Dearest Friends, Family, and Co-laborers in the harvest fields of Mali, West Africa,
David (Faouzi) and I are always eager to greet you, to hug your necks and heartily shake your hands — figuratively-speaking — and to thank you for your unfailing commitment to God’s rescue plan, and to us, as we work in Mali, West Africa! We are so GRATEFUL for your friendship!
Many of you know that I, Linda, have been home with my father (Reino Tilus) since my mom (Bonnie) passed away. AGWM has very kindly worked with us, letting me care for Dad while David went back and forth.
Then we had an absolutely thrilling year of furlough, reporting to our churches, visiting most of our old friends, and making a lot of new ones. I was particularly blessed by the warm enthusiastic reception I received in all my assigned WM Sectional Celebrations — you help me feel “not alone”!
District Council was another high point this year, with us feeling pretty speechless as the WM Director, Debbie Heden, handed us a check for $25,000 to furnish the School of Hope. On behalf of the children who will walk into those (your) school doors, sit at your desks, study the three R’s on your blackboards, and, best of all, hear about the love of Christ, WE THANK YOU! On behalf of those children who will embrace our Lord Jesus Christ inside those 4 walls, and then bravely take Him home to meet their parents, WE GLORIFY THE LORD WITH YOU!
We have been granted an extension in the States so that David can finish his doctoral studies, (yes, he took the “scenic route”), and write a manual (Pastoral Care in the Muslim Context) that will be made available in all our Bible schools.
We trust we’ll be able to return to our full-time ministry to unreached people groups in Mali the end of this year.
Deut. 16:15: For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.
Yours for the harvest,
David (Faouzi) and Linda Arzouni
