October 2-12, 2011 was a special time for AFM missionaries working in Africa. We all gathered with our families in Grand Popo, Benin, for our third biennial retreat—ten days of escape from our normal missionary activities to spend delightful time with our colleagues for socializing, encouragement and prayer. Like all the other AFM missionaries in Africa, we eagerly looked forward to this retreat, a time for physical relaxation and spiritual renewal.

Present at the 2011 retreat were our missionaries from Mali, Neil and Holly Lovitt, with their children, Hadassah and Clayton; Gideon and Pam Petersen from the Himba Project in Namibia; Jason and Maggi Harral and their children, Ruben and Kaia, recently launched to the Otammari Project in Benin; and Suzy Baldwin and Uli and Toussaint Choropa who have been working on the Otammari project since 1999. Present with them was also their new student missionary, Naomi Kromer, from Germany. Present with us at the retreat was Marina, Elmire’s relative who has been part of our family since we moved to Kandi in December 2006. Absent from the retreat was the Coker family, in AFM training in the States, and Charlie Eklund who, after serving seven good years on the Himba Project, was leaving on permanent return.

All of us enjoyed the beautiful and refreshing environment under the shade of the many trees in our motel compound by the seashore. The excellent food, the beach, the pool, the socializing, the games and recreation for children and adults alike revitalized our minds and bodies. But, for me, the highlight of the retreat was listening to the presentations by AFM’s new president, Pastor Conrad Vine. His vision for AFM and his international experience are rich assets for our organization. Other highlights included long talks with Pastor Laurence Burn, AFM International Field Director; listening to the Benin Mission president, Pastor Gbaka Paul’s morning devotionals in which he compared our retreat to the 10 days the disciples stayed in the upper room before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit; and hearing the presentations of Pastor Zakary Kassoule, the West-Central Africa Division’s director for Global Mission and Adventist-Muslim Relations.

For me, the 2011 retreat answered many deep, longstanding questions. I returned to Kandi refreshed, grateful, inspired and energized to continue our task. My congratulations and encouragement to our Africa field director, Dr. Marc Coleman, for his leadership. And many thanks to you, our supporters, for making this retreat possible. Thanks for your prayers. Praise God!

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