Field Forum 2011

This past week we had our annual field forum in Sikasso where all our CMA missionaries come together for a week of meetings and worship.

It was a fantastic week. The best field forum I've been to yet. David Lane was the speaker and he was amazing. He said he hadn't been given any info on where our team was at but it was clear that the Lord had lead him because his topics were so on target. His messages were so good that I took notes constantly (as did everyone else). Sometimes I wanted to shout out, "hold on!" so my hand could catch up with all the good things he was saying. He talked about rest and how work is not the enemy of rest but unbelief is. He talked through the temptation of Jesus by Satan and how Satan attacked Christ's identity, significance and security. So good. He also talked about how there will be things that we cannot do. Our job is to do what is before us, leaving the results to the Lord. Also, we can't do it all. People will die. That's not our problem. That is on the Lord's shoulders. He will give us the strength to do what He wants for each day. If that means some people don't get treatment, it means some don't get treatment. There have to be margins in life. It was just oh so good. On top of a great speaker, David was also compassionate and caring, humble and kind. He was such an encouragement to us. Thank you, David!

We also had a great worship leader, Beau Church. It is always such a powerful blessing to worship in our heart language. Each day was a wonderful time of worship.

Here is our team. We are in green, yellow, and red because those are the colors of the Malian flag.

The greatest thing I came away with from the week was a sense of gratitude and blessing for this team. I've often said that joining a team is like having an arranged marriage. You don't get to chose your partner but you have to learn to love one another. It isn't always easy, that's why team conflict is the number one reason people leave the field. Especially here in Koutiala where do everything together. We work together, go to church together, have Bible study together, spend holidays together. We live together. However, I can honestly say that this team is filled with wonderful people who each bring special gifts to the team. We are not perfect by any means (probably the greatest lesson I've learned on the field is that we are sinful, messed up people) but this is a good group. I haven't always been able to say that in my heart if I'm being honest. Praise the Lord that I can now. I think the first few years I lost sight of who I was and was afraid to be myself. Thankfully that has changed. I feel free to be myself with this team and accept everyone else to be who they are. That is an amazing thing. We are all crazy. :)

All the boys on the Mali field in their red shirts.

One day we had a scavenger hunt around town. We had to do various things with random people. One was drinking Malian tea. Here is Kenan drinking it (just pretending).

Being pushed in the pushcart by a Malian (Joliene is in the cart- a GREAT team member who took care of the kids). This is as good a time as any to talk about the team that came. They were AWESOME! The first day they came up to the boys and could tell them what their names were! They had prayed for our families and knew our kids before even coming to Mali. They were here to serve. Truly serve. They would stay with the kids at night so Brett and I both could go to the nightly activities with the team. What a blessing! I came back exhausted from staying up too late but I wouldn't trade it for anything! Thank you Jamie, Joliene, Molly and John for being such great encouragements to us. To have someone really love and care for your kids is one of the greatest encouragements a parent can receive. We were truly blessed.

Carry a baby on your back...she wasn't too happy about the random white woman taking her from her mom.

Had to have a picture in a moto taxi.

One of our team members, Carina, goes by the name Gnagalie Bah by people in the prisons she goes and visits. She saw the sign and we had to snap a picture. (Gnagali means joy- fits her perfectly. She is a woman filled with joy).

One of the gifts given to the boys by the field forum team. They were spoiled rotten!

The kids did a presentation at the end of the week. It was a story of a king whose children had been stolen by a dragon who had once been a close friend of the king. The dragon wanted to be kind himself and that is why the king sent him away. Knights came to flight the dragon in order save the king's family. Dawson was the holy knight. Kenan the good night. Silas was soft night or something like that...he had a pillow instead of a sword. There was also Monday knight with a football.

Here they are ready to fight. Silas wasn't into it so much...

until he got to fight the dragon. :)

Great week but it wore everyone out. Here are the boys on the bed (I slept on this bed as well). Two are on top of each other and then you can see the hand of Dawson peeking out from under the covers. Otherwise he was completely covered in the blanket.

And another night. Why sleeping boys looks so cute to me, I do not know, but I love it.