Our Africa

About a month ago, I sat down in 280 to have a brief meeting with Mike Arzie and Dave Martini. Just before the meeting commenced, as Mike was outlining what we were going to discuss, he threw in a comment so out of the blue I thought for sure he was making a joke (this is a completely safe assumption with Mike). “Oh, and we want to send you to Africa,” he said casually. I laughed uncomfortably, not knowing whether to call his bluff or let myself get excited about the possibility.

Africa? Really?

Well, Mike was being serious. And God willing this January a team of 7 from our congregation will be traveling to Niamey, Niger. The mission is simple: to meet and encourage missionary families living and working in the region through a 5-day conference put on by SIM (www.sim.org). Many know that our church supports Kendrick and Alicia Lau, medical missionaries with SIM at Galmi Hospital in Niger. They are to be our host for the trip and, though plans are still being finalized, the team may have the opportunity to visit the Lau’s home (a mere 6 hour drive from Niamey) once the conference is over.

Each person traveling has a specific role to fulfill within the context of the conference. You may know some of the team members…

Pastor Gary Dozier will be the speaker at the conference. When Mark Sherman asked SIM contact Mike Schmidt about what Gary should focus on as far as text or theme goes, he responded by sharing the simple and sobering reality that missionaries face in this particular mission field: “Niger is a tough country so you can expect some discouraged people who are enduring tough conditions and not seeing much fruit. We need to hear that our God is still in control and mighty enough to act.” Gary is going to be bringing a message of encouragement and hope from the Psalms. He has titled his series “Discipline and Desperation.”

Our Mission Director, Mark Sherman, is going specifically to get a firsthand look at the field where the Lau family is ministering. Additionally, he and Patrick Elliot will, among other conference responsibilities, be leading worship for the conference sessions.

Pastor Mike Arzie is giving leadership to the youth ministry for the conference. The children of these missionaries will be attending the conference with their parents so Mike, Shaun Stevenson, Patrick Elliot, Rose Stubblefield, and myself will be working with 7th through 12th grade students. In considering what this program would look like, Mike was encouraged by Mike Schmidt not to shy away from really challenging these youths in their relationship with God. Mike Schmidt has two teenage children attending the conference with him, and he gave assurance that these youths are spiritually mature and ready for “meaty” biblical teaching. At the same time, he joked, “You can only expect them to parse Greek verbs for so long before they rebel on you.” John Corey (though he won’t be joining the team for this trip) also gave his advice: the life of an MK – especially in Africa – is often an isolated one with not many opportunities to meet with others youths in similar life situations. John’s genuine love for these kids really came out as he encouraged us to make it a time that they can come away from with great memories and newly formed friendships. Invaluable advice to be sure (and with Mike Arzie and Shaun Stevenson on this mission, these kids are pretty much guaranteed a thrilling and memorable time!).

This trip, for our 7 team members, promises excitement, adventure, and encouragement from our brothers and sisters across the world. Please pray for us as we plan this trip. Because for those to whom we will be ministering this may be the first real break in a long time of very difficult, very trying, and very exhausting work. As I read the Lau’s most recent prayer letter I was struck by the simple and straightforward way in which Alicia described Kendrick’s current work situation: “At the moment,” she explained, “he is also needing to cover OB services daily, take call usually every third night, and act as the Chief Medical Officer. He is tired and stretched too thin, and usually quite absent from our family.” Her attitude toward the calling that God has placed on their life is an incredible testimony to me of selfless obedience.

Reading her letter gave me a new perspective and a small glimpse into what missionary life in Niger is truly like. As I considered this new information, I realized that back in room 280, as Mike had talked to me about the possibility of taking a trip to Africa, that I’d imagined the Africa of Hollywood – of wild animals and striking vistas; I’d imagined the “trendy” Africa that is politically and socially so popular right now – with beautiful but malnourished children posing for photographs with the most recent visiting celebrity.

That is not the Lau’s Africa. My prayer is that as we plan and prepare for this trip, our burden becomes increasingly more for the Lau’s Africa – for the Lau family and for the many other missionary families following in obedience the calling of God in one of the most difficult regions of our world. My prayer is that the Lau’s Africa becomes Our Africa; a real mission field where God is moving in the midst of extreme poverty, disease, and hosts of other physical, spiritual, and social obstacles. As I write this note, the words of Jesus are repeated over and over and over to my soul: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

-- Amy McCormick, AfricaTeam2010