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Photos posted from April 2009 Mali Mission Trip!

April 29, 2009

Here is the link to the photos (with explanatory captions) from the April 15-25 mission trip to Mali, West Africa:

http://fbckeller.smugmug.com/gallery/8027539_C2FBZ#522330131_UCPrU 

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Mali APR09 - salvation, assurance, baptism

April 22, 2009

The team is finishing in fine form, with strong teaching and baptisms.  Praise God as He continues His work among the villagers, among the team, and in our own lives.  Pray for the continued safety of our traveling brothers and for along the way with whom they will speak.
TRANSCRIPT:  LD telephone report, 04-22-09 /9:45 PM Mali time

     This morning in Village X we had seven baptized - four men and three women - the first three women baptized that village.  Last night we had a very long discussion with the hunter and all of the key believers there.  After going through the plan salvation in a number of different ways emphasizing grace and Christ’s sacrifice in our place and trusting only in Him for salvation, the hunter assured us that’s what he was doing even if he might not have communicated that clearly with Penny.  He just assured us in emphatic terms that he was truly trusting only in Christ for his salvation and many others in the area echoed that.  So hopefully that’s the case.

     Anyway, we feel a lot better about it after that long discussion.  Pastor Bart also is convinced of their understanding of what the true nature of salvation is.

    We had a good drive over to Kedougou, a good visit with Audrey [a fellow believer] tonight, and ready to head out early in the morning toward our safari near Kola Koba National Park.  We’ll be spending the night over there tomorrow night.  We’ll try to call just to let you know we’re safe and not much of a report other than wildlife sightings perhaps.  Anyway, we will see you soon and thank you for all your prayers. Bye bye.

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Mali APR09 - back to familiar turf, and teaching

April 22, 2009

Lawrence called about 8:30PM Mali time after a long day of rough travel.  Seven to eight hours of driving at <10MPH were interrupted with a few stops in the villages between Village L in the new area and Village X, home of Phillip and the hunter.  Two of the villages were very large and more industrial, with virtually everyone in the village using large metal mortars & pestles to crush stones to be washed for gold.  A member of Pastor Bart’s church lives in one of these villages and was delighted with the short time of fellowship that they enjoyed.

The road is fraught with steep hills, deep ruts, and many low-water crossings.  Even now, begin praying that the MAY09 team cross on dry ground and will have the determination and discipline to come-and-go as the Spirit leads.

TONIGHT, right now in fact (4 to 6 PM US Central), the team will be teaching from the DOCTRINAL LESSONS that are in the heart language of our regular Yalunka villages - Jalunga is the actual name of this language.  By teaching from this series of lessons, the team is training the believers in Village X to meet together and study as sound doctrine is revealed with the prayer that the Church will be established in this village, also.  PLEASE PRAY TO THAT END.

As God wills, they begin the trip home tomorrow through K’ba, home of Pastor Bart and the African evangelist.  From there the road should be smooth and straight (mostly).  THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING IN YOUR PART IN SUPPORTING THE TEAM IN PRAYER AND HELPING FULFILL OUR COVENANT TO ESTABLISH THE CHURCH AMONG THESE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD.

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Mali APR09 - the message is received & a chief believes!

April 21, 2009

Faithful partners in prayer - This report is a little longer than usual, but you will find the blessing well worth the time!!
     Below are today’s reports from the team.  Lawrence was getting some kind of “time out” warning near the end of the message, so he cut it slightly short.  However, in a brief subsequent call, there were few new details.
     It was interesting to learn that this village’s dialect is nearer the SOUTHERN DIALECT for which we have the entire Bible translated.  This is in contrast to our original area where they speak the NORTHERN DIALECT where we were recently blessed with Genesis, Mark, and Acts - plus doctrinal teaching materials - through the arduous work of New Tribes Ministries.
      Included in the team’s activities was encouragement shared with these new-found brothers from 1 Thes 2:17-3:13 and testimony to new-found faith in Christ from our own Phillip.
      Lawrence concluded by saying that we must find a way to get back into this area in May and continuing.  Earlier he commented that the nature of the road and waterways was such that just a light rain could result in several days of isolation.  So, begin praying now that we will not be remain hostage to fear of the elements, but that God will guide us in methods by which we can respond to the needs to which the Holy Spirit is directing us.
      As the team was teaching earlier from picture books and tapes with biblical stories, one of the believers that has been in this isolated village for 10 years ran to get his Bible in the national trade language, Bambara.  As the tapes went from story to story, he would follow along in his Bible and provide explanation and further clarification in the local language.  Almost certainly, he and the other remaining believer have been studying God’s Word together over these years.
3:00 PM Mali time

     Hello.  This is Lawrence Duhon calling from Village L Mali.  This is a new village and the first trip we’ve been here on.  We found the two believers we were looking for:  two men who received Christ in 1996 and were discipled for about 3 years.  No believer or Christian has been to visit them in over 10 years.  So it was a great joy to find them and see their response and have a chance to encourage them in their faith.

      They’re able to read the Bible in the Bambara language so they are able to  stand firm in the Lord and they still are.  There were 37 people back in the early days who were seeking to  learn about Christ and all, at least for now, have fallen away because no one had been with them to help teach them.  The village asked us to come back and teach, even the chief of this village is interested in the Gospel, which is very, very difficult to get to.

     We found there were a lot more so-called modern conveniences here from a peanut grinder to plastic dishes and that kind of thing to more motorcycles, even  some houses built out of brick and concrete for those who have sold some gold and gotten some cash.

     We were able to show the Jesus Film last night and it looked like about 50 people or so at the peek time and at the end there was about 20, and we preached the Gospel after that. although no one made a public commitment to Christ there was one man, kind of a spokesman for the village, saying we want to follow Jesus if you’ll just come back and teach us.

—————————————————–
     As the team was teaching earlier from picture books and tapes with biblical stories, one of the believers that has been in this isolated village for 10 years ran to get his Bible in the national trade language, Bambara.  As the tapes went from story to story, he would follow along in his Bible and provide explanation and futher clarification in the local language.  Almost certainly, he and the other remaining believer have been studying God’s Word together over these years.
     Just listen to what God is doing in Bryan Blain’s report from this evening!
11:30 PM Mali time

     This is Bryan Blain calling from Village L out in the remotest part of Africa that our team has been to yet.  We just finished a teaching time for the last two and a half hours with the village chief who we met earlier today who wanted to hear about Jesus.  Tonight after the teaching he wanted to give his life to Christ and follow him and realized that he was a sinner that needed a saviour and that only salvation is through Christ and Christ alone.  It is an incredible time, and what a privilege it is to serve our wonderful God.  The chief is just excited about Jesus.  He wants us to come here and wants a church here.  He just wants to learn all he can about Jesus.

      We’ve also met a couple of believers here that have stayed strong over the last 10 years just pretty much isolated and so we spent some time discipling them.  We’ve been able to give them some materials that were provided to us.  We went through that with them today.  God is definitely working here and it’s a privilege for our church to be involved.

      The path back through Village F is the roughest experienced to date.  Then, the familiar road will begin to smooth out.

  • Pray for the team as they conclude their teaching in Village L, that they will finish well.
  • Pray that the church will begin emerging in Village L as a result of the years of faithfulness of just 2 believers, and the prayers of the African evangelist and Pastor Bart.
  • Pray for the team’s journey:  for their safety and for those divine appointments still established along their path.
  • Begin praying for the MAY09 team, departing May 20, that God will provide clear direction as they serve on two fronts - in the familiar area (Villages F, X, Y, and K) and in this new area.
AND PRAISE GOD FOR HIS FAITHFUL CALLING - FOR THE DISPLAY OF HIS PLAN THROUGH THE CREATION, AND FOR CALLING ALL MEN TO HIMSELF THROUGH THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.

 

 

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Mali APR09 - report from the new village area

April 19, 2009

Here are the reports from the team today.  The road into the new area has been very slow going with washboard flats interrupted by long sections of small boulders.  Though they are tired, spirits are high.

As they came into the main village they were looking for, Village L, one lady recognized the African evangelist and was very excited to see him.  While she is not yet a believer, her son is among those who were saved in 1996.  It appeared he is still in the area, though was away working today.

God bless you for being faithful in your part of carrying the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

TRANSCRIPT:  LD telephone report, 04-19-09 AM

8:00 AM Mali time

Hello.  This is Lawrence Duhon reporting from Mali.  This is a Melinke village, not a Yalunka village, but we were able to show the Jesus Film here last night kind of on an impromptu basis as we were finishing supper.  We started the film at about 10 o’clock at night and finished about up midnight [unintelligible] with about 25 or 30 people gathered around watching it.

Pastor Bart presented the Gospel afterward and we had two come forward.  One of those actually received Christ, a young man from this village; and the other one was very interested in learning more [unintelligible] able to be taught more about the Gospel.   There were probably many more from behind the scenes that followed along with the prayer that didn’t come forward.  This is an unplanned time of ministry that we’re very excited about.  This is a village that, as you go toward the new area, you have to pass through on every trip.  So, it’s a good place of ministry among the Melinke people.

We’re looking forward to, in just a few minutes, leaving to go to the new Yalunka villages about 2 or 3 hours away and find out what God has in store for us there.  Thank you once again for your prayers and have a great Lord’s Day.

TRANSCRIPT:  LD telephone report, 04-19-09 PM

4:00 PM Mali time

Hello.  This is Lawrence calling from Mali and the village we were trying to reach today.  We made it safely after [unintelligible] over roads [unintelligible] rugged footpaths.  Some parts [unintelligible] we reached [unintelligible] anybody here except for one man.  They’re all out working in the mines so we’re sending word with a guy on a motorcycle to where the people are at the mine about 6 miles away for them to [unintelligible] will be here for two nights so we should have time meet with those guys.

We’re grateful for getting here safely.  It was quite a trip to say the least [unintelligible] four hours [unintelligible] a little under 40 miles.  You can do the math and see that it’s tough.

Everyone is still well.  It’s a very beautiful place.  And we’re looking for God to do some good things here [unintelligible]

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Mali APR09 - In village area, first baptism tomorrow!

April 17, 2009

The team arrived in K’ba at 10:30AM Mali time, a quick morning trip from Kedougou & the NTM mission house.  They departed at 1:30PM Mali time.  Lawrence, Tony, and Bryan are doing well and the vehicle is in good condition (near new 4-dr Toyota 4X4 pickup).
One reason for the delay in their departure from K’ba is that Pastor Bart was looking for another Christian brother who wanted to go with them:  THE VERY AFRICAN EVANGELIST WHO FIRST SHARED THE GOSPEL IN THE NEW AREA INTO WHICH THE TEAM IS TRAVELING.  You may recall that this evangelist lived with these early converts from 1996 to 1999 when persecution and other pressures caused him to leave.  Imagine the joy he must have in returning with a team of believers to renew these relationships and test how the Holy Spirit has been at work!
At 8:30PM Mali time, Lawrence reported it is a lovely evening in Village F, the large village.  This variation from their original plan (actually ahead of schedule) allows them to visit one of the new villages earlier than expected.  On their way to Village F, they were able to pick up Phillip in Village X, an answer to your prayers.
And Phillip’s father, Chief B of Village F, gave his permission & blessing for Phillip to spend these days with the team.
Tomorrow as they work their way back out of our usual area, the team will stop in Village X, again, at least long enough to baptize the hunter’s son, the one who was reading the Book of Acts left last month to his family.  Praise the Lord!
  • Pray for Village X as the team shares more about the nature and purpose of Christ’s sacrifice as they remain committed to walking on the Jesus Road.
  • Pray for the hunter’s son as he begins the Jesus Road, and pray that the testimony of his baptism will draw others to Christ.
  • Pray for the large village, Village F (Falea), that they will hear the Gospel with fresh ears and insights and that many will respond.
  • Pray that the team’s path into the new area will be straight and smooth.  This prayer is being answered even with the inclusion of the African evangelist who is very familiar with the geography.
  • Finally, pray for those in the new area: that the believers will be encouraged & renewed and that the team will find hearts prepared by the Holy Spirit in the same way He continues to visit among the first villages.
Thank you for your continued support.  Every prayer, every word of encouragement, every financial gift integrate you into this effort to establish the Church among the Yalunka.  We are one body with many parts - thank you for being your part in Christ’s Church!

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