But things are changing.
ABWE has been present building this hospital (which the town leaders begged
for) for about 5 years now. Church planters are already at work learning
languages, building relationships, and building the hospital. They are also
building trust. Now, when you stop and greet someone you are normally met with
a warm smile. Children excitedly wave and call out “Batture!” (white person)
when they see you. A handful of people in this Muslim dominated town have
already come to know Christ as their Savior. The church here is beginning to
sprout. It is a young fragile sprout, and does not yet have roots. Nonetheless,
for the first time in Mango – there is life, and hope.
The hospital being
built here is called “Hospital of Hope”, and for good reason! In a town with no
resources, it offers hope to the sick and hurting where none exists. But more
than that, the opportunity to be a beacon for the gospel in this whole region
(the hospital will be attracting those from surrounding countries as well, as
there will not be anything like this anywhere nearby) will be unparalleled,
here at least. During our trip up here, Stephen and I really had the
opportunity to pick a lot of people’s brains. We are super excited about the
team’s vision and philosophy of ministry. The medical work here is only a part of
something much, much bigger. It is a part of the unreached ends of the earth,
but it appears God is doing something. He is beginning to make His name known,
and He is planting His church. And from Mango, who knows the influence that
church could have? The opportunity for evangelism and then discipleship through
medicine here is huge!
We spent some time with
Anna, an incredible young missionary lady working here who took us around town
to meet her friends. She is focusing on the Fulani people group (she is the
only one working with them, and this is the people we are very interested in
too!), and so we were able to meet and “talk” with several of them. We reeeaaallly
enjoyed that! We also were able to have a lot of meals with the other
missionaries, pick their brains about the plans for the hospital and ministry
up here. We got to hang out in their incredibly cool pool. We went to market
and met some amazing people. We got to help the DeKryger’s unpack, and we got
to attend the little church here. In all, it was a privilege. Yes, there are a
lot of inconvenient things about the place. The water is not clean (the
hospital is working on digging its own well, but has so far come up dry). The
dust is unlike anything I have ever experienced. The bugs are annoying. The heat is,
well… “uncomfortable”. It’s more isolated and not really as pretty as down
south. But I hardly think those things should really be a consideration in
deciding whether to move to a place, do you? ;-)
Pray for Mango. Pray
for the missionaries in Mango, that they would not grow weary because life
there can be hard! Pray for the
people there, that the Holy Spirit would soften their hearts and they would be
receptive to the message of Hope. Pray for real discipleship and true strong
churches to grow. And pray for us, as we consider whether this place and work
is where God is calling us to be. There is a unique opportunity here to combine
our two loves – medicine and discipleship. You see, “Wawa” has been true in
Mango for a long time. But by God’s grace, West Africa WILL NOT Win Again – God
will, through the power of His gospel.
