Tara came and visited Maninka land this past week. We spent a few days in our village, tested the Crucifixion story and the Resurrection story. We also had to get our water pump fixed because it had been broken.
Tara and George
George getting ready to pound some millet.
Fixing the water pump.
Tara and the kids.
George taking a break from our long week with his comfort food.
On our way back from the village, I was driving and we hit a huge work truck. We were driving on a dirt road, with lots of dust. I didn't see the truck until we hit it. The front of our truck was smashed, but we were okay. This happened about an hour outside of town. So we had no cell phone service. Connie took a moto to call our business facilitator in Bamako. After three hours of praying and waiting, someone from Kita came to tow us to town. Tom and Diane came yesterday to take our truck to Bamako to get it fixed and running. Praise God we weren't hurt!
Connie and I are working on our stories this week, trying to get them approved. Rita is coming with a volunteer team on Friday to stay the night in our village. Pray for their safety as they fly from the states to Bamako, and as they drive to our village next Friday.
You know it's hot season again when the mangoes start to ripen, especially when one falls off the tree and hits you upside your head.
Thank you for all your prayers and encouagement these last few weeks.
My grandmother passed away last Friday in her sleep. Her funeral was this past Monday. I was very sad not to be there, but I know she is Home now.
Our work is going well. We recorded our 18th story yesterday, and will
be sending alot of them off to be consulted hopefully in the next two
weeks.
The lovely Tara Lowater will be joining us in our town and village. Many pictures will be soon to come.
Also, I have created a website for my photography. I have prints for sale through Paypal, as well as custom made stamps.
Tomorrow is my Mom's birthday and I miss her very much! I sent her some lovely chocolate-covered strawberries thanks to 1-800Flowers. Bringing together families all over the world! :)
Pray for our stories as we work on our next 10 stories, editing, and more editing.
Last Friday we had our 40 day mourning day for Bala. Connie made a memorial video and everyone got to watch it on her laptop. It was a really hard day. We watched his oldest son and younger brothers take his things out of his hut and take them to divide up among themselves. The wives cried..the old women cried..and we cried. Crying is taboo here and shameful..so it's hidden when it happens. I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.
Connie and I are spending Easter in our crafter's village. We'll be playing the story of Jesus' trial and crucifixion, and His resurrection. Pray that the message of Christ being alive will penetrate the hearts of our people. We will be recording our 16th story tomorrow and are pretty excited to be getting this far, even though there is ALOT of editing work to be done. Dondi, dondi (little by little), we'll get it done.
Pray for my family as my grandmother is slowly leaving us. She sleeps all the time now, but isn't in any pain. Soon she'll be worshipping God and able to talk again.
Yesterday I found out that my grandmother on my dad's side was taken off her feeding tube, given only a few days to live. She's sedated, and not in any pain. My family called me and put me on speaker phone so I could talk to her. Even though she can't talk, Heather assured me she heard me.
I keep asking God why can't he just let us breathe..why can't we go one single month without bad news? Why? I know the only thing keeping me here is His calling..if it weren't for that, I seriously doubt I would still be here. I'm praying that Maninka people will be worshipping God around His throne one day.
Bala's 40 fete is on Friday. They'll be killing a cow and that marks the end of the mourning period. We continue to test stories every week and we always have alot of people come.
Pray that God would use these stories to bring them truth. A few people are already talking about wanting to be baptized. Pray that we can point them the right way through God's stories.
So Connie and I were able to spend two days in Bamako where we were able to talk with our families and it has been a huge blessing. Thanks for all your prayers and words of encouragement. Please continue to pray as we spend time with our village family mourning Bala, and pray for Connie's family as her grandmother's funeral is also on Friday.
