Chantal Pilon church planting among the Konyagi 
It’s hard to believe that in less than a week I will be flying over the ocean to return to Guinea. My time at home has been wonderful – a time of true refreshment, and I’m very thankful!
Thirteen hours of flying (without counting airport time) plus fourteen hours of driving stretched over several days, to allow me to take care of business matters and do supply buying, will find me back home among the Konyagi people.
Readjusting to a world so different from this one is always a challenge. Getting used once again to buying groceries for several months at a time, making meals from scratch, and adapting to the time and climate change is always interesting.
Once back in my Guinean home, I will resume my regular routine of CLA (culture and language acquisition) and my weekly stays in the village. I will also continue to investigate the best location for the missionary team to locate so that we can live right among the larger Konyagi community.
Not surprisingly, there are more unknowns in the future. My co-workers, the Hofers, are expecting a new baby and will therefore be returning to the U.S. in December for six months. Even though I am happy for the new addition to their family, this news also means big changes for me, since I can’t stay in that remote location on my own. I will need to reevaluate my original plans of building a house and moving into the village early in the new year. It seems likely that I will have to move somewhere else temporarily and fill some other position (there is no lack of work). Needless to say, I am trusting God to direct my plans.
Many of you have heard me mention Nemot, my Konyagi mom. She is a close neighbor and became a dear friend. A couple weeks ago, Hofers called me to ask my advice. Nemot wasn’t feeling well and friends of the family wanted Hofers to take her to a healer. I was able to speak with Nemot directly by telephone and after the normal greetings, encouraged her to go the hospital, assuring her that her medical costs would be covered (I wouldn’t do this for everyone, but I have a special relationship with Nemot, and being a widow, she struggles financially). A few days later, I found out that as soon as I finished my conversation with her, the men who were there put her on a moto-taxi to send her to the healer. The healer said she had an evil spirit, but that it was too strong for him so they sent her to another healer. There, she died. I received the news with much sadness and tears for she had never had the opportunity to hear the Good News due to my limited knowledge of the Konyagi language. It’s such a vivid reminder of the urgency of bringing the Good News to people who have never heard it, people like the Konyagi. Thank you for lifting up me and the Konyagi in prayer.
