August 2009 Team

On July 31, 2009 the three member construction team left to go to Mali, West Africa in order to continue the building on Mali Hope School. The team members were Franklin Spotts, veteran, Bob Mattson and first time member, Charles McCue.












The goal of the team members was to finish the roof of the 2nd floor of Hope School. The Africans were there to help also as the team worked for three weeks on the school.

The Steps of the Construction:
1. The boards for pouring concrete were clamped into place.














2. The ceiling blocks that were made previously by the Malians were taken upstairs.














3. The posts and boards were positioned in place in order to stablize the ceiling.














4. All the re-rod that was put together was positioned between the ceiling blocks.















5. The electrical conduit and wires for the ceiling lights were then placed.















6. Then the cement, gravel, and sand were mixed together by hand to make concrete.














7. The concrete was thrown up to the second floor by shovels rhythmically and then it was thrown to the roof.






















8. The roof of the second floor was then leveled off by the team and Franklin.














9. The doors and windows for the three new classrooms have been purchased and have now been placed.

August 2009 Building Team

Francophone Ministries for Christ is looking for team members to go to Mali, West Africa for the August 1st - August 17th Construction team. This team will be working on the Mali Hope School putting the ceiling up and the windows in the second floor classrooms. If you are looking for a blessing from God call Franklin at 810 982-9399.

January 2009 Mali Team

January 17th - 31st, we had a 6 member medical team that went to Bamako, Mali. The team members were: Franklin Spotts, Hollis and Mary Chandler, Michael Kimmerly, Susan Sopha, and Diana Taylor. We did not have an American Dr. but we did have Dr. Jacques who is one of the nationals.

One of the projects that is near and dear to Susan Sopha's heart is the Rice/Millett Fund. Susan heads up that project in order to raise money for Rice/Millet for the pastors and other people that need it. This year Susan was able to buy 23 (120 lbs.) bags of rice and millet thanks to some generous people. Some of the team were able to deliver the rice to some of the pastors. One of the pastor's wife did not know where she was going to get food for her family.


The medical team plus some of the nationals were able to see around 1500 people in two different villages and a Christian school. The nationals translated for us and were a huge help. We treated for malaria, worms, eye infections, headaches, back pain, bad wounds, etc. We were also able to fit glasses to some of the Malians who were having eye problems. One man jumped up and praise the Lord that he could see.

















Some of the team were able to work on the pit that has been continually being filled that is on the school property. The pit covered about one third of the property that the government gave in order to build the school. There is just a small part of it left. In the background is the high school that is still being worked on in Mali.
























When the team travels to Mali they are equiped with lots of literature with the Good News that is in French and many other languages. The team passes out the literature to the students in the classrooms and the students in turn take it home to their parents.



















There is still lots of work to be done on the highschool. The blocks for the ceiling on the second floor needs to be put in, the windows need to be bought and installed, and the stuccoing needs to be done. The goal right now is for the team this August to be able to finish the high school so they can hold classes on the second floor.

July 2008 Burkina Faso Team

Our team of 9 arrived in time to celebrate July 4th at the American Club in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa. At this time Etienne Kiemde, the Radio Evangel Developpment Director of the 8 Stations, and his wife, Clementine, met the team there. The team consisted of: Franklin Spotts, Dr. Bob Carpenter, Dr. Richard Averbeck, Paul Curtis, Jamal Frizzell, Jon Marc Chandler, Marilyn Thompson, Bob Mattson, and Paul Spotts.


Dr. Bob Carpenter,and Dr. Richard Averbeck remained in Ouagadougou. Dr. Bob and Dr. Richard taught the churches pastors.



















The rest of the team went to Fada, Burkina Faso to construct the 8th radio station. At that time they were able to construct the tower to reach 40 feet in the air with the nationals and the team working together. The next 40 feet was finished by the nationals after our team had left.

Paul Spotts taught the churches Sunday School teachers while in Fada. The Malians enjoyed practicing on telling the Bible stories as part of the lesson.

While there in Ouadadougou the R.E.D. (Radio Evangel Developpment) stations celebrated their 15th Anniversary of being on air. They had a big celebration with a concert and street evangelism. We know that 50 people responded to receive Christ as the evangelism team traveled around Ouagadougou.



















July 15th, 6 members of the team arrived in Bamako, Mali to work on the school. Paul Spotts continued to teach Sunday School teachers as the rest of the team worked on the Hope School. One of the projects was to continue to build the foundation for the property wall around the school in order to protect the children from cars that might take a short cut through the school property. Another project was to build the steps for the night watchman's house out of stone that has been given by the neighbors. The biggest challenge was to make 2000 ceiling blocks for the second floor high school roof.

July Teams for Burkina Faso and Mali

The July (9 member) team is busily getting ready for their trip to Burkina Faso where they will help to build the new eighth radio station and put up the tower for the station. While there we will be working with Etienne Kiemde and many of his African workers. The team will be there for 10 days then they will ride by vehicle to Mali which is around a 12 hour drive.

In Mali, they will continue to work on the Mali Hope School. There they will be putting the roof on the second floor of the school. Another project will be for some of the team members to teach the Malians how to teach the Bible to their people.

The team members will be gone approximately 3 weeks so please remember them in your prayers as they do the work of the Master.

The Eighth Radio Station

On April 11, 2008, Etienne Kiemde was at the definitive convention with the Superior Counsel of Communication. Here you see Etienne signing the contracts for the eighth radio frequency in Fada.

In July, the building team will be helping to raise the radio tower and build the station in Fada.

Tentative Medical Team Trip

The Medical Team will be tentatively going to Mali, January 17, 2009 to January 31, 2009. The Drs. Mike and Denise Balon will be heading up the team at that time. Please call Franklin at (810) 982-9399 if you are interested in going on this team.