Last night we stopped by the restaurant and confirmed what time they opened. They clarified that they only served fried rice. Today the restaurant opened later than expected. Without an interpreter I asked for rice and coffee. The waitress/cook asked what I wanted with my rice. Proud of my communication, I let her know that rice by itself would be fine. She went to the kitchen and returned saying, “nous no riz pas”--we don't have any rice! Granola bar for breakfast!
We left to meet Jonas who pastors 2 congregations—one in Lagazohoue and one in Lahotan. The church in Lagazahoue was established in 1986, first meeting in a school, then a church member's home before the IMB gave them money to build a church. Jonas has pastored here since 2001. There are about 60 members of the congregation.
Campus Crusade for Christ evangelized Lahotan. In the process, they gave the expectation that the villagers immediately share what they have learned. The result is a congregation less than two years old also of about 60 people. Frederick is the assistant pastor and Angelou is the choir director. The church currently meets in the home of Frederick but has bought property (60 m x 50 m).
Jonas is married to Angel and has five kids.
(Aside: the road conditions are becoming quite tiring!)
Jonas listed the following challenges:
1. Villagers cling to their voodoo gods because the gods can be personalized.
2. Villagers cling to voodoo because it is a tie to their ancestors. Many believe severing ties to voodoo also means abandoning their ancestors.
3. Training lay leaders in the church who then move away to pursue jobs. He invests heavily only to see the trained workers leave.
The population of each village is ~ 4,000.
The village between Lagazohoue and Lahotan is Monkpa. It was evangelized also and previously pastored by Jonas. The church disbanded when Jonas went to seminary. It has not been
re-constituted. Jonas mentioned planning to restart the work there.
We left to meet Jonas who pastors 2 congregations—one in Lagazohoue and one in Lahotan. The church in Lagazahoue was established in 1986, first meeting in a school, then a church member's home before the IMB gave them money to build a church. Jonas has pastored here since 2001. There are about 60 members of the congregation.
Campus Crusade for Christ evangelized Lahotan. In the process, they gave the expectation that the villagers immediately share what they have learned. The result is a congregation less than two years old also of about 60 people. Frederick is the assistant pastor and Angelou is the choir director. The church currently meets in the home of Frederick but has bought property (60 m x 50 m).
Jonas is married to Angel and has five kids.
(Aside: the road conditions are becoming quite tiring!)
Jonas listed the following challenges:
1. Villagers cling to their voodoo gods because the gods can be personalized.
2. Villagers cling to voodoo because it is a tie to their ancestors. Many believe severing ties to voodoo also means abandoning their ancestors.
3. Training lay leaders in the church who then move away to pursue jobs. He invests heavily only to see the trained workers leave.
The population of each village is ~ 4,000.
The village between Lagazohoue and Lahotan is Monkpa. It was evangelized also and previously pastored by Jonas. The church disbanded when Jonas went to seminary. It has not been
re-constituted. Jonas mentioned planning to restart the work there.
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