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

mar meyer news

#6Craig and Mary Paskvan receiving a gift of 3 chickens at Cuttington University, Gbarnga, Liberia


#5 Mary at Foya Church teaching how to "Think, pair, share". Emmanuel Tengbeh
is translating for the session.



#4 Craig examining mold infested cocoa trees.


#3 Delano presenting training materials to Rev. John Bartoe


#2 Moses Fayia teaching about "Management of the Harvest". A joy for Linda and I to work with an old friend.


#1 Compound-Su, Gbarpolu County villagers saying goodbye to Delano, Linda, Moses and Johnson. They gave us lots of yams and bananas as a farewell


MEYER MISSION NEWS

On the Road Again – in Liberia

March 2010

Dear Friends:



“This is the first soil profile we have ever seen here at the University” was Mr. Massaquoi’s response upon receiving a soil audit. “My pleasure to do that for you” was Craig’s reply.



In February at Cuttington University near Gbarnga, Bong County, Liberia, we met Mr. Molly Massaquoi, the assistant farm manager. A Lutheran pastor who attended there had introduced us to him last year when Dr. Ralph von Qualen a plant pathologist was with us. This time I brought along Craig Paskvan, a soil expert and his wife Mary. I – Delano - like to be with “Heavy Weights” when going to universities.



Craig has been our soils consultant since Martin Augustine passed away some years ago. Craig has been making recommendations on how to balance soils, based on the soil samples we have been sending to USA for analysis. At Cuttington U. we delivered the soil audit and inventory report from soil samples we took there last year. We also gave Mr. Massaquoi Craig’s recommendations for correcting the soil imbalance.



Mr. Massaquoi also thanked us for the training materials we brought to him last year. He said he lets students read the materials and then they return it for others to read. We were pleased and impressed. We again gave more materials and also offered to share information with Cuttington via the internet in the future.



In gratitude for the materials and information, we were given three chickens. Where else in the world would you receive a chicken dinner on the hoof – so to speak? We enjoyed our chickens upon our return to Gbarnga. Thank you Mr. Massaquoi!



This was Craig and Mary Paskvan’s first trip to remote African villages and so quite an adventure for them and a joy for us to have them with us.



In Foya, Lofa County we were happy to find our church members Saturday evening and enjoy Sunday Bible study followed by worship services with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia. Craig and Mary were impressed to hear Biblical truths being taught and expressed in such remote locations. It truly is an encouragement for our faith as we often hear Liberian and Sierra Leonean Christians express how they placed confidence in Jesus Christ through their experiences as they were caught in war. The Lord is my Strength and Shield. Psalm 28:7



Mary Paskvan put her training as a teacher to good use at sessions. “Think, pair, share” is a teaching technique introduced by Mary to help students to analyze in their own minds, discuss what

they have learned with someone else, and then share their ideas with the group. The technique reinforces the teaching and helps people recall their new ideas and knowledge. Sometimes the concepts and method caught on quickly, and other times we had to role play the “Think, pair, share” to get the meaning across.



An unexpected opportunity came as a result of our long time acquaintance with Joseph Yasseh who used to be the President of the Lutheran Church in Guinea. Joseph now resides in Foya Central and is working with the Vice President of Liberia on his cocoa plantation. Joseph asked us to travel to Warsongar Village to examine the cocoa trees because the trees are not producing well as a result of severe molds. Joseph guided us on a tour of part of the plantation. Craig took a soil sample and pulled leaves for leaf analysis. I have sent these samples to Brookside Laboratory. Imagine the impact if our people are able to overcome this roadblock to profitable cocoa production.



We felt like the “Dukes of Hazard” trying to reach Garplay, Nimba County. We were only a half hour away from Garplay, approaching from the west, when we were informed by customs personnel, that the bridge ahead was out and that we would have to detour. The detour took us 3 hours and as we neared Garplay from the northwest, a motorcyclist flagged us down saying a truck loaded with coffee had just broken through the bridge a few miles ahead.



We then went back a few miles and tried another route. When asking about the route to Garplay, we received so many conflicting reports that we stopped asking anyone and just pressed on. We later learned the reason for conflicting reports – the section of road we needed to travel was quite bad, but locked in 4 wheel drive & low transfer, we got through and reached Garplay at 8 PM. Mary said that after retirement from mission, I - Delano should start driving for NASCAR.



We were warmly received at Garplay by fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The village children sang on into the night making the effort totally worthwhile.



Philippians 1: 27- Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. The person credited with bringing the Lutheran Church to the village of Compound-Su in Gbapolu County is Victoria Fayia. Victoria was working with a non-governmental organization (NGO) that focused of imparting skills to ex-combatants. She was teaching sewing and tailoring as part of a reintegration program to help former rebels to learn a useful skill. Victoria conducted herself in a way that drew people to want to know Jesus Christ and they asked for the Lutheran Church.



Rev. Nathaniel Taylor, who is working with the local pastor, guided us to Compound-Su along with Moses Fayia and Johnson. Johnson was with us for the first time to learn more about agricultural training. Moses, Victoria’s husband, had done some agricultural training in compound-Su already. He again was a great help in teaching and made our last stop in Liberia a joy for Linda and me. Moses expressed the hope that Linda and I return for short-term agricultural teaching in Liberia. What a blessing it has been for us to work with faithful Christians who serve!



This recent 3-week trip was our final visit to Liberia as career missionaries. We have been blessed to have growing relationships with many friends in Liberia over the years, and so parting was time of mixed emotions for us. We are happy to be completing our career missionary service on positive notes, as many we worked with in the past, have expressed an appreciation, understanding and positive results from the training we have been doing. It has been an awesome privilege to share our faith and see our Lord bringing souls to faith in West Africa.



Looking back at many Christian friends we have met along the way and hope to meet again, we recall Revelation 7: 9, “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were dressed in white and holding palm branches in their hand.”



Because of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, we have the confidence that we too will live with Him, standing at His throne along with the great multitude of believers. May you celebrate with joy His victory over death this Easter!



1 Corinthians 15: 54b & 57 - Death has been swallowed up in victory. Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.





PRAYER REQUESTS

Thank God for safety, strength, health and positive training sessions in Liberia.



Ask the Lord for safe travel to the Missionary Retreat to be held in Ghana in late March and on to Northern Ghana where Linda and I will say “Good bye” to old friends we worked with from 1994 - 2000.



Pray for safety and health for Dr. Ralph von Qualen, Linda and Delano as we travel to Guinea in mid April for agricultural training sessions.



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.



Wishing you a blessed Easter,



Delano & Linda Meyer



Note this change of address since we are leaving the mission field on May 28, 2010.

Our new address is:

Delano and Linda Meyer

61203 150th St.

Chokio, MN 56221

meyer mission news

#1: Pastor John Lebbie and family in Boindu, Sierra Leon

#2 Village women cooking rice in Boindu


#3Tombodu school children and adults in a training session

#4Daniel Yarjah, Delano & Alex Lansana teaching “Changes in the
Environment”. Both Daniel & Alex taught this session with a bit of
coaching in following sessions.

#5 Pastor Daniel showing us the field of rice that the Gbandakadu
congregation has given to him and the two assistant pastors for the
support of their families. While some sit and cry for help, others
serve, work and sweat along side their people.

#6: Pastor John Lebbie and family in Boindu, Sierra Leone


MEYER MISSION NEWS
Different Kinds of Gifts
January 2010
Dear Friends:
2010 is here! Certainly we each might reflect upon what has happened
in the last year or two and ask, “What will happen in 2010?” Many
changes seem to be coming and we older folks possibly wish things
were more like they used to be. Among the uncertainties, we can be
confident. As St. Paul writes in Romans 8: 38-39, “For I am
convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor
depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Rewards at the end of the road In December 09 we were anxious to
make our last visit to the Kono District of Sierra Leone where we
planned to do agricultural training in 4 locations. There was joy and
a bit of anxiety for us in the opportunity to teach in Boindu, a new
location for us in the extreme eastern edge of Sierra Leone next to
the Guinea border. An older lady in Boindu said through an
interpreter that Linda and I were the second white people she had
ever seen in her village. The first white person she had ever seen
was Rev. Tim Heiney, who is a fellow LCMS missionary.

Heading for Boindu we carried with us leaders of the Christ
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sierra Leone (CELCSL). Leadership
planned to use our trip to carry some key leaders to Boindu who could
help organize the Boindu area churches and bring them into better
communication with CELCSL.

Boindu is isolated from the rest of Sierra Leone by a difficult
mountain road. The 34 miles took us 5 ½ hours, an average speed of
6.2 miles per hour; most of the time we were in four wheel drive and
shifted into low range. We have a high/low transfer case on our
little Ford Ranger. As we felt some anxiety it was a good time to
recall advice from Phil. 4: 6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present
your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Reception in Boindu was very warm and hospitable with the first
morning training session on Management of the Harvest drawing more
than 100 people from Boindu and surrounding villages. There were 70
people present for the second day of training.

The reason there are Lutheran Churches in the Boindu area is because
Rev. Heiney trained a layman by the name of John Lebbie during the
Sierra Leone civil war. John Lebbie and many others came to know
about Jesus Christ while in refugee camps in Guinea. What a joy to
see that God’s Word is spreading into areas of Sierra Leone.

Reflecting upon how our Lord builds His Church, we are reminded of 1
Corinthians 12: 4&5, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the
same Spirit. There are different kinds of service; but the same
Lord.” We saw churches established by those trained by missionaries,
leaders who faithfully continued serving the Lord and teaching what
they knew, members opened their homes for us, others fed us,
leadership went to encourage and reinforce the local church
leadership. We certainly saw the church body at work. 1 Corinthians
12:12, “The body is a unit made up of many parts; and though its
parts are many, they form one body.” 1 Corinthians 12: 27, “Now you
are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” Even
as we report to you about what we saw others doing and our small part
in being there too, Linda and I want to encourage each of you to see
your part in “The Body of Christ” and seek ways to serve Him in 2010.

Encouragement at Gbandakudu Part of what we as agricultural
missionaries work toward is financial independence of the national
churches. When mission churches start under missionaries, there is a
tendency to rely upon the mission for everything including money.

After completing our second day of training at Gbandakudu in the
Gbensi Chiefdom, Pastor Daniel Yarjah said that they wanted to show
us their rice swamp. The fields were ripening, and the rice
generally looked very good. Daniel explained that the congregation
had given him that plot of land to have as his own and thus be able
to support himself and his family. I asked, “Do you also work in the
rice fields?” His reply brought joy to my heart!! “Yes”, he said,
“We all work on the fields together.” Here was proof that the
members of national churches are able to support their pastors.
Pastors and members sweating together as they till, plant and harvest
in a rice field is a God-pleasing activity!

Daniel went on to explain that the congregation has also given fields
to two assistant pastors. They also work side by side in these
fields. Is there some symbolism in this picture as we consider our
Lord’s Harvest Fields?

Mentoring leaders Another important focus of our work has been
mentoring leaders to take over teaching in agricultural training that
is still very much needed in Africa. We have been very blessed to
have a few gifted and dedicated men working with us over the years.
During our sessions in Kono, we were thankful to have two men, Daniel
Yarjah and Alex Lansana work with us and be able to actually take
over the training sessions with just a little coaching from us.
Truly a joy for us to see, as we realize, with retirement getting
nearer, we may not be going back to the Kono District again.
Ephesians 4:11-13, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to
be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and
teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service…”

PRAYER REQUESTS
Thank God for positive support of national pastors by their members.
Thank God for leaders who are willing trainers of their own members.
Pray for safety, strength and health during our teaching trip to
Uganda in mid January.

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.

We wish you a blessing filled 2010!
Delano and Linda Meyer

C/O Travis Torblaa, LCMS World Mission, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St.
Louis, MO 63122-7295

meyer misson news Oct

Dear Christian Friends,

Delano and Linda will be traveling to Uganda in Mid November, so
another newsletter will probably not be sent out until after
Christmas. Also, please let us know when you change your e-mail
address so you can continue to receive their newsletter. Until next
time - God's blessings! Joan

MEYER MISSION NEWS
The Harvest Takes Priority
October 2009
Dear Friends:
Today October 17, 2009, is normally harvest time in the Midwest of
the USA. In a good year farmers would be done with soybean harvest
and pressing on to complete corn harvest before November.

Sadly we have learned that due to "Global Warming" the summer was so
cool that crops did not mature as normal and the harvest is delayed.
We learned of a 2-inch snowfall in Minnesota on the 10th of October
with rain and snow continuing for the following week. I do recall
the anxiety I felt as a farmer when these things happened, and the
pressure of finances made the delays an even more tremendous drain on
my temperamental, harvest time personality; poor Linda, Laura and Brian.

By God's grace when you receive this newsletter, those who are
rolling the harvest machinery will be happily at it; and their loving
spouses will be delighted to have the grouch out of the house.

The urgency of the crop harvest and the present situation in the Mid-
West is a great back-drop to help us understand better the urgency
our Lord feels as he compares the harvest of souls for eternity with
harvesting the crop. "I tell you open your eyes and look at the
fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his
wages, even now he harvests the crops for eternal life, so that the
sower and the reaper may be glad together." John 4: 35 & 36

Harvesting the fall crops for me was a high priority, and we as a
family focused on getting the crop harvested and stored before winter
set in. I confess that during times when harvest was delayed by rain
and immature crops, I often lost sight of the real reason for being
alive and being a Christian. The harvest seemed to consume me. I do
not want to talk about times when the John Deere 6600 combine broke
down when there was snow in the weather forecast. I am thankful our
Lord understands human beings and farming. Isn't God's grace a
wonderful thing?

Still the harvest of souls - including your own - is the main thing.
You, who witness about Jesus in a positive way, are the sower.
Blessed by the Holy Spirit bringing repentance and faith, you are
even now harvesting the crops - the souls of men, women and children
for eternal life! What joy we will have eternally being part of our
Lord's harvest brigade, as we ourselves are gathered to the Lord and
as our Lord uses us to gather the crop of souls for eternity.

In the harvest in West Africa the church is bringing souls to Jesus
and thus eternal salvation. It is heartening for Linda and me to be
in a small way part of His great commission. We are blessed to
work with and encourage others who sow and reap crops for eternal
life. In Sierra Leone Rev. James Yasseh and Rev. John Bundor have
worked with other Lutheran leaders to help the rural farmers with
improved rice and groundnut (peanut) seed through a seed
multiplication project LCMS WR&HC sponsored in 2008. Not only did
they give out improved seed that yielded well, but the way in which
they worked with communities and individuals generated enthusiasm for
the church and an outpouring of seed returned to the project at
harvest in 2008. This year without any additional funding from LCMS
WR&HC, seed has been distributed to new places and multiplied again
in two districts.

Our leaders' example of Christian love for the people they serve is
reflected in how they administered the seed multiplication project.
The people seeing Christian integrity, honesty and openness are
responding! Even the Ministry of Agriculture has taken note of the
success and asked our leaders to be part of a governmental meeting
where they share insights on how they have conducted the project.
Sad fact, a government official told our leaders, that the government
has not been able to conduct a successful seed multiplication project
in the years since the war. What a joy when our guys are getting it
right!!

It all starts with motivation to serve our Lord in Christian love as
expressed in 1 John 4: 9-12 "This is how God showed His love among
us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live
through Him. This is love: not that we love God, but that He loves
us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear
Friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us
and his love is made complete in us."

At Christmas we will again celebrate how God showed us His love by
sending His Son into the world to be our Savior from sin. May we all
rejoice in His love and share it with one another.

PRAYER REQUESTS
Thank God for positive Christian outreach being done among Lutheran
leaders and members.

Pray for safety, strength and health during our trip to Uganda in mid
November. Pray for guidance as the Lutheran Church Mission Uganda
(LCMU) and LCMS Missionaries guide us to 7 locations where we plan to
teach 2 days at each location.

Pray for peace and good governance for Guinea and safety for LCMS
missionaries serving there.

Pray for health for our family and friends, as several are suffering
from illness.

We uphold friends in prayer who are struggling to harvest their fall
crops.

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.

Due to our upcoming travel, we extend early wishes to you for a very
Blessed Christmas!
Delano and Linda Meyer

C/O Travis Torblaa, LCMS World Mission
1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295