One solution to student uprising on campus: put up a really big, really long wall (the campus must be some 16 km in circumference) to prevent students from easily escaping should there be another uprising. Exits are now easily patrolled by the new "campus police task force".
Our friend Moussa has managed to get all of his papers in order for his new taxi – all, that is except two, which he needs to wait until January for, unless he wants to pay for the whole year. Should he drive without those papers knowing that he may be asked for a bribe by a policeman if he gets pulled over? Moussa struggles with such questions as he learns more and more what being a follower of Jesus really means. Pray for Moussa, that he might find a 3rd way to the injustices he faces on the road.
What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun? – Eccl. 1:3
Many Burkinabé university students are asking this question this year. Thus far, the exam season has not been good to the students of the Foyer Evangélique Mennonite de Ouagadougou. In the Burkina/French system, students have 2 chances to pass exams. In most cases, to pass the year you must average a score of at least a 10 out of 20 on all your exams. A good mark is really anything above a 12 out of 20. As of today, only 2 out of the 20 some students who are connected to our community have made it without having to go through the second try. It is a very stressful time for everyone.
This has also made our normal ministry routine somewhat awkward since some students have free time to visit while others are studying so hard that they aren’t even emerging for Bible studies and prayer times. Most are reluctant to get too involved in the everyday church tasks. This requires us to fill in the gaps, which is partly why we are here. We are looking forward to the New Year when we can officially start the school year and begin holding more organized community, worship, and Bible study meetings.
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We are all relatively healthy and enjoying an early cool season here. We are thankful for safe travels to and from the southwestern part of the country. Jeff made two such voyages in the span of 3 weeks, and the whole family was in Orodara last week for the African Inter-Mennonite Mission Partnership Council meetings.
We ask for your continued prayers for the university students as well as for the many people suffering from the global food and gas price increases. Also pray for those who lost loved ones in the horrific bus accident last week. See link below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7731261.stm
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If you haven’t been regularly checking the website you are missing out. Specifically, it would be neat to have some interaction on the Blog. If you don’t know what that is or how to use it, please contact us. It is accessible from our main page. We sometimes post comments, insights and pictures there that you wouldn’t otherwise receive from us. You can also post your own questions or thoughts there.
http://foothills.mennonitechurch.ab.ca/warkentin.html
Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. – Amos 5:24
How does one work for justice?
Listening to stories of the university conflict that erupted this past June, it was striking just how quickly a situation can turn from calm to panic. An organized group of university students (the science and technology faculty) had repeatedly tried to hold a peaceful protest on campus, walking to the university president's office to deliver a petition lamenting the many injustices on the university level. After several repeated and squashed attempts (the president announced that protest walks were no longer allowed, despite being a constitutional right of students at the university), this group tried one last time. What most of them did not realize was that a small sub-group within them had pulled back as they approached the presidential building. This group took off their shirts and wet them, covering their faces from the tear gas they knew would come. Then, from behind the main group, they began throwing rocks at the few police and military who were stationed outside of the presidential office. After this, many students figured they had no choice but to pick up rocks and fight in order to get past authorities who had sealed off the exits of the campus. Unfortunately, at least one student from our community was involved in the rock throwing.
Recently, I (Jeff) preached on Amos 5:24, exhorting those in our congregation to consider their calling as prophets who renounce injustice. It occurred to me that this is exactly what the students have been doing – standing up for their rights, and it ultimately led to violence. How can God hate injustice but let it get to a point that even Christians see violence as the only solution? How can Christians work for justice peacefully alongside other Christians, equally fervent to renounce injustice, but who do not share the same perspective on Jesus' life and teachings?
Despite all of this, the university is attempting to finish up the 2007-08 school year. Most of the students in our community are in the last week of exams. Still, there is a dark cloud hanging over the campus. A campus police force has been assigned to maintain order on campus. Recently, a student was stopped by the police who asked him for the receipt for his bicycle, to prove that he had not stolen it. When the student could not produce the receipt, he was arrested. These random power reminders pushed some to post signs around campus calling on students to re-mobilize. The need for discipleship in Jesus' way has never been clearer for our ministry.
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We have quickly resettled into life here. Check our blog for our travel and arrival experiences. We're all more or less healthy, except for some colds. Danika is full-swing into school, with daily homework assignments.
We're growing. With every new school year we add new students to our community as older ones find their wings and leave the nest. We are fortunate to have the possibility for students to move into a courtyard that is just a five minute walk away from us. This could be important in maintaining past relationships and allowing older students to support new ones, while remaining in our church.
We praise God for:
We request your prayer support for:
We are back in
It hasn’t taken long for Ouaga to feel like home again. We had to hit the ground with our feet running and were welcomed with visit after visit from friends. Forget about “setting up house” again and just expect to chat with people for a while.
The
We’re still feeling out this whole blog thing. Not quite sure how it will be used. I (Jeff) don’t want it to be an online journal of everything we’re feeling, nor a replacement for a better written, good-quality prayer letter. But keep checking for some interesting tid-bits here and there that might not otherwise make it into a newsletter. Note: our official letters will be posted here as well.
-- Tany, Jeff, Danika, Asher and Kenani Warkentin Mennonite Church Canada Witness jtwarkentin@mennonitechurch.ca
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the LORD. – Jeremiah 29:11-14a
The future of the last academic year at the University of Ouagadougou continues to hang in the balance. The university was ultimately closed prior to the writing of final exams in June. Class will resume earlier than usual this year, September 1, to make up for the broken school year. But the new school year is already announcing itself in a precarious manner. A new campus police force has been assigned for the coming school year, and this is not welcome at all by university students in Burkina Faso.
One of our university students (who was recently baptized in our church) was in the wrong place at the wrong time last month when the violence broke out and got himself arrested. We praise God that he was released without trial, and with only minor injuries and a missing cell phone. Please pray for renewed stability on the university campus.
