August Newsletter 08

AUGUST 2008

Togo! AN INSIGHT INTO THE MINISTRY OF LCMS LONG-TERM MISSIONARY MEGAN BIRNEY SERVING CHRIST IN TOGO, WEST AFRICA

Learning from West Africa I can hardly believe I am writing my second newsletter, granted my first one was a little late but it’s surreal to think that I have been living in West Africa for almost three weeks now. Since I was placed in Togo in March, my time at home in the states was totally consumed with juggling work and fundraising and now that I am here I am so humbled to where God has brought me, geographically and emotionally. At home, I counted all the work I was doing to prepare come here as time I was spending WITH God and disregarding what real preparation should look like. Luckily, God knows me and through the past three weeks has shown Himself in the good, the seemingly bad, and more often then not, the inconvenient. Stereotypically, when someone says, “Africa,” you immediately get a furrowed brow and slightly cringe at the thought of the severe poverty, disease, and starving orphaned children

that live here; I’m not recanting those thoughts, they are true. In my ignorance of ‘preparing’ to come here, I let myself sugarcoat what I thought things would be like. I dreaded people asking me if I was scared or nervous, I felt totally empowered that God had enabled me and given me a place to serve in...Africa. Which , through the painful international travel which left half of the Fluegge family in New York City for over two weeks, adapting to cultural and environmental circumstances, and moving into a home completely incomparable to anywhere else I have lived, alone, and with guards on watch 24/7, has scared, confused, and disarmed me in all my ‘preparedness’. How could I have put West Africa in a box before even stepping foot on it? Praise God in all circumstances. God is teaching me and helping me grow on His terms, despite my stereotypes. Life

in West Africa is the polar opposite to anything else I have experienced in my life and God has placed me here for His purpose. I am not discouraged by life here, I am encouraged by the work that the Lutheran church is doing here , that the students at the CLET before long will be enabled to continue to train and minister to West Africa without a need for American missionaries, the love that the Fluegges have for this community, and the hearts of the children who will grow up knowing so much about God’s heart for the world through living in...Africa.

Prayer Requests •

•

•

Strength & Guidance as God is helping me learn about West Africa and His will for the next 9 months.

into their ministries and others who are still preparing to leave.

•

Travel! Please pray that the Lord would keep myself and the children of all the missionaries traveling to Ouagadougou for FES safe in our travels • (8/29-8/30) Please be in prayer for my fellow long-term missionaries serving this year, some who are getting settled

Please pray that God would be in the lives of the Fluegge children and that I would be effective in their growth and learning. The new students at the CLET, that God would steady their hearts to pursue their calls to leadership training in serve the Lutheran Church in West Africa.

“...in the colors of Your goodness and the scars that mark Your skin...in the currency of grace is where my song begins…” ‘The Economy of Mercy’ -Jon Foreman

AUGUST 2008

LCMS World Mission 800-433-3954 www.lcmsworldmission.com [email protected] Learn more about the work of LCMS World Mission in Africa by visiting: www.lcmsworldmission.org/africa

Don’t forget to write! Megan Birney B.P. 38 Dapaong, Togo West Africa [email protected] Check out my blog: acrossanoceansizedlove.blogspot.com

Visit my project page: www.lcms.org?13343 Download my prayer card: www.lcmsworldmission.org/ prayercards

F ully Fun de d! Thanks to so many of you the 10 months I will spend in West Africa are fully funded! God has truly blessed me and paved a way for my work in the ministry here through each and everyone of you. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers throughout my service here! LCMS World Mission enables churches, ministries, and leadership training to approximately 85 different countries worldwide. Over 300 missionaries have heeded the call to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 and share the hope we have in Jesus Christ all over the world. If you would like to be involved prayerfully, financially, or feel called to pursue missionary service visit www.lcmsworldmission.org or call 800-433-3954. To support the work of LCMS World Mission financially, you may send a tax-deductible gift to: LCMS World Mission 1333 South Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63122-7295.

Megan Birney B.P. 38 Dapaong, Togo West Africa

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28

POSTAGE!