Mali Mission Trip Wrap Up

Brothers and Sisters,

It is humbling to have the honor of greeting our Yalunka friends, new brothers and sisters among them, on behalf of all of you who are faithfully praying for their spiritual and physical prosperity. It must bring pause to them when, no sooner had we left their area, that the rains began to fall - rains we were praying would hold off until we crossed the river, but rain we also prayed would fall on their fields and bring them a full harvest. We left and it rained.

But not until we had traveled through K’ba (where we stayed at the mission house as Alisa reported) and over the treacherous, yet majestic, Bambouk Mountains to spend Thursday night in the house of a One-Story team. The paved road to Bamako began there, and from the rooftop of that house we praised God as thunder roared and lightning flashed over the mountains, and as the rain began pouring down on us. God is always faithful to care for children, sending rain into the area yet allowing us a peaceful and safe journey home..

But during our travel yesterday, we paused to eat lunch in a restaurant where Rita met a man she & another missionary pulled from a wrecked car about 2 years ago. He was badly hurt so they took him to the hospital in this nearby town. Before we had lunch, she shared the creation to Christ story with him and asked if he would like to follow the Jesus Road. He paused for a thoughtful moment and said “Yes”. “Coincidentally”, his brother owned the restaurant in which we were eating (and now knows more about the Jesus Road). So, these two brothers took Rita to meet the local protestant minister who said he can baptize this man on Sunday. SUNDAY, 4PM MALI, 11AM TEXAS TIME. So, we have a new brother in Christ who will testify of his new-found faith through baptism - Praise The Lord!

Our trip on to Bamako this morning provided time for fellowship, reflection, analysis and planning. We agreed that among the highlights of the week was the leadership role Phillip took in presenting the Gospel and the joy he exuded in seeing a man accept Jesus as a result. It was also a blessing to see Pastor Bart on the verge of mobilizing his congregation in K’ba to become more involved evangelism and missions.

Tonight we relaxed and had … pizza! In the middle of West Africa. Somehow, eating pizza with your hands just seems more natural than hand-scooping millet & tiga diga na. (But we found it delicious and praised God for every good gift from HIS hands!) Next step, get Pappa John’s to deliver.

Tomorrow (Saturday) we will finish washing clothes, inventorying our small supply chest here at the mission house, and pack to catch our 10:55PM departure.

We are so grateful for your prayers and concerns for us, for our Yalunka brothers & sisters, and for those souls that have yet to find the Jesus Road. Let us rejoice that God made such a Road and we anticipate the day that we will praise Him with one voice, side-by-side with these that follow Him today in a remote corner of Mali!

Come quickly, Lord Jesus - even now.

Peace & blessings
Keith Arnett