meyer misssion news

DSCN2499.JPG: A farewell meal with LCMS missionaries, Andrea Herman, the Heineys, and the Norton family in Siguiri, Guinea.

DSCN2452.JPG: Etienne, Benedict, James (kneeling, Emile and Linda during a training session in Kissidougou.

DSCN2395.JPG: Church service in Karana, Guinea. Pastor Alfred in red, white & blue shirt on the right.

DSCN2386.JPG: Slash and burn agriculture on the mountain near Karana in Nzerekore region of Guinea. Could erosion be a problelm?


DSCN2305.JPG: Linda teaching on the subject "to have enough water." Rev. Julien is the interpreter at Gueckedou, Guinea.

DSCN2339.JPG: In Gbottoye, the old man on the right had seen good conservation methods produce better crops.







MEYER MISSION NEWS
Walk as Children of Light
May 2010


Dear Friends:

In Minnesota a snow storm can cancel a church service, but in Guinea it was a credit offering by loan agents that was causing church members to think they could not come to services on a Sunday morning in Karana, Guinea. What a deal! The credit group was offering a loan of 100,000 Guinea Francs with a repay of 120,000 Guinea Francs to be repaid in 6 months.

Pastor Alfred Salloe said it was an attack by Satan, and after a prayer for the Lord’s will to be done, Alfred went to discuss the matter with the church leaders. Linda and I remained in our truck discussing another heavy issue that had been laid upon Linda.

Pastor Alfred had told us that the new believers asked him if it was alright for them to send their daughters to receive the cultural female circumcision. Alfred answered them by saying he wanted to do a Bible study with them on the matter. Alfred then asked Linda to do a Bible class study about female circumcision.

Linda had been preparing for the Bible study on Saturday, and now Sunday morning came and we possibly would not hold church services because of a loan scheme! It looked as though the “World” was winning.

We have been told that initiation rites used to be for training young men and women in preparation for marriage and about their roles as husband and wife. Sadly traditional animist beliefs are entwined with practical training and the whole system becomes physically and spiritually harmful in its treatment of young women.

Pastor Alfred returned saying that church services were on. He continued by saying the loan offering would probably be opened for applicants a bit later and we should proceed quickly so our members could attend church and then hurry away to apply for credit. Does this remind you of Sunday NFL game pressures on our USA pastors?

Linda’s Bible study began with Psalm 139:13-14 “For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well;” RSV

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Gen 1:31a “And God saw everything he had made, and behold it was very good.”

There is no instruction from God in the Bible requiring female circumcision. He has made the woman’s body in a good way as He planned. No alterations necessary!!

The practice of female circumcision causes scar tissue and makes giving birth more difficult if not dangerous. Some circumcisions cause uncontrolled bleeding. Infections including HIV/AIDS can result causing infertility and even death. Because of the sensitive nature of the subject, those of you who want to learn more about the subject can probably look it up on the internet.

From a spiritual point of view, there is potential for the victim to be more open to demonic spiritual attack, as those performing the circumcision keep the tissue removed or sell it to a witch doctor; this can be used by witch doctors and other dark-side operatives to bring harm on the young woman for years into the future.

As Linda was sharing the dangers to young women as mentioned above, one of the women in attendance became agitated and expressed her disapproval of the message. We could not understand the language, but later learned that woman was one who profited from the practice. After a bit of discussion, Linda was asked to continue and the woman remained quiet. It was good the disturbed woman did not leave the Bible study and could hear all of what was said on the subject.

Space does not permit us to cover the whole study here, but Linda addressed the problems of peer pressures with fear of rejection and criticism using Isaiah 41:10 and Romans 8:38 & 39; what is a good wife using Proverbs 31; the spiritual battle we are all caught in using Ephesians 5: 8-11 “Walk as children of the Light”. We could not tell at that service what the immediate response was. We know they heard the truth from scriptures and we trust the Holy Spirit to make the changes in His time.
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory
that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4

Since we are near the close of our full time missionary service, we said our goodbyes to many friends in Guinea. We heard from many that the training was generally well received and several commented upon how things we taught had helped them.

Pastor Etienne made a remark that most warmed our hearts. He said, “Knowledge is more valuable than money.” He and his wife now more carefully manage their rice crop and finances with the result they see things improving slowly.

Emile, also at sessions in Kissidougou, said he used to have to work hard for others clearing farms just to get enough for him and his family to eat; but now as a result of the training, he is the one hiring others to work on his farm.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Thank God for safe travel into Guinea and for the opportunity to do agricultural training sessions and say “Good bye” to our friends. We pray the people whose lives we touched, directly or indirectly, will continue to apply and share knowledge and Biblical truths with others.

We thank LCMS World Mission leaders and staff for being great people to work with and for. They have always been open and honest in communications, forgiving when things did not always go well or as planned; supportive when we had health issues and fair in their financial support.

We thank each of you for your prayers, love and encouragement over the years. We hope to travel and thank supporters face to face over the next months and years, but be assured that you are each appreciated.

We thank God for His guidance and protection over the past 16 years as he gave us the opportunity to serve in several countries within Africa.

Pray for safety as we fly back to Minnesota May 28-29th and as we adjust to living in a different culture—the USA!

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