Africa 2005

My son Andrew and I will be in Africa from April 23 to May 27 with stops in Nigeria, Cameroon and Malawi.
The highlight of this trip will be for Andrew to visit his birthplace. He was born in Mkar, Nigeria in 1983, while Cathy and I were medical missionaries there. During our stay in Mkar, I will offer medical services at Mkar Christian Hospital, where I was staff physician for five years from 1980 to 1985. I will also be conducting research on the cultural effects on depression and chronic pain. My prayer is also to be an encouragement to medical and church leaders. I also want to examine the feasibility of royalty free Bible publishing in Nigeria, since the cost of imported Bibles has become prohibitive due to the devaluation of Nigerian currency.
In Cameroon, we will be visiting my nephew Bert Visser, and his wife Wilma, who are missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators. I will be sharing our “Everything that Hinders” seminar with the mission staff, as well as interested national church leaders. This seminar is based on Hebrews 12:1, 2 where we are challenged to “throw off everything that hinders and run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” I hope and pray this will inspire the missionaries to raise the bar in passion and commitment. I will also continue my research there.
Dave and Joy Schellenberg, missionaries with Children of the Nations, are our primary contacts in Malawi. We will be offering medical assistance at the orphanage, while continuing my research. We also hope to visit David and Joanna Morrison who are with Iris Ministries along the border with Mozambique.
We covet your prayers during this trip, that the time Andrew and I spend together will be quality father and son time, that Andrew will broaden his perspectives globally, that my passion for Africa will be rekindled, for Cathy and Nathan holding down the fort at home, and that there will be gains for the Kingdom.