I have been in Mali for about a month now. My job here involves going around and visiting the other One Story teams. I’ve visited 4 out of the5 teams so far. The 5th team is in Timbuktu and I will go there in May. The trips to see the teams have gone well. I’ve enjoyed getting to see where they live and meet their people groups. I’m also just there for them to ask questions, since I’ve been through it and finished a project.A story I’ve shared with the teams is about the life of Peter. It starts when Jesus calls him as he’s out fishing and spans all the way to when he writes a letter to the early church—to those living as foreigners in different places. He writes to them about how Christ is the Rock that holds God’s church together, and He is precious to those who believe. But there are some who reject Him and He is the stone that makes them stumble. They stumble because they don’t listen to God’s word or obey it. But, he writes, you are not like that, you are a chosen people—God’s very own possession. Now you can show others the goodness of the One who brought you out of darkness into His marvelous light! (1 Peter 2:4, 7-9) Living as a foreigner in a different land is not easy, but I love how Peter reminds them who they are---a chosen people, God’s possession. And he reminds them that Christ is the precious Rock.
Praises
• I thank Him for the best vacation I’ve ever had—we had such a blast!
And it seemed He blessed us in small ways along the way.
• The Fulani believer’s meeting went well. There were about 100 people
present. It was so encouraging to see people that I’d met at the first
meeting (in 2006). The Lord is at work and is growing the Fulbe church.
• I was able to make 100 cassette tapes. About 20 were bought by people
at the meeting. Another 25 were purchased by an Australian missionary who
works with Fulbe. The majority of the tapes were distributed among the
Fulbe who have helped with the project—testing groups, our crafter, the
chief, and backtranslator. Some of the other tapes were left with m’s who
are at work among the Fulbe.
Requests
• Please lift up the chief. I talked with him on the phone the other day
and he shared with me that his 3 year old grandson passed away. Ask for
comfort during this time for his family.
• Please ask guidance and strength for the other One Story teams. They
are each at different stages. If you’d like to receive their updates you
like to learn more about One Story, check out this website
• Please pray for me as I continue to meet with teams. Pray that I’ll be
filled with the Holy Spirit and know how to help these teams. Also lift
up our retreat/training time at the beginning of June in Benin. I’ll be
sharing stories with the group during the retreat time.
Tara
My new address in Mali is:
SILAH Mali
Atten Tara Lohwater
BP 2017
Bamako, Mali
