Mali APR09 - report from the new village area

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]