2010 VISION TEAM RETURNS AND SHARES THEIR EXPERIENCE

click here to view a video of

their sponsorship visits

A recent report to the Extend Ministry Team - April 6, 2010

Following introductions [LuAnn Yocky, Lynne MacMillan, Heather Simko, Susie Graham, Tom Heckler (absent)] LuAnn and Lynne provided an overview that stated: It was a blessing to the team to have experienced their latest mission trip to Senegal.  It confirmed our 10-15 year commitment is now demonstrating an incredible return on those many years of coming alongside. The “Lake Grove” example is beginning to be recognized as a model for a country that is not only dry physically but spiritually as well.  LuAnn has received feedback from a number of other Christian groups with whom she has visited and they are reporting back that they have taken notice of the positive things happening in Kollore Gui and want to know more about the rationale behind its’ success.  Susie went on to talk about the fund raising “T shirts” and then began the slide show of the recent Go Team trip.  She and other team members described the amazing people and relationship-building efforts that has been the keystone of all of the current and previous team members’ efforts over the years. Heather shared the example of Khadim who is now 41 years of age and the son of a Marabout, a well respected community Muslim elder.  Over the years Khadim has had a Christian awakening as a result of mentoring from the World Vision and the Lake Grove & Columbia Presbyterian programs.  Khadim is now self taught in three languages. He is now acting as translator and second in the leadership of his village alongside Biram (the current President of the Federation).  All are recognizing Khadim’s steady and sure Christian pilgrimage together with his young family is not what his father had anticipated or hoped for.  Let us pray that Hadeem’s journey will end in the arms of our Lord. Khadim defined what Kollore Gui meant … loosely translated to mean:  Kollore …  “my heart is in your heart and your heart is in my heart,” and Gui …”means friendship.”

Khadim went on to ask our team partners for prayers for his village as well as for he his family.  On the issue of village sustainability LuAnn reported on the farming regeneration technique that has been put in place and now being emulated by neighboring villages. The Wolof business plan is working as witnessed by just looking at the recent composition of the families as well as the villages and farms. The new models of commerce of the new churches are winning the day by example in the “Market Garden” that is currently an acre and a half in size. It was reported that some of our funding is going into fencing the garden that protects and reduces encroachment by animals.  World Vision is currently supplying the farming expertise, i.e., agronomist.  As the Christian Community grows, our mission is more coming along side the local pastors …. the metaphor was: “putting gas in their tank” to enable them move forward and grow.  No one else has volunteered to come along side in that capacity and God has called us to that role. The full report to the church membership will be made at 11 am and again at a special 7pm meeting Sunday the 11th. Graig closed in prayer for our partners in Kollore Gui and others in Senegal together with thanks to our devoted GoTeam members for another job well done.  We were reminded that it’s God’s hands and our obedience that moves us forward.

Vision Team traveling to Senegal:

Susie Graham, LuAnn Yocky, Tom Heckler, Lynne MacMillan, Heather Simko, and David Harrison (World Vision staff member) depart February 25 and return March 6.  They will visit the Sine area, where the new program that LGPC supports is located.  The team will meet with World Vision staff, village leaders and pastors to further understand God’s new calling for LGPC in Senegal. They will also have the opportunity to meet a few of the children sponsored by members of LGPC. 

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LGPC has had a relationship with a group of villages in Senegal, West Africa since 1994.   Calling themselves "Lake Grove Land," these villages are home to the Wolof - a Muslim people group numbering approximately 4 million.   Working with World Vision, Senegal Ministries has provided funding to help with various projects involving education, health care, and agriculture.   This partnership has brought fresh water, education, adult literacy training, health programs, and micro-enterprise to the 16 villages of Lake Grove Land.   In addition, we are partners with pastor Adam Diouf and his congregation at the Eglise Evangelique (Evangelical Church) in Thies, Senegal in seeking to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Wolof and to establish an indigenous church among them.  

More about LGPC's ministry in Senegal can be found HERE.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

As we consider this question, we must keep in mind the two core missions of Lake Grove Presbyterian Church in all of our mission work.  These are "to actively support evangelistic efforts to reach unbelieving people and people groups in our church, community, region, nation and world with the gospel of Jesus Christ, in a culturally sensitive way."  And, "to provide relief and ongoing support in the name of Christ to believers and non-believers."   We continue in faithful obedience to provide  ongoing support to Kollere Gui, and the door is being opened bit by bit ('dank'n dank' in Wolof) for the gospel of Jesus Christ to enter.

As we watch God's plan unfold for us and for the people of Senegal, we feel both privileged to participate, and curious about the future.  We are sensing that God is leading us in new and exciting directions in our relationships in Senegal, and that he is far from through with us.   The new direction we feel led is in the Sine ADP.  This is the area of Senegal where many families at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church have sponsored children through World Vision. We sense that God is calling us to come along side World Vision and the pastors and Christian Churches in this area to encourage and support the efforts that are already occurring here, particularly in the area of economic development. The overall goal of this project is to enable local farmers to create more stable income sources through training, improved gardening resources and improved access to nearby markets,  In return, the hope is that young families will find it more economically viable to stay in the area and, in turn, support the local church.  They would also be able to pay for important things such as education, health care and daily essentials.

A small vision team will be traveling to this area in Senegal February 25-March 6th, 2010.  Team members are: LuAnn Yocky and David Harrison from World Vision, Susie Graham, Tom Heckler, Lynne MacMillan, and Heather Simko. They will be meeting with World Vision leaders and pastors and will also have the opportunity to meet a few of the children sponsored by members of LGPC.

For a description of the basic mission of the Christian Witness ministries at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, click here.