MALI MISSION MARCH09: Two steps forward, one step back

After buying ‘provisions’ (rice, tea, sugar) and spending extra time to tend to the vehicle in K’ba, the now-complete team headed toward the villages. To refresh your memory, the team consists of Keith Arnett, Malian Pastor Barry, a missionary from Senegal who specializes in Yalunkan literacy materials, two IMB ‘Journeygirls’, two translators, and the driver.

Along the way from K’ba toward ‘our’ villages, are a few villages with government ‘checkpoints’.  In the past, our teams have stopped at these checkpoints and proceeded without any questioning.  At one of these village checkpoints today, however, the team was refused further passage and required to go back the 1 1/2 hour drive to K’ba to obtain paperwork from the regional Commandant.  Thankfully, the Commandant held his office open late to give them this paperwork.

This disappointing delay meant they spent the night in K’ba (some in the home of a mission worker in that city and some in vehicles), but will mean that they will miss only a half day of teaching in Village F.  [Remember to PRAY for open hearts as the Jesus Film is being shown in the evening…2 pm Sunday, Texas time.]

Also, as an unexpected bonus, this means the team will have more interaction and a possible witnessing opportunity with the checkpoint village tomorrow. [PRAY for an opportunity for seeds to be planted.]

Added to this, because they will have more hours of daylight travel, the team will possibly have time to stop by Noah’s home, the man with the boat by the river who was the very first person to choose to walk on the Jesus Road. Pastor Barry has seen Noah recently and feels another visit would be beneficial. [PRAY that he will further understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.]

PRAISE GOD that He has gone before this team and is even now ordering their footsteps and their timing!

MALI MISSION MARCH09: Journeying onward toward villages

CLICK HERE to play message from satellite phone

TRANSCRIPT:  “This is Keith calling from K’ba about 2 PM Mali time.  *[K’ba is where they will pick up Pastor Barry and meet the IMB JourneyGirls and a translator.]

“We arrived through a different route, traveling southeast across Senegal on what were remarkably great roads. As we approached K’ba, the roads became rough, similar to what we will experience in the in the mountains of Mali as we approach the villages, and the driver became agitated. He was concerned that he might not be able to drive on such rough roads. So PRAY for the driver, that he will be calm and confident and that he will see this challenge as one of the ways that God grows him. He is Catholic, and we think that he’s a believer, but have yet to confirm that.

“This evening, about 7 PM Mali time (2 PM Texas time), we will be arriving in the compound of Phillip the Evangelist [Village X, where there are about 20 believers].  There we will spend the night before driving on into Village F [the largest of the villages], where we will greet and begin to teach.

“Tomorrow evening [still at Village F] we will show with the Jesus Film and give those people an opportunity to respond to the call of Christ. [PRAY that many will be given faith to believe and begin walking on the Jesus Road.] Thank you for your prayers that sustain us. God bless you all.”

*[editorial comments]

MALI MISSION MARCH09: Safe arrival and travel across Senegal

Keith arrived safely in Dakar, Senegal, late Wed. evening in Texas / early Thurs. morning in Africa, along with all bags and trunks of food and equipment.  He and his driver immediately headed east across Senegal, resting tonight near the place where they will rendezvous with missionary Penny Warner tomorrow.

Please PRAISE GOD

• for His great love of mankind,
• for His plan to redeem people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
• for His goodness in granting safe travel.

Please PRAY, ASKING GOD

• to strengthen Keith during these grueling travel days with little rest,
• that the vehicle they have rented will be reliable throughout the trip (Four stops have already been made to check on and repair the vehicle.),
• for an uneventful travel day Friday, all the way into Village X Friday night.

Fantastic Finish

Day 5 of the MT2NM 09 was a great conclusion to a great week of serving the Lord.  We were blessed this week beyond our imagination and we are left with a feeling of gratitude that God would choose to use normal people like us to impact his kingdom. 

The morning began with a little fun and fellowship with a great game of Ultimate Frisbee.  Many new friendships were forged as we took time to get to know one another in a more competitive atmosphere.  This seemed to really help our team connect with one another and developed a great sense of teamwork as we were about to begin our day.

The church had been used heavily from the block parties throughout the week so we spent the morning cleaning the facility.  Teams were assigned to clean the auditorium, bathrooms, kitchen, parking lots, block party trailer, and the storage shed.  We worked diligently, many of us outside of our comfort zones, especially the bathroom crew.  We left the church looking great thanks to our hard working students.

Before lunch we visited the Isleta Native American reservation to learn about the atmosphere in their communities.  Many of our students had a different outlook on their own lives and possessions after that saw first hand how these indivduals lived.  We prayed for the Native Americans as we drove through as they are in the darkness of ritualistic worship.  We pray that God would do a mighty work in those reservations to free them from the bondage of spiritism and pagan worship and bring them into his marvelous light!

During lunch a group of our freshmen girls had the opportunity to share the Gospel with a university student.  It was obvious that the student was wanting to talk about his own belief system and our freshmen girls did a great job of sharing their faith.  They were able to recall many of the Scriptures that they had memorized and quoted them during their witnessing encounter.  We pray that the seed that was planted in that university student’s heart would grow as God continues to work in his life through the testimony of those brave girls.

After lunch we took a ride on the Sandia Peak tramway.  This tramway is the nation’s longest aerial tramway that took us up to the peak which was at an elevation of 10,396 ft. There was quite of bit of snow up there so we had a great time of snowball fights and sled rides at the Sandia Peak. 

Our students led the praise and worship service at Carlisle Community Baptist Church tonight and they did a great job.  Our students shared testimonies of how they had grown this week while serving the Lord and everyone was encouraged by all of the great things that God chose to do through our group this week.

The night was capped off with a great time of food and fellowship with the students and members of Carlisle CBC.  Our students had a great time of dancing and hanging out and it was a great way to celebrate what God had accomplished this week.

We are sad that the trip is drawing to a close, but we know that our mission field really exists in our homes and schools so our students are ready to take the same passion of sharing the gospel with others that they experienced here in New Mexico back to Keller! 

Please pray for us tomorrow as we will be leaving at 7:00AM Mountain Time and be driving practically all day tomorrow.  We should arrive back in Keller at approximately 8:00-8:30PM CST.

MALI MISSION MARCH09: Begins today — PLEASE PRAY

Keith Arnett departed for Mali at noon today, March 18, via Dakar, Senegal.  He and his French-speaking-only driver (!) will be joined tomorrow by Penny Warner, a missionary specializing in Yalunkan literacy materials, along with Pastor Barry, two IMB ‘Journeygirls’, and a translator.  Greg Pruett, of Pioneer Bible Translators, who has been translating the Bible into Yalunkan, was unable to travel with Keith as planned due to the sudden death of his sister.  Please keep Greg and his family in your prayers, as well.

Ø Pray that the Holy Spirit will move mightily in Village F.  It is the largest Yalunka village in that area, and so far few there have stepped out to say, “Yes, I’ll follow the Jesus road.”  Pray specifically for the two Chiefs (one of whom made a decision to walk on the Jesus Road last June), for the women in that village, and for teenage youth.

Ø Pray that the believers in Village X will make a new level of commitment to their walk of faith, and that the Church might begin emerging among them.

Ø Pray for the Church in Village Y, that the Holy Spirit will demonstrate His power and empower them as He brings forth leadership from among them.

Ø Pray for Village K.  There 33 new believers are awaiting baptism.  Pray that this demonstration of new life in Christ will stir everyone in the area to seek Him who has power over death and the grave.

Ø Pray for all those in the mining camp near Village F.  The camp manager, while friendly, has been reluctant to engage in a discussion about faith in Christ.

Ø Pray for no difficulties in reaching the Yalunka villages during the days of ground travel.

Ø Pray that nothing would hinder the group in Village F who has been asking to hear the gospel from hearing and responding in faith.

Ø Pray for wisdom for the team as they seek ways to deepen the Yalunka people’s ability to hear, read, and understand God’s word in their own language.

MALI JAN09 - Last report, from DAKAR!

The team arrived in DAKAR TONIGHT!  They chose to relax for a few hours, then continue driving through the night inasmuch as the road conditions were tolerable AND THE TIRES WERE HOLDING UP!  Tomorrow they will spend debriefing and relaxing before catching their return flight at 3AM on Saturday morning.

The trip out was uneventful, and their moods are joyous!  This is probably the last report we will receive until their return.

PRAISE GOD for this calling, for the faithful (in praying/giving/going), and for every good thing He is doing among the Yalunka and among us.

PRAY for the Yalunka:  for their health & prosperity (especially availability of food), for our brothers & sisters in Christ, and for those that are yet to respond.  PRAY for the team going March 18-28:  that those called to go will respond, that their hearts will be prepared even as the Yalunka are prepared, and that the Word will be quickened as it is presented in speech and print in the Yalunka language.  PRAY for your family & neighbors, your coworkers, and those you meet in the market place that they will hear God’s beckoning.

A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. - Proverbs 16:9

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