Update #2 from Mali (1/8/10)

The Mali team arrived safely on Friday evening in Village “F.”  God has already answered many prayers as the team requested them!  First, their way into the villages was smoother than ever along the roads (except for the last section beyond the second river crossing).  We prayed that they would be able to cross safely at both river crossings along the way, and they did so without incident– our first answer to prayer.  The river was moderately high at the crossing point between Senegal and Mali (where they are building a new bridge, so this won’t be a problem on future trips!) and very high– up to the middle of the SUV door, well above the wheel well– at the second crossing.  Keith mentioned that Sane, their driver, is “the best driver in the world!”  Thank God for providing him for this trip!  Also, their new translator, Silas from Kenieba, is a believer who speaks excellent English as well as the nearest tribal language to the Yalunka dialect.  Our Yalunka team has also been praying that we would find someone like him!  All of the team members are still doing well.
 
The best news of the day is that they were able to find “Simon” there.  Simon was one of the first two believers baptized in Village “F” last May.  He told Keith about “many” others (up to 30 people) who heard his testimony of how God answered prayer and healed him and who now want to be taught how to follow Jesus!  This is the first large-scale response in that village after three full years of sharing there and interceding for the people.  On Saturday morning in Mali (about 2:00 a.m. Texas time) Keith and the team will be sharing with that group of seekers who have been waiting to hear the gospel.  Picture something like Cornelius and his household waiting for Simon Peter to come and share with them in Acts 10.  That is the way that it may be in the morning in Mali!  Pray that God would protect these seekers from Satan’s distractions, which he is sure to throw at them, so that nothing will hinder them from repenting and believing in Jesus Christ for their salvation.
 
Keith also shared some bad news.  Philip (the evangelist and main storyteller in Village “Z”) lost his whole season’s crops because some children were playing with fire.  The fire got out of control and burned all of his field.  Also, his younger brother (also Chief “B”’s son) had been very ill.  He recovered, but two of his five children died as a result of illness.
 
Please keep praying constantly for this team.  They are now in the heat of spiritual battle, and our prayers are their “air cover” that soften enemy strongholds and help open hearts to God’s Spirit’s work in their lives.  Though you are thousands of miles away, your work of intercession is critical to the fruitfulness of their mission!  Please pray:

• That many people will come and hear the gospel in Village “F” on Saturday morning.
• That most or all of those seekers will understand the message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, and commit their lives to follow the “Jesus road.”
• That the team will have wisdom about how much time they need to spend in Village “F” and how, if any, their original itinerary needs to be adjusted in order to join God where He is now at work.
• That the team and their translators will get good rest tonight, remain safe and healthy, and speak exactly what the Holy Spirit leads them to say to meet the spiritual needs of their hearers.

Thanks again for your faithful prayers for this team!  Click on this link to hear the exciting audio report from Keith Arnett: 01-08-2010 Mali audio report