Over recent decades the wide river and fertile land have disappeared, and people who come to live in Gorom-Gorom nowadays tend to be less optimistic than those first settlers. Talking with teachers and gendarmes sent up to the north from Ouagadougou, I got the impression that a summons to Gorom-Gorom usually provokes a "Zut alors!" rather than a "Formidable!". That being the case, I'm surprised that I am so looking forward to my return to Gorom-Gorom - it's partly the challenge of it, I suppose, and partly a conviction that the gospel can make a profound impact on the north of Burkina Faso. "I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs" (Isaiah 41:18b).

We do not know how much longer the work in Gorom-Gorom itself will go on for - there is a good chance that by the end of the year Fulani Christians in the town will take over leadership from Keith, enabling us to move on to another town or village. Please pray for God's timing in this process.

My stay at the World Horizons base in Llanelli has been quite good. I've spent my days painting various interior walls yellow and listening to tapes from Horizons conference archives. This coming week I'm going to be let out, to help police some 'team-building' activities at a local (Welsh-speaking) school. Overall, my impressions of Horizons have been very positive. The 'Centre for the Nations' is on the dock itself - a fairly run-down area of Llanelli which is currently undergoing major development. The Centre runs various camps and outdoor pursuits locally, but has a very global outlook; one day a week is set aside for praying together for the world and for the Horizons workers in many different places. I've enjoyed seeing some of the letters which come in to the Centre from these workers - they give a glimpse of some of the good things which God is doing all over the world. When my time in Wales comes to an end, I return to Chesterfield for three days of so-long-farewell-ing. My flight to Burkina Faso leaves on the afternoon of Thursday 25 July. I'll be accompanied by two friends, Peter and Gregor, who are both visiting for a month or so. Would you pray for them, particularly for good health during their stay.

I shall send out regular updates on how things are going, with things I would appreciate prayer for. As ever, thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement. Stay in touch.

Love to you and your families,

Steve