High Heels and Motorcycles

Throughout Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, women in beautiful dresses and shiny high heeled shoes ride motorcycles for transportation. Many times they ride double with a friend or family member and additional cargo or children.

Dresses and high heels may not be the ideal clothing for motorcycling, but it works. Three-inch heels locked over the pegs on a motorbike don’t tend to slip, and somehow the women gracefully straddle the bikes without hiking up their skirts.

This, I think, may be a great metaphor for ministry in Africa. My cultural eyes look and see an unlikely mix of dress clothes and motorcycles. But Africans, in this case the Burkinabe (the name for the people of Burkina Faso), make it work with grace and ease.

This is just like ministry partnership at its finest. Our HCJB Global Hands team wanders in jet- lagged and in a cultural daze, yet with hearts to help and serve. Surely, we stick out like high heels on a motorcycle. Yet our African partner steers us in the right direction, connects us with the right helpers and surrounds us with great people and puts us in great places. All of this is done with the same grace and ease and surprising agility that allows the women here to climb on a motorcycle with a dress on.

And away we go…

Burkina Bound

As some of you know, I was asked to join a medical team working in the West African country of Burkina Faso, which is an inland nation just north of Ghana and just a bit larger than Colorado. Burkina Faso is a former French colony that is one of the poorest countries in Africa. The majority of the people are subsistence farmers and the country has few natural resources to build the economy. You can learn more at this link: Burkina Faso

I join several missionaries I've traveled with previously: Doctor Steve Nelson and his wife Dorothy (long-time missionaries in Ecuador and around the world. Steve is an amazing village doctor and the ever-young Dorothy is gifted at connecting with children of any culture), Sheila Leech (HCJB Global Hands missionary nurse and the VP of Healthcare within HCJB Global), Jessica McMillan (HCJB Global Missionary nurse with vast experience in Malawi and Ghana that belies her youth), Emily Martin ( HCJB Global missionary appointee who recently joined the mission following a medical trip in Ghana last year), Rebecca Weber ( a missionary kid from Ecuador who has always dreamed of going to Africa and shares Dorothy's heart for the kids), Doctor Dora Leon and Dr. Xavier Sanchez (two Ecuadorian doctors nearly finished with their residencies at Hospital Voz Andes in Quito, Ecuador). We are soon to be joined by HCJB Global regional director of Sub-Saharan Africa Lee Sonius and Liberian missionary Joseph Kebbie who are travelling up from Ghana tomorrow. We all come alongside HCJB Global's radio partner in the country, Radio Evangel Development (RED) who is already doing community development and has local Christians involved in these communities ahead and behind us. We hope to make them look good.

We have been joking that I am along to do the heavy lifting and "all back,no brains" is fine by me. I may help men in the community that are constructing a new latrine. I also remind the very busy doctors and nurses to drink and eat and take breaks. I count and bag pills in the pharmacy as needed. I simply pray God uses me however is needed to help the team do what they came to do. If God shows me something or someone to come alongside then I'm game. Pray with us that His will be done and that we can be reflections of His Kingdom come to earth.

From Our October Newsletter

Riding Roller Coasters (by Nate)

The Dell Roller Coaster Express ride is ongoing. Following an exciting and encouraging two months in Ecuador on a special assignment with HCJB Global’s summer missionary program (read more about this below and in older blog posts), our financial support has now dropped to the lowest level it has ever been. Rachelle and I both felt the summer’s seeming success signaled a new season on our exciting missionary ride. Instead I’ve been left wondering if the ride may have to shut down for maintenance.

As the school year and Natalia’s volleyball season settled into routine I was planning on one trip to Ghana in February of 2011. In just the last week that has expanded to possible journeys to Burkina Faso, Haiti and Spain all before tax time next year. Pray for me as decisions and plans are made to serve these regions with teams of willing workers. If any of you are interested in being one of those willing workers please drop me an email. It would be fun to have you strap in next to me.

As always we feel blessed to be on this ride, whatever loops and twists it takes. We join with all creation in eager anticipation of what comes next. (Romans 8:19)

Gifts in Ecuador (By Rachelle)

I was able to do so much with my family this summer! More than any of the previous 10 summers in the U.S. We really bonded and had a lot of fun together in Ecuador. I especially treasured all the time I spent with Natalia. She enjoyed the adventures of getting out to see the city, shopping, trying new foods or swimming in the river.

As we drove down out of the Andes and into the edge of the jungle there was a rainbow. It seemed that the Lord was saying that He has some new things for us and that He wanted to redeem some things for us as a family that we thought were lost forever.

For the longest time I thought this was our goodbye trip and I could see how impossible it would be for me to function physically amongst the rigors of Ecuador. My heart ached knowing I’d have to say goodbye again. My ability to tolerate this trip was pure grace. As Nate said, “The pace was unsustainable.” But slowly over time, after we left the last village (Tali cried hard that time) and while travelling from Shell back to Quito the Lord started speaking to my heart. By the time we were at the airport waiting for our flight back to the U.S. I knew that the Lord will take us back there again. I do not know when, how, how long etc., but I believe Him. It was still sad and hard to leave, but what a gift after all this time.

The time we spent with our Waorani friends was a very special gift. It meant so much to me to see the friends who’ve lost spouses, children, health etc. They have my respect and admiration for their courage and faithfulness. Initially I felt so unable to do much ministry, but I was reminded once again that simply being with people, listening, crying, rejoicing is all the Lord is asking for. The rest will fall into place.

It was like watching the Lord fertilize and plant some seeds in Tali’s heart. It still makes me cry to remember the summer. She absolutely loved Ecuador...even the city (which is amazing because she says, “I don’t really like the city”). She soaked everything in and accepted uncertainties and new experiences with a lot of grace. Every time we talk about the summer she gets teary eyed. At the end of the trip we visited an orphanage. Watching Tali play with a little girl for an hour made me feel like I was watching something being birthed in Natalia. We will see…

An even greater gift: I am responding positively to a medication used to treat a genetic movement disorder called familial paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis. I’m seeing a decrease of pain and an improvement in energy. We don’t know if this will control the disorder forever, but I’m just loving the good days. As I research I’m discovering answers to things that started in my childhood when I was a toddler and older. We don’t have all the answers. The doctor feels that there is also something else, but I’m glad for the relief I’m experiencing! It is possible that Tali’s headaches and muscle spasms are related to this disorder so she will be undergoing lots of tests in October. It would be wonderful to know this early on how to help her.

The Lord knew before I was born what each and every one of my days would be like. He often has refining fires for each of us, but it looks different for every individual. I am at peace with His hand in my life in this regard. That much has been cemented in my heart these past few months. The Lord knows the future. Has this been a rude interruption into our lives? Or has it has been a divine intervention? This “rabbit trail” is part of our journey with the Lord. I don't understand it and I don't feel the need to understand it anymore. I don't know where God is going with this and, it feels strange to admit, I'm ok with that. He is good and I have seen His goodness so much more through these fires. I’d love it if He would reverse my disorder, but no matter what, we will be ok.

We Need Your Help

In order to continue our missionary work, we are in serious need of new monthly support. If you already give to us, would you prayerfully consider increasing your support? If you haven’t been able to partner financially with us in the past, would you prayerfully consider partnering with us now? Another way you could help us would be to consider inviting a group into your home and allow us to share what God is doing in our ministry and how they might be able to be involved with us. Others have felt comfortable asking their local church to consider inviting a new missionary to come and share the Lord’s work there. We would greatly appreciate whatever help you could give us to help us to continue to be the Voice and Hands of Jesus around the world. To give via the web please go to http://www.hcjb.org/donate-give-to-missionaries and type in "Nate and Rachelle Dell" so the money is credited to our ministry account. All donations are tax deductible and much appreciated.

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Nate Dell shares Ecuador trip Sept 26th

I found out that our sermon at Hot Sulphur Springs Community Church is on the web as a podcast! It's our first as far as I know. Keep listening until the end and you can hear Natalia rock her special song she chose. Here's the link:

Nate Dell shares Ecuador trip Sept 26th

Simple is the living...

My head is stuck in a different world. We’ve come from a life of being outdoors more than indoors (or somewhere in between if the hut is open on both ends). That life is fairly simple with the activities of cooking breakfast (over a fire), going to wash the breakfast dishes in the stream, sitting down to weave string bags and talk with whoever is visiting with us, fixing lunch, doing dishes, visiting or hunting/fishing for Nate and Tali, doing some extreme wheelchairing to get to the river to bathe, washing clothes, more extreme wheelchairing to get home, visiting, cooking supper, total exhaustion, and climbing into the hammock at 8pm to go to sleep.

The next day we would do the same thing all over again. It was uncomplicated by buying groceries, getting Tali to school, keeping up with email, bills and seeing numerous doctors. No running around to sports activities, no music lessons, no TV, no music, no iphones or wiis. Entertainment comes in the form of interacting with friends. If we happened to have some “free” time we all wrote in our journals, bemoaned our language skills or just took a nap!

We are now in a world of living indoors, not worrying about what we’ll eat for the next meal, plumbing, electricity, every type of entertainment you can imagine...TV, movies, ads and billboards screaming about their products, stores which sell very little that is under $5.00, school, after school activities, music lessons....ugh, I have to stop. It is overwhelming. And I’m starting to fit back in. That makes me very sad. My focus is shot to pieces, I feel less grounded in knowing who I am in this world and it is a daily battle to remember that I’m here to advance God’s kingdom, not my own. I’m forgetting more and more that the little things don’t matter. So, I’m pretty much mourning all this, but it is going away all too quickly. My life here in the U.S. is very little about surviving and helping others around me survive. A far cry from the meaning and purpose I felt in Ecuador. But I know that God has me here in the U.S. right now and not in Ecuador. So, what am I to do here and now? And WHEN do we get to go back!=) Oh yeah, live in the here and now.

Gifts

By Rachelle

I was able to do so much with my family this summer! More than any of the previous 10 summers. We really bonded and had a lot of fun together. I treasured all the time I had to spend with Natalia. She seemed to enjoy the adventures of getting out to see the city, go shopping or trying new foods.

As we drove down out of the Andes and into the edge of the jungle there was a rainbow. It seemed that the Lord was saying that He has some new things for us and that He wanted to redeem some things we thought were lost forever.

For the longest time I thought this was our goodbye trip and I could see how impossible it would be for me to function physically there. My ability to tolerate it on this trip was pure grace. As Nate said, “The pace was unsustainable”. But slowly over time, after we left Tzapino (Tali cried hard that time) and while we went from Shell to Quito the Lord started speaking to my heart. By the time we were at the airport waiting for our flight, I knew that the Lord will take us back there again. I do not know when, how, how long etc., but I believe Him. It was still sad and hard to leave, but what a gift after all this time.

An even greater gift that boggles my mind: I am responding positively to a medication used to treat a genetic movement disorder called familial paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis. I’m seeing a monumental decrease of everything from the worst pain to the little things like insomnia, hormone imbalances and fatigue. We don’t know if this will control the disorder forever, but I’m just loving the good days. As I research I’m discovering answers to things that started in my childhood when I was a toddler and older. I can’t wrap my mind around the immensity of God’s goodness. It is possible that Tali’s headaches and muscle spasms are related to this disorder so we will be taking her to see my neurologist in a month or so. It would be wonderful to know this early on how to help her.

Three Villages

By Rachelle

Our time in Waorani land was very special. We landed in Tewaeno and could hear the kids calling, "Menga (Nate) is here. Menga is here." Then Oma realized I was there also. He walked

over to me, put his hands on my shoulder and stood eye to eye with my while he told me how they have prayed and prayed and "here you are". No surprise to him. God answered his prayers.

I remember when he was in the hospital and we weren't sure he would live. He was having a great deal of anxiety so I went to the hospital to try and reassure him. I knew that I couldn’t pray in Waorani, so I prayed in english with little expectation....Oma immediately settled down and told me he was going to sleep and not worry. Oh me of little faith!

Lots of friends came and visited and shared their joys and sorrows of the last 10 years. A teenage daughter taking her own life, a spouse dying, a chronic illness...But all still continue to shine with a deep, golden glow of joy and peace. One gal shared about the loss of her 2 year old saying that at first she hurt so much, but is a little better now. No pretense, just honesty. I did not see bitterness in any of these friends. Just acceptance.

We flew on to the next village after a couple of days in Tewaeno. I looked over as we took off and saw tears dripping down Tali's face. She didn't want to leave. I had not expected that response, but my heart was breaking right along with hers.

Landing in Damointado was emotional as I saw friends that I hadn't seen in 15 years. They were preparing for a bible conference and we hoped to see the people who came for it. Five minutes before they broke into groups of men, women and children I was asked to lead the women's workshop. Fortunately, I had had my dad help translate my testimony from the last 10 years. I wanted the Waorani to know how much their walks of faith have encouraged me since I was a little girl to walk with the Lord in the good times and in the bad times. I was able to thank the older generation for that example. They have loved us and prayed for us more faithfully than I have prayed for them. I shared how I had worried how Natalia would respond if I was to die. Would she be angry? Would she walk away from God? But then God responded and reminded me that He is Tali’s father first. I told them that I had clung to God like a monkey clings to a tree and that in hard times they need God more than any other time.

They read some scriptures that fit and then the women shared what God had done for them and their families. Then one piped up and said, "Let's pray." (Whew. I could never pray in Waorani.) I hope I communicated my heart despite a different language and culture. I shared the same thing half a dozen times with various people and groups.

One little 7 yr old (the daughter of one of my childhood friends) seemed to be fascinated with my white skin and the fact that I used a wheelchair or cane to get around. The first day she just came and sat by me with her hand on my arm while she just looked and looked at me. The next day she did the same thing and then got up the courage to whisper, “Where did you fall?”. I explained that I had gotten sick and couldn’t walk well. That seemed to satisfy her for the moment. She was happy just to sit next to me with her hand on my arm. I was touched by her compassion. The next day she found me at the river bathing and I thought, “Wow, this kid’s compassion is amazing!”. Then she said, “My mom didn’t get any fish hooks.” Ok, so maybe I read a little too much in to it. Or, maybe not. Who knows!

The third and last village we went to was Tzapino where we had spent most of our time 10 years ago. We didn’t know if anyone still lived there because no one had flown in there for years and many people have moved to other villages. But as people came out of their houses to see what the plane was all about it just felt like we had made the right choice. We needed to be there, to reestablish frienships, to let God restore the years that the locusts have eaten. It was healing for my soul. Tali made a friend, Dawa, there who she went swimming with. That was an answer to a concern because I didn’t expect to see many kids her age. They are all out of school on vacation and most are traveling to other villages etc. Omene, faithful Omene came and did much the same as Oma did. He told me how they prayed for me all the time. His wife died of snake bite 5 years ago, but many of his kids and their families live in Tzapino. Other relatives are moving back to Tzapino to escape the effects of alcohol in their village.