“Marching along to Zion, beautiful city, let us go!” On my first trip to Nigeria two years ago, a welcoming committee of the orphaned children sang this “Zion” hymn to me. It has one of those melodies that sticks in the sound track of your mind for a long time. I’m looking forward to hearing the children sing again as I prepare for my second trip to Africa from Jan 27 through Feb 18. Please pray for my safe travel and success in advancing the HEAL mission during my stay.
My first stop will be in the Diocese of Bafang, Cameroon, where Rev. Leo and the Messengers of Justice (MOJ) Congregation live, pray, and work on behalf of the rural poor. I will be visiting the two Catholic primary schools where the MOJ’s are on staff as teachers and helped their students to award-winning performances. I will also get an up close look at Rev. Leo’s life in his parish of Christ the King, located in a small village near Bafang. If you know any French, please contact me and give me some tips as Cameroon is a French speaking nation!
After a week in Cameroon, we will fly to Nigeria, which borders Cameroon to the west. The highlight of my two weeks in Nigeria will be visiting the land where we will construct our new volunteer lodge. This lodge will accommodate missionary volunteers who desire to assist us with their knowledge and skills in the service of the poor and marginalized orphans and widows. We will then visit the Compassionate Home in Umuagwu and reunite with the orphans and widows who I first met during my 2014 trip.
Throughout my trip we will be shooting video and taking photos of our mission at work and prayer. A final video will be produced that will provide an inside look of our programs and how the construction of the volunteer lodge will be critical for the advancement of HEAL’s mission. YOU will be the first to see this video, which will convey not only our work and project needs, but also the self-emptying (Phil 2:5-11) Spirit of Jesus Christ which animates us.
Again I ask for your prayers for my safe travel or “journey mercy” as my African friends call it. And, please consider how you might help us construct this volunteer lodge. We have purchased the land, cleared it of trees, surveyed it, and will be producing a blueprint. All that is needed now is construction, budgeted at $140,000, and we need YOUR help. Give financially, introduce me to interested parties, invite me to speak to your groups, and/or, simply pray for our success!