It is a joy to have the Oberg family with us this morning as we celebrate our annual Missions Conference.  It is an even greater joy to be partnering with them in the on-going work of sharing Jesus with West Africa.  Two years ago we sent a team of students to join Kevin and Bonnie in their work.  Pastor Michael wrote about this journey in an article feature in the February edition of our C&MA national magazine aLife (http://www.alliancelife.org/article.php?id=486).  Here’s an excerpt from that article:

In early 2008, we interviewed students who had prayed about going on the trip. God called a team of 10, and we began to prepare. Our students did odd jobs for people in the church and the community to raise money (for the construction of a pastor’s house). We worked on a silent auction and spaghetti dinner that raised $7,500 in May. Our congregation gave generously every week. I would get a report each Monday of how much was given toward our trip, and God never failed to amaze me with His abundant provision. God chose the team, paid for the trip and prepared our hearts to be used and transformed as we visited and worked with those for whom we had been praying.

Eight students and two adult leaders arrived in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, June 28, 2008. Kevin [and Bonnie Oberg] were there to meet us, and our adventure began. A couple of days later, we headed into “the bush” to visit Samorogouan.  We whitewashed and painted the inside of the house and put a “hanger” on the front for the congregation to meet under when weather permitted. We were blessed to work alongside our missionaries and the Burkinabé believers. Our students worked very hard and derived great fulfillment from completing this project that had been introduced to them nearly one year earlier. We had many other wonderful experiences in Burkina, but I don’t think anything was better than being able to finish with our own hands what was begun in our hearts thousands of miles away.

I am happy to report that not only has our partnership with the Obergs continued, but also several adult Bible fellowships at MLAC have since adopted a missionary family to partner with in giving, going and sending.  Sometimes when we read that He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” we don’t really believe it until we experience it. However, we begin to take it to heart when God shows His power through a partnership between high school students in Washington State and missionaries and believers “in the bush” of Burkina Faso.