I just wanted to shoot off a quick point of information and prayer request regarding Burkina:  Burkina Faso and other countries including  Senegal, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, and Nigeria have experienced bad flooding the last few days.  I have copied a report from IRIN, a news service we suscribe to below.  See http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=90046 for the full article. 

Please PRAY for the people of Burkina.  Pray for the development arm of our church, ACCEDES, as they seek to minister to the need.  If the Lord leads you to help financially, you can write a check to Christian and Missionary Alliance.  In the memo, write: 1-47410-49-34- STMO Site - Burkina Faso, floods.  You can send the check to “Michelle Olson, PO box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO, 80935.”  If you can drop us a note to let us know you’ve done that, that would be great.

Burkina Faso:

Flooding has killed at least 14 people, scores of villages remain inaccessible and thousands of people are living in schools and other public buildings, according to the government.

Dams have burst in many areas. Dams are critical to water supply in Burkina, where many regions experience water shortages during the dry season. An agriculture ministry official said 139 dams would have to be refurbished to withstand further floods.

Some 2,000 hectares of crops in the east and 400 in the centre are under water.

The Red Cross is providing drinking water, blankets, soap and buckets to affected families. The Burkina government said it needed about 510 million CFA (nearly US$1 million) in relief supplies, including blankets, soap and cooking utensils.

This breaks our hearts.  Thanks for praying!

Pete & Alice

Just wanted to update you a bit on our last 3 weeks…

LIFE 2010 (the youth missions’ conference) in Louisville KY was awesome! 

• Pete was part of 2 seminars about missions.  He also had a 20 minute spot on the main stage to talk about the results of the offering that was taken for Burkina during LIFE 2007, and the container that was sent. 
• We both were involved with “the project,” leading youth through a hands on experience of the need for food, water, medicine, education, and God’s love around the developing world.  The time was fulfilling for us as we were given the opportunity to speak into peoples’ lives. 
• We also talked to MANY people — Pete had trouble making it from one end of the 1/4 mile convention hallway to the other in less than 2 hours! 
• And we TOTALLY enjoyed the time together.  It was almost like a second honeymoon!
• The kids did well with their grandparents, and loved “Camp.”  (And Sammy did avert an ear infection w/o a dr.)
• Go to  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=472414&id=517985633&l=03516fe423   to see pictures.  You can try clicking on this link to view a video http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/z4OG5/hash/7qkbs3nb.swf?v=10150233691450634&ev=0

We are currently in North Carolina…. 

• We went back to the mountains and visited Franklin, where the kids and Alice went Gem mining!!  We think Sammy even found a native ruby.  (He “won,” mostly by spotting the bigger rocks in the bucket first and digging them out!)  We had fun at the “fun factory,” and enjoyed our fellowship with friends and supportors, and supporting churches.
• We are now in Lexington, NC, Pete’s American home town.  This week we both have been leading the missions’ hour for the VBS at Pete’s home church.  Pete has also been speaking in churches, and we are enjoying meeting with lots of people — as we put on a few more pounds! 

We have been blessed everywhere we’ve gone this summer — from the mountains of Va., to the Mountains of NC, to Lexington, with friends and multiple activities for our children.  I’m having a hard time finding time to do their online reading and math review, in fact!  Though we have some late nights, they are really enjoying this summer, and have been quite spoiled.

As we go into these last 3 weeks, would you pray for these things:

1)  That the VBS at First Alliance finishes up well — for kids’ salvation, as well as God to already be speaking to their hearts about missions.

2)  Pray for continued good contact with our churches, supporters, family, and friends.

3)  For us to make headway on our email situation.  Alice frantically focuses on emails for entire mornings, only to download again as much as she’s answered.  We honestly have not been able to see our way clear.

4)  This makes it difficult to focus on finances, and our reports are past due.  Pray for clarity of mind for Alice as she finishes up this month’s books in the midst of home ministry assignment happenings and child care.

5)  Continue to pray for our Burkina prayer request — the 13 wells that are being dug, salvation for the people of the village of Gountoure, salvation for the people around the village of Ouo, our Envision co-workers holding down the fort, and Hannah Greene, raising her support to take over the youth group.

6) Please also praying that the rains would start coming.  The situation is looking desparate.

Thanks for praying! 

Pete, Alice, Charity & Sammy

STMO conference in Tapei

Our first Short Term Missions’ Office site coordinator and staff conference was in Taipei, Taiwain. 

 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=423283&id=517985633&l=b997469843

It was great for Pete to get to know the others, find out what they are doing, and how we can coordinate together.  We are excited with new directions we are headed and a new website.  One of Pete’s highlights, thanks to a kind donor, was a ticket upgrade to first class, so the dreaded trip became enjoyable.  He arrived at his destination relaxed and ready to think and contribute.  During this conference STMO’s name was officially changed to “Envision.”

Franklin team

Before Pete had landed, a team of adults arrived in Burkina and left for the bush to roof 2 churches.  Pete joined them for the last 3 of their 6 days there.  Talk about some hard workers!  They visited our clinic in Tougan and grew a burden for helping it expand.

Westridge Team

A day after the departure of the Franklin team, Westridge’s vision team arrived to visit wells, church buildings, and church hangars they had built in partnership with the Houndé district.  Westridge is also committed to helping the Houndé district reach the Pugli people group, who – 8 years ago only could boast a handful of Christians.  Today there are 18 churches! 

One of the new Envision families arrived with this team.

The highlight of this trip for Pete was being led by the National President into a room filled with presidents of the 14 districts of the CMA church in Burkina.  He was blown away to see that 12 of the 14 had come through our Sonlife Leadership Courses, and had been district youth chaplains

Glenview Team

This team’s visit marked a huge milestone in our ministry in Burkina.  For the last 5 years,

LIFE film team

Every 3 years the CMA holds a National youth conference in the US.  In 2007, the conference raised money to help accomplish many projects in Africa, and they filled a 40 foot container with supplies they’d collected.  A team from the LIFE organizers came to document some of the impact that the money and container had, and also to create some promotional materials for Envision Burkina.  They were great guys, very creative, and we were encouraged by their visit.

Grace Chapel team

We broke in our new missionaries with a team from Alice’s home church!! 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2060244&id=1384370421&l=35a3532931

They started digging a canal on one of our properties, roofed a school, and roofed the Balkuy church in cooperation with a team from the Black ForestAcademy.  It marked a milestone as it was the first team to inaugurate our first Envision Burkina team center at the LAC (Christian high school.) 

A university professor with 22 years experience as a principal accompanied the team and gave a seminar to some of our high school personnel on leadership and mission.  This is growing into a certificate program that Dr. Hobbs will continue to teach.

This is the direction our lives are taking…  TEAMS!!!  We do enjoy them and enjoy the opportunity to speak into members’ lives.

Sammy and Charity

Thought you might enjoy some pictures and some news…  Sammy is 6, loving Kindergarten and learning in general.  He plays soccer, and has been taking Djembe lessons.  This quarter, he is also taking swimming lessons.  He loves to make songs up and dance to music.  He’s our ham.Charity is a bit more shy, but she’s very in tune to people and their needs.  She is 8.  She still LOVES playing with her dolls, and though she has many, I think she still plays with all of them!  She also plays soccer, and this quarter is taking swimming lessons.  She also loves to sing

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=423502&id=517985633&l=d1413604ce  Flat Stanley picts

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=423036&id=517985633&l=0c50f4bc58   Sammy BD

1. FILM TEAM: We currently have a film team here, in conjunction with Westridge Church, filming our well project, catching our vision of bringing clean water to Burkina.  They are accompanied by 3 members of
   Westridge Church.  They are on the road till Tuesday 4/20, again Wed – Thursday, and again Friday – Sunday!!!  Please pray for the following:

1.  
   • Health and Safety in travel:
   • Be able to catch the right stories on film:
   • God’s work in their lives

2. NEW DRILLED WELLS:  We are trying to finish up 7 wells before we leave.  The company we working with has fallen into legal problems, and their equipment has been impounded.  HELP!
3. OLD DRILLED WELLS: Remember the other 2 wells we had asked you to pray about months ago?  They did get finished, but we had to front more money which the company was to reimburse.  Though we were close at one point, the final reimbursement has yet to happen.  Pray it will happen in the next 2 months before we leave.
4. NEW ENVISION TEAM CENTER AND BROKOPP HOUSE:  To make a very long story short…  We have the promise of a new property, with permission to build.  (AMAZNG ANSWER to prayer!!!)  Instead of building our house first, we have chosen to build the team center first, so when we get back from home assignment, we can start welcoming teams there right away.  We need to keep our present house now for at least a year after our return.  We need to pray that the Landlord will let us maintain the same rent and put a new roof on to take care of all the rainy season leaks.
5. ELECTRIC PROBLEMS:  Our electricity-producing generators in Ouaga are breaking down.  We have had lengthy planned power cuts and sporadic power outages as the remaining machines chug along.  Solutions including electricty sent up from Ivory Coast, and a new generator stuck in port due to transport problems (too big for the bridges) seem to be evaporating.  We can’t rely on the internet, and it’s hard to stay cool in 120 degree weather.  PLEASE pray for a long term solution for the city.  This is hard!
6. GOODBYES:  Pray for us as we pack up, say our goodbyes, plan our furlo schedule, powerpoints, and “talks,” and get used to a new routine in a new culture.

1. HEALTH, PROTECTION:  We are now healthy, and the discouragement Alice was facing in Jan / Feb has passed!  Life has more or less returned to normal
2. 2 NEW FAMILIES ORIENTING TO BURKINA:  The orientation period for our 2 new families, the Feilds and the Holbrooks, was fun and intense!  They were our guinea pigs in a lot of ways, and were very gracious.  There are still things to be worked through, but getting used to a new country does take time!
3. OUR TEAMS:  very positive.  We’ll let you know about those later.
4. GOOD USE OF TIME & PRIORITIES:  Whether this request has been answered, depends on which of us you ask!  But Pete very lately has moved ahead on some property items, and Alice has been able to get to a good place in packing and sorting!
5. FOR THE REST OF OUR SUPPORT TO BE SUPPLIED:  We are excited to report that, 100% of our monthly support has been pledged!!!!   Wow!  God is faithful!   So as of July 1, we will be working 100% under the auspices of the Short term Missions office of the C&MA (now called Envision)
6. FOR A YOUTH LEADER for our English speaking youth group: (this request was in a separate email):  Hannah Greene replied almost immediately! She is working on jumping through all the hoops necessary to come out.  Pray for her as she prepares.  A few others have also expressed interest.

We are following up this e-mail shortly with our activities during the last few weeks.  (teams, teams, and MORE TEAMS!!!!).   So stay tuned!  J 

EMAIL TROUBLE

Sorry for the long silence.  We are having a difficult time sending our large volume of newsletters out.  Our email providers are giving us grief.  Our fasonet address has been shut down, so unless you hear differently, please use: pete.brokopp@verizon.net or alice.brokopp@gmail.com to write.  Some of you have received notices and the rest will soon receive notices that you have been added to our Google group.  This is how we are ultimately going to send our newsletters out.  This is turning out to be not the easiest process we thought it would be either.  NOTE:  you won’t have to DO anything to receive our emails from Google groups.  The only difference is that at the bottom of the email, there will be some kind of notice put out by the group. 

PETE’S VISIT TO THE STATES

On Oct. 30^th, Pete left for a visit to the States for 2 ½ weeks.  He visited

• Westridge 
  Church, 
  Dallas GA,
• First Alliance, Lexington, NC,
• Grace Chapel, Havertown, PA,
• Appleton Alliance, Appleton, WI

His main reason for going was a mission’ conference at Appleton Alliance, but with our change in missionary status, we felt it best to touch base with our supporting churches at the same time. While the children and I held down the fort here, Pete had a fruitful (and fun) time there:

• He reconnected with friends and acquaintances
• He spent some real brief time with family
• He spoke 31 times
• He spoke to over 10,000 people
• A Muslim lady came to know Christ
• A girl got her life turned around, making a commitment to missions right before being involved in a pretty bad car accident.  She is still recovering. 

We also received the exciting news that Appleton Alliance has decided to join our support team, committing to ¼ of our full support need!   

SUPPORT SITUATION…

Which brings me to the next point… In our last newsletter, we had told you of our discouragement in finding out that we needed to come up with our full support by Dec. 2010.  Apparently (and embarrassingly), this was a lack of understanding.  We have received a very nice letter apologizing to and affirming us.  Though we will eventually need to be raising our full support, the deadline isn’t so imminent.  So, that is great news!    However, the other good news is that we have now made peace with the idea of going on full support sometime soon.  In addition, God has moved peoples’ hearts in response to Pete’s visit to the States, to pledge enough monthly support to bring our total pledges up to 84% of what we need!!!!   So, our INTENT is to continue towards the goal of raising our full monthly support (an additional $835/mo) by our home assignment in July 2010.

Why does raising our full support sooner than later make more sense to us now? (Esp. after the struggle we went through to get used to the idea!)

• We are already over ¾ of the way there
•  It will make the field bookkeeping (and our own bookkeeping) simpler.
• We are enjoying the closer relationship with churches who are directly involved in our personal support.
• Eventually, we will be having to raise our full support anyway
• We will be doing our part to bring financial relief to the great commission fund

FLOOD RELIEF UPDATE

This is still ongoing, though our direct involvement has diminished quite a bit for the time being.  Of the 150,000 people affected, it seems that half have found places to stay, while the other half are in tent villages (we visited one – photos to follow) waiting for the government to place them somewhere.  We are currently waiting on approval from tear fund,

LOOKING AHEAD:

Dec 9 – Dec 30  Vacation time spent with our families Dec 30: Visit with First Alliance,  Franklin, NC Jan. 2:  The children and Alice return to BurkinaJan.    –  Pete flies to Tapei, Tawain for an STMO meeting. 

PRAYER:

1)  Please pray for our family during the conference in Tapei.  Pete will be a long time away from us. 

2)  Pray for safety in travel.

3)  Pray for health

4)  Pray for Becca , the girl who recovering from her accident – that she recovers completely and is able to serve the Lord with her life, as she committed to do.

5)  Continue to pray that the Lord would provide people to support our ministry monthly.  Please see the bottom of this e-mail for information.

The first street looked like a river, which wasn’t unusual during a heavy rain.  But when we turned the corner and saw a car stalled in the road, I started to wonder what was up.  Suspicions were confirmed when we went to turn the next corner and saw yet another river with a string of cars either stuck or stalled in the mud.  One vehicle was nose down into the water, indicating it had driven into the canal my road crossed over.  Though Pete’s truck could have made it, I was less confident in my driving skills over the canal and through the mud, so I backed up, planning to have Pete pick up my friends’ kids later. 

The roads to school were no better; I drove in rivers the entire way.  Pete and I decided to drive around (Have snorkel, wench, and 4 wheel drive, will go anywhere!), assess the damage and take pictures.  On the way he thought to check on Karen Wolters, whose husband was in the States, to make sure she and her son had made it to school.  She was frantic, “Water is coming into our house!”  

We drove over as quickly as we could, but the magnitude of the flood was shocking; water had covered almost 2 lanes of the divided 4 lane highway.  The service road next to us was so deeply underwater that the cars parked in front of a garage were almost completely submerged.  The 15 foot deep and 20 yard wide canal meant to handle flash floods had overflowed up to the road looking like a 100 yard wide river.  

We were sobered and in shock, and the only thing I could think of were our friends and workers who lived in the outskirts of the city where they are still zoning.  Their houses are made out of mud bricks, and last year already, during a particularly strong rain, many of them crumbled.  I dreaded to know what was happening during this rain, and prayed specifically for our workers’ homes.  (In the end, God answered; one was cracked, and the other eroded only a bit!!!) 

We arrived at the Wolters’ house where water was calf deep in the courtyard and ankle deep in the house.  Pete and Micah fixed a levy that had been put in earlier, made a barrier against the water using spare tires and planks, and cut 2 holes in the courtyard wall while we and two friends squeegee-ed and swept.  Finally, the water receded.   

Our office, across the street suffered worse; it was knee deep underwater.  Electrical cords were submerged, a fridge knocked over, the file cabinet saturated, and debris was floating around.  There was no other way to get the water out than to pump it, so Pete and the director bought a new pump.  Most files and a computer were saved, the copier was sitting high, but many papers and books were destroyed.  We are still waiting to see about salvaging some hard drives.  

The damage around the city was varied.  Homes near the water reservoir and on another side of town were neck high in water, some people having to wait on their roofs to be evacuated. Our own roof leaked much worst than usual.  Bridges were out.  The electric company and water company were both flooded, so we were without electricity for 1 ½ days, and with low water pressure for more.  Some people had no running water for days.

The day following the flood, we drove to Sector 30, the poorest section of town, to assess the damage there.  The first striking thing on our way was that other than debris and regular-sized puddles, there was no indication of the flood.  People were out, stores were open, and it was “business as usual.”  Life must go on!  When we arrived at Sector 30, we were taken to a school were there were over 200 refugee families’ whose homes had collapsed.  Thankfully, since the rain had started in the morning, there were no immediate casualties.  We dropped off 2 bags of rice which our tailor who had been a victim said were cooked and eaten that night.  Doctors Without Borders later came by to offer medical help.   

We stopped at our Sect. 30 church, which had taken in 70 refugees, and gave more rice.  Then we toured, taking pictures and visiting homes.  Walls had crumbled, roofs collapsed, houses were structurally cracked and leaning, belongings strewn all over.  Another striking thing was that the men had gone immediately to work to salvage what bricks they could and rebuild their homes.  One man explained, “We do what we have to do.” 

Words can’t adequately describe what we saw. 

To see it for yourselves, go to  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=310870&id=517985633&l=3eede1229d  – For pictures of the floodhttp://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=311470&id=517985633&l=eecd32badb  –  For pictures of the devastation at Sect. 30http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=311517&id=517985633&l=584310fada  – For pictures of the flood’s general aftermath 

This was the worst flood since 1922.  We had officially about 10 inches of water, much of it during 2 ½ hours.  In the end 150,000 people lost their homes, their food till the harvest, and their possessions.  They are housed in 93 official sites.  8 people have died, though the unofficial number is much more and still rising.   

ACCEDES, the development arm of the C&MA church in Burkina would like to raise 24,000 dollars to help with food and clothing for 500 people, which will be distributed through our churches. 

This disaster is an opportunity for us to show the love of Christ.  Pray for opportunities to touch hearts and offer not only physical help, but spiritual help as well.  Pray against sickness, Malaria, Cholera, Typhoid, which could ravage the refugees in their close quarters. If you would like to help us reach our goal of 24,000 dollars, please send your gifts to CAMA services,

For pictures, please go to Pete N Alice Brokopp on facebook  or to http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=310870&id=517985633&l=3eede1229d