This is our last newsletter for this furlough as we “close up shop” and get everything ready for shipping. In fact, our next report to you will be sent from Africa in the Spring of 2000, since our container is slated to arrive late in March. God willing, David (Faouzi) will fly to Mali on January 10, and Linda will join him on February 7 right after finishing some schooling.
We Will Hit The Ground Running!
Here is a glimpse of what awaits us in the next few months:
Speed-The-Light has informed us that our 4X4 car will arrive in Bamako around January 13. Praise God for His provision through STL! So as soon as David lands he will have to clear our vehicle with customs. That’s usually a nightmare of paperwork before that car can be put on the road. Please pray!
Short-Term Missions Volunteers from Australia: On January 16, David will be joined by Greg and Kirralie Smith to help him set up house and office, do some repairs at the Bible School, and help set up a “prefab tabernacle church” in the town of Koro. Please intercede for strength, productivity, and protection.
Bible School Directorship: Please pray for important meetings that will take place February 11-17 concerning the leadership of our school. Key African leaders from Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and the USA will convene to discuss the needs of the school and insure its continuity in this needy Muslim land.
Teaching in Kinshasa: From February 19 to March 11, we will be in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) to teach advanced courses to students participating in WAAST’s extension program.
More Customs Work: Our shipment arrives mid-March. There is important equipment for the Bible School and for various projects in our container. We covet your prayers to find favor with customs authorities.
Purchase of Land for Surakabugu: A piece of property has finally been found for one of our Bamako churches, and the $10,000 price is very reasonable. We need help from our supporting churches and friends in any amount to seize this rare opportunity. Can you help? Would you please pray about this need?
Former Muslims Baptized in Christ’s Name! Rune Högberg, our Swedish Assemblies of God colleague in Bamako, reports that 25 converts have been baptized in recent months. Praise the Lord!
Seventy Voices of Hope: 70 of our Malian sisters joined hands for a week of intercessory prayer on behalf of our churches. They were later joined by other women from the French Assemblies of God and a delegation from Burkina Faso.
Unprecedented Demonstration of Unity: Evangelical Christians from all over Mali will come together for an all night Christmas celebration and evangelism outreach at one of the main stadiums of Bamako. Many Muslims who are resistant to Christianity all year round will permit themselves to attend Christmas festivities. Please pray for a great harvest of souls. All denominations will also share a common service at the Palais de la Culture auditorium on Christmas day.
Future Activities
Looking further down the road, here are events that we will be involved with:
Institute of Islamic Studies, Baguio City, Philippines: From May 27 to June 3, David will again participate in training key workers from many Asian countries who are reaching out to the Muslim world.
Teaching in Ivory Coast: It will be a joy to spend three weeks (June 19 - July 7) in the land of our first missionary labors to teach advanced WAAST (West Africa Advanced School of Theology) courses.
AG World Congress, Celebration 2000, and Other Meetings: We will be in the USA at the end of July and in August for those key meetings in Indianapolis. It means a lot of hard work doing French translation, caring for many African leaders who will be attending, and running conference errands. The African General Superintendents who attend will then hold a special two day session to strategize for the new millennium.
“BARIKA ZAAME!” - “ AW NI CE KUNU!”
In various parts of West Africa these expressions literally mean, “Thank you for yesterday! Whenever you do good to someone, should that individual meet you the next day or a week or two later, the first words out his or her mouth are “Thank you for yesterday!” This expresses exactly our own sentiments toward all of you, our friends and supporters. As we embark on our fifth term of missionary service our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord of the harvest and to you. May the Lord grace you with a very special touch this holiday season. Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année 2000!!!
David (Faouzi) and Linda Arzouni
