Wednesday

 

Wednesday, February 11th, 2026

 

Today, pastors, missionaries, and evangelists from Benin and several other countries came to the MSE headquarters to write a single page description of projects. They need grant money to move the work they are doing forward.

 

I opened by giving a short devotional, during which I spoke about assurance of salvation. After that there was a talk about the importance of these workers completing the required forms to provide accountability for the funds they receive. They have some good strategies in place for this year to force people to comply with this requirement.

 

Honoré expected about 70 projects to be presented. We listened in on three project interviews. MSE expects to be able to fund about 30 projects, so some people will be disappointed. We heard two request to build a church or put a roof on a church, and one request to help feed refugee children about 35 miles from Niamey Niger. The goal was to try to provide 2 meals per month. 

Interviews like that were to go on into the night, maybe until 9 PM. While listening would have been very interesting, we felt like we might have been a distraction, so we left. By Friday MSE will have made a final decision on which projects they will accept. Criteria include specific measurable goals, and being in an area without a church. The focus people groups must be unreached, meaning less than 2% of the population is Christian.

 

The needs are so great here. Sobering to see how little people survive on. My estimate is that the meat in an average meal is less than 2 ounces. And that is here at the conference, in the city. It is very possible a rural community has far less.

 

Our friend James took us to shops so we could by some things to bring home, it’s been a string of busy days so after we shopped we came back to the hotel a little earlier today. We have been relaxing this evening. Internet is not very strong at the hotel, we will try to post pictures tomorrow.