Come and See: West Africa
January 6, 2027 – January 18, 2027
Join EMM this January 6–18, 2027*, as we visit the growing Christian communities of Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau. Participants will learn about the growth of the Anabaptist church, experience the mission context of the region, and witness how the gospel has taken root among previously unreached peoples. Tour participants will have opportunities to encourage and fellowship with local church members while tracing the ministry footsteps of pioneer mission worker, Beryl Forrester. Reading Beryl’s book: Animist to Anabaptist before the trip will provide helpful background and enrich your experience. Priority will be given to applicants discerning a mission call to the region, those with an interest in the ongoing ministry there, and anyone visiting the region for the first time.
Fly from Dulles to Banjul and begin the journey with three days in The Gambia, where participants will visit the MEDHA Center (Mennonite Educational & Horticultural Development Associates), connect with local churches, spend time with EMM field workers Nate and Krystle Thorne, and worship with the church in Pirang on Sunday morning.
From there, the team will travel into Senegal for an overnight stay in Ziguinchor before continuing to Catel, a community where a church, clinic, preschool, and several community projects have been established. Participants will learn how the church in Catel has grown and begun planting additional churches in the region.
The trip will conclude in Guinea-Bissau with a visit to the church plant in Bissau, where participants will see firsthand the ongoing ministry work of Daniel (Adramane Djim-Alé) and Josiah Baker and encourage the believers serving there.
As this is a spiritual journey through a developing part of the world, participants should be prepared to experience conditions that are less comfortable than those to which they may be accustomed when traveling in the developed world.
Trip cost, including airfare from/to Dulles, local transportation, and lodging, but excluding vaccinations, medicine, and souvenirs, is $2,500 per person.
*Dates subject to change if the ticket prices for these dates fluctuate substantially before tickets are purchased.
Jan 7: Arrive in Banjul, The Gambia
Jan 8: Visit MEDHA and Community Garden, maybe Kitty
Jan 9: Spend time with Nate & Krystle Thorne
Jan 10: Church and fellowship meal at Pirang (the Gambia)
Jan 11: Travel to Ziguinchor (Senegal) and spend the night at the Paraquet, use the afternoon to buy supplies/souvenirs, and get money for Guinea-Bissau
Jan 12: Travel to Catel (Guinea-Bissau) stopping at Beryl’s house along the way
Jan 13-15: Arrive Catel, tour the village, spend time with church fellowship, visit the pre-school, enjoy a special church service (stay at the mission house in Catel)
Jan 16: Travel to Bissau (Guinea-Bissau), visit the tourist village (overnight at hotel)
Jan 17: Meet Daniel, experience the house church, hear his vision, see the business
Jan 18: Leave Bissau for Dulles, arrive at 7:00 pm
Mike Baker is the director of partner relations at Rosedale International in Columbus, Ohio. He and his family served with EMM in Guinea-Bissau from 2013 to 2016, and he later served as regional representative. Mike brings deep knowledge of the region, along with a strong understanding of the history and impact of EMM and RI missions there.
Tom Eshleman has served as pastor of Groffdale Mennonite Church in Leola, Pa., since 2005 and is a bishop in LMC. He also serves as the global delegate for LMC, a role focused on strengthening relationships with international Anabaptist partners and fostering global church connections.
Barry Freed is the development director at Eastern Mennonite Missions. He previously served as a long-term missionary in Lithuania and has extensive international travel experience, equipping him with valuable cross-cultural insight for guiding international travel.
Participants need to have a valid passport with an expiration date six months from the last day of the trip. Passports must have 3-4 full pages completely empty for new stamps.
Shots/Vaccines required:
– Hep A & B
– Yellow Fever
– Typhoid
– Anti-Malaria meds are optional
– Toiletries
– Travel towel and pillow for a few nights
– Any meds
– Water bottle
– Kindle or small bible, journal, pen
– Flashlight
– Good walking shoes & sandals
– Hat
– Trousers or long-ish shorts for men and longer-than-calf-length skirts for ladies
– T-shirts light and breathable
– Long pants for church for men
– Personal snacks
– A portable charger — will not always have power
– A light jacket or long sleeve shirt, mornings can be cool