“Wow, that was fast!” I said to Toussaint. A picture had just popped up on my phone, showing the construction at our church plant in Dipouo. In record time, the church members had made mud bricks. Only two weeks later, after the bricks had sufficiently dried out, they started building, and another two weeks later, the walls were up.

The church members of Dipouo and of the surrounding church groups had joined forces for this venture, just as they had done for all the Otammari project churches. But this time, they received extra help from an unexpected source. Many villagers had come out to help, including some fetisheurs (animist practitioners). Their participation was highly unusual, since we often face opposition when we start building churches and establishing an Adventist presence in an animistic village. However, we assume their assistance was in appreciation for the water pump installed in this village a few years ago. A short-term volunteer at the time had funded the pump, thus providing much-needed clean water for the population.

While construction was underway, our Bible workers organized a special Sabbath service for all the Adventists in the area, choosing the Dipouo property for the celebration. Not only did all the approximately 100 members of the surrounding church groups attend, but also many visitors and seemingly the whole village of Dipouo. Our district pastor, who was preaching that day, tried to count the number of people attending, but he quit at 500. They all witnessed the baptism of six precious young girls and ladies.

We praise God for the positive reception in this village and pray that many of the people who are helping with the construction process will later enter the building to worship God with us.

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