Author name: Bob Gillespie

Summer Stuff

We’re enjoying weekly rains, the students are gone, we’ve moved into our ‘new’ house, and the work continues; that about sums up our situation now. After nine very dry and hot months, we now have the periodic relief of literal showers of blessings.  The students are on their summer vacations along with many of the staff.  Many things are being done here on campus to prepare for the new school year which will start in less than a month. Lois, along with the help of many willing hands, moved the computer lab to the new Media Center this past weekend. She has lots of work ahead to put it all together, but she’s very relieved to have it ‘in place’. This week’s plan includes moving the library to the Media Center. It’s exciting to be here and to see how God is blessing as we prepare for the year ahead.

This area of West Africa and particularly Niger does not seem to be a magnet attracting people to come and work along with those who are here. The work is slow, the culture is difficult, and the weather seems to aggravate any other situation. Therefore, it is not easy to attract people to come to Sahel Academy and teach MKs. This year we have some challenges ahead as some key teaching positions have not been filled – yet. Last night as some of us met to pray, we were reminded of how God has supplied in the past; we are earnestly asking God to show His mighty hand once again. We’re praying for the students God will send our way this year, that they will “take it personally”, and see how God has provided for them again. We pray that they will learn to know in their hearts that God will continue to provide for them every day of their lives.

Sahel Academy is a strategic part of the missions work here in Niger as we continue to educate missionary kids. Even though the work in Niger is difficult and slow here, in the past 20 years the number of churches in the capital city of Niamey has grown exponentially. Niger seems to be in competition for last place as the poorest nation in the world.  The world says that the nation needs more money given to it.  We say that Niger needs Christ. This country seems to be as hard as the ground we walk on, yet the gospel of Christ and Biblical thinking are beginning to make a dent.  This is not the time to back off on missionary activity, but to continue our efforts.   We realize that things in the states are tight, so we greatly appreciate the sacrifices that are being made for the cause of Christ both at home and abroad.  If it were not for your continued prayers and support the work here in Niger would cease.  We thank you, and the people of Niger thank you even though most of them do not know it yet.

The Sahel Academy Class of 2008 – Truly Unique!

For the first time, Sahel’s graduation ceremony was held on the “green”, a beautiful patch of grass in the center of the campus which stands out from all the sand around it as a cool green oasis.  Especially unique this year: instead of ceremoniously marching down the aisle, the graduates arrived from across the campus on camels. This year’s graduating class consisted of three boys, all of whom have grown up in Africa since they were infants. Each one in some way commented that he was not at all saddened at what he had missed by not growing up in North America, but felt that he has been blessed by all that he has gained by growing up in Africa. Pray for these three graduates who are now saying good-bye to their home of the last 18 years.

Most missionaries have a certain people group to whom they minister here in Africa.  For Lois and I, the missionary kids are our people group. This is what we do. It is our great joy to see these boys graduate and go out to impact their world for Christ. They may someday return; MKs often return as missionaries themselves.

Although this school year has ended for us, the busyness will continue throughout the break time. We are moving on campus this week, a move that we trust will greatly simplify our lives. Also, the new media center is almost completed, and Lois hopes to be moving the computer lab to the new location during this break. This involves overseeing the building and fabricating of new computer workstations and a server and network rack. Please pray that all goes smoothly so that we can be in the new facilities for the beginning of the school year.

The electricity supplied to our campus is undependable. This week alone we have been without power for as much as 5 hours at a time; sometimes the return of power causes damaging spikes to electronics even though they are protected. A transformer which should help this situation has been sitting in customs for several months. Sahel has been unable to obtain the signatures for its release. There are also several vehicles belonging to co-workers sitting in customs waiting for the proper signatures of customs agents. Please pray for these matters to be settled soon.

Sahel is once again praying for a high school math teacher, as well as a lower elementary teacher and a high school science teacher. Pray that God will direct these people our way. Lois and I know of so many or our friends who are qualified; if you are one of them, we’d be thrilled for God to direct you to join us in this MK ministry. For more information, please visit www.sahelacademy.com/staff.

Boubacar is still up north in Timbuktu. We haven’t heard when he is returning. Supposedly he has family up there who are Christians. Please continue to pray that this visit will result in his salvation. As we move to campus, we will lose regular contact with Boubacar, even if he does return to Niamey. Please pray for the seed that has been planted, and for those who will continue to minister in his life.

“And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

This morning God reminded me of the essence of His promises when I read in Romans 4:21 of how Abraham was strengthened in His faith and was fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.

Our faith is most definitely strengthened when we remember how God has answered prayers and how He has met needs in the past, often through your prayers and gifts. If you’ve visited our website or the website of Sahel Academy, you will probably have read some of our requests for staff here at Sahel Academy. Recently, we wanted to feel desperate as only weeks remained before the beginning of the school term, and there still seemed to be no answer. However, we’ve seen God provide before. Read what Randy Potratz, one of our co-workers, wrote about God’s most recent provision of a much-need staff member:

“One of the things that one learns on the mission field is that the Lord is a Lord of provision.  Beyond that, one learns that many times He uses His church and those who love Him to fill those personal needs and the needs of the ministries we are involved with.

“Sahel Academy has a long tradition of having personnel needs that do get filled, but obviously through the hand of God.  One of those stories of provision involves how the school received a math teacher for the second semester here.  From initial contact to landing on the field the young man arrived less than 2 months from when he heard of the need.  So the Lord can and does miraculously provide in the areas of personnel.”

Randy continues: “That brings us to the needs that are before Sahel Academy for the 2008-2009 School year.  At this point the list looks like this:

 

Kindergarten
Grade 1-2
Grade 7-8 Social Studies
Grade 9-10 Sociology
Grade 9-12 History
Grade 9-12 Science
Grade 7-12 Math
Grade 7-12 English
Music
Art
Physical Education
Computer/Keyboarding Teacher
Librarian
School Youth Pastor
Administrative Assistant
Construction Manager
Food Manager / Cook

“Yes the list is long, and some of the entries probably indicate 2 people to fill (most of the items that start with “Grade 7-12”), but pray with us and watch with us as we see how the Lord will fill these vacancies.

“Maybe as you look through this list you see that you are a fit with some of these areas.  While a teaching degree is a plus, it is not a need as much as a love for the subject you are teaching and a willingness to have God stretch and grow you. For example, in the Science areas we have had former chemists, and engineers that have done well in the class room.”

God is already beginning to meet these needs, and we can strike ‘Art’ from the above list. We first of all ask you to pray for God’s provision of teachers for the coming school year, and secondly to consider how you might possibly meet one of the needs listed. Please visit the Staff page at www.sahelacademy.com/staff  to learn more about this ministry of teaching MK’s. Read what one parents says about its importance, and what a staff member says of the privilege of serving missionary families in this way.

As you pray, if the Lord stirs your heart for this ministry and you find yourself on the list above, please visit www.sahelacademy/contact for contact information, or contact our mission sending agency, Evangelical Baptist Missions, by calling 317.872.4488. We delight in working with those whom God calls and sends our way as we together serve those whom God is calling to His mission field.