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
