Pray for the Fleischmanns

This last month has seen the arrival of new teammates. Lisa, Lord willing, will be with us for 6 months. She is playing a major role in the creation of the family devotional book; sketching the storyboard, choosing props, and taking photos. Stewart and Charisa, along with their little son Micah, are here for one year. Stewart is doing his college internship here in Mali, so he is doing a lot of studying in addition to practical ministry experience: language learning, English club, book project, and friendship evangelism. Charisa has her hands full being mom to their 10 month old son, studying Bambara, helping with the book project and supporting Stew in all he is doing.


We now anxiously await the arrival of Anthony and Tracy Fleischmann, along with their two kids Keith and Jessica. The Fleischmanns are currently raising support to come to work longterm; Anthony in the area of "Business as Mission" aka BAM, and Tracy to teach at Bamako Christian Academy. Anthony's skills are being asked for constantly by the Malian Church, as they see their general weakness in the area of correct business practice and financial accountability. Tracy's ability to teach is always a need at BCA. While not necessarily seen as a frontlines ministry, our teachers are essential for keeping many missionaries on the field and in their area of service.



Please pray with us that God would raise up partners to support Anthony and Tracy in the work that He has called them to do!


Link to view their video:
http://www.vimeo.com/12799776


There is a password to view this. If you are interested in seeing it, leave a comment and I will send you the password right away.

What does an average day look like?

Oftentimes friends will ask us what an average day looks like.


Now there are those things that occur on a daily basis: The alarm clock goes off at 5:45, Steve typically drives the kids to school at 6:50, I pick them up at 2:15. I make sure homework and chores get done in the afternoon, dinner is served, and conversation is had. Hopefully some fun and games works their way in at some point. Family devotions take place in the evening, and then boys head off to bed. Basically, pretty normal stuff.

But then of course there are lots of people, culture, and ministry-related things as well on any given day. Take this last week, for example. Listed below are some of the things that I, or Steve, or both of us together remember doing, in no particular order:


-Spend a morning working on the book project with Lisa, and then follow up with several phone calls and a meeting with a pastor

-Pass a few hours with a pastor friend who had a very sick son. Finances and practical medical advice was given, as well as time spent in prayer

-Attend Sunday service at the church of a friend in the morning. Friend spends the rest of the afternoon at our place

-Finish and send an article to Avant's home office, to be included in their next magazine

-Give car advice to a few people needing to buy a vehicle (Steve here!)

-Prepare for teaching the youth group. Teach at said youth group

-Take someone to the airport


-Attend a meeting between a spokesperson for a US church and a center for women with HIV, acting as translator and "on the ground" go-between

-Spend some time with a pastor heavily involved in university ministry in Bamako: a good peer relationship with lots of mutual encouragement!

-Give a couple of hair cuts (Becky, here!)

-Work on all the paperwork surrounding purchasing a vehicle for a new family currently raising support to work with us

-Attend a meeting to discuss some of the last details for the men involved in radio station repairs and installations

-Teach at Tuesday night English class

-Visits, visits, visits! Many other pastors and friends stop by throughout the week.

-Have several conversations about some difficult issues currently going on within the Church. Much wisdom and prayer needed!

-Prepare meals for sick teammates

-Becky spend the night with said sick teammates, taking care of their baby so they could get a good night's rest

-BCA approvals and decisions by email and phone

-Host some meals for the radio guys when they are working on our side of town

-Help a pastor's son figure out how to apply to a university in Canada

-Check up on how the Women of Hope broadcasts are coming along, and then communicate with missionary in Canada who is working from that end

-Teach one science class at BCA, and daily work in the library when the boys get picked up

-Emails, Emails, Emails!

-Lead team prayer time

-Take our teammates' kids for the weekend so they can have a special anniversary weekend

-Start this blog (and not finish it for several weeks!)

Honestly, sometimes we struggle with the fact that we are the team leaders, and we don't get as much opportunity for "real" ministry as we would like. Sometimes our lives seem rather boring and uninfluential. And yet, we are doing what we love and are called to do: encouraging and challenging others, helping out wherever we can so that others can do what they are called to do. We love the Malian Church, and we love our team. Please pray for us as we work with both, that God would give us what we need, with the ultimate desire to further the Gospel and His kingdom here in Mali.

Issac

Just last week, we sent out an email updating folks on what has been going on and how God is working in Mali. We wrote about a book project that we are in the beginning stages of, and we also shared about the part that our friend, Isaac, played in it. We wrote,

"We are about to embark upon an "out-of-the-box" book geared for families studing God's Word together. Instead of illustrating the pages, we plan on taking photos of pastors and their families as characters in the various Bible stories. Malians love photos of people they know! Not only does this help to make a priority out of going out and visiting these pastors, but it also encourages families to take time to study the Bible together: something lacking in the majority of Christian homes.

Our friend, Isaac (pictured below), recently came to visit us. We do not get to see him very often anymore, as he works for a gold mining company about 10 hours away from Bamako. Almost sheepishly, he presented us with a gift of 2,000 CFA- about 4 dollars. He said that it wasn't much, but he desired to give us this money as a way of being hospitable; since he is single, he felt badly that he has never had us over to his home for a meal, etc. We were deeply touched by his heart, and asked God to in some way multiply his gift. So, we are asking anyone who wishes to take part in the creation of the family devotional book to consider matching his gift, allowing us the necessary funds to travel, purchase photo props, etc. We have already seen money come in to help, and we are thrilled to be able to show Issac how his seemingly small gesture was used in a big way.̈

Isaac came by our home this morning. He had left Bamako a few days ago to return to work, along with about 35 other men working for the same company. It began raining on a bad stretch of road about six hours away from Bamako. The driver lost control, and the bus went off the road and tipped over. All the passengers were brought back into town: many bruised, some with severe injuries, but all alive. Isaac did not have a scratch on him! We thanked God for His protection over what could have been a very serious accident, and for guarding Isaac against injury. Pray for Isaac in the days to come, that he would be able to use this opportunity to point others to the One who gives and guards life.

Power of Prayer

Esther, a woman who works for us, came to me with a heavy heart yesterday.

You may remember that 2 years ago, her son Emmanuel had been kidnapped. A terrible situation turned out to be a miracle, and we all praised the Lord for the way He returned Emmanuel safely to his family. Recently, a woman who is not a believer, commented to Esther that when Christians in Mali pray to their God, He acts. She remarked that when push comes to shove, those of a different faith here often just turn back to the witchdoctors "who can really get something done" instead of relying on their god. In analyzing the difference, she concluded that this was really no faith at all.

Esther is now facing another situation in her family that she recognizes only God can change. One of her sons has been caught stealing from others in the yard where they live. They have continually tried to deal with it in every way that they know how, and he has still repeated the offense. She feels that they are out of resources, apart from prayer. When she shared this with me, she spoke of the time that God rescued her son Emmanuel from evil intentions because so many people-literally around the world- were praying for him. As difficult as it was for her to admit what another of her sons was doing, she felt she needed to get as many backing them up in prayer as possible. God is able! Please join us in praying for the heart of her son: that not only would he stop doing what he knows to be wrong, but that through this situation their whole family would be strengthened in their witness for Christ. Merci beaucoup!

BCA's "Alice in Wonderland"

I created the title for this post way back in May when our boys performed in BCA's "Alice in Wonderland" musical. Here I am in July actually posting; better late than never, I guess!

5th through 12th grade students had been busy singing, dancing, and memorizing lines for quite a while. It was fun to see the final performance. Jonny, Josh, and Danny would also say it was fun to stop practicing!

For more photos of the play, along with some from Jonny's birthday party, go to:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=179756&id=683027015&l=4bb0fba64c

Jonny and his friend, Cole, as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum

Danny, a "Proper Authority," in trouble with Alice

Josh, the sleeping Red King. He had his snores timed perfectly!

Pray for Mali's Pastors

When you pray for Mali, please remember to especially pray for the pastors and their families. For many of them, the societal needs are great, the resources are limited, and the spiritual fruit is slow in ripening. It is easy to get discouraged! We as a team try to encourage whenever and wherever we can, but oftentimes it seems that for every family we do encourage, there are three more out there needing the same.

One such couple works in a village that has had many relational problems. There are even two roads leading to the village, and the position that the villagers take concerning a few people determines which path they follow to town. This couple is feeling burnt out. They have taken a couple of weeks away to rest and spend time together without the stress of daily life. Pray that their needs would be met, that God would renew their desire for ministry, and that they would grow in their walk as a family with the Lord.

Above is a picture of our friends' son, Paul, who stayed at our house while waiting for his parents to arrive from the village. Paul asked, "Daniel bɛ min?" [Where is Danny?] I had to tell him that Danny was at school. A few minutes later, he had found this picture of Danny, put it on the floor, and was talking to him just like he was there playing with him. Too cute!

Annual Church Conference

Steve just returned from spending a night out at Bougouni for the EEPM (Eglise Evangélique Protestante au Mali) annual church conference. Different groups within the EEPM, including Avant, share about what has taken place in the past year, and strategize and plan for the future. This is a great time for many different pastors and leaders to come together from different areas to visit with, encourage, and pray for one another.

Clean trees and cool air!
Everyone was thankful for a good rain the night before.
The Bougouni area is just at the very beginning of rainy season,
and people have begun to plant.
FYI: Those are mango trees in the background.

The literature table.
Almost all the Christian literature sold was produced at CLE
(Centre Littérature Evangélique)

Camaraderie!

In the meetings

Time for lunch. I am always amazed that the ladies can cook SO much rice in one pot,and it doesn't turn out sticky!

Rice and sauce

Search and Find in a Bamako Market

Just for fun, we have uploaded a video we took as we were driving out of the market.

In the video, can you find:

• A man with 5 tires on his head
• A baby on his mom's back
• An Obama duffel bag
• Boys selling blue bags
• A man unloading the roof rack of a Sotrama (aka: "Green Machine" public transport)
• A man pushing a pousse-pousse (push cart)
• Soccer jerseys for sale
• A lady running with a bucket
• Public transport under repair
• "Green machines:" How many?

Joy in the Journey

I am feeling quite full right now. It isn't the type of fullness that comes with a deep dish pizza or overload of double chocolate ice cream, but instead with a feeling of contentment and thankfulness that God has us where He has us. There hasn't really been any one thing as of late to trigger this feeling; I am just glad!

What are some of the things that God has been up to? How has He shown us that He is in control, you ask?

For starters, He provided us with another jar for our blender. It seems silly, but in the Cochrane house, this is a big deal. One afternoon, the boys and I were sipping our after-school snack of frozen fruit slushy, relishing our life with very hot temperatures and daily icy drinks to cool us down. One of us even made the comment, "Could you imagine if we didn't have our blender?" We all agreed that we would not survive for long.

We got a taste of what life would be like the very next day, when I broke the glass jar to the blender. Mali has no Walmart, and Ebay doesn't deliver. We had a major crisis on our hands. Just two hours later, I went to a friend's house to pick up the boys. I was lamenting my kitchen catastrophe, and she pulled out a blender that they had been wondering what to do with. It was old and dusty, and definitely not the powerhouse that ours had been, but it was a BLENDER. I got it home and realized that not only did our fancy ice-crushing blades fit into the jar, but the whole jar fit onto our blender base! So after just a few hours without, we were back to making fruit slushies with our strong motor, big mean blades- and a plastic jar that I can't break. This type of provision could be classified in the same group as how we got our dog (for you who know that story): absolutely unnecessary in the grand scheme of life, but just a special little way that God shows us He is into the tiny details of our lives.

Then there are the bigger ways that the Lord has provided for us (taking a bit less explanation). We had lost some financial support over the last couple months, but then we gained support that totalled more than what we lost. It has been a good reminder to the five of us that there really is no way to outgive God!

We have enjoyed some great conversations lately. God has put people in our path, or us in theirs, at just the right time. Sometimes it has been to use them to encourage us, and other times it has been for us to encourage them. Sometimes it has been to direct the mission and the church in a way that He would have us go. He has used people, His Word, and circumstances to confirm His path for us. If one word could sum it all up, I guess it would have to be peace.

Don't get me wrong; it isn't all easy. One of our boys is going through a difficult time in school right now. Two of our boys are facing having to say goodbye to some of their closest friends who have been here from day #1 of our time in Mali. Corruption seems to be even more prevalent these days, and a few cases of it have hit close to home. There are the ever-increasing power cuts in the middle of some very hot days. There are cultural issues that some days make me laugh, and other days drive me nuts. And then of course there are the issues of sin and relational difficulties that come whenever one works with people.

But there is peace and joy in knowing that "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." The sadness that our boys are facing through loss of friends can grow them in character and in relationships. Corruption can help us to understand what others go through on a regular basis, and also lead us to opportunities with people we would never have otherwise. The power cuts can make us think of those that never have fans running in their homes (and decrease our electric bill?). Cultural issues can make us seek the Lord for love for others that is outside of what can give on our own. The struggles with sin that we see or experience can make us appreciate that much more what Christ did for us when He took on Himself what we deserved.

I guess the commonly used phrase of today really is à propos... It's all good.

Update on Dakar... Finally!

Much has taken place since Steve's trip to Dakar! At long last, here is a summary of Steve's time in Dakar:

Several people met from various missions to discuss, brainstorm, and learn from one another how to best reach the Yalunka people. This tribe consists of people who are 95% illiterate and live in some very end-of-the-world places spanning Mali, Guinea, and Senegal. To date, this tribe is .01% Christian.

Jeremy, one of the guys already working among the Yalunka people in Guinea, shared the story of Abraham's servant, and how he was entrusted with everything that Abraham owned. Abraham sent this servant to find a woman for his son Isaac from his people. The servant was worried that no woman would come with him, and that he would fail at the mission given him. Abraham said that God would lead him and supply the bride if the servant would just GO and ASK her to come. The servant left, was led to just the right girl, and then wasted no time in asking her to come back with him and marry Isaac.

Jeremy simply stated that WE ARE THE SERVANT; it is our job to trust God for the divine appointments and call His bride to join Him and love Him. This is why we go. A powerful reminder!

Besides being challenged and encouraged, it was good to spend time getting to know some people that are a part of the bigger picture of West Africa. Each person involved offered a perspective that helped to expand our vision. It was great to get to know Pastor Siaka and Claire, a wonderful couple from Burkina Faso who traveled along with us. They offered incredible insights to many aspects of missions in this part of the world.

The most fun thing? Living the story with others on the trip

The most uncomfortable? Our truck seats after 20 hours on the road

The most precious? Building of new relationships

The most challenging? Seeing the work yet to be done in West Africa

The most reassuring? Knowing that God is the One behind it, accomplishing His will

Below are a few photos, with many more in an album "March in Mali" at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=168698&id=683027015&l=f0e88bc46a

Steve and Pastor Siaka



Some of the gang who met for the meetings.

This is at the most western tip of Africa.

A mosque overlooking the Atlantic

Back Home in Bamako

Friday early evening, Steve and gang arrived back on the yard to some happy family members! We were so excited to see Steve, Sharon, and Pete, and also welcome Anthony to Mali and our home.

The following day was special, since it was Steve's birthday. The morning started with breakfast in bed prepared by the boys, and in the evening the team got together for monthly game night. There was extra excitement in the air, as it turned out to be a cheese cutting party as well. Steve had been able to make a major cheese purchase in Dakar, since the prices there are only a fraction of what we pay in Mali. I think Anthony thought we were all nuts getting so excited about dividing and sharing a bunch of cheese, until he went to the store yesterday and saw the prices himself!

The week has been full of introducing Anthony to people, as well as the needs that are here. As usual, God has orchestrated just the right people along our paths to really give Anthony a good picture of the strengths, weaknesses, and heart of the church and mission. Please pray for his remaining week here, that he would go home even more passionate about his family's calling to Mali.

Today, Steve and Anthony left by motorcycle to go to Chodo, where our friends Jean Baptiste (a pastor) and Rachel live. Jean had come in to town while Steve was in Senegal, very sick with some sort of mouth infection unlike anything I have ever seen. His wife and one of his sons are also suffering from the same illness. They do not have cell phone service in the village where they live, so we have been unable to contact them to find out if the treatment that he went back has been helping. Please pray that they would all return to full health, and that Steve and Anthony's visit would be an encouragement to this family. They face much opposition, and desperately need our prayers.

Pictures of the Senegal trip coming soon!

Steve on His Way Back

Steve is currently on his way back home. He and those he is traveling with left Dakar early this morning. They hope to make it across the border and stay at a guesthouse in Kayes, Mali, tonight. About halfway through Senegal, they plan on stopping for lunch and visiting with some missionaries that we met in Birmingham, but haven't yet seen on this side of the "pond." Tomorrow the trip should be easier, with only about six hours from Kayes to Bamako.

More details to follow on the discussions that were had in Dakar, as I am still waiting to able to talk in depth about all that took place. Steve was very encouraged by the meetings that they participated in, and is excited about what God is forming.

Another exciting aspect was Anthony's arrival. He has now spent two days seeing some sights, and getting over jetlag. We are looking forward to showing him his soon-to-be home!

Steve on the Road to Dakar

This morning, Steve, along with 4 others, took off in our truck for Dakar, Senegal. The primary purpose of this 2-day road trip is to meet with others interested in a combined effort to reach an unreached people group that spans Senegal, Guinea, and Mali. At this point we have no idea what, if any, part Avant Ministries will play in this effort, but we cannot know unless we seek to find out. Already, challenging discussions have been had, and new relationships have been made. We are looking forward to seeing how God directs everyone involved!

One more exciting aspect of this trip is that Steve will be picking up Anthony Fleischmann, Avant's newest appointee to Mali! Anthony will be driving the long trip back to Mali with Steve, and will spend two weeks experiencing life and ministry here. He, along with his wife, Tracy, and two kids became official in January after attending the candidate orientation program in Kansas City. Anthony and Tracy are originally from South Africa, but have lived the past ten years in the US. They are currently living in Birmingham, Alabama, and are members of our home church. Not only are we looking forward to having a part of our Sunday school class here in Mali with us, but we are especially excited to see how God uses their unique gifts and abilities to help encourage and equip the Malian church. We would love to have them here yesterday, but we also recognize that God works in every step along the way: not just when they arrive on the field.

• Please pray for safety on the road, and that there would be no mechanical difficulties along the way. Steve just called and said that a part of the A/C unit on the truck broke (not a good thing in this weather!) but fortunately they were able to find the part and install it in short order. They are up and running once again. I am ever so thankful for a handy husband!
• Pray for the discussions that will be taking place in the next few days. Pray that God would clearly lead each individual and group involved.
• Pray for Anthony's time here in Mali, as well as the Fleischmann's time of prayer and support raising. Pray that they would be encouraged at the same time that they encourage others for missions.

Pictures to come soon! Thanks to all for praying!

BCA's Mana Retreat

From Wednesday to Friday of this week, BCA's middle and high school students went on their annual retreat out at Mana, about an hour outside of Bamako. It is always a fun time where kids get to camp, explore, play games, and spend time in God's Word. This year, play practice for their end of the year program was thrown in as well. Josh was able to join Jonny on the trip this year, and I went along as the cook. We always return hot, tired, and glad we went!

Just one of the fun things the kids did on the retreat!

For a few more photos of the BCA Mana retreat, go to:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=163049&id=683027015&l=ba94a28ca1

One extra thing I got to do the last morning we were out at Mana was go along with Ev B., a "retired" missionary, as she distributed books to the students at Ouelessebougou Christian School. The overstock books had been given by a book company in Canada, and were certainly welcomed by all the students! I will soon be helping the school to put a small library together, so that the kids have access to many other books that they can take home and read. It is important to encourage literacy in a country where there are still so many who are unable to read. Literacy means education, and ultimately the ability to read God's Word for themselves.

Flag-raising at school first thing in the morning

A very large class!

Reading time

Wedding

A packed church!

The bride with her Maid of Honor

Steve with Pastor Maurice

Always time for chatting!

Yesterday, Steve and Kevin attended the wedding of a son of Maurice Sogoba, a pastor that they have both spent quite a bit of time working with. Maurice was in fact the first Malian that we ever met, as he had come to the US a few years before we got to Mali in order to raise support for the media ministry that he is a part of. Yesterday was a happy day for all!

Operation Christmas Child

Last Sunday, we went out to Mana, a village about an hour outside of Bamako, where there is a Bible school and a few houses owned by our mission. We attended church that morning, then afterward had the opportunity to see and even help out with the distribution of shoeboxes through Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan's Purse. It was a fun day to be able to see SO many smiling, happy faces!

Josh, Danny, and Kameron next to some happy kids

This boy was off by himself, reading the booklet that came with his shoebox:

"Jesus, the Greatest Gift."

Jonny passing out some boxes

For lots more photos, you can go to our Facebook album (even if you don't have a Facebook account) at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158190&id=683027015&l=03463b6779

BCA at the Zoo

Last week, BCA headed off to the Bamako Zoo. This has become a once-a-year event for the school. Not only is it close, but it is also inexpensive. It costs about 50 cents for a family of 5! We absolutely love the zoo. One can't go expecting to see an equivalent to our North American zoos, but you need to take it for what it is. Where else can you go and be able to throw peanuts to all the monkeys, feed coke to the chimp, get regurgitated banana spit on you by an ostrich, and then be able to walk away from the zoo with free pet mice, given by the guy in charge of the reptile exibit? And all for the low, low price of 50 cents!

All of the students, just before heading into the zoo.

Josh and a friend, taken by driver Becky, stuck in traffic.

Jonny, Danny, and another friend. All sporting their new BCA t-shirts.

Enok Back Home

A few weeks ago, Steve was able to help take Enok, his wife, and some of their belongings back to his home town of Ouelessebougou. This was an exciting day, as just a few months ago people had wondered whether or not he was going to live. This is a photo of him, able to stand and even hold a picture of Flat Stanley (for a friend's daughter's school project back in Alabama). He has much rehab to go, as his hands do not yet work as they should.

Steve was so glad to be able to witness the rejoicing of so many when he arrived home. There was much celebration! People know that it was a miracle that he survived the accident, and that he can function the way that he does. Pray that they would recognize and turn to the Miracle Worker!

Some photos

Obviously I am still rather debutante at this blog thing.

My pictures aren't exactly how I want them, but here goes... The best hot peppers EVER.



A gecko that likes to hang out in our bedroom.
Anything that eats mosquitoes is a friend of mine!


Danny attempting to do his homework. Obviously he wasn't quite over jetlag!

I was attempting to pick up the boys from school one afternoon, but spent a ton of time on the bridge due to an accident. Over one hour and two crunches to the front of the truck

(by someone backing into me- twice) later, I made it! If you look closely, I

am sitting on the median. Don't ask.

Jonny with my friend, Kadi

Danny with the gecko that lives in THEIR bathroom.

He gets handled a bit more than our's does.

Steve having a good conversation with friends.

We water our plants for two reasons. 1. So they live. 2. So we can dust them off.

This is what they look like if we don't water the ENTIRE plant!

Two Weeks Today

It was two weeks ago today that we once again walked into the small, hot, disorganized, multi-lingual Bamako airport. 5 1/2 years ago it seemed like a foreign and slightly unnerving place. This time, we breathed in the hot and dusty air, joined the chaotic line that was sort of forming, and bypassed having our papers looked over once we greeted in Bambara. We were HOME!

These past two weeks have been full. It is been great to catch up with our teammates and many friends that have come our way. We have dusted off our shelves, unpacked our bags, and restocked the fridge. The boys have had friends over, and have spent the night elsewhere. Steve has been trying to spend time over in the office getting himself reacquainted with the business side of the mission, while I have been working on knocking out my inbox that filled up over Christmas.

Beside dealing with the various illnesses that we brought back to Mali with us, adjustment has been quite easy. In many ways we don't really feel like we have left. So much is different here, and yet so much is the same. However it seems like for many here, difficulties in life that we all face either come more often, or go to the extreme very quickly.


"La Vie au Mali est Dure." (Life in Mali is hard.) This is something we hear quite often. Sometimes it is said by someone we meet on the street, just hoping that we will feel sorry for them and give them some sort of monetary help. Other times, it is said by friends who really are in a difficult spot, and don't quite know what to do. Here are a few situations we have encountered since being back:

Just a couple days after returning, we got word that a pastor that works out in a village suddenly passed away. He got sick, just couldn't recover, then was brought into Bamako for further treatment where he died. He left behind a wife and six children, the youngest being 1 year old. His wife now faces a difficult time ahead of her as she is responsible for the lives and well-being of her six children.

A woman who works for us shared how concerned she was for her 12 year old son. He has been dealing with malaria, and then dysentary on top of that. He has refused to eat or drink, risking dehydration. While expressing her fear for his life, she went into details of why she feared so greatly. Several years ago, her 12 year-old nephew had been put in their care so that he could attend a school in their village. They had him only one month when he became ill and then suddenly died. In her care. Relationships have never been the same with that side of the family, and she now fears the same thing might happen to her own son.

Steve went to visit Enoch, who was in a bad car accident a few months back. Even though we had been keeping up with his condition while we were in the US, nothing touches emotions quite like seeing him in person, and really being able to hear his heart. There is so much he could be negative about. His body may never entirely function exactly like it did before, and his life will certainly be different as a result of the accident. But through it all, he was praising God for the way He has met every detail: the opportunity to even have surgery in Mali to fix a broken neck, for the many, many people who fasted and prayed throughout the entire ordeal, and the constant encouragement he has received through calls and visits. Many parents- Muslim and Christian alike- of his students have traveled into town to see him. Although weary and sometimes asking "why?" noone has tried to persuade him to give up the fight.

I visited with another friend, recently graduated from college. She has just finished up an apprentice-type position, and is now desperately searching for a job as a secretary. She has worked hard, both on her secretarial as well as her English skills. Jobs are hard to come by, and she was pretty down. So many are searching for the few jobs that are there. La vie au Mali est dure...

Really, all of these things happen everywhere. People get sick, people die, people have strained family relations, people get into car accidents, people lose their jobs or have difficulty finding new ones. Nothing is new under the sun. It just seems like the sun shines hotter in some places! Please pray that we would have hearts that care and listen, have actions (along with discernment) that do more than just say "Stay well and keep warm," and have the words that point them to the True Answer and Consolation.

Along the way, we are encouraged by how God is working in the individual hearts of His people. In the course of different conversations in the past few days, we have talked about topics ranging from the role of Israel throughout all history up to today, to the significance of Christ's death on the cross, to why a Christian should not marry someone who isn't. We consider it a real privilege to be able to spend some of our life here in Mali, and to do our small part. Thanks to all who are praying and standing alongside of us!!

Traffic this morning after dropping off the boys at school. Can you see the hill in the distance?

Just one of Danny's sleeping poses.

Jonny and Danny looking for a good place to take a nap. This is when they were still happy...

Josh at 2AM. Eyes are beginning to glaze.

Birmingham to Bamako

So obviously I haven't yet mastered the fine art of staying current with a blog. Now that we are back in Mali, I am really hoping to keep up with it more!
The big news is that we are back in Mali. We left Birmingham January 2nd, and arrived in Bamako on January 4th. Honestly, we have had more enjoyable trips: airlines changed their minds on a couple of things, we had delayed flights, many hours in cold airports, and even more hours on airplanes. The longest we spent on one plane was 16 hours. In that time, Josh got sick. On our last leg from Addis Ababa to Bamako, Jonny and Danny joined in. Oh, the fun! Normally our return to Mali is rather direct (US to France to Mali). We will definitely do it that way again next time!
Despite a very tiring 48 hours, there are plenty of things to be thankful for. 1. We made it! It was so great to see our teammates at the airport, and then arrive on our yard to see many more smiling faces. The past few days have been great being able to catch up with various people that come by. 2. All of our luggage made it! With several stops and late flights, there was great potential for lost luggage. It is all here with us, with no damages. 3. We are all together! It is always hard to say goodbye to family and friends. It is times like these that I appreciate my husband and kids that much more. No matter where we go, they are people who have experienced exactly what I have experienced, and we can always talk about, laugh, and remember different people and places that we miss.
Now we are trying to get back into the swing of things. Jet lag is fading, and two of the boys went back to school just this morning. Please pray that they would adjust quickly to BCA after having been homeschooled for the first half of the year. Also pray that illness would leave our family. Danny had to stay home as he is dealing with a deep cough and fever. Yesterday Steve was on the couch most of the day with fever, but is doing much better today. Steve is over at the office right now with our teammate, Kevin, catching up on all sorts of mission business. Pray that we would quickly adjust and get plugged into the proper ministry and family priorities.
We are just so glad to be back! Despite our crazy flights back, current illness and jet lag, we can honestly say that we return refreshed. While we will miss so many people and aspects of home in the US, we also feel at home here in Mali. We are excited to see what God does in the next few years!