How Can I Give?

 A few people have recently asked how they can give toward my ministry needs.  Perhaps the easiest way is to go to my bio page on the BMM website: https://www.bmm.org/families/w-anna-beth.

1. Scroll down and click on the button "Give to Anna Beth Wivell".
2. Choose or type in an amount.
3. Click "Update & Check Out" (or if you are giving to several missionaries at once, "Add and Keep Browsing").
   
4. Enter your billing information.
5. Click "Give Now".

You could also use the contact form to send me a message if you would like to give more detail on how you would like the money to be used.

 I hope this helps to direct you!

June Prayer Letter

Dear Prayer Supporters,

“…Till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”
(Daniel 4:25b)

Unrest in Chad

Chad had been ruled by the same president since 1990. In April of 2021, the country was shocked when it was announced that their president had been killed in battle. Immediately a military council, led by the former president’s son, took over the government for an eighteen-month transitional period.

For several weeks after this, there was a great deal of unrest and uncertainty, as various opposition groups protested the military rule. In Chad, demonstrations against the government are often met with violence, and sadly several people were killed during the protests. However, things now seem to have calmed down and life has basically returned to normal. The military council remains in control of the country.

We do not know what these governmental changes will mean in the long term for Chad. While things are currently calm, please pray that the country will remain peaceful.

Furlough Travels

Since my last letter, I have visited churches in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Praise the Lord for safety on the roads, good meetings and opportunities for mutual encouragement in each place.

At the end of May to early June, I had enough spare time to take a short vacation and visit my parents in Indiana. We enjoyed our time together and we made day trips to the Ark Encounter and to the Indiana State Museum. The requirements of a missionary life mean we don’t get much time together in person, but we are thankful for the time we do have.

Future plans – and bookstore need

Next on my calendar is the annual Baptist Mid-Missions conference in Ohio, in early July. I’m looking forward to a blessed time reconnecting with friends from around the world, and maybe even making some new ones! Following this conference, I have eight more churches to visit in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana, before I return to Chad in September. Currently, Chad still requires a 7-day quarantine and two negative Covid tests to enter the country. I am hoping this requirement will be lifted before I return to Chad, but I am prepared to quarantine if necessary. Pray for continued safety in my travels.

Thank you for continuing to pray for the need for a permanent bookstore building in Sarh. We need a total of $19,000 to build it; $5,500 has come in. Please pray for the provision of the remaining $13,500.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support.

In Christ's Service,
Anna Beth Wivell

Map: Economic Growth in Africa

Africa is generally perceived as poor, and that perception has a lot of truth to it.  Certainly, many African countries rank among the poorest in the world.  But like all generalities, it also has a lot of inaccuracy.  For one thing, some African countries are far more developed than you might realize (for example, South Africa, Ghana, much of northern Africa).  Also, some countries in Africa have been experiencing economic growth.  Look at this colorful map I made using MapChart, with data from Statistic Times:

Green indicates economic growth, yellow indicates a more or less stable economy, and orange and red indicate a shrinking economy. If you are just thinking about Africa's poverty, you might expect this map to be mainly oranges and reds.  But although many countries are facing stagnant or shrinking economies, there are several which are growing, even rapidly.  Ethiopia and Guinea are actually two of the world's three fastest growing economies (Guyana in South America is the other).  Ethiopia has one of Africa's largest commercial airlines - I often fly on it going to and from Chad.  

With some of these countries growing so quickly, it will be interesting to see how they develop in the coming years.

Update #2: Chad and Gedeon

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for the nation of Chad, and for our Chadian friend, Gédeon. We really appreciate your prayers!

The political situation in Chad continues to be tense. Yesterday (April 27), several people were killed during protests in the capital, N'Djamena, and the second largest city, Moundou (moon-doo). As far as I know, things are still calm in Sarh. Please pray that the situation can be resolved without more bloodshed.

Our friend, Gédeon, spend several days in the hospital after being hit with a board by a student at the high school he directs. He had 19 stitches in his head, but his skull was not damaged and he is now recovering at home. The incident doesn't appear to be in any way related to the current political situation in Chad.

Update: Breaking News from Chad

 Dear Prayer Supporters,

I know I just sent out a prayer letter a few days ago, but there is breaking news today that cannot wait until my next prayer letter. It has been announced that President Deby of Chad has died of his wounds after having been shot. He was president for over 30 years.

There are many unknowns at this point. We do not know ultimately who will take over. For now, the military is in control of the country. We do not know what is going to happen next. But God knows the future and has it all under control. What we do know is that Chad needs our prayers!

One additional prayer request that came in just as I was writing this update. Our Chadian friend, Gedeon, has been attacked and injured on the head, and is now in the hospital. We do not yet know why he was attacked or how serious his injury is. Gedeon has been faithful in ministry for many years, and he is a bold teacher and preacher. Please pray for Gedeon too, at this time.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support.

In Christ's Service,
Anna Beth Wivell

April Prayer Letter

 Dear Prayer Supporters,

I’m halfway there! I am now about halfway through my furlough, and though it has been a blessing, I’m counting the months until I can go back to Chad. In the meantime, I’m very thankful that it’s now spring and the weather is much warmer!

Furlough

In February and March, I continued working my way northeast from upstate New York to Maine. Winter is not an ideal time to be in the northeast, but nearly every time I needed to travel, the weather was good enough to drive safely. I visited churches in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine, and even managed to squeeze in a visit to my brother’s home in northern New York State, and met my baby niece (she is absolutely adorable, and of course I’m not at all biased!). 

Just as the snow began to melt, I began to work my way back westward. By the time I got out to Ohio, the snow was gone and it began to look like spring. I will spend most of the spring visiting churches in Ohio and Indiana.

Support Update

Thank you for praying for my monthly support. Praise the Lord that due to some generous new supporters, my monthly support level is again at 100%!

Please keep praying for the ongoing needs for books for the book ministry in Chad, funds to reprint hymnbooks, and funds to build a permanent bookstore building (about $16,000 still needed).

Chad Election

In Chad, a presidential election was held on April 11 (less than a week ago, as I write this). Civil unrest is most likely to happen around an election, and even though final results of the election are not yet in, there is already unrest in the north of the country. This is very far from my home in Sarh in the far south, but it is still a concern. Please pray the situation does not get worse.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support.


In Christ's Service,
Anna Beth Wivell

May I Have a Copy of Your Photo Book?

Some people have asked about extra copies of the photo book I've had on my display table, Under the Mango Tree, which is a selection of my favorite photos of Chad combined with Scripture verses.  

 

 I do not have extra hard copies (because photo books are expensive) but if you would like a copy for yourself - perhaps for your coffee table - you can order one by clicking here.  It costs $54 or $55, depending on which type of cover you choose.  

Please note that I'm not making any profit from this; the listed cost is just the cost of the book itself.  So ordering it doesn't provide any extra funds for my ministry.  But my hope is that verses in the book would encourage you, and the photos would remind you to pray for the ministry in Chad.