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Bom Dia! (Good Morning!)
We may not be the best blogging Exposure Trip at The Well, so let me catch you up a bit if you are interested to hear how the team to Guinea-Bissau is doing. First let me tell you a little about our trip and our team.
(The street market in Canchungo, the rural village we are staying in and where WAVS works)
The Exposure Trip
The trip came about because Chris Collins, who attends the Fig Garden Campus, began working for a Christian vocational school in
a small West African country called Guinea-Bissau. Chris took over as Executive Director of West African Vocational Schools (WAVS) several years ago and has had a desire to get his church connected to the work of the school. WAVS believes in empowerment and development, instead of a failed approach to aid. They desire to raise up and equip the next generation of Guineans through vocational skill training. They currently offer English, computer, sewing, auto mechanics and welding.
A small, but very strategic team was formed to learn about Guinea-Bissau and the school, and help in whatever way possible to share the story to others in order to expand the work of WAVS.
The Team
God's hand was definitely at work in organizing and creating this team. The team is a small, but amazing group of 5 guys from Fresno. The team is made up of:
Robert Poythress Robert is a banker, and also the mayor of Madera. His vision for being on the trip is to learn about WAVS so he can help support their work and raise funds for the school.
Pat Dill Pat works at The Well as the videographer and was asked to come on this trip to shoot footage in order to create a powerful video that explains WAVS. He is also shooting a music video with Patrick Contreras, who plays violin, in order raise awareness and support for WAVS.
Patrick Contreras Patrick is a voilin player and teacher in Fresno. He is the only non-Well member, but has been such a great addition to the team. Patrick has played several concerts and at church. Few people here have ever seen a violin in person, and Patrick has been using his skills to spread the gospel of Jesus and share the the violin with them.
Michael Wanke Michael is a software developer in Fresno and heard about this trip through an email sent out. WAVS has a computer class and is also looking to set up an internet cafe in order to raise funds for the school so Michael has put in a lot of energy in Fresno and here in GB to set up a server and a lot of other tech things we don't understand, but he has been a huge assist to WAVS.
Andrew Feil (Myself) I work at The Well as a Spiritual Formation Director at the Fig Garden Campus, which means I help with Life Groups and local missions. I am a friend of Chris, the team leader for the trip, and I'm really excited to learn and listen.
(The vocational school where they teach English, sewing, auto mechanics, welding, and computers)
What Have We Been Doing?
Well obviously there is a very long and a short answer to that. The short version is that we have had a mix of learning and serving. If you want to get a fuller picture, click on the names of each team member to see what they have to say about their experience in Guinea-Bissau.
Learning
First, we had to learn Creole! It is one of the many languages of Guinea-Bissau. We have had a lot of meetings with people to learn about the country of Guinea-Bissau (GB) and the city of Canchungo. Since this is an Exposure Trip, we have been exposed to the history, the assets and the challenges that face a former Portueguese colony that is rated the eleventh least developed country in the world. We have visited with church pastors, finance ministers, famous muscians, teachers, students and others in between to learn and to listen. There are many challenges that face GB from corruption to political instability, but we have also found that there is a lot of hope, and that the church and the social outreach of the church is leading the way in casting a new vision for GB.
(Almamo, school director of WAVS, teaching us Creole)
Serving
Each member of the team brings something unique to the table. Patrick and Pat have been recording a music video. Pat has also been recording interviews with teachers and other former students about WAVS. Patrick has been spreading the love of the violin. Michael has been working with the computer instructors at the school to repair and set up a server and other tech things at the school. Robert and I have mostly been listening to the interviews and tailing Chris around wherever he goes. Our roles include helping to bring the message back to a larger audience, so we are trying to ask good questions both of Chris and of those we interact with.
(Pat shooting footage of Patrick Contreras playing Hallelujia in Guinea-Bissau)
(Patrick playing Amazing Grace at church on Sunday...the elders of the church told him he has to stay so he can play every Sunday!)
How is everything? health, Etc.
Everything has been splendid. We have had really good food and solid lodging both here in Canchungo and in the captial city. Guineans are really gracious hosts, so we have been spoiled in many senses.
Everyone on the team has felt really well, and no one has gotten sick. Being in a third world country, we of course have had some stomach issues, but that is to be expected.
(Michael drawing water from a well...The Well drew from the well!)
What's next?
We have one more day here in Guinea-Bissau. So everyone is in a frantic pace to get everything done that they can. Pat and Patrick are shooting more footage, Pat is doing more interviews, and Michael is running wire and setting up the server for the teachers. Tomorrow we will pack up and head to Cap-Skirring, which is a beach town in Senegal. There we will do some debriefing as a team and also check out a project of New Tribes Mission with former Well attendee, Del Griffith. We then come back via Zingachor to Darak > Dakar to Paris > Paris to Salt Lake > Salt Lake to Fresno and arrive home on Saturday night.
I am really excited to debrief and hear all the stories of how God has moved in our lives and how he is calling us to live in view of that. I know I can speak for all of us that WAVS is an amazing organization that is doing a fantastic job of empowering individuals to create change in their lives, in their communities and in their country. Through a Christ-centered lens, students hear and see the gospel week in and week out.
Please pray for the rest of our time and for our team. Thanks for your prayers and support!
To learn more about WAVS, follow them on Facebook.
