finances to build the school.
  
• The best strategy to make the school sustainable long-term.

Other

Acacia Partnership Trust. “Partnering churches to transform communities.” Praise the Lord with us that we have received the recognition of APT as a UK-based charity. This will help facilitate all the work we are doing in Burkina Faso – education, evangelism, wells, training, poverty relief, church partnerships etc. Please pray as we set up the website, and for the finance to equip our Ministry Centre in Gorom-Gorom with all we need to continue to resource our work in the area.

2009. I am in Burkina till March, continuing with the work with Seydou and Pierre and the local pastors for the school, evangelism and discipleship, church partnerships, developing the Ministry Centre etc. We also have several teams visiting over this time, two gap-year trainees from Horizons, and the Horizons West African annual conference. Pray for grace to do everything well!

Steve recovered from his typhoid, and he and Charlie are doing well in Djibo.

Thank you again for all your support and prayers in all these areas.

Keith

We hope to set up structures soon for you to donate directly to us via APT. In the meantime, to support any aspect of our work, please send money to World Horizons:
World Horizons UK: North Dock, Llanelli, Carms SA15 2LF, UK (mwg.office@virgin.net)
World Horizons US: PO Box 17721, Richmond, VA 23226, USA (usinfo@worldhorizons.org)