Missions: Kevin & Bonnie Oberg
Kevin & Bonnie Oberg in Burkina Faso, West Africa
Kevin & Bonnie Oberg
Children, Daniel, Jacob, Abby and Emma
AUGUST 2008 EMAIL FROM OBERGS IN BURKINA FASO, WEST AFRICA
AND THE GIANT CAME TUMBLING DOWN!
Thanks for all your prayers for the Salem team’s trip to Burkina. They were a blessing and encouragement to us and to those they encountered along their journey. Hundreds of children turned out each morning for the Bible Clubs—one morning there were between 800-1000!!! (See “Goliath”.) We had a lot of fun together at Banfora Falls (see team picture with our family, Hulls, and the Schaeffer kids), and our trip there was made even more special as one of the team members was baptized. We enjoyed seeing the team’s hearts touched by the people here and all that God is doing. You were “here with them” in your prayers—thanks so much!
UPDATE FROM NDOROLA
The team spent two nights in Ndorola, where Pastor Samuel and his wife, Elizabeth, are ministering. They also worshipped on Sunday morning with the Ndorola believers. This was a great experience for the team, and Kevin was very encouraged to see all of the new faces in church. God is at work! Here are a few stories:
About 3 weeks ago, a husband and wife came to Pastor Samuel in desperation over their teenage son. Their son was basically going crazy, and they had no idea what to do with him. They asked if they could bring him to Pastor Samuel to stay with him for a while and to pray for him. (The parents are not believers.) Pastor Samuel agreed, and through the power of prayer, this young man has been set free. He has lived with Samuel and his family for 3 weeks now and has shown a remarkable change. The parents are amazed—please PRAY with us that the power of God shown in this situation will bring them and others who are witnessing this to a point of salvation.
Dingasso is a village close by Ndorola, where there is no church or group of believers. Recently, a family from that village made a commitment to follow Christ and is now attending the Ndorola church. Please PRAY that they will grow in their new faith and that other people in Dingasso will also come to Christ. PRAY for Pastor Samuel, as he now has a contact in this village and can start going there to meet with this family and their neighbors and friends.
PASTOR MARCEL—KEEP PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE!
Please continue to lift up Pastor Marcel in prayer. We’ve heard reports that he is improving and that several of his symptoms have vanished. We’ll be back in Sirasso on the 17th of this month, and we’ll pass on the news as soon as we get more specific details from Pastor Marcel. Meanwhile, we are still PRAYING for a miracle! We know that you are joining with us in this. What a wonderful thing if God would allow this faithful servant of His to stay on this earth for a bit longer, winning souls and advancing His kingdom in Sirasso and surrounding villages. He is able! (See pic of Marcel with Salem team’s youth pastor, Brian.)
INCH BY INCH, ROW BY ROW . . . .
We are seeing an encouraging thing take place in six of the churches in the Kenedougou region. The believers have banded together and are working a “church field”, where they will use the profits from what is grown for church ministries. So besides their own fields that they are currently working, they are also coming together and dedicating some of their time to the church and the ministry there. Some of the fields are quite large, and with the good rainy season that we are having so far, the potential that they will be able to gain something significant is very likely. Please PRAY that God would bless this endeavor—we see it as a very positive step as the churches are seeking ways to contribute. Please PRAY for integrity in the spending of these funds and that they will be used to glorify God. Please PRAY that this “community effort” will be a strong testimony to those in the villages who are seeing this take place.
OFF TO A GREAT START!
Thank you so much for your prayers for our home schooling adventure! After one week, I can already see that the changes that we’ve made in the curriculum this year are going to be very positive ones. We had a great week and I think we’re going to have a lot of fun studying together this year. As the Holy Spirit places it on your heart, please continue to PRAY that our children will do well in school and that each one of them would love Jesus all of their lives, seeking to serve Him in whatever He calls them to as they grow older.
OTHER PRAISES AND PRAYERS
Thank you for praying for Kevin as he went to Ouaga and back by bus last Tuesday/Wednesday. His meeting went well and he believes that we’re off to a good start with this group who is helping build several churches with our mission here in Burkina. Please continue to PRAY as these projects go forward, that many lives will be touched for God’s glory.
We are happy to say that our lives may be calming down a bit—at least in the sense of how much traveling Kevin will have to do in the next month or so. During rainy season, most of the people are out in their fields working during the week, and so we will most likely travel to the Kenedougou region just for Sundays. It will be nice to have a bit of a break for Kevin to be home—we miss him! He’s pretty tired as well, so pray that these months will be restful for him before he heads back into it again. He is also hoping to use this time to do some more “intensified study” with his Jula. Please PRAY that this will take place—life gets busy even when he’s here in Bobo! :O)
Emma has completely recovered. We are thankful to have our energetic, bright eyed girl back! She hasn’t been like this in over a month and a half, so we are grateful! Thanks for praying.
Thanks for making the difference through your prayers!
Kevin, Bonnie, Daniel, Jacob, Abby, and Emma Oberg
Check out our field website!!
http://burkinaalliance.org You’ll see new pictures, read new stories, and find all the facts you need about Burkina Faso.
Financial info - How You Can Give . . .
To give to the Great Commission Fund (tax deductible)(GCF: general support fund for C&MA work at home & abroad, providing money to keep Alliance missionaries on overseas fields) -or-
To give towards our Vehicle purchase (tax deductible) (as indicated above) – or-
To give to the Oberg Work Special Fund (tax deductible)(for ministry needs for our work specifically in Burkina Faso)
1) Mail a check payable to The C&MA to the following address, with the appropriate information in the memo line of the check (include our name and the fund desired: i.e. “Oberg GCF/Support” or “Oberg Vehicle” or “Oberg Work Special”): The C&MA, PO Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935
2) Go to www.cmalliance.org to give online with a credit card.