9 March 2006

Guinea Go Time

Seeing as I have not packed and am leaving for the airport in 5.5 hours, I
should be frantically getting ready so I can sleep. But I don't want to. I
want to write.

I'm not super sure you are aware of this jaunt back to West Africa so let me
give you a bit of background to work with...

November 2005 The Rock Church and BFI (of which I am the director) sent out
a 40ft. container to Guinea in time for an annual pastors conference
sponsored by some of the pastors at The Rock. The idea was to provide this
conference with Bibles and various things we have that they don't, like
clothes and chalkboards. We ran short on time and had to pack the container
hastily. I had already turned down my invite, but I said that the only
reason I would go out to the conference would be to help clean up our mess.

Well, as usual opening my big mouth has life altering consequences. I am
going to Guinea, and I have a bit more on my plate than cleaning up a big
mess. Turns out I am entering into one of my life's goals about 20 years
before I expected to.

Through a series of events my dear friend Darla's and my job descriptions
have morphed from literacy teachers to the leaders and speakers at the first
annual women's conference. Awesome. No, I really think I mean that. It is
awesome, but that doesn't mean I can't be a little freaked out. I mean, I've
been to a conference... why couldn't I run one?

These past years studying politics and cultures in developing nations has
burdened my heart for the women there. Often oppressed, these women work so
hard yet tend to get the short end of the stick when it comes to
humanitarian aid. What I have seen is the need for these women to understand
they were each created with a purpose and what that means in the roles and
relationships they are in. I am no advocate of oppression, but it is vital
to recognize that indoctrinating non-Western women with a Western brain will
seriously mess up their home life, social status and can easily threaten
their very lives.

I thought I would have much more experience under my belt before tackling
major international women's issues... oh well.

So please pray for Darla and the team and I that we would all just sit back,
watch what the Lord does and then follow His lead. Pray also for language
issues. Despite what I tell them, people out here think I am fluent in
French and the "West African" culture. However, I am not and everyone in
Guinea will know that right off the bat.

If you have any questions let me know, I should have Internet out there.
I do, however, have a question for you... do guinea pigs come from Guinea???
That has been bugging me for a while. First person to tell me right gets a
prize from Africa.

Your sister,
courtney brandt