Mali APR09 - In village area, first baptism tomorrow!

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.