An early June trip led by Brian Smith of Agri-Stewards, Lebanon, Ind., offered new challenges, but also new opportunities to share the principles of “Farming God’s Way” in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

Brian led a two-week trip for a team of six to work with CMF missionaries Tom and Suja Brane. Tom Brane grew up in Brian’s home church, the Markle (Ind.) Church of Christ, and three of the trip participants were also from the Markle church.

The new challenge that the team encountered was that two-thirds of the “Farming God’s Way” class were Muslim, and only one-third were Christians.

“Many prayers were lifted, not only from supporters in the U.S., but also by my Kenyan brothers and sisters, that our message would be well-received,” said Brian. “The prayers were felt, and God came through in a big way. Our message appeared to be well-received, and I look forward to follow-up reports from Tom.”

Student stories

One big highlight of the trip was getting well-acquainted with some of the class members, said Tom.

“Delphine, for example, had personally invited about half of the other participants,” said Brian. “She is Suja Brane’s language partner and is very outgoing, energetic and well-respected. In fact, we were a little nervous because Delphine said if the people didn’t learn anything new on the first day, none would return on the second! Praise God, everyone came back on the next day.

“Delphine also scratched out an area the size of our demonstration garden with her hoe and said she would plant right next to us with her own method so we can have a side-by-side trial,” added Brian.

“Mr. Nalcuma – another class member – is a Muslim, but two of his sons have become Christians recently, and one had been asked to leave the home,” said Brian. “But both sons were at the class, with their dad, and he offered each of the boys some of his lands for this upcoming growing seasons. Tom (Brane) will visit him soon to see how the training impacted Mr. Nalcuma’s life.”

Brian and his team were greatly impressed by another class member, Seydou, who was put in charge of the care of a second demonstration garden planted next to his house.

“We stressed how carefully people would be examining the garden to see if the new methods work, and how important good watering and weeding are,” said Brian. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t water when we planted because it had been turned off in that part of town. We learned the next day that when the water came back on at midnight, Seydou stood in line for 4 hours to fill his container and get the garden watered by 6:30 a.m.!”

The team also spent time touring the natural beauty of Burkina Faso, including a visit to a lovely waterfall.

“It was at this spot that reality hit me, though,” said Brian. “We saw feathers and blood on the rocks where animists had presented sacrifices to the spirit world. How sad to think that they could stand in front of the beauty of God and not see Him. Please pray for the lost in Burkina Faso, that their eyes may be opened to see the Creator and worship Him!”