Dear friends and loved ones,
Do you know how thrilling it us to be where God can use you for His
purposes? Please let us share a few things that God is doing before our very
eyes. I am including only ONE aspect of our ministry that does not cover
day-to-day guesthouse services. (LATER :>))
1) We have tried to limit our village trips to Sundays only. Since Aug 8,
the truck has made 16 trips (about 1860 miles). God has honored us with NO
breakdowns, NO flat tires, NO accidents. For those who have travelled these
primitive roads and seen the craziness of traffic getting in and out of the
city, you will smile at God for His protective hand. The 1996 Toyota Hilux
has now served us 8 full years. The truck is not new, that's for sure, and
still has the original motor and transmission. However, there is NO rust
(some of you from the salt states will be envious :>), NO dents (the damage
from the cow and truck incidents have long been repaired!), and from a
mechanic's perspective the vehicle is sound.
2) Yesterday, four of us left at 7a.m. for the villages. On board were three
220 lb. bags of millet, TV and VCR, medicines for 100 people, two bags of
clothing from Marsha , and four cement pylons for boundary markers. Dan was
accompanied by Pastor Fassara to lead the service, Jeremy the language
teacher to translate Dan's message and Emma to administer medicines. At each
of three village churches, we dropped baggage and took a rep to be involved
in the new work in Gouraba. Everywhere, we were greeted with smiles,
handshakes and prayer for God's blessing. Preaching and singing drifted
through open windows at churches where services had begun.
3) In Gouraba, the makeshift chapel was filled with 30+ people waiting our
arrival. Oh what joy to sing praise in national dialect; such eagerness to
receive the Word translated from Dan's French into Bambara. Afterward, new
calendars, Bibles and songbooks were distributed. This was our seventh
service.
4) Mr. Coulibaly then escorted us to four acres of NEW church property that
is now official. Pictures (listed below) cannot convey the heart feelings to
God for His long-awaited answer. What happiness flowed from every pore.
Resident believers can hardly wait for their own pastor and church building!
Peter's family lives right across the road.
5) Today, Monday, Dan conversed with Pastor Andre about his dream of having
a Christian radio station. Gouraba is strategically located to beam the
gospel of Jesus to hitherto untouched villages. The estimated cost is under
$2000 for equipment. God is already bringing in special gifts through some
of you to help make this possible.
To quote an old gospel chorus, "if it keeps gettin' better and better Oh
Lord, I don't know what I'm gonna do" Let's keep on keepin' on till He comes
again! Dan and Marsha
