April 2015 Newsletter

 

"One of my favorite activities:  Sharing a Bible lesson with my African friends."

                                                                                                 

Sierra Leone tour                                      

On April 12^th, I leave Bourofaye, Senegal on a trip that will take me to Freetown, Sierra Leone for a teaching tour with leaders of Hope of Glory, a house church ministry Sierra Leone. The folks at that mission are dedicated to bringing hope and righteousness to a people still finding their way returning to stability following an eleven-year civil war and more recently by the devastation of Ebola. It will be an opportunity to encourage these leaders with their vision for peace and restoration in a country many would consign to failure and hopelessness.

I will be providing these brothers and sisters with an overview study of the epistle of Ephesians, an apostolic letter calling Christians of all ages to build firmly on the foundation of the Christ the cornerstone and the witness of the New Testament apostles and prophets. I can summarize the goal of this teaching tour by putting together some of my favorite phrases from that epistle, (plus tinkering with the pronouns). My prayer is to-

Bless [them] in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose [them] in him before the foundation of the world, that [they] should be holy and blameless before him. In love,  he predestined [them] for adoption as sons…  according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ  as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. To bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. That through the church [in Sierra Leone] the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, thru whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. And that [the faithful in Sierra Leone] are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Amen

This goal statement I would further add that I am aware of risks of travel to Sierra Leone, but I am also know that God is calling us to share the Gospel of peace. We must not be bound by the paralysis of fear, nor can we abandon brothers and sisters in Christ who survive in the many threatening settings around the world today. I particularly solicit your prayers for safety, wisdom and enablement for this time of ministry in Sierra Leone.

To help you understand the situation in Sierra Leone please have a look at this YouTube video: http://youtu.be/8kme5X5ERf4, and read the attached report of Dr. Gess. Both of these recent reports provide a perspective on Sierra Leone by missionaries who have spent many years in that country.

Summer Plans 2015

Following my time in Sierra Leone, I will return to Bourofaye for a 3-week period, the 21 days required before entering the U.S. after leaving the Ebola region. I will arrive in the U.S. on

May 30^th and be there until July 30^th. Returning to Senegal shortly after Mennonite World Conference. Hopefully, those 8 weeks will provide opportunity to meet many of you.

July 19, 2:00-4:00 pm - MST with New Holland Congregation planning on a book signing of Beryl’s new Book “Animsts To Anabaptists” and a celebration of “The Walk for West Africa” at the New Holland Mennonite Church.  Light refreshments served.

The book

My forthcoming book, Animists to Anabaptists, detailing the story of the beginnings of the Mennonite mission in Gambia and Guinea Bissau is scheduled for publication during the month of April 2015.  I am in my final days of working with the book editor and designer at Dove publications in Lititz, Pa.

Would you like to make a donation to Beryl’s ministry in West Africa, and at the same time become a well –informed supporter of the work? You can receive a copy of the new book Animist to Anabaptist, describing the development of the Mennonite Church in West Africa when it is released in April this year. Please make a minimum contribution of $15 to cover the book and shipping. If you wish to receive a copy of the book for your donation, please return the slip below to New Holland Mennonite Church, 18 Western Ave., New Holland, PA 17557 Att. Robert E. Martin. All proceeds from the sale of books go into the fund that supports Beryl’s ministry. If you are only making a contribution, it is not necessary to return your address slip.

Name________________________________________________________

Street address for UPS Delivery_______________________________________

City__________________ State_____________________  Zip_______________

Phone (required for UPS delivery (_____) ______________________________

 

A Report on the Annual Meeting of

Mennonite Church West Africa

Brethren from Gambia pray together before returning to Gambia from the annual conference, Dec. 2014

This report is about the annual gathering of Mennonites from Gambia, Casamance (southern Senegal) and Guinea Bissau. Usually we meet at the Kitti Mennonite Church near Brikama, Gambia, where we would normally expect 60-80 people in attendance. But this year there were travel restrictions for groups going into Gambia from Guinea Bissau. Thus, we chose to meet as smaller group of leaders at the mission facility where I live in Bourofaye, Senegal. The annual conference meets during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day because many of our leaders are either students or teachers and it is during those days that most are free to attend.

The Mennonite believers from the three countries are a multi-ethnic faith community, representing a half dozen tribal people groups scattered throughout this region in the westernmost part of Africa. We are an Anabaptist oriented faith community that has grown out of EMM’s West African mission.

The two day event was opened with a study of Ephesians 1 where the Apostle brings to our attention the blessings that we both give and receive from God the Father through Jesus Christ. The two-way blessings are expressed as both benedictions and benefactions: both words and deeds of blessing. In this chapter we learn about God’s blessing upon his covenant people, both his words and deeds, and we also learn about the words of worship we return to God and the good works we express through our lives as we interact with the rest of God’s creation. Both our words and our deeds, but of first importance, our godly works, belong to the worship we bring to the Father.

Following that keynote the group discussed specific issues of faith and practice in the community of Christ that are common in our life together here in West Africa. An important factor in the formation of a discipled community of Christ is that we are able to sit in a circle to talk and discern what God’s will is for us, opening ourselves as to how we can experience his redeeming work in our lives and community. We gather as equals, listening to each other and the Holy Spirit, with the goal of faithfulness to our covenant with God.

I have learned that in this kind of a gathering of believers, where decisions are made and policies established, everyone owns the decision. And people are far more willing to be faithful to the policy growing out of this process than when a decision is made for them by a clerical body and then dictated to the rank and file of believers. This is one of the significant functional differences between an Anabaptist faith community and either the evangelical or Catholic faith community.

1.     We talked about the need for restoration of those who stumble in their faithfulness to Christ and the community, focusing especially on the instructions of Galatians 6: 1-2. Our goal is restoration of what is broken rather than the exclusion of people who err. One brother shared how his church community helped him walk through a difficult period in his faith in relation to cultural traditions that are demonic and should be abandoned as Jesus’ followers. He is still in the process of restoration and he expressed his appreciation for the support and healing he is finding in the fellowship of the church.

2.     We talked about the threat so prominent in our society of using our sexuality in ways that is contrary to God’s design for marital faithfulness between a man and his wife. We discussed ways the church can especially help our youth understand that sexual relations are only for a man and a woman united in a lifelong covenant. We lamented that the cultural taboos which helped previous generations with respect to the sanctity of marriage have been replaced by permissiveness and pleasure-seeking.

3.     We talked about the appropriate timing for baptism of new believers. In our context we understand that baptism should not happen until there is evidence that the candidate is clearly on a track of faithfulness to Christ. This does not mean we wait until they are perfect but that they are experiencing transformation into Christ likeness and are submissive to the counsel of the church in their faith and conduct.

4.     We talked about the challenges of being a fissional people in the midst of poverty. Nearly everyone in the church does subsistence farming, combining that with a petty economy enterprise on the side. Keeping one’s nose above water economically and barely able to provide for the family, leaves little time and energy for focused faith formation and evangelism. All believers are eager to share their faith with friends and family but there is little time to do that along with providing for their households.

As a pioneer missionary who had a role in bringing the gospel to these people I am deeply satisfied with what I see in the faith development of these people:

·       Everyone is clearly aware of where they came from (unbelief, animism) to where they are now, on the journey to the Promised Land as God’s people.

·       In their spiritual vision there is little ambiguity about what is the light of Christ as opposed to the darkness of Satan.

·       They have a sense of urgency in sharing the joy of life in Christ with others, especially with their extended family, still without hope in Christ.

·       Their self-perception as a people of God goes above and beyond their ethnicity.

·       They have a remarkable ability to hold in tension the values of peace, forgiveness and humility towards others, together with maintaining the righteousness/justice God expects of his sons and daughters.

Other developing news briefs:

·       The book- Animists to Anabaptists, detailing the story of this West Africa Mennonite mission, 2000- 2014 could possibly be in print and released during April. I am working with the book editor at Dove publications on final editing.

·       My EMM co-workers, the Bakers and Shirks are in the U.S. making final travel plans back to West Africa and expect to arrive here by Feb. 10^th.

·       I am working with a church group in Togo, a West African nation 1,500 miles to the southwest on providing with a seminar on Ephesians.

·       I now have full-time internet access from my house in Bourofaye, a major step forward in my ability to stay in contact with friends and supporters in North America. I particularly enjoy having Skype conversations with people interested in this work. My Skype contact is:   bjforrester2

Would you like to make a donation to Beryl’s ministry in West Africa and at the same time become a well –informed supporter of the work? You can receive a copy of the new book Animist to Anabaptist, describing the development of the Mennonite Church in West Africa when it is released early this year. Please make a minimum contribution of $15 to cover the book and shipping. If you wish to receive a copy of the book for your donation, please return the slip below to New Holland Mennonite Church Att. Robert E. Martin. All proceeds from the sale of books go into the fund that supports Beryl’s ministry. If you’re only making a contribution it is not necessary to return your address slip.

          Name________________________________________________________

          Street address for UPS Delivery_______________________________________

          Phone (required for UPS delivery (_____) ______________________________

Make checks payable to New Holland Mennonite Church and mail to New Holland Mennonite Church 18 Western Ave. New Holland Pa. 17557

September 2012 Update

What’s Going on at the Mennonite Mission in Guinea Bissau?

These are the ministries which occupy most of our time, energy & funds:

1. Church planting, community evangelism, discipling new believers and inviting people to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

Activities:

· Bible studies

            · Mentoring & discipleship training

· Friendships

· Church services in villages

· YES team will live in village as church planting team

Goals:

· Develop village fellowships of Jesus followers who will open the windows of faith to others.

· Encourage people to take steps of faith towards Jesus

· Help people find healing and hope in a setting of profound social & spiritual brokenness.

· Model new ways in family life, gender relations and social responsibility.

· To replace demonology and ancestor domination with a loving relationship with God and the people of God.

2. Pre-school educational opportunities for 4-6 year olds.

Activities:

· We have held pre-school in the meetinghouse for two years with quite good results.

· This year we have entered into a cooperative arrangement with the public school system.

· The public school system in Catel is seriously broken. The public district director is working with us to get the situation headed the other direction. This is an awesome open door for ministry and witness in the community.

· Few children in Catel can read or write as a result of school inadequacies.

· Lia Viega is the prime mover and shaker in this program.

Goals:

· Provide the Catel children the opportunity for an education and literacy.

· Teach Christian values and create a desire to know and follow Jesus.

· Train local teachers in their classroom and instructional skills.

· Bring in a primary school expert from the U.S. to help us in this ministry.

3. Agricultural development.

The Journey to Becoming a Missionary in West Africa

I grew up during a period in the Mennonite church when there was great emphasis placed on missions and service. It was preached and taught like it was everyone's responsibility to be involved in missions/service as a normal expression of one's faith. I really appreciate that emphasis. I hope it is still that way.

In 1959 when I was still 18 I started my two years of alternate service and went with MCC to Morocco in North Africa. That was my introduction to Africa. I enjoying that time very much and especially living cross-culturally. From that experience I knew the Lord wanted me back in Africa once I had my education completed.

But getting back to Africa didn't happen nearly as soon as I thought it would. It took 40 years, but I finally made it. And I am very happy to be here.

I came back over in Jan. 2000 as a volunteer with YWAM on their medical ship. It was docked at the time in Banjul, Gambia. After 3 months with YWAM I started living in Gambia thinking I would be helping at one of the churches in the port city. I was involved at one of the churches but a specific ministry never did develop there.

A Lifelong Journey in Mission

The final quarter of the 20^th century found me spending a good deal of my time on the seat of a Massey-Fergusson 255 farm tractor, grooming and nurturing a ninety acre diversified orchard on the easterly sloping floor of Oregon’s Willamette valley.

What a beautiful place to live! As the M-F swung around heading down the next row of trees, through the canopy of leaves, I could catch glimpses of the snow capped panorama of peaks: Rainier, St. Helens (what was left of it), Hood, Jefferson, Three Sisters- the inspiring splendor of the Cascades.
Our family lived in an antique farmhouse, heated with wood pruned from the orchard. It was neat to live in a dwelling that numerous generations had called home even if it needed constant fix up and restoration so it wouldn’t collapse on us. My constant companions out in the orchard were a succession of faithful Boxer dogs, always eager for a snack on the pesky gophers inhabiting the orchard turf.

We were active participants in the life around Western Mennonite School, Salem and Northwest Mennonite Conference. Each season of the year had its joys and routines from the promise of April’s cherry blossoms to October’s MCC relief sale to the ancient carols of Christmas in December. I got involved in international bicycle touring and MDS to satisfy my trekking and wanderlust instincts and as breaks from the farming routines. It was a great way to spend those middle years of life.

While life was not perfect, it certainly was good. At times I would pinch myself just to make sure this all was real, not just a dream.

Guinea Bissau November 2012

Guinea Bissau Stories of Transformation:

While Seekers Find Jesus, Missionaries Sharpen Vision

Augusto da Silva is a 22 year old from the Mandiago tribe of Guinea Bissau. He grew up in the village of Grimole only a half mile from Catel. Starting in 2009 he has suffered from two afflictions: First he has been ill much of the time; just not feeling well and secondly nearly every night he has experienced troubling, ugly dreams.

In these vivid dreams an evil, ghostly creature came close to him. The face of the creature was the image of one of his friends. Sometimes this creature wrapped his fingers around Augusto’s throat and attempted to strangle him, other times the creature would press down on his chest to cause injury. When he awoke from the dream he would actually have pain in his neck or chest where he was being attacked. 

The Mandiago tribe is known to be a hard working, business oriented people. They are generally more culturally advanced than the Balanta people, our majority tribe. The Mandiagos are heavily into occultic practices and have many idols, sacred trees and votive offering sites around their houses. They also readily identify themselves as Catholic.

News from the Mennonite Mission-Guinea Bissau                         July 2012

The Clinic

Walking into the clinic waiting room at 9 am on a weekday you will see perhaps 15-20 people who have come for medical attention: a woman with pain in her neck, spine, and chest, a two year old with impetigo sores on her neck and around her mouth, a six year old epileptic, a middle aged man with a head wound, a twenty year old woman wondering if she is pregnant, and a new-born with diarrhea. The clinic is open daily (except Sunday). In a typical week we will have up to 200 people coming to the clinic for medical attention. Most come from villages within a 15 mile radius but quite a few are traveling as much as 50 miles. Our reputation is getting to be country wide!

Just a few years ago, before the Mennonite mission came to Catel, most of these people and hundreds more like them would have received little or no medical care. Today we have progressed to where we have full-time medical professionals, basic medical tools and a reasonably well stocked pharmacy.

Moving from the waiting area into the consulting room is where the patients begin to see what it is like to get compassionate medical attention. The nurse or other medical staff asks routing questions, come up with a probable diagnosis and outlines a plan for treatment.

Often the treatment plan falls short of the patient’s expectations because in most clinics and pharmacies the health care providers use a shotgun approach with a prescription for an antibiotic, a pain pill, multivitamins, malaria pills and a laxative. If they have less than four kinds of medicine to take, the patient feel somehow cheated. Sometimes our patients are told to just drink lots of water, put a warm towel on their aching muscle and eat moringa powder. This is really bewildering to someone who came expecting to bring home a small bag of medicines.