Alan and Esther in Africa

It's been almost two weeks ago since they left for Africa and they won't be back until late January. Alan and Esther are unique missionaries. They have travelled to Africa a number of times already and go trusting that God will lead them day by day. They raise their own support (downsizing their lifestyle, selling off unneeded stuff, taking some donations) and go to help whomever God leads them to. They have helped AIDS and war orphans, helped prostitutes move off the street, provided housing in the slums, supported micro businesses, helped fix someone's wheelchair and will be helping drill wells. Their stories are being told on their blog (Esther in Africa) and it is worth following.

I think Alan and Esther typify one of the new types of missionary that help people help themselves. They are not a drain on a denomination's finances, they don't take away from local missionaries and they empower the nationals to do the work themselves. They give life to the Chinese quotation: "A leader is most effective when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, the people will feel they did it themselves."

Blessings to you and our prayers go with you.