MALI JAN09 - 33 saved, 10 saved, baby burned, flat tire

 After receiving this great report, Bro. Lawrence called to say they’ve had a second flat tire.  We may have a local resource in our friends at the uranium mine, but our contact may not be “in country” yet.  Please pray that God will provide inasmuch as there was only one spare on this nice vehicle, and it had to be used earlier.

God bless you and guide you.

TRANSCRIPTION (from message at 5:20AM CST)  click here for mp3 - mali-report-01-18-09

This is Tim.  I have a great report.  We went to Village K early this morning as we promised them last night and met with the Chief.  Then, they gathered the people around for us to teach. Pastor Lawrence shared with them The Gospel and after a call, they asked how many would like to give their hearts to Christ.  Thanks to the seeds of the Word that were planted last June, 33 souls came to Christ this morning.  They asked to baptized when we come back in March when it’s a little warmer here.  That’s quite a blessing to be a part of this.  I hope that our whole church celebrates with us back home that these souls have come to Christ today.  Next we go to Village Y and we may have another report today after we visit there.

Lawrence called earlier, also, (12:55PM CST) to advise they reached Village Y without a problem.  There are several solutions to the tire problem.  (1) We have not heard from the mining people in the large village, Village F.  They still might have the answer to the problem.  (2) Our brothers in Village Y immediately suggested that one of them could ride a bicycle 60 miles to K-ba, the town 4 hrs away by car.  There will be inner tubes there that could be used.  (3) Pastor Bart from K-ba, who always accompanies our teams, said he knows someone in K-ba who is driving out to the villages on Tuesday.  If he can reach someone by cell phone, that person can bring inner tubes with them.

These are the constructs of our own devices.  Who knows how God is at work to accomplish His purposes while caring for His faithful children?  But they are confident in His care.

Praise God for

- adding 33 souls to the Kingdom.

- for the love and devotion of Christian brothers in Village Y.

- for opportunities to share the Gospel that have yet to unfold.

- bountiful provision to share with those in need - those who lost their crops.

Pray for

- hearts that will be moved by the Gospel shared through The Jesus Film tonight.

- continued health & safety of the team.

- good seed, good rain, good harvest - from the earth and for the Kingdom.

- the solution to the tire/transportation issue to be revealed soon.

TRANSCRIPTION  click here for mp3 - mali-report-01-18-09b

Hello, this is Lawrence.  I’m calling from Village Y, Mali.  It’s almost 7:00 o’clock Sunday night. [call rec'd at 12:55PM]

After a wonderful morning in Village K where 33 people came to Christ, as you heard earlier, we left to visit our next village.  It is about 12 miles away, but the roads are so bad it took over 2 hours to get there.  On the way there we had two flat tires and only one spare tire so we had to leave the car on the road and walk about 2 miles into the village with the most important stuff that we could take in our backpacks.  We reached the village safely with no problems and were greeted very warmly by our Christian brothers here in Village Y.

Later we decided to go back to the car and get a player to play The Jesus Film on the small DVD player.  We rode bikes back there.  Also, since there having a famine in this village with very poor crops we brought in some rice about 150#, 1 bag 110# & 1 bag 44#.  Some of the African brothers took that rice on their bicycles over very, very rough roads …[unintelligible] we made it back safely.  They’re looking forward to us showing The Jesus Film tonight.

Just be praying because there are many spiritual attacks after a wonderful Sunday morning here.  Thank you for your prayers.

_____________

Lawrence called at 3:25PM CST to advise the tire problem is ’solved’.  A brother in the village said he will take the wheel & tire into K-ba, 45 miles away, to be repaired.  He will return by Tuesday morning with the repaired tire and additional inner tubes.  This means the team will remain on their planned schedule, as God wills of course.

Lawrence also said that 10 people in Village Y came up to the team to share that they wanted to walk on the Jesus Road.  They had already accepted Christ and want to be baptized as soon as possible.  They believe because of the testimony of their fellow villagers, our brothers & sisters in Christ, the Church in Village Y.  PRAISE THE LORD!!!

As we were speaking, a toddler fell into a fire and was very badly burned.  Our dear brother Bobby Morgan was administering first aid, but the baby needs to be taken to the clinic in the large village, Village F, as soon as it is light tomorrow.  With the vehicle out of commission, this probably means taking the baby by bicycle or motorcycle.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS BABY, THAT IT WILL BE RESTORED TO HEALTH IN A WAY THAT BRINGS HONOR AND GLORY TO OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.