Mali Update - June 5, 2008

We arrived safely in Mali after weather delays in Dallas had little (no?) impact on our arrival time & connection in Paris. It is clear that God has prepared each member of the team, including Rita our missionary contact, for what He is doing in the villages. In only two and a half hours (6:30AM Mali time) we will be departing!

 We have been careful to pack all mission-critical materials in our carry-on luggage since we lost checked luggage on our 2nd trip last year. Well, we didn’t anticipate “gate checking” of our carry ons. This is when overhead bins of the airplane are full so they take the bags from you immediately before you enter the airplane. This happened as we boarded in Dallas and, sure enough, Continental lost a bag.

 Despite our checking on its status when connecting in Houston - and being assured it was with us - my biggest carry on didn’t make it. But because God is God, my smaller carry on had in it ONLY my Bible, our teaching materials, the satellite phone, the GPS, and the money. Everything else is really window dressing - the Yalunka will hear!

 Praise:

• safety (even comfort) in travel
• good health for every team member
• God’s specific preparation of each team member
• that we have every provision necessary to share the Gospel

 Pray:

• for Noah by the river, that we may discern his relationship to Christ and that the Holy Spirit would use us in his wooing and encouragement
• for the old men, for the women, and for the youth of the villages. The Gospel is for all!
• that God will guide us logistically, using the team as efficiently as possible in discipleship and evangelism (perhaps dividing into 2 teams some days)
• for others along the path: miners, government workers, merchants - all those we casually interact with.

 Thank you for sustaining us with your prayers as God sustains us through the power of the Holy Spirit.