Mali Team Report 5/27-28/09
May 28, 2009
This report covers Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28. The team (now all together) left Village “X” on Wednesday morning to begin their long journey back to Texas. Their first stop was at the home of the boatman (”Noah”) along the Faleme River who had professed his faith in Christ in November of 2007. He still maintains his faith, although in isolation. The team got to share the gospel with his grown sons (one of whom is studying to be a Muslim cleric), and they are still not ready to receive Christ. After that, the teams headed back to Kenieba, where they dropped off their translators. After some time there, they drove back across the border into the town of Kedougou, Senegal to lodge for the night at an air-conditioned hotel. On Thursday they met in the morning with an IMB missionary there and then headed back across Senegal toward Dakar. Their stopping point after a long day’s drive is Mbour, right on the Atlantic coast. They are about a day ahead of their planned schedule because their translators had to catch an early bus on Thursday back to Bamako (which only runs twice a week). Everyone is doing well physically and emotionally, rejoicing in what God did during their five days in the Yalunka villages! They will be doing some sightseeing around Senegal until their flight leaves late Saturday night.
Mali Team report 5-26-09 PM
May 27, 2009
This report covers Tuesday (5/26/09) in Mali. Keith and Kevin started the day in Village “L,” and they left right after breakfast on the long, very rough drive back to rejoin the other team in Village “X.” They made it without incident by the early evening. Meanwhile, Tim’s team started off the day in Village “Y,” where they also left in the morning to drive over to Village “X.” They made it by about 1:00 p.m. (Mali time), and they spent the afternoon resting. Later that evening, when they were all together, they celebrated the Lord’s Supper for the first time ever with the Yalunka believers. Before the service, they were able to share the gospel again– and FOUR villagers prayed to receive Christ! Wednesday will be their final day in the villages, and then they will begin the long trip back, reaching Texas on Sunday. Please pray that their last day with the people until early 2010 will be productive and encouraging to all. Kevin Dicken (who is a college student from FBCK on his first trip to Mali) gave the audio report this evening.
Mali Team Reports 5-24-09 PM and 5-25-09
May 26, 2009
A lot of exciting things have happened with our teams in Mali since the last report. Today we have three audio reports– one from Keith on Sunday night, and one each from Tim and Keith on Monday. Here are some of the highlights:
KEITH: He and his team have had several opportunities to share the gospel with unbelievers and to disciple believers in Village “L.” Today (Monday) the chief (who professed his faith in Christ with the April team about a month ago) returned to the village. After hearing some more teaching about baptism, he was very eager to be baptized IMMEDIATELY! They had to postpone the baptism until a rain storm passed over, but he did get baptized. He has a strong testimony of his faith in Christ, which he was planning to share with many others from his village on Monday night.
TIM: The time in Village “X” went very well, and on Monday morning they had a time of further teaching in Village “K.” There they got word that the chief of Village “Y” (who was NOT a believer) and his grown daughter both died on Sunday, so they adjusted their plans to get to that village faster. Upon their arrival, they paid a visit to his family to express their condolences and to offer a gift of rice and tea to the family. That gift was much appreciated. They also had further teaching there and went to a market about four miles away across the border in Guinea to buy some needed supplies. The heat was very oppressive, but God provided a cooling rain for the return hike!
The teams have only Tuesday through Wednesday afternoon remaining in the villages, so their time is running out quickly. Please pray that every moment will be used to extend God’s kingdom among the Yalunka people of Mali, that biblically-qualified local church leaders will be ordained, and that many others who have heard the gospel but not yet responded will repent and believe in Christ. It sounds like the rainy season is already beginning there, so these teams came at just the right time!
Mali team report Sunday 5-24-09 midday
May 24, 2009
I heard from both Mali teams this morning (Texas time), and God continues to move in answer to prayer! You can listen once again to firsthand reports from the field via audio recordings (attached), including a word of greeting from Pastor “Bart.”
In Village “F” on Sunday morning the team had a very good time of sharing with a few Yalunka villagers. Two of them committed their lives to Christ, and a very short while later followed Him in believer’s baptism. The team moved on from Falea to Villages “X” and “K” for more sharing and discipleship later Sunday. Please pray for more people to hear and follow Jesus this afternoon (Texas time).
In Village “L” Keith and Kevin have had some good times of sharing scripture with many in that village. Those who have heard express an eagerness to hear more. Please pray for God to draw others to Himself in that village and to raise up local leaders who will be able to continue the growth of God’s kingdom there during the many months until one of our teams can return.
All of the team members are in good health, and they are rejoicing to see God at work changing people’s lives and bringing His light to places where there was only darkness such a short time ago.
Due to some holiday travel, you may not receive another report until Monday evening (Texas time). Please keep the teams in your prayers as often as you think about them!
Mali team report 5-23-09 PM
May 23, 2009
Good reports were received from both of our Mali teams. Keith Arnett and Kevin Dicken reached Village “L” safely after another very rough and long day of travel. They got to share the basics of the gospel message with the father of one of the Malian believers who is with them on this trip, and he was open to hearing more about the Lord on their return trip through his farmland. They were greeted warmly by the believers in Village “L” (”John” and “James”), and they began some discipleship with them and a few others in the village. It was raining when they reached that village, and there were puddles of water along the road during the last part of their drive. Please pray for them to have a great time of worship and sharing on Sunday. [Keith did not get to make a recorded report today.]
Tim’s team went a different direction– first to Village “X,” where the many believers there showed signs of progress in their Christian life. They have several more new believers who are awaiting baptism later in the week, and they are wanting to observe the Lord’s Supper as a new church for the first time. They also want to clarify who are the true believers in their village by making a specific church membership roll. Our team will help them with all of those things during the coming week.
After a brief time in Village “X,” the team moved on to Village “F.” There they had some more teaching time with several people there, and it was encouraging that the chief (who is a strong Muslim) joined in this time and even asked for specific prayer. The women (Mary, Alisa, and their translator) also got to spend some quality time with many of the women in that village.
Please take the time to listen to the two firsthand audio reports that are attached to this message. Pray also for God to continue working among the Yalunka people of Mali, drawing more to Himself and strengthening the faith of others.
Mali Team Report 5-22-09 PM
May 22, 2009
Keith Arnett reported that the team reached Mali without any problems this afternoon. They left Kedougou, Senegal this morning (not too early after their VERY long day yesterday) and drover over very good roads into Kenieba, Mali. There they met the three translators who will be joining them for the rest of the trip. By the time they got their supplies it was too late in the afternoon to head out to the villages. They elected to spend the night in Kenieba and leave early on Saturday morning for the villages. Everything takes longer than expected in Africa, but there were no problems to cause this delay. Their drivers and translators are all really good on this trip, so that is a definitie praise! Each team member is still in great spirits and in good health. It is very hot there, but thankfully the air conditioners work well in both vehicles. They had one river crossing today that was completely dry.
Please pray for safe travel to the villages on Saturday morning. Keith Arnett will go one direction with Kevin Dicken, Pastor Bart, and another African brother to Village “L”– about eight hours +. Tim Dicken will go with Alisa Arnett, Mary Lord, and two translators (a man and a woman) to Village “X”– about three and a half hours. Their next report will come on Saturday after they reach the villages.
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