Sunday's trip to Missiogo

Yesterday was Sunday, Oct 18th. I went with Pastor Youssouf to Missiogo. I know the name Missiogo means nothing to you, probably. But think of the miner 49ers, and the Klondike gold rushes, and you get the idea. It is like 1849 in California out there. People mining, panning for gold. Way too many people in one little area scratching the earth for gold. Like the Gold rushes in the old west, lawlessness, corruption, prostitution, drugs and alcohol reign. People go off to the gold rush, get so entangled in sin that they are ashamed to return to their families. Sickness, including cholera, meningitis and typhoid are common. At one point over 200,000 people converged out there, camping in ramshackle grass huts. It is in this setting that a church has come to be.

This church is serving believers who have come. It encourages them not to leave their faith, and encourages them to continue to be a witness, even in this dark place. It also serves as a beacon of light to those who are desperate, and may be ready to turn to Christ.

Long dusty road.

Swimming motorbikes through flooded creek.

It was a long 140 km round trip ride on my motorbike. The longest trip I've taken on it so far. The road was good for awhile, then we left the road, and went into trails in the backbrush. Muddy, slippery. At one point we had to "swim" our motorbikes through a flooded creek. (we had to swim them on the way back too...)


Shiny New Church building.


Some of the local believers in front of their grass hut home.

But the trip was worth it. The believers welcomed us and were so pleased to show us their new church building. It is made with metal roofing panels over a strong wooden frame. It looks flimsy to you and I, but to people who live in woven grass huts, it is a shining thing. A beautifully built building. They could not build a brick building because all of the gold rush area there is illegal. Nobody is allowed to build there. (although I could not count the hundreds of grass huts that have been thrown together.) So the church has been built right alongside the people. One day it will be torn down like all the other buildings. Then the church will relocate to a property they own legally. In the meantime they serve where the people are.

Youssouf preaching in Missiogo

We took part in the church service. Me to say hello from you all. :D Pastor Youssouf bringing a message with grace and excellence. The people really appreciated his message. He does his job so well.


Yummy liver & spaghetti

After the service, the people had such meal prepared for us. They had Spaghetti & Liver, bread, Rice & Beef sauce, Oranges, and Pops.... Such a generous spread. (All food items cost twice what they cost in Kadiolo because they have to be trucked in so far...) It was very touching. We were hungry after the trip, too.

Pray with us that the church in Missiogo would continue to grow and be a beacon of light in a very dark place. Pray with us that the leaders would grow in faith, and win others for Christ. Pray for safety for the church and for the people in Missiogo. Pray for Gods grace to fall in Missiogo.

Thanks for stopping by,
Tom & Lisa