THE BAEDER FAMILY NEWSLETTER
FALL 2012
LI PAM ANLI Abundant rains this season:
Hope for a good harvest!
PRAISE & PRAYER SILAS He keeps us entertained and on our toes. He loves to learn, and he has been in great health for the last several months! HEALTH Marcus continues to struggle on and off with a sensitive stomach and diarrhea, and Jen’s eyes get easily irritate and sensitive to light when she is tired, and has had some re-occurring bacterial eye infections. Praise God there are good antibiotic and steroid drops available.
As often happens in the weeks at the end of rainy season, people are wondering and hoping for a good harvest in a month or two. This year, the abundance of rain, although it may have come a bit late, is an assurance of fields loaded with grains. Driving along, you see Sorghum with its dark brown heads bent over, tall millet with full heads, and corn (maize) with plump ears on the stalk. The smell of roasted corn on the road-side gives one the scents of the African version of thanksgiving combined with the preparations to bring in the harvest in a few weeks time. We are grateful for the provision of abundance this year! Our gracious Father has indeed answered prayers, and a second year of borderline famine will certainly be avoided this time around.
HOPE FOR AIDS Pray for patience with frequent internet issues as Marcus relies heavily on a decent connection in order to collaborate with his colleagues world-wide TRAVELS & SLC Pray for protection as Marcus travels to Zimbabwe for a project visit and South Africa for the biaannual HOPE for AIDS workshop early November. Pray for Jen and Silas during his absence. Pray also for the preparations for the SIM Burkina Faso Spiritual Life Conference November 22-25 held here in Fada.
Sorghum is almost ripe!
Rainy season for the soul:
Learning and Rest While the rains here in Burkina Faso bring many activities to a halt, we also took a break and went to Switzerland in September. Marcus was participating in the Micah Network Global Consultation held in Thun, while Jen and Silas got to
TO DO JUSTICE, TO LOVE KINDNESS, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD
spend time at Marcus’ aunt’s house. After the consultation, Marcus also was able to have a week of rest. We enjoyed time outdoors, on tandem bikes, in the garden, and most of all fun moments with family. It was truly refreshing for us as a family like a good rain!
Jen with Silas in Gwatt, Lake of Thun The consultation addressed several topics that are important in our journey towards integral mission, not only in our programs and organizations, but our personal lives as well. I was particularly struck by a renewed call for us Christians to be involved and aware at all levels of life and culture, and to stand up for issues of justice. The participants were very diverse and hailed from over 50 countries, which allowed for great discussions and exchanges - in particular around the idea of partnerships between the global north and the global south. It became clear that being part of a traditional white and northern organization brings forth the challenge of what it means to become a more integral organizations as we move more and more to a global “from everywhere - to everywhere” identity. It is an exciting time, filled with challenges, but also rewarding in new ideas and approaches!
Micah 6:8b