The Journey Begins...
New "missionary apprentices" are arriving as a result of your prayers for more workers in the harvest. After four months of orientation to culture, ministry and language learning, they will go to their respective fields of service throughout West Africa.

It isn't easy when you enter a new culture. The language, money, sights and smells are different. In many ways, you become a child again. Now I was seeing clearly the progress that time can bring.

I watched our newest apprentice as she talked to the African woman selling strawberries. She negotiated a price, paid, and received her change. She didn't need my intervention or even glance my way as I sat waiting in the truck. Beside me sat an apprentice who had arrived four months earlier. She was an old hand at buying groceries and cooking. As she looked around at the beggars and vendors, she was totally at ease. I realized then what I like about our new job – seeing the progress.

Recently my husband Marvin and I visited a missionary couple that has been in Senegal for two years. During her final language evaluation, the wife told the story of Lazarus and her husband shared the story of the healing of the paralytic. Afterwards, one of the evaluators commented, "We really liked that story. It showed Jesus' power." Having formally finished their language acquisition, this couple will be telling many more Bible stories.

Six new apprentice families, with a total of 12 children, arrived in West Africa last month. We feel the responsibility. But as with the other apprentices, it will be exciting to watch these families grow in their knowledge and understanding of life in West Africa and God's purpose for their lives.

In reading about the Israelites and the poisonous snakes in Numbers, chapter 21, I noted that their problems started when "...the people became impatient because of the journey." In our American worldview, we like to live in the future. We can become impatient because of the journey. Marvin and I desire to show the apprentices that it's all about the journey: obeying God today and allowing Him to shape us into His servants. Only then will we see true progress.

LaNette Thompson

1. Ask God to give Marvin and LaNette wisdom, discernment, creativity, energy, joy, and good health as they direct the new apprentice program in West Africa.
2. As you intercede for the apprentices, pray that:
   • They will have success in learning new languages and rejoice in small victories.
   • God will give each apprentice an African Christian friend who can serve as a cultural mentor and guide.
   • They will view their new surroundings with their Father’s eyes and be quick to engage in conversations that will bring people closer to knowing Jesus.
   • Their children will adjust quickly, make African friends and have many positive experiences in the culture.