meyer mission news

MEYER MISSION NEWS

Refreshment and Reflections

April 2010

Dear Friends:



Refreshment came to Linda and me in March at the missionary retreat held in Ghana for missionaries of Lutheran Bible Translators and missionaries of LCMS World Mission. The missionaries gathered together were those assigned to serve in West Africa. Being with fellow missionaries who serve in the same general area, sharing goals, challenges and blessings was a great encouragement. Because we “…stand firm in one Spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel,” Philippians 1: 27b.

We were refreshed through Bible studies led by Rev. Dan Gilbert, President of Northern Illinois District.

Jesus gave his disciples the commission to go into the world to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching his Word. Matt.28:19-20. His mission of reconciling the world through dying for our sins was accomplished on the cross. He chose to involve us in proclaiming repentance and forgiveness of sins. Luke 24:46-48 and John 20:21-23. When we don’t see results immediately, we need to remember that our role is to tell the Good News, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring people to faith. We continue to be His witnesses. Act 1:8.

Reflections on six years of our lives invested in Ghana (1994-2000) and a total of 16 years in Africa has been in our minds in the last year of career missionary service here in Africa.

A visual aid for Reflections is the beautiful quilt the LCMS World Mission missionaries gave to us the evening of Palm Sunday during the retreat. We were surprised and a bit overwhelmed by the honoring ceremony. So many friends spoke and assured us that these past 16 years spent in Africa were blessed by our Lord, and our frail efforts are and will be a blessing on into the future; not because of Delano & Linda, but because “His word will not return void”.

The quilt, with a map of Africa, highlights areas and dates we served in each area. The outer border lists the 15 countries wherein we either served or visited in our years of service.

Rewards during our travels in Ghana were to learn that some of the methods and ideas we taught were still being used. An Assembly Man (like the mayor) in northern Ghana told us he still uses the “Care of the Soil” booklet LCMS WR & HC helped us publish back in 1996. He mentioned a part of the booklet that talks about Christian families as being very helpful. He wished we could come back and do more teaching.

Other feed back varied from positive to disappointing. We would have loved to tell you there was a mass paradigm shift in caring for soil, positive Christian family values and money management. We are able to tell you that some are catching a vision for Christian change while others are not. The good news is this leaves plenty of work for the next generation of missionaries.

Regrets We regret that Dr. Ralph von Qualen could not come to Sierra Leone and travel to Guinea in mid April for agricultural training sessions. LCMS World Mission was forced to initiate a freeze on spending. Dr. Ralph’s travel expenditure was one of the items cut. Within a day of us learning about the spending freeze, we heard from Ralph that his mother was in the hospital. Rather than try to fund Ralph’s trip another way, it seemed wise to postpone Dr. Ralph’s visit. We hope Dr. Ralph will continue to serve, advise and encourage our friends in West Africa. We leave this all in the capable hands of our Lord working through those willing to serve and to give.



PRAYER REQUESTS

We thank God for you, our family, supporters and friends who have been the reason we were able to serve. We will need your continued financial and prayer support until we retire from full-time service with LCMS World Mission at the “ripe old age of 66” in October 2010.

Thank God for safe travel to the Missionary Retreat held in Ghana in late March and the positive encouragement it meant for many hard working servants.

Thank God for the opportunity to say “Good bye” to old friends we worked with from 1994 – 2000 in Ghana. Linda and I felt it was very meaningful for us and those we met.

Pray for safety and health for us as we travel into Guinea to do agricultural training beginning in mid April.

FINANCIAL SUPPPORT

Thank you to all who have contributed gifts “for the support of Delano and Linda Meyer.” Address (without our name on envelope) to: LCMS World Mission, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295. Inside the envelope designate your gift for us on the check or in a note.

To contribute to our LCMS World Relief & Human Care project, “Agricultural Training in West Africa”, designate & send checks to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295.

In Jesus our Risen Savior and Lord,

Delano & Linda Meyer



Note this change of address since we are leaving Sierra Leone on May 28, 2010.

Our new address is:

Delano and Linda Meyer

61203 150th St.

Chokio, MN 56221



We plan to continue using: meyerdel@yahoo.com