Dear Friends,
It’s hard to believe that ten months have already gone by since we came home for furlough and deputation. We have so deeply enjoyed visiting churches, friends, and family. What a privilege to be your partners in the cause of Christ and Missions!
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land
Proverbs 25:25
We rejoice for the continued growth in the work among the Muslims of Mali. Our colleagues, Rick and Elaine Caswell, have encouraged us with these recent events:
A new church has been planted in the city of Kayes. This is our first work among the Malinkés, an unreached people group in the western part of Mali.
In spite of efforts by opposing Muslim imams (religious leaders) in the city of Timbuktu, we were able to secure our deed to the Christian school property which had been donated to us by the local government there. The first classroom building (a modified ‘tabernacle’ pre-fab structure) is finished. This school is strategic to our outreach among the Tamasheks. This desert tribe is the main unreached people group of northern Mali.
The youth camps held in July were particularly blessed. A substantial number of young people were baptized in the Holy Spirit, and some have responded to God’s call to full-time ministry.
$20,000.00 were received from the World Assemblies of God Relief Association for famine relief in Mali. Praise the Lord! This is timely, because of the invasion of locusts that has decimated so much of this year’s harvest in this already very poor nation.
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On the Home Front...
Visiting and reporting to our supporting churches takes up most of our time. We are facing a huge challenge to raise an additional $1,200.00 in monthly pledges before we will be allowed to return to Mali. This is the first time in 28 years of missionary work that we’ve confronted such a big challenge in needed monthly support. Much of the increase in our budget is due to the extreme weakness of the US dollar overseas. It is believed that this situation will worsen in the next few years. So we humbly request your prayers for this deputation. Please pray that every one of our supporters will increase their monthly support.
Because we have had to connect with new churches for additional support, we will not be able to visit some of our longtime supporting churches. Please, dear friends in the churches that we cannot visit during this furlough, do forgive us. We trust that you will continue your partnership with us.
Two Urgent Needs....
- Gédéon Poudiougo is one of our Malian pastors pioneering a church in the village of Ogosayin. Many years ago Brother Gédéon injured his right eye. There were recent complications and the pressure and pain in that blind eye require that it be removed. We need to raise $600.00 for the surgery. But we are believing the Lord to actually supply us with twice that amount so that a glass eye could be put in place. Can you help? Please contact us right away .
- In Timbuktu Pastor Mohamed Yattara and his family have been forced to abandon their house because of age and dangerous deterioration. They are actually using two small storage rooms as their shelter on the church property. We need financial help in any amount to solve this problem. If you can help, please reach us at .
Thank you for your faithful partnership and your prayers. We are grateful and privileged to be your servants for an increasingly redeemed Africa.
David (Faouzi) and Linda Arzouni
Your missionaries to Mali, West Africa
