Newsletters from the Malinke People Group Team

This page is dedicated to the newsletters from the Malinke People Group Team.

Greetings to all my friends and uplifters,

It has been too long since I have written to you. I have enjoyed the past several months and have seen the work progress as it should also.  I was blessed to spend the holidays in the US with family and it was a wonderful time. One of the best blessings was my mother's return to West Africa with me in January. She just returned to the US this past Thursday and I have to admit that I have spent the past several days missing her. I do know that this is where I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to be doing at this time but sometimes it is harder than others. I miss my family, friends, and church there in the Us.

So the past several days with Mom's departure has just brought that out very strongly. Don't fear for me however, I am confident that I am following the path that has been laid for me. I would covet your prayers that I remain strong in my calling and focus forward on the work that I have been called here to do.

As to what has been happening here, well.... I would ask you to remember the Malinke people here in West Africa especially this week. There is a Malinke Consultation meeting happening this week. Representatives from all the groups working among the Malinke will come together this week to meet, see what work is being accomplished, where it is taking place, plan mutual co-operation where possible and pray for the Malinke. This is a time where they really need to be held up in prayer. It is a time that can be very encouraging to those in this very difficult work as they hear of what the Father is doing among the Malinke. So please keep all of these in your prayers this week. It will take all of us to accomplish the Father's task among the Malinke.

I have not been able to visit K----- myself for quite a while now. We did have a small group go out in December and they were able to meet with some of the believer's there. They walked to several villages to encourage and share. I believe it was good for the believers. I have heard sad news. A fairly young man named Fily that has worked for our people in the past from time to time died recently.  Fily was a young man that was sick very frequently. We often had to help him with  medications or food for his family because he was unable to work. I do not know what Fily died from, we rarely did in K----.  I suspect it was a chronique illness such as TB. Please pray for Fily's wife and children that were left behind. She becomes another widow with young children and no real means of support. This is all too often the case here. Pray that they will find the means to survive and that they will be comforted by the presence of our Father.

Jonah is still doing well in school. He is growing by leaps and bounds. He is learning to communicate in sign. I just wish that I had the training to keep up with him. I am impressed at how well he is teaching his mother to understand him. Pray for him that as he grows he will grow to know why he has recieved the help he has and that he will follow the Father with all of his heart.

Pray for me in my work as Business Facilitator. Pray that I will be a testimony to our Father at all times. Pray as I begin to prepare our report for the government on our activities for last year. This is an important document that describes our benevolent and aid activities to the people here. It is this document that enables us to continue having the priviledge to serve here. Pray that I will give an accurate, honest, and informative report that speaks well of our organization here and reflects with honor on our Father.

Pray for another house that is being prepared for a new family to live here in WA. The house has been found and the work is moving forward. Pray that the work will be completed and the family will be able to move into their new home by April 1st. Pray also for this families belongings. At this time they are in the Ivory Coast. Bill will be traveling there next week to pack them up. Then they will have to be shipped here. Pray that the problems in the Ivory Coast would not hinder this process. Pray that their household effects would arrive here in a timely fashion so that they might resettle quickly and get back about their tasks here.

There are many exciting things happening here among our various people at work. I wish that I could share them all. Please keep all of us here in WA in your prayers. Pray for safety as many are traveling to various places for their work. Pray for health. Malaria and other health problems are a risk here. Pray for boldness in witnessing and for direction in all of the work here. Pray that we will all be encouraged and joyful in our day to day calling here.

May God bless you and lead you at all times,

Shirley