Africa Adventures Recent Report

“Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: ‘The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!’ I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.”

Psalm 118:15-17


December, January Summer/Winter Break

Our time in the States, with family in DC for three weeks in December and with friends and encouragers in Oklahoma for three weeks in January, was excellent! With six grandchildren, two sons, and one wonderful daughter-in-law to enjoy, and Char’s siblings and others visiting with us for several days, the time went too quickly. We rejoice that all is going well for them even as it is with their souls. This frees us from worry about our families while we are in Africa. Tulsa was a whirlwind as we shared our adventures, visited with our great friends, and shopped for a year’s worth of needed supplies. Ron finished editing book number three and was able to move it forward toward publishing. It was not very difficult to leave the cold of winter and return to South Africa’s summer! J We returned to our little Pretoria “flat” for just a few days and recovered from jet-lag (Char nursing a cough) while getting ready for our next missionary adventure.


February Burundi Conferences

We flew into Bujumbura, the capitol, this time, instead of driving south from Uganda and Rwanda as we did 15 months ago. Bujumbura rests on a plain at the edge of a beautiful lake, and is bordered to the north by lovely lush green mountains. We were met at the airport by our dear brothers and sisters and the party began. At first we regretted bringing warmer clothes, but as we drove north into the mountains, we realized that our memories had served us right and that it was still winter in Burundi. Winter? Rather like North American spring or fall days, cool and pleasant with occasional rain and cold winds. We hear it can get really hot in the summer.

It was a busy and productive time in Ngozi and some of its surrounding villages. We were slated to hold nineteen days straight (February 1 – 19) of one-day meetings. This was a departure, however, from our normal routine of conducting three-day, fifteen-session Empower Africa Christian Leadership conferences (EACLCs). We were certainly glad to have prepared new materials, which is our continuing normal practice. We preached in six three-to-four hour long church services and taught three hours in each of two men’s, two women’s and two youth conferences. All were well received by teachable and hungry listeners. Then our five days of conference with pastors and leaders was especially fruitful. With no Bible school in the area, these hungry leaders pulled our teachings out of us. These events afforded fruitful ministry times with many, but, as usual, particularly with the pastors/leaders. We kept two interpreters very busy.

Ron felt impressed several times to offer to go to the local prison and speak. Then our host was called to the local province governor’s office to talk, of all things, about a prison ministry. Ron volunteered and officials arranged a special four-hour meeting. The Ngozi Men’s Prison facilitates houses 5,000 male offenders from the surrounding five provinces plus another section for the women. Our group ministered to the 4 to 5 hundred men prisoners squeezed into a mid-sized courtyard. One of the church choirs, including their babies and babysitters, and several church leaders and pastors went with us, so about 60 of us filled one end of the yard. We two white people always cause such a stir everywhere we go; this was no exception. To everyone’s delight the Christian prisoners of the “church” in the prison sang and danced, and then the choir with us did the same thing. Ron spoke twice, using drama and visuals challenging the inmates towards self-reliance and to put their faith in God. Between 50 and 60 persons (including a woman from the church choir) responded to the altar call. We were able to mingle and pray for them, then personally greet and encourage many of them. We have already received good reports from our host pastor.

Burundi is much like Rwanda, to the north, mountainous, green, and rainy with fertile soil. Yet both nations are economically impoverished, Burundi more than Rwanda. Thousands of people live at the poverty level, in many cases because of recent wars and genocides. It is heart-rending to see the child beggars on the streets, many of them war orphans. Yet, the opportunity for powerful ministry is overwhelming. May God bless them abundantly as they seek to live according to His Word.


Departure Adventure

We experienced some trauma the last hours there because the driver would not take us to the airport until we paid him more money. He drove us to the bank; not the airport. We arrived at the airport 20 minutes before the plane was scheduled to take off and the Lord, and the Kenya Airlines staff, graciously helped us quickly through the boarding process. Thank you for praying for us. We feel the effects of your prayers when close calls like this occur. May the Lord richly bless you.

We are scheduled to leave March 4th for Lagos where we will be working for 7 weeks and returning to Pretoria on April 24th. Thanks again for praying for the Meyers on Mondays. We are praying for you, too, that God will bless you big time!

Ron and Char