HandsOn workers take on rugged research

By Hands On missionary Jeslyn Lemke

SENEGAL, West Africa (BP)--Their bikes lie nearby as the young missionaries sleep in their tents. Beside them are enough supplies to last a week in the African bush: cans of Spam for when they can't find local food, patches for their tires when they spring a leak.

And their Bibles – reminders of why they're here in the first place.

As the sun rises, Jed Richards, 21, and Andrew Smith, 22, prepare for another tough day of biking. These Hands On researchers are looking to put unmarked villages in the south of Senegal on a map.

Hands On is an International Mission Board program that places young people like Richards from St. Louis, Mo., and Smith from Andover, Kan., in high-impact ministries around African countries. The two spent a semester from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and College in Kansas City, Mo., on this mission.

Using a GPS, Richards reads the coordinates of a village out loud while Smith writes them down. The information they gather will help other missionaries create strategies to reach the Fulakunda, a people group living in this area that is 99 percent Muslim.

Their maps highlight villages the Fulakunda people frequently visit – where they sell their cattle and send their children to school – which are prime spots for future ministries.

"Our prayer is that (American) churches would be willing to come in and adopt these areas," says Southern Baptist missionary Scott Bradford, the team supervisor.

"These guys have helped us identify that there are … at least eight to 10 areas we need to address."

The young men's research trips are often eye-opening and tinged with unexpected adventures. They've seen herds of wild monkeys running over the plains. They've eaten fresh cashew fruit straight off the tree. They've learned to rig up broken bike chains and ride without brakes or good gears. And they've coped with scorching temperatures.

"Flexibility is one of the biggest things you need," says Smith, who attends Faith Baptist Church in Andover.

"You never know what type of village you're running into," he adds. “You never know your sleeping arrangements. You never know what you're going to eat."

The young men cover about 10 miles and eight villages before lunchtime. Soon the midday temperatures are boiling and sweat is pouring off them. They will repeat this scenario for the next three days.

Richards, who attends First Baptist Church in Crestwood, Mo., says he prayed throughout the day, even as he and Smith powered their bikes through deep sand.

"When I'm praying throughout the day, it makes things easier," he says. “If I don't take the time to get into the Word when we are out on the road, it's a lot harder … it's just work."

To find more about Hands On, job requests and applications, visit www.hands-on-africa.com.

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