Hello and Welcome to all who find themselves here... this is a little bit about us and our trip~

     So... If you don't know Cass or myself, then hello to you! Or if you know me and not Cass, then Cass says hello. Or maybe you know Cass and not me, me being Martin; in that case, Hello to you.

     Cass and I met in the fall of 2007 right after we both returned from West Africa. We dated for exactly one year, in which time we both knew that the next step in our individual relationships with God was going to be together. So, we tied the knot on October 18, 2008.

     Missions is something that IS ALWAYS heavy on our hearts and something that we can't ignore! (believe me, we tried a time or two...) Cass and I both want to serve God, whatever and wherever that means. Since before we got married, we knew that we wanted to do missions together and this trip is the start of that.

     

     During this trip we will visit two countries in Western Africa. The first will be Dakar, Senegal. This is the place that Cass spent her summer in 2007. After a brief stay with the native family she lived with, we will travel to Bamako, Mali (where I was for the Spring and Summer of 2007). We will stay in Mali for the remainder of our trip as volunteers with the International Mission Board. In West Africa, the IMB sends missionaries to villages with the purpose of gathering information about the people. This information is then presented to churches in the U.S. with the opportunity for them to "adopt" the village and present the gospel to the people several times a year. While in Mali, we will begin laying the ground work for these engaging churches to come; by gathering information about the people, such as: population, religion, language, etc.  We will also travel to villages that I visited on my previous trip, discipling the believers there.   
     Something that we will do in every village we encounter will be teaching stories that have been crafted from the Bible, such as the Creation to Christ story. Story telling in West Africa is how information and history is passed down from generation to generation. Quite often these stories will be retold several times, planting seeds far after we have left. This process begins the work for engaging churches, who will adopt these villages, by laying a foundation of the Bible before the churches ever visit the people.

We will leave for West Africa on April 22, 2010 and return July 29, 2010.

The total cost for our trip will be near $10,000. We have just started raising this money and if you would like to help us with this task please send donations to:

1349 West Jackson St. Baptist Church

Tupelo, MS 38801

For/Memo: Martin and Cass Hickman

....it's even tax deductible! ... and that "For/Memo" is the key for your contribution getting to us and not to, you know, the general church budget. SO DON'T FORGET IT!

So, if you feel led to give then give. If you don't then don't. If you feel led to send us a twinkie, then send a twinkie. You do what you have a peace about. But either way, please have us in your prayers and please keep visiting this blog to keep up with our stories and experiences!


*For those who are interested.... Here is the break down:

Housing	1000
Food	2000
Utilities	200
Extra Cost	100
Transport	1000
Translater	500
Visa	262
Plane Tickets:
Memphis~Dakar	2690.15
Dakar~Bamako	1029.92
Passport	75
Mailer	300
Meds	25
Supplies	500
Airport Fees	200

Insurance                                    670
Total   $10,552.07