Women's Conference

One of the ladies who helped cook
during the weekend and her daughter.

In November, I was asked to be a part of a training in Ouagadougou to teach women different ways to share their faith.  One of the other missionaries who works with our organization and a Brazilian missionary here worked hard to plan the event.  It was a long but very productive weekend.  The idea was that each association would send 2 women to attend the event, then these ladies would go back to their associations and plan an event to train the women from each of the churches in their own associations.  Events like these are known as Training for Trainers because the nationals actually become the trainers after they have been trained.  The point of this type of training is to multiply the work by having numerous trained people, and to train nationals to do the work so that it can continue without us being here.

During the first two days, the ladies learned two different ways to share their faith.  The first was a presentation by the Brazilian missionary that used a blank piece of paper.  Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of this presentation.  While sharing the good news, she folded the paper in different ways, then began tearing the paper so that as she finished sharing, the paper had become a cross.  It was quite effective. 

The second way of sharing that they learned was a color method that uses a beaded bracelet like ones we use in the states. The ladies memorized 5 verses of scripture to share this way.  They were also taught that colors can be used in everyday conversation to bridge to the good news.  For example, most people here use charcoal to cook their meals.  Black on the bracelet signifies sin, so charcoal, because it's black, could be used to start a gospel presentation in the marketplace.  The main points of this presentation were to get the ladies to start memorizing scripture to use in sharing, and to share with everyone you come into contact with.

Ladies working on their bracelets.

I finished the weekend with a teaching on how to continue to share with a person who is not yet a Christian but who wants to know more about the Bible and Christ.  I taught the ladies to use the Bible chronologically, sharing stories and then asking questions after each story.  I also taught them that they could use any story in the Bible to share the gospel and point to Christ.  This is also a great way to disciple people so you actually are able to do 2 things at one time.  At first, when I presented, the ladies said that the method I was teaching was too difficult for them to do, but when we had practiced it together, they agreed that it was simple enough that anyone could do it. 

One of the ladies who gave her testimony.

The ladies seemed to have a wonderful time fellowshipping together, learning, practicing, and worshipping.  We will be following up to make sure that they do their trainings all over the country and pray that their faithfulness to train others will result in many decisions to follow Christ.  Below, I have included a video of the ladies practicing a song that they performed for the church we attended that Sunday morning.