Missionaries Currently Serving in Guinea

Above is the most recent photo of our team, taken in February, 2007. Our force is small but we’re ready to grow, and we are thankful for the work God is doing through our team. We are: (back row, left to right): Andrea Herman, Heidi Norton, Beth Heiney, Donna Meyer, Andrea Heiney (front row, left to right): Tim Norton holding daughter Leslie, Tim Heiney holding Philip Norton.

Tim and Heidi Norton:

Tim and Heidi began their missionary career in Cote d'Ivoire. Tim was called to do church planting in the capital city of Abidjan.  After doing some survey work in that area, Tim strongly felt that God was calling him to work with Jula people (or what we call “Maninka” or “Malinke” in Guinea). Cote d’Ivoire was not headed in that direction, but Guinea already had one missionary working with Maninka people and we were looking for a second. Tim and Heidi came over to visit Guinea just as war was erupting in the Forest Region. They felt, even through all that, that God wanted them here among the Maninka people and moved to Guinea in 2001, living first in Kankan and later relocating to Siguiri. He began learning the language. Tim is now fluent in Maninka as well as the “N’Ko” script used to read and write the Maninka language. He works with local men to reach out to villages. They are currently working and teaching in more than 10 villages, and on Christmas Day, 2006 they baptized 7 new believers. This is significant as missions have been working with Maninka people for over 50 years and have seen little fruit. Some time ago a request was made for someone to come and work with Maninka women. Andrea Herman heard and received that call, arriving in February 2007. The Nortons have 2 children, Philip and Leslie.

Andrea Herman: Andrea was not new to Guinea when she arrived on February 6, 2007. She served for a year and a half in Gueckedou as a volunteer coordinator. During that time Andrea witnessed the work being done in that area with Maninka people and felt a burden to someday work with them herself. She returned to the USA in 2000 and continued doing ministry through an LYE team. God continued His call and she soon began training in outreach at the Oswald Hoffman School of Christian Outreach in Minnesota. She did indeed receive the call to work in Guinea. She was scheduled to arrive on January 23 but there was trouble in the country at that time and we held off until February. She will begin language learning immediately in a nearby village. Ultimately she will be living in Siguiri and working closely with the Nortons.

Donna Meyer: Donna began her Guinea career 3 years ago when she came as a volunteer to teach school to the Oetting children. (The Oettings are former missionaries to the Maninka). She helped them out for two years. When the Oettings left in 2006 Donna had two choices: stay in the Siguiri area and work with new missionary Andrea Herman and Maninka women, or relocate to Conakry and help the Heineys with the schooling of their youngest. After much prayer and discussion Donna decided to relocate to Conakry. She arrived in Conakry in June 2006 in the midst of a national strike and settled into a house just a block from the Heineys. She and Andrea Heiney meet each morning at Donna’s house for their lessons. Early on in the year Donna made it known that she would also like to reach out in ministry here in Conakry. She is currently helping out with the refugee ministry teaching from our “Christian Faith” book. She holds Bible Study for women and is also teaching the “Christian Faith” through translators, to our French speaking Muslim class. Donna will be in Guinea until May 2007.