Dear Faithful Ones,
As I write this, the final leg of the Length-of-The-Gambia PrayerWalk, four days of walking, three nights in villages, has just begun. Preparing mentally, physically and spiritually for this Leg 5 has been quite strenuous. They are tired of walking; we are tired of our husbands being away from home; the boys are tired of missing their dad. Yet in our prayer time last night, we were each reminded of what the Lord told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. That is why, for Christs sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Also as I sit here, I hear the strange guttural chirping of a bird. Looking out my window, I see, not 5 feet away, a bearded barbet. This black bird has a black band separating its red chest from its orange-red stomach. A massive yellow bill and bright yellow eye stare back at me, a tuft of black feathers at his chin: a most impressive specimen of Gods handiwork.
Thats what the Mandinka are: an impressive specimen of Gods handiwork. These are handsome, kind, hard-working people who are stuck in a pool of falsehoods. A volunteer group is here right now sharing and praying in MNK compounds. They are attempting to illuminate the holiness, righteousness, and mercy of God to a people who live in fear and uncertainty.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Jews (MNKs) demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-24
Thank you for your consistent support. Please let me know how I can assist you in becoming more knowledgeable about the Mandinka as you advocate on their behalf. Not only is it my job to do so, but it is my joy; please allow me to be joyful!
