Bee Very Careful

Showers of Blessing

Ezekiel 34:26 (NIV)
… I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.

“Agbaliwiki”.  The strange name could conjure up thoughts of a fantasy place where children live in total bliss with lollipops and happy dreams.  In reality, it is a village in west central Togo, Africa where yellow fever was running rampant through the population.  Yellow fever can lead to kidney failure and often death.  The chief of Agbaliwiki approached the pastor of the local Assemblies of God church and asked him to pray for someone to come and drill a fresh water well for the village.  The Africa Oasis Project was able to drill a deep fresh water well that provided disease free, clean and plentiful water.  The village gathered to see the drilling process and observe the progress being made.  The well was located immediately behind the local Assemblies of God church so the parishioners could oversee and maintain the well.

As my colleague Laté Lawson and I arrived to install the hand pump there was great anticipation among the people of the village.  The crystal blue sky soon took a very dark and unexpected turn and the skies opened up in a torrential down pour.  Having driven two days to get to this remote village there was no option but to continue working in the rain.  The water from above did not dampen the excitement of the water that began to flow from the well when the pump was completely installed.

Even though we were soaked to the bone and had a very long dangerous drive ahead of us to return home, we rejoiced as God had once again provided the life giving and healing clean water for the wonderful people of Agbaliwiki, Togo.  The yellow fever was gone.  And this was no fantasy.

Until next time…..

Mark and Vickie Alexander                                            10.13.14

“Our Parents, To Whom Honor is Due”

     Each of us is on an amazing journey through this life and hopefully we are following our Lord as we walk hand in hand with Him.  Vickie and I have recently embarked on an unexpected path of our long, mission’s journey.  As many of you know, my father passed away one year ago..  Dad was the caregiver for Mom and with his passing, we suddenly faced some major decisions.  Also, less than three weeks after Dad’s passing, Mom had a severe stroke.  Since that time Mom has been in a long term care facility in Hays, Kansas.

     Coincidentally, just days after Dad’s funeral, Vickie’s mother in New Mexico experienced another hard fall with injuries and loss of memory.  During her recovery, she shared with us the challenges she was facing, at her age, living on her own and trying to maintain her home.  With these two wonderful, Godly women in mind, we began to pray and then felt the Lord was making it very clear to us that the time had come for us return to the United States at this time for the purpose of caring for our two mothers.     

     After discussions with our Kansas District leadership, the National Church leadership in Togo, and at the invitation of our Assemblies of God World Missions-Africa leadership, it was decided that we would transition from West Africa to Springfield, Missouri for this time and continue our work and ministry from the States.  We’re now new residents in Springfield and have moved Vickie’s Mom into our home as well.  Her house sold in a miraculous way and we’ve experienced many answers to prayer during these major moves.  We’re actively researching and seeking the right long term care home near us for my mother.  Deuteronomy 5:16 tells us to “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you.”  We believe it is the right and honorable thing for us to do at this time.

     WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF CONTINUING OUR WORK WITH THE AFRICA OASIS PROJECT IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA and our borders will expand even further throughout Africa!  During the years that we resided in Togo, West Africa, we developed and worked with a wonderful network of missionaries, pastors, drillers, and friends that will continue to help us as the work of the Africa Oasis Project carries on across West and Central Africa and beyond.  Our home base has changed but the work continues on…stronger and more focused than ever.   

It was our intent to stay in Africa for many more years, but we believe that God has orchestrated this transition.  The burden in our hearts for missions in Africa has not changed.  I will be making frequent trips back to Africa to maintain and oversee the projects of the Africa Oasis Project and to work with the team of people who are already in place.  The need is still great and the workers are still few so we are continuing to do what we can to carry the Living water of Jesus Christ and the much needed fresh water to those in Africa that are so physically and spiritually thirsty.  Please continue to pray with us and we would ask that you continue to support our work with this ministry as the needs are ever present and growing.  “God’s not finished with us yet.”      Vickie has also been asked to take on the huge administrative challenge of managing the finances for the Africa Oasis Project across the entire continent of Africa.  By God’s grace the Africa Oasis Project is growing and in turn, the administrative responsibilities are increasing as well. 

     I was recently reading Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…” and in the notes of my NIV Study Bible it said, “Humans have little or no control over times and changes.  The eternal God sovereignly determines all of life’s activities.”  And that is so true.  May God bless you as you continue on your journey.

Your missionary servants,

Mark & Vickie Alexander

AGWM Missionaries

Africa Oasis Project

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL?

Some times there are ups and downs in same day.  Read on…

OVERLOADED?

Living in West Africa we are constantly amazed a the things we see that are totally accepted as normal here.  We just have to smile at some of them.  Overloaded vehicles are just a way of life.  Read on…

WAAST Graduation

We have the privilege of living on the campus of the West Africa Advanced School of Theology here in Lomé, Togo in West Africa.  In addition to our Africa Oasis Project ministry we try to help here at WAAST in any way we can.  We really enjoy getting to know the students and the faculty.  We are honored to be just a small part of this great institution that is training men and women to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ all across the continent of Africa.  Each graduation is a time of great rejoicing. 

Alexander’s Long African Day March, 2013

We trust everyone had a great Easter celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  Below you will find the latest edition of ALAD.  We are so excited to see the Agape School well project in Salaga, Ghana started in the next few weeks.  Look to this blog for updates in the near future.
Blessings to you all.

Mark and Vickie