Chantal Pilon

church planting among the Konyagi

A country in need of prayer

Posted in Uncategorized on Oct 19th, 2009 | Discuss This Post

Please be praying for the country of Guinea during this time of uncertainty. I can’t give you much information about the situation but you probably know as much as I do thanks to the news. The situation is serious and it’s impossible to know that will happen. Your prayers for this country and its people are vital.

We are presently getting ready for our trip to Senegal. The uncertainty in the country has forced us to make even more preparations than usual. During our time in Senegal, we plan to meet with Bonéré, the Konyagi pastor. In part, it’s to gather more information to allow us to make future plans in the church planting effort among the Konyagi. During our time there, we will also look for lodging possibilities and we pray that God will clearly show me whether He desires that I move there when the Hofer leave. After that, we will go visit Sherri’s parents (who are also Jody’s parents) and I will stay part of the time at the guest house to do some work and finally have access to the internet.

Thank you for your prayers! Please continue to pray for us – especially for the country of the Guinea and for this visit to Senegal.

  •  Pray for the country of Guinea and its people during this trying time. Pray also for the safety of the missionaries who live in the volatile capital city (a number of them are preparing to leave).
  • Pray for our safety during our trip to Senegal and that we will be able to accomplish our goals for the trip.
  • Praise that I am once again healthy! Please pray that I might remain healthy. Please pray for strength and energy
  • Praise that my God is with me at all times. Pray for my walk with Him and that I will trust Him in all things.
  • Praise that Hofer are healthy. Praise for the progress the Hofer have made in French and Guinean culture. Please pray for their continued progress. Pray that they will be able to attain the required level before their departure from Guinea.
  • Pray for direction as to whether God wants me to go to Senegal while Hofer return to the U.S. Pray that if He wants me there, He will provide some suitable lodging during our visit there.
  • Praise for the great relationships I have with many of the Konyagi! Please pray that God will continue to work in their lives to prepare them to hear the Truth.
  • Pray for me as I learn the culture and language of the Konyagi. Pray that I will be motivated and disciplined and use my time and energy profitably.
  • Pray for the future of the Konyagi work. Pray for the research I’m doing and that it will give us sufficient information to move forward towards making some definite plans – pray specifically for this time with Bonéré.
  • Pray for more coworkers to join the missionary team among the Konyagi.

Thank you for your faithful partnership!

Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 5th, 2009 | Discuss This Post
  • Praise for the wonderful time at home! Please pray for my travels and readjustment to life in Guinea.
  • Praise that I am healthy once again! Please pray that I might remain so in Guinea. 
  • Praise for the great team of partners I have and for the encouragement they have been to me! 
  • Praise that the Hofer family is doing well and will soon have a new little one! Please pray for their progress in learning the Guinean culture and the French language as well as for Sherri’s pregnancy. 
  • Pray for direction as to where and what I should do while Hofers return to the U.S. 
  • Praise for the great relationships I have with many of the Konyagi! Please pray that God will continue to work in their lives to prepare them to hear the Truth. Pray for me as it will be difficult to return without Nemot being there. 
  • Pray for me as I resume culture and language learning. Pray that I will be motivated and disciplined, be able to recall what I’ve already learned and quickly be able to build upon that.
  • Pray for the future of the Konyagi work. There are many decisions and plans to be made.
  • Pray for more coworkers to join the missionary team among the Konyagi. 

off to Guinea

Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 5th, 2009 | Discuss This Post

Nemot

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.

back in Canada

Posted in Uncategorized on May 4th, 2009 | Discuss This Post

Greetings from Quebec!

Spring is in the air and I’m enjoying every moment of being back home! It’s great to be here and spend time with family and friends! What a relief to have a less challenging life for a few months!

Of course, part of my time here involves presenting my ministry in various churches. Below I’ve listed a few of those meetings in case you are in the area and would like to attend. If you require more information, let me know.

May 17 a.m. Église Baptiste de la Haute-Gatineau, Maniwaki, QC (in French)
May 31 a.m. Parkdale Baptist Church, Ottawa, ON
June 28 p.m. Église Baptiste Évangélique de Gatineau, QC (in French)
July 5 a.m. Hartford Baptist Church, Hartford, ON

Thank you for your faithful partnership! I hope that during this time at home, our paths will cross at some point.