HOME AGAIN!

          The McClurkins              August 2012

 

Dear Faithful Partner,

God has proven Himself strong and faithful to us for these three years we have been on the field of Mali and Senegal, West Africa.  We have lived and worked in areas which are 95% or more non-Christian and served in ministry as the LORD has led us.  We have made friends and cultivated many relationships.  We have learned two languages, preached the Gospel story, distributed thousands of Bibles, contributed funds for school fees and building funds, taught and mentored young people of various ages in two countries and shared the hope we have in our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ with those who have asked.  AND, you have been a part of it all as you partnered with us!  THANK YOU for allowing the LORD to use you in such an awesome way!!!  We have settled our business in Senegal and closed up the house we were renting.  We sold our furnishings and said our farewells to some of our friends and our Senegalese families with tearful hugs and kisses.  We have also left the ministry work we began in the capable hands of our national fellow laborers.  God has given us safe travels back to the States where we will continue to work as we teach, update and inform our partners and supporting churches during our “Home Assignment.”  As stated in our last prayer letter, please let us know when we can fellowship with you and share our mission experience. 

English Club Closing Program @ Ngaparou/Somone Middle      School (College)

 

We enjoyed mentoring the young people at Ngaparou/Somone College (French for middle school); they were delightful to work with.  It was love at first sight when we met Mr. Frank’s English club.  Frank, our Wolof language teacher asked us if we would help mentor the English club which is made up of students who are passionate about learning English.  As you may have read in our past prayer letters, we taught the students Black Gospel music and introduced them to poems of African American poets.  While the students were faithfully attending English club, the teachers went on strike protesting for better wages.  So, the English club was suspended until further notice. The strike went on for months and we prayed for the teachers who needed better wages and for the students who were falling behind in their studies.  The strike lasted nearly three months and the threat of discounting the school year hovered over the students. 
Finally the strike ended, the teachers went back to work (although some taught in spite of the strike) and the English club resumed.  We were all glad to be back, but we wondered if the students remembered all they had learned in the English club or would we have to start over again.  We prayed and we all worked very hard to teach, mentor and prepare the students for their closing celebration.  This was a time for families, friends and the community to come together to witness the accomplishments of these hard working individuals and was a huge encouragement for the students.  The teachers who participated were great and the club shined.  It was a testimony that God hears and answers our prayers!  We shared the Word of God and the Love of Jesus in songs and testimonies with these young people.  God opened the doors to relationships with their parents and the community.  We stood in awe of the LORD watching these young people bloom as the school year came to a close and as our time in Senegal was ending. 

At the end of the evening Mr. Frank told the students we were going back to America.  Some laughed (what Senegalese do when they are embarrassed or emotional) and some hugged us and cried.  We are so Godly proud of them! Please continue to pray that the gospel messages, testimonies and prayers they heard during our time with them will impact their lives.  We know that the Word of God does not return void, but it accomplishes everything it is sent out to do!

We’ve Only Just Begun!

In reflection, our 3 years in West Africa has wet our appetite for trusting God in ministry.  We have only just begun!  Our time in Mali and Senegal was crucial in building relationships and it tested our endurance and faith in God’s promises.  We are BLESSED to have the opportunity to take part in God’s divine nature as we yield to the work He is doing through us.  We know full well that it is all God!  We have gained more friends and extended family in both Mali and Senegal through God’s Grace as we point them to HIM.  Meet Catherine Debra Dogue!  This precious little girl was born to our Senegalese family, Francois and Adama Dogue, June 10, 2012.  In a traditional Senegalese naming ceremony we were surprised that they had named their little girl after me.  This is a special honor in their culture and it means that the family holds you in high esteem.  I was shocked and humbled by this act of love and respect.  This was another conformation that we are in the will of God as we return to the States.  Thank you LORD and thank YOU, our faithful partners and fellow laborers. 

Pete and Debra-


 

We are also asking you to let us know when it would be a good time to come visit your church.  If you would plan to schedule a time for our visit we can create our Home Assignment Calendar.  This would be a great help to us in making travel plans and we could also send the calendar to you, our friends and partners who would like to know where we are and what we are doing.  We will be available for church visitations, mission conferences, seminars, information sharing and other engagements after September 30, 2012.  Please feel free to contact us:                                      

                                                               Pete and Debra McClurkin

1702 Christian Street

Philadelphia, PA  19146

Email: petedebmcclurkin@gmail.com

Phone: 215-790-9469

  

The McClurkins  Update June 2012

Dear Faithful Partner,

Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for your care, concern and generosity toward us and the people we serve here in Senegal.  We shared with you about the short-fall in our financial support and through your prayers and generous giving our budget has been restored and we are able to continue in the work.  We are able to share the word of God in word and deed.  Because of your partnership, we are at work in spreading the Gospel and encouragement to the members of the body of Christ throughout the Thies/Mbour region of Senegal. THANK YOU!

April, 2012 marked the 50^th anniversary of (MBS) Mission Baptiste du Senegal (WorldVenture in Senegal) and we were privileged to share in the celebration!  The president of WorldVenture, Hans Finzel, his wife Donna, some of the board members, former career missionaries and friends of MBS traveled from the United States to show their support and appreciation to the MBS Team. The members of the Senegalese church were eager to show their appreciation for the many years of service and sacrifice on the part of MBS. It was a “God Glorifying” experience!  The church members decided to secure a building and take on preparation of a meal for hundreds of guests. They also formed a celebration choir comprised of choir members of both Evangelical Baptist Churches of Thies, who served the community a “Grand Free Concert,” that Friday which kicked off this three day celebration in which Pete and I (Debra) participated. We sang and played Wolof and French praise/worship songs and we taught the choir an African American Gospel song, “Soon and Very Soon We are Going to See the King” by Andraé Crouch, in English!  This meant traveling to Thies once or twice a week for rehearsal.  But, the result was Bu Bax (Very Good, in the Wolof language)! The choir was GREAT!!  Several village choirs traveled to participate as well and they were wonderful; singing praises in their heart language Sérère and dancing to the Sérère music.

Members of our Senegal team designed special fabric for the church celebration (a tradition here for celebrations) from which we had clothing made. Follow this link to view pictures: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4081342320802.167449.1499894931&type=1&l=23659ddbdc

Saturday, we celebrated what God has done in the past by honoring those trail blazers and the first Senegalese disciples; what God is doing now by honoring present workers (Missionaries, national church leaders and members) and for what God has promised to do according to His Word! This event was well attended by locals, Christian and non-Christian; by villagers and missionaries from other organizations.  The locals said they had never seen such a celebration.  Sunday there were worship services at both Thies churches and a dinner for MBS workers and guests.  It was wonderful to be a part of it all! 
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Campsite Management, Relationship Building, Discipleship and Kidz Club …

…continues as we prepare to come home to the States.  Yes, in a few months it will be three years since the LORD called us to Mali/Senegal, West Africa.  We are taking the necessary steps to make sure the work that we have started in the village of Ngaparou continues in our absence. We are preparing our Senegalese friends for our departure.  Our colleagues are helping us also as we down size and plan for our Home Assignment.  Home Assignment is not a vacation, although, we will take some time for rest and renewal, catch up with our growing family and reconnect with friends. It is a time spent off of the mission field in order to visit our ministry partners and churches to whom we are responsible to report, take care of personal matters (healthcare, logistics, etc.), to debrief in preparation for reverse culture shock and to hear God’s direction for the future.  You, our partners and supporters are a vital part of this process. We will be in the States but we will continue in ministry informing and teaching churches the importance of foreign missions.  There is a wealth of information we can share!  We need your prayers as we make this transition.  Please pray for our spiritual, mental, physical and emotional health; pray that we will hear and follow God’s purpose, plan and will concerning our next phase in ministry.  Also pray for the hearts and minds of those who God is preparing as our prayer and financial support partners in the ministry.   

Home Assignment Calendar

We are also asking you to let us know when it would be a good time to come visit your church.  If you would plan to schedule a time for our visit we can create our Home Assignment Calendar.  This would be a great help to us in making travel plans and we could also send the calendar to you, our friends and partners who would like to know where we are and what we are doing.  We will be available for church visitations, mission conferences, seminars, information sharing and other engagements after September 30, 2012.  Please feel free to contact us: 

Pete and Debra McClurkin B.P. 1229 23022 Thies Senegal Email: petedebmcclurkin@gmail.com Phone: 215-559-5994 (Rings in Senegal w/ Our Magic Jack)

May, 2012- With Your Help we were able to: Bible distribution: 1000 bibles in the village of Nianing; 1300 bibles in the Sarindia area Community Assistance Outreach: Medical supplies to Bartamaè Hospital in Thies and Djirbel village; personal hygiene supplies, clothing and art supplies to talibè center in Thies; Kidz Club encouragements gifts to villages in Ngaparou, Thies and Djirbel; gifts to pastors in Djirbel area Campsite Ministry Served 7 missionary families; 3 national pastors/families; 15 Senegalese church leaders in their training session  Blessings, Pete and Debra-

Please send your donations to: WorldVenture,
       1501 W. Mineral Ave., Littleton, Colorado  80120-5612               
(for Pete and Debra McClurkin #970)

Praise and Prayer Requests We praise God for our health and stamina as we serve here in Senegal, for our friends, the doors of outreach that are open, God's continual provision and we praise God for you who are partnering with us in the ministry of Christ. Please continue to pray for our children and their families, the new disciples of Christ, ministry to Ngaparou school, continued peace in Senegal as they near elections and for missionaries all over the world

Dear Faithful Friend and Partner

Praise to the True and Living God! God continues to show Himself strong and faithful here in Senegal.  When we arrived in Senegal June 2010, we had hope and expectations of how we would serve in ministry.  We knew that our daily lives would be a testimony to those around us of God’s love and grace, but we were not sure exactly how it would play out.  God is doing more than we had imagined.  We are using our new language skills to talk to our neighbors and friends.  There are very few people in this area who speak English and others who do not speak French.  So, our language lessons are valuable to us.  We are able to speak to our friends about the God we serve in their heart language (Wolof) and when we need to, we speak French as well, which is most of the time. However, our language teacher, Mr. Frank has assured us that we will be preaching in Wolof!  He is a visionaryJ.  Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and support and may the LORD continue to use you in His service.

Tea Time!







A young man in the village makes tea for us

Usually, when tea time or a tea party is mentioned in America, we think of ladies dressed up, gathering together to discuss social events.  However, here in Senegal it is a practice among the men of the village to gather around a pot of strong, hot, sweet tea (ataaya) to discuss important matters.  Making the tea is a custom handed down through generations and it is amazing to watch.  This “tea time” is all about socializing as are the meals. 
Commonly, people here get together to talk about the things that are important to them; laughing together and learning new things; whether it be around a “common bowl" of “ceeb au jin” (a Senegalese rice and fish dish) or to take "ataaya" (tea party).  God is using this setting to share the word of God with our Muslim friends.  Pete and Pastor Saliou sit with a group of men every Monday evening and have a “Tè Debat” (French for Tea Debate/Discussion).  Through this systematic discussion, the men read through the Old Testament, reason together and come to understand God’s plan for a Savior.  The men in this area were excited to hear about this “tea time” with anticipation!    

We are working on a few projects here as we share the love of God and help those who are in need here in Ngaparou, Senegal. We have inquired about students who are in need of financial assistance in order to attend school. Our Wolof Language teacher, Mr. Francois Dogue, is the English teacher at the middle school of Ngaparou/Somone here in our area and introduced us to it through his English Club. It is a public school and teachers are paid by the government. The school began with 100 students in 2003 as a dream of Mr. Mamadou Coly (Head Master) to make education accessible to children in remote areas.  It is situated between the two villages and is accessible to more than 800 children.

(Left to right) Mr. Francois Dogue, Mr. Mamadou Coly, Debra and Pete McClurkin

However, some of these children and their families are poor and cannot afford to send their children to school. This means that some of the boys may become talibe or street beggars and the young girls may prostitute themselves to tourist that frequent the area. This is something that we see every day and it is heartbreaking to see how young these children are who fall into this category. With an education, these young people will gain the confidence and skills to go further in life, provide for themselves and help their families. When we talk to the young people, some of them have dreams while others don't know what to dream. Through your prayers and your desire to sponsor children in school, you could help break this cycle of poverty and illiteracy as well as the sin cycle that poverty fosters. Pete and I believe that through education, this generation will be able to read and find out the truth about God and His Word.  They will not be lead astray to serve other gods and be destroyed because of a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6 NIV).  Please pray for this school and this ministry to the children of Ngaparou. We will be sending more information about this ministry and how you can participate. Also, feel free to contact us via email or call the Magic Jack number (215-559-5994).

NEWS FROM HOME!!        

Co-Pastors Daniel and LaChish Latimer have given birth to a beautiful baby boy!  That’s right, we have another grandson!  Master Judah Agape Latimer was born October 12, 2011 at 5:43pm (EDT) weighing 6 pounds 11 ounces and 20 inches long.  We are excited for them as they embark on a new adventure in their union.  Please continue to pray for them and their church (The King’s Church) as they serve in Augusta, Georgia.
Many Blessings,
Pete and Debra

We would love to hear from you!

Contact US:

Pete and Debra McClurkin

Email: pdmcclurkin@WorldVenture.net 

Phone: 215-559-5994 (using our Magic Jack there is no international charge for callers)

Mailing Address:

B.P. 1229          

23022 Thies

Senegal



McClurkins November Update

Praise the LORD from whom all blessings flow!
We are joyful to report that things went well at the Children's Prison. Although it is hard to see 10yr olds in prison (the boys we visited are 10 to 17yrs.) It is better than them being on the streets. They are in prison for various reasons, from theft of murder and everything in between. Their living conditions are rough but not as bad as we imagined. They have classes during the day so they are getting some kind of education and we met the chef that comes in to cook their meal. We are not sure how the system works but we saw some older boys (long term offenders) who were working with wood and metal so that they will have a trade when they are released. We were also told that they had just released a group of boys earlier that day and we saw about 50 boys in our service. Some boys are in maximum security because they are dangerous according to what the pastor has share with us.

We were able to assist a local pastor in the worship service. Although it is a Muslim country, they allow Christians to come in and serve the kids because they realize it makes a difference in their lives. The system does not rehabilitate them. We had Bible story telling (more effective than reading), we testified about our lives and our families to encourage the boys that this is not the end of their lives and let them know as God has changed our lives, He is willing and able to change their's through the love of Jesus Christ! We have no words to express what we felt when we looked into their eyes and saw the despair but we believe their hearts were touch when they heard the Word and looked into our eyes as we testified of the goodness of God. This is something we want to do again as well as visit the girls and women's facility where they are having babies and raising them in prison.

We also found out this past week that one of the street boys (10 years old) attending the Bible study we were teaching was found dead in the bus station. This news is sad, our prayer is that in his heart he received Jesus through the lessons. Please continue to pray that the strongholds in the lives of people will be broken and they will realize the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ our LORD.
Blessing, Pete and Debra- (Please pass this on)
Your prayer and financial support is appreciated and needed.
--
Pete & Debra McClurkin #970
"Reaching the World for Christ"
Visit our website
http://worldventure.com/Missionaries/Missionary-Directory/Missionary/McClurkin_Pete_Debra.html

Living In Mali NOT Mali-bu!

Where do we start! Well, we have been here in Bamako, Mali, West Africa for seven weeks and we are two different people in God. He has brought us, taught us, healed us, encouraged us and provided for us! It is amazing how much we have experienced already. The streets are filled with people, cars and scooters. The motorized scoopters out number the cars here in Bamako. There are people selling wares, fruit and vegetables, cooked food, roasted peanuts and such all around, and it is plain to see that poverty is great here in Mali. People travel from villages to the city of Bamako looking for work or help of any kind. We have met individuals who have come from other countries in Africa; some as refugees from war torn countries like Liberia, Sudan and Congo. They all have something in common, they are looking for work or some business opportunity.

However, some of the senery is picturesque. There are large palm trees, blooming hedges and the most beautiful birds singing unique songs outside our apartment windows (God given alarm clock) in the morning. The Niger River divides the city and provides a most delectable fish, the “capitiane.” Women and men are dressed in beautifully colored Boubous (large tunics) and dresses. We can hear the call to prayer from the Grande Mosque not far from us and we see many people bowing down in prayer in the market places; it was Ramadan (a month of prayer and fasting for Muslims). We are constantly reminded that it is time to pray. It is reasuring to know that we have a mediator between us and the Father making intercession for us continually as well as having access to God anytime and any place. Keep Praying!

View New Pictures of The McClurkins in Bamako, Mali, West Africa

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12777&id=1499894931&l=6a63ff7b9f

Follow this link above to view more pictures.

May the LORD continue to richly bless you!

In Christ's Service,

Pete and Debra-

Lost and Found

Greetings in the name of the LORD from Mali!
We want to share some good news with you! After 3 weeks of praying and believing God, our missing luggage has arrived. No one was able to tell us exactly where it was from Philadelphia to Paris to Mali, but the LORD knew! So after numerous trips to the Airport and the Air France business office, late Friday morning we called the airport (which is a confusing place with no English speaking employees) they told us that they have a bag that looks like it may be ours. We claimed that blessing and headed to the airport. They took us to a room that had many bags and Voila! THere was our fully packed trunk, still locked with a new tag (the old one came off which caused it to get lost) it was like seeing an old friend!. We were prepared to have to pay more to get it out. However, they gave it to us with no problems or extra payment, which would happen most times. God is faithful and we are grateful. He is supplying our needs! Thank you for interceeding on our behalf, your prayers are at work in so many ways. We will keep you posted.

Blessings,
Pete and Debra-