by Gordon and Christine Molyneux
'We feel that we’ve left part of ourselves back there,’ says Jim Moore, a retired electrical engineer, reflecting on a recent visit to Burkina Faso. ‘We are thinking about Africa, the people we met, the things we saw and experiences we had — all the time!’
Jim was one of 10 people from Christ the Rock Christian Fellowship in Yate (near Bristol),who took part in a two-week PACE (Prayer and Cultural Experience) team to the small, economically deprived West African country in March 2010. He comments, ‘It seemed that wherever we went, the people were so receptive and appreciative of all the things being done there by Christians…’
He acknowledged that sharing the gospel can be hard, especially in areas dominated by another religion. But even in these areas, the love of Christ seems to be making an impact, especially in the lives of the children.
Alan Morris, another member of the team, describes a memorable encounter: ‘On our return to Ouagadougou from Djibo, we stopped for a cool Coke in the blistering mid-day heat and were met by a group of children. A dusty face looked up at me. He was around eight, and his torn, dirty excuse for a top revealed the extent of his poverty. He reminds me that we all need to play our part in helping the poor and needy’.
One big family
Pennie Sutton values the opportunity she had to feel part of the wider Christian family. ‘Being able to travel all those miles away and be with people who, to the outside world, might be considered strangers, but who to me felt truly brothers and sisters with whom we could share our thoughts, prayers and needs, was just brilliant!’ she says.
Shaun and Janet Parker agree that the people they met were amazing — both local people and missionaries. Janet was particularly moved by the faithfulness of some of the senior missionaries.
An indelible impression
Based in the capital Ouagadougou, the PACE team helped eager young people improve their English, and met dedicated Christians from other French-speaking countries in the missiological training school. They painted walls and playground equipment, played with children at a newly built conference centre and Bible school, and attended colourful and lively church services.
They travelled almost 1,000 miles, visiting nomadic Tuareg and Fulani communities in the Saharan north of the country and a rehabilitation centre for handicapped children in the far east.
Team leaders Gordon and Christine Molyneux (formerly mission workers in DR Congo) loved being back in Africa. They were delighted to hear inspiring stories of God’s transforming love in difficult or even dangerous situations, and to meet men and women who had found their peace and hope in Christ.
They’ve been thrilled and humbled to see what God is doing in the lives of the team, people from all walks of life, ranging in age from mid-20s to late 60s. All returned motivated to get themselves and the church more involved in mission: by supporting, praying, encouraging others to go and, in some cases, going themselves!
Team member Anita Moore undoubtedly speaks for others when she comments, ‘Every single ministry we saw in Burkina Faso made an indelible impression on me’.
