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UPDATE ON EMM GUINEA-BISSAU TRIP

September 11th, 2012

Lisa Landis – This Thursday I travel to Kenya to report on the community of Alendu with Rafiki Africa.  Rafiki Africa works together with African communities to provide practical resources, training, real and lasting hope, dignity, encouragement, spiritual growth and guidance.  It’s been two years since I visited Africa.  My last trip was with Eastern Mennonite Missions in April of 2010.  Before I travel on Thursday, I wanted to update you on the Guinea-Bissau school project in Western Africa.  Here is a quick video of the progress:


The walls are up and the roof is on the school building in Catel, Guinea-Bissau, that WJTL listeners so generously contributed to in 2010-2011. EMM worker Beryl Forester said all the funds that were raised have been used – about $11,000.

Beryl estimates that another $5,000 would cover the cost of plastering both the inside and the outside of the school, pouring the concrete floors, putting in windows and doors, and painting the building. Of course, furnishings like desks and benches would also be helpful; making or purchasing them would likely cost an additional $3,000. This building will have four classrooms, each accommodating 30 students, 120 per session. There are two sessions per day.

There’s still a lot to be done! Catel has one of the worst educational situations in the region. Most of the teachers do not receive a salary so classes are quite irregular and the instructional level is insufficient. Sadly, many of the students who go through the program still can’t read or write when they finish.

But there’s also reason to hope! A man who is a native of Catel will soon complete his teacher’s certificate and Beryl reports that he has a dream to return to Catel to help create an effective school environment here.

Another new project in Guinea-Bissau

Another exciting possibility for the village is the prospect of getting a cashew processing project up and running. EMM is raising funds through a special Faithfunder campaign to run a pilot project. This would mean villagers could process their cashews in the country rather than shipping them to India for processing, which is what they do now. Processing the nuts locally, and establishing trade relationships directly with buyers, means the communities that grow the cashews also get the jobs and retain more of the profits. The community could see long-term economic development.

You can be part of this project, too. You can even get tasty cashew nuts in exchange for supporting it! But it’s only running until October 12. Go to www.emm.org/cashew and find out:

  • Why is EMM processing cashews in Guinea-Bissau?
  • What is Faithfunder?
  • How can people help?
Please pray for safety as I leave later this week for Kenya with Rafiki Africa.  Rafiki AFrica is a non-profit run by Roger & Dorothy who run the African food stand at Lancaster Central Market.  Rafiki Africa Foundation (Rafiki Africa) is a Christian faith based, 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization focused on poverty alleviation with a comprehensive approach. For more information visit www.rafikiafrica.org.  And listen for videos, pictures, blogs, & live radio updates September 13-24.



  1. Ebenezer Wolde
    September 11th, 2012 at 15:43 | #1

    Have a safe trip. Guaranteed you going to love Kenya!! My boyfriend is from Kenya and I’m from Ethiopia. There was African Festival 5km walk and run organized by Rafiki Africa last May to raise fund for Kenyan school and it was a fun thing to do. God is using Roger & Dorothy to change peoples’ life in Kenya. I’m glad you are part of their mission. May God help you with all work you going to do there.

    Be blessed!!

  2. Joe Sherer
    September 12th, 2012 at 08:41 | #2

    Lisa, I’m leaving for Kenya myself on Thursday, traveling with Nelson Okanya. Maybe our paths will cross!

  3. lisa
    September 12th, 2012 at 11:10 | #3

    I will look for you Joe! It would be crazy if we were on the same flight. And thanks for the safe travels Ebenezer!

  4. Tina Barnhart
    September 13th, 2012 at 08:00 | #4

    Lisa, I wanted to let you know that I will be praying for you as you travel. My daughter and I traveled to Kenya this past summer with Victory church to Word Ablaze Bible Institute in Nakuru. We served the poor and did some evangelism while we were there. It is an amazing country. I am sure you will love it! Be sure to carry toilet paper with you everywhere. 🙂 Have a wonderful trip. ~Tina

  5. Brenda Weber
    September 16th, 2012 at 10:57 | #5

    Love hearing your updates! It’s almost like being there with u and helps to remind us to pray for you!

  6. Sharon Harding
    December 19th, 2012 at 15:32 | #6

    I just wanted to let you know that I’m a 47 year-old “kid” who loves the KCB! (& cookies of course)!
    I am so blessed by WJTL & listening to the “Get Up & Go Show” puts a smile on my face when I go to work at a sometimes very stressful place! (I know this isn’t relevant to the topic of this blog, but I finally had the chance to leave this comment, but didn’t know quite where to do so.)

  7. Christine Bubb
    February 21st, 2013 at 11:23 | #7

    Lisa,

    It’s so encouraging to hear how missions minded WJTL is! A friend of mine is leaving soon to serve in Uruguay. I know God will be blessing!

  8. Gerald
    August 6th, 2013 at 11:16 | #8

    Hi Lisa,

    It’s been awhile since you were in Kenya, but I wanted to thank you for serving both the Lord and WJTL so faithfully. You are a true blessing to so many people, or I should say God uses you to bless so many people thru your faithful service and commitment to be used for His glory. I’m writing this as you are still recuperating at home (as I saw in the paper last week) and I pray God will continue to faithfully restore your body and spirit to 100%, and that somehow thru all of this your faith and love for God will grow and be blessed as you especially look back and see His goodness and love poured out in and thru you in so many ways. I pray God will lift your spirits and give you strength, today and always. God bless. In Christ. Gerald

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