1 August 2002

Dear Faithful Ones,

As they were walking along the road, a man said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” – Luke 9:57-58

This month’s MNK Update focuses on animals in both Scripture and MNK society.  Living in a rural, 3^rd world region, the MNK know what it is to contend with nature and animals.  God’s entire creation is precious to Him, including all animals.  But more importantly, the MNK are precious to God.  Please pray with us that they will come to know Him in a personal way.

Thank you for praying for the future of our colleagues.  We have very exciting news from several fronts.  David Simpson and Beth Heyer are to be married on August 4, 2002.  Leigh Smith is engaged to Brian Turnbull, also a former journeyman to West Africa.  Pray for each of these new families as individually and corporately they seek to continue to serve the Lord.  Pray for God’s grace and joy to fill their lives.  Thank God with us for their faithful service among us.

Continue to pray for the Mandinka depicted by our fictitious, yet representative, family of Bakary, his wives, his children, and his parents.  Pray that those of us on the field will be found faithful, available and obedient to what the Lord has asked of us; pray for those God is calling out to work among the MNK. 

Bakary, the head of the family (early 50s)

Fatou, Bakary’s first wife (early 40s) and her children (Adama, Hawa, Kadi, Sali, Mariyama, Fatou, Ibrima)

Binta, Bakary’s second wife (mid 30s) and her children (Lamin, Modou, Tida, Alieu, Isatou)

Kadi, Bakary’s third wife (early 20s) and her children (Ebou, Nyima, Alhaji)

Lamin, Bakary’s elderly father (mid 70s)

Sali, Lamin’s only surviving wife, birthmother of Bakary

Toubob, what MNKs call white westerners

MNK Update August 2002

Thu, Aug 1:            For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. – Romans 15:4  Scripture is timeless; Scripture is instructive; Scripture is true; Scripture applies to men, women and children.  Everything in Scripture was written to teach us, not to confuse us.  Thank God that the Bible has been translated into so many different languages across the globe; pray that the Mandinka will become hungry for the Book of Truth and seek their answers from the inspired Word of God.

Fri, Aug 2:            By morning the wind had brought the locusts; they invaded all Egypt and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers.  They covered all the ground until it was black.  They devoured everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees.  Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land of Egypt. – Exodus 10:13-15  Bakary heard this verse on the radio this morning as he was working in his peanut field.  He was surprised to learn that locusts were also a problem in places other than West Africa.  He remembers how 14 years ago locusts came and invaded his farm.  They were in the houses; in the rice fields; in the peanut fields; dropping into the food.  They covered the dirt roads making animal carts very dangerous.  But the worst part was they destroyed that year’s crop.  As a subsistence farmer, nature is not something Bakary thanks God for; rather he contends with nature in order to survive.  Pray for MNK men to see that God is god of all things, including crops, locusts and rain; pray for Bakary to be encouraged during this difficult time of year.

Sat, Aug 3:            Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake.  Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts.  Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake.  But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. – Exodus 7:10-12  Snakes and superstitions…they go together in virtually every culture.  Kadi and Binta saw Bakary kill a cobra last week, chopping its head off.  Within seconds, both the body and the head began “moving” back together, as if to reattach and bring the snake back to life.  Kadi and Binta ran away, screaming.  As they told their story that night to the children, they were all frightened.  Pray for the MNK to listen to Scripture with minds and hearts ready to accept the words as Truth, overcoming fear and superstitions.

Sun, Aug 4:            Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. – 1 Peter 5:8  There are many MNK fables that talk about animals consuming humans.  As a child, Bakary believed these stories to be literal.  But as he grew up, he understood that they are just stories, talingolu (ta-ling’-olu), fairy tales.  On the radio, he often hears verses that are hard to accept as truth, yet his Toubob friend constantly assures him that everything that comes from Scripture is true.  Bakary is well aware of Satan and his demons…he lives in fear of them every day.  Is it possible for the devil to masquerade as a lion?  Pray for the MNK to accept the reality of good and evil as set forth in Scripture, separating truth from folk tales.

Mon, Aug 5:            Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Matthew 6:19,21  Pests are a problem within MNK living.  Pests in the house.  Pests in the fields.  Pests in the granary.  Pests in grain storage bins.  Moth problems exist, but they do not cause the destruction that mice, termites, roaches, rats, and worms do.  So when Bakary first heard this verse he was a little confused, until his Toubob friend explained to him the damage moths can cause; then he had a much clearer understanding of the significance of Jesus’ words.  Things on earth do not last…either someone takes it from you or it is destroyed by a pest or other acts of nature.  Pray for the MNK to grasp this teaching of the importance of our relationship with God. 

Tue, Aug 6:            Suddenly a young lion came roaring toward Samson.  The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. – Judges 14:6  As a young boy, Bakary went out with the goats and sheep, sometimes for several days at a time.  He and his friends would sleep in the bush, taking care to protect the animals from hyenas and foxes.  Listening to this story of Samson makes him smile.  “Do they really think we would believe that just a man could tear apart a lion?  This story cannot be true.”  But as he listens again, he hears the words the spirit of the Lord came upon him in power.  What exactly does that mean?  Did a jinn, a spirit, enter Samson and give him supernatural powers?  Pray for the MNK to learn what the Spirit of the Lord actually is; pray for them to grasp the power – physical and spiritual - that is available through God’s Spirit.

Wed, Aug 7:            But the Lord said to Jonah, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow.  It sprang up overnight and died overnight.  But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well.  Should I not be concerned about that great city?” – Jonah 4:10-11  Every tribe in West Africa is known for its area of expertise.  The Fulani of West Africa are the herdsmen.  The Jola are fierce warriors.  The MNK are known as Muslim missionaries, keepers of the faith.  But their understanding of God is as limited as Jonah’s was.  Jonah was so concerned about his own misery, he did not see God’s great care and compassion, even in allowing the vine to grow in order to protect him from the sun.  This story serves to teach us that God is concerned about every aspect of our lives, including our livestock.  Pray for the MNK to turn their Islamic missionary fervor over to God, learning about Him and His love as they teach others the Truth.

Thu, Aug 8:            Like a ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. – Proverbs 11:22  Bakary LOVED this parable.  The MNK teach by parables; they live by parables; they discipline by parables.  To the MNK, no other animal is as disgusting as a pig.  So hearing this parable from Scripture about an indiscrete woman being compared to putting a ring in a pig’s nose is immediately ear catching!  Who in their right mind would put a ring through a pig’s nose?  What does it mean for a beautiful woman to be indiscreet?  And indiscreet by whose standard?  Pray for the MNK to see that the only standard that can stand the test of time is God’s True standard, His Word.

Fri, Aug 9:            “I have ordered the ravens to feed you.”  And the ravens brought Elijah bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. – 1 Kings 17:6  Kadi could not believe her ears.  As she walked to the rice field yesterday morning, she heard talk about a woman in town who has nothing to eat.  The woman’s husband died heavily in debt.  He was a difficult man, not at all respected by the community.  But now his wife and young children were being ostracized because he did not follow the traditions of the community.  Kadi agreed, or at least she thought she did.  Then she began thinking about the suffering of the woman and children because the husband was evil.  Was that their fault?  She remembered hearing a story on the radio that spoke of God caring for Elijah so much that He had the birds bring him food twice every day!  Might God care that much for this woman and her children?  Pray for MNKs as they hear stories from the Bible to make real-life applications; pray for these stories to become reality in their lives.

Sat, Aug 10:            They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns. – Psalm 118:12  Yesterday, the bees swarmed!  It was an unbelievable site.  First they stung some of the children; Bakary assumed they were annoying the bees.  Soon the boys came rushing in from the bush to say that the bees had swarmed the sheep, goats, and the shepherds!  Bees went throughout the village, stinging everything they came in contact with.  By the end of the day, there were swollen faces, hands and feet, and 3 dead sheep.  The elders called the boys together, trying to determine what they did to cause this, and not quite believing the “We didn’t do anything” story.  But today Bakary learned that the bees also swarmed 3 other villages, inflicting similar damage.  The bees just swarmed, and went away as quickly as they had come.  Bakary, when he can sit quietly and truly think, is amazed at how many times the words he hears on the radio not only make sense, but apply to things he knows.  Pray for those who are preparing the one-minute Scripture radio spots to choose Scripture verses that will speak to the heart-felt needs of the MNK.

Sun, Aug 11:            Aaron took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool.  Moses said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?”  Aaron replied, “They gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” – Exodus 32:4,21,24  When Kadi, Binta and Fatou heard this story, they missed the humor in it; when Bakary heard it, he not only missed the humor, but he couldn’t understand why some thought it was humorous.  Moses was up the mountain in the presence of God; the Israelites, thinking he was never coming back, reverted to idols, things they could shape, see, and touch.  They even got Aaron involved in helping them.  But when confronted, Aaron accepted no blame and no responsibility; he blamed others.  Bakary is confused.  Idol worship is an abomination to him, but not accepting responsibility for sin is second nature.  Pray for the MNK to realize that when we elevate anything above God, it becomes an idol and He cannot work in our lives, even though He desires to; pray for their eyes to be opened to the reality of sin in their lives.

Mon, Aug 12:            In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job.  This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.  He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys.  Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?  There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” – Job 1:1-3,8  MNKs, like virtually everyone else in the world, are known by what they have, what they do, or who they know.  Modou, the tailor; Ebou, the President’s relative; Musa, the Qu’ranic teacher; Dawuda, owner of 100+ cattle; Bakary, the poor farmer.  But the first words recorded about Job are that he was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.  Unfortunately, all Bakary heard of this Scripture passage was the recounting of Job’s wealth.  Pray for the MNK to seek after a Godly reputation rather than one that is impressive (and perishable) to man.

Tue, Aug 13: So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.  The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”  When the king came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lion?”  Daniel answered, “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.  They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.” – Daniel 6:16,20,22  While the boys were working in the peanut field, they were listening to the radio.  “Now there’s a great story,” they thought.  A boy gets thrown into the lions’ den and comes out unhurt!  They immediately began thinking of ways to embellish the story so as to make it more exciting, more thrilling, more exotic, more dangerous.  They missed the point of truth – Daniel was found innocent, not in the king’s sight, but in God’s!  Pray for MNKs as they listen to Bible stories on the radio and cassette tapes to truly hear, learn, and repeat the truth of Scripture.

Wed, Aug 14:            And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature that came out of the ark with you, a covenant for all generations to come:  I have set my rainbow in the clouds and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. – Genesis 9:12-13  Rainbows are fairly rare to the Mandinka eye.  With only a three-month annual rainy season, rainbows do not manifest themselves often.  Yet even an MNK who regularly contends with nature, cannot help but look in awe at the magnificence of the rainbow.  As the MNK hear the story of Noah as told in Scripture, they learn about God’s provision and care and faithfulness.  A promise from God is something a Muslim dare not claim, for God is able to change His mind, irregardless of promises made in the past.  Pray for the MNK to look at rainbows as evidence of God’s faithfulness and steadfastness; pray for them to know that God is a God of Promise, a never-ending God of love.

Thu, Aug 15:            Jesus commanded the evil spirits to come out of the man.  They begged Jesus to let them go into a nearby herd of pigs, and he gave them permission.  When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. – Luke 8:27,29,32-33  Pigs are abhorrent to Muslims.  MNKs never eat pig; they kill bush pigs to protect their peanut fields; they do not raise domestic pigs.  So this story from the NT is confusing to Bakary.  Why would Jesus send evil spirits into pigs?  Why not just obliterate them?  And even though pigs are disgusting, what about the poor fellows who owned that herd?  Did Jesus pay them for destroying their livelihood?  Throughout history mankind has often put financial gain above needy people, and the MNK are no different.  Pray for the MNK to comprehend Jesus’ compassion and love for the individual above all other things.

Fri, Aug 16:            “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.  But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”  When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.  Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”  So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. – Luke 5:6,10-11  Bakary’s best friend is a fisherman.  He goes out every night, spends all night on the river, comes back in the morning and sells fish to the sellers in the market.  Some nights there are lots of fish to catch; other nights, storms come up and nearly drown the fisherman; still other nights, the motor goes out on his boat and he has to row his way back to shore; one night his boat was knocked by a crocodile; a friend’s boat was capsized by an angry hippo.  When he heard this story two aspects of it amazed him.  One, that Jesus told the fishermen where to let down their nets.  Two, the fishermen left their boats, and their livelihood, to follow Jesus.  Pray that more MNK men will discern the truth within the Gospel, and leave all to follow Jesus.

Sat, Aug 17:            When the disciples brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.  Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while other spread branches they had cut in the fields.  Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” – Mark 11:7-9  In MNK history, horses are associated with war.  When Islam was spread across West Africa, it was done so on a horse, with a sword.  Today horses are used to pull carts and work in the fields, as are donkeys.  To much of the world, since the donkey is not a glamorous animal, it suggests poverty, humility.  So the idea of Jesus entering Jerusalem “triumphantly” on a donkey causes the elders to smile and shake their heads.  Mohammed conquered on a horse; Jesus rode on a donkey.  Is there really any comparison?  Pray for the MNK to see God’s fulfillment of prophecy in every aspect of Jesus’ life; pray for them to see God’s idea of might and man’s are not the same.

Sun, Aug 18:            Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food? – Job 38:41  The children woke up this morning to find only cold, leftover dinner available for breakfast.  Yet for an MNK, you eat what is given you, without complaint, for you do not know where or when the next meal may come.  Kadi and Binta talk with Fatou; as the elder wife, she will go to Bakary and explain the need for another 50-kilo bag of rice.  They do not expect the talk to go well.  Bakary will insist he has no money for another bag of rice, that the women will just have to manage.  But Fatou knows from experience Bakary will go to town and beg from someone, either a rich merchant or the Toubob; he will come home with at least some rice.  Pray for the MNK to know that God cares for all of His creation; pray for them to grasp that His love for mankind is unending.

Mon, Aug 19:            Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.  When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”  But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. – Acts 28:3-5  Among MNKs, all snakes are evil.  Often an outsider will want to find out what kind of snake it is; MNKs don’t care.  They just kill it.  Snakes kill their sheep and goats; snakes steal the chicken eggs; snakebites kill their children.  Still enamored by those who perform slight of hand tricks, MNKs are convinced that those who are able to handle snakes without injury have special powers.  And, not unlike the people of Malta with Paul, they attribute that power to either good or evil…it doesn’t really matter.  Pray for the MNK to know that when God intervenes supernaturally in a situation, it is for His glory, not mankind’s; pray for the MNK to see God at work in Scripture and their daily lives.

Tue, Aug 20:            The angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose Balaam.  When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field.  Balaam beat her to get her back on the road. --- Numbers 22:23  Kadi, Fatou and Binta are not terribly surprised by this story.  They hear many stories involving speaking animals in their MNK fables.  But what is surprising to them is that followers of Jesus claim this story is true as told in God’s Word.  When they hear the entire story they wonder why Christians would believe that a donkey saw the angel of the Lord when Balaam himself did not!  What they don’t yet realize is that Satan frequently blinds the eyes of humans to the reality of God.  Pray for the MNK to see that God is alive, participating daily in His creation.

Wed, Aug 21:            As Elisha was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him.  “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said.  “Go on up, you baldhead!”  He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord.  Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. – 2 Kings 2:23-24  One aspect of defending Islam taught to MNK youth is the avenue of debate.  They have learned specific issues in an attempt to discredit Scripture.  For instance:  How can you say Jesus was in the grave for three days and three nights when he supposedly died on Friday and was seen again on Sunday?  God does not have a wife; therefore, how can He have a son?  The Qu’ran mentions Jesus; why doesn’t the Bible mention Mohammed?  While not violent, these debate settings can become very intense as voices and emotions rise.  Elisha solution for this taunting was to curse these youths, and God responded in His way.  Pray for those who share the Gospel with MNK youth to have patience; pray for the Gospel to be shared, not in the form of debate, but from the viewpoint of personal experience; pray for MNK youth to be able to listen and understand for themselves Truth.

Thu, Aug 22:            Jesus said to His disciples:  “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.  Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” – Matthew 10:16  Bakary understands the aspect of shrewdness.  MNKs pride themselves on knowing how to exact revenge.  But why be as innocent as doves?  A snake attacks from behind and undercover; a dove can be caught by even young children.  The concept of a religion asserting weakness is baffling.  Jesus was sending out His followers like sheep among wolves?  How can Jesus claim to be the Son of God if His followers were to be destroyed by others?  Pray for the MNK to see that in our weakness, God’s strength is more than sufficient, and that by demonstrating perceived weakness, we actually strongest.  

Fri, Aug 23:            Samson went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail-to-tail in pairs.  He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails, lit the torches and let the foxes loose in the standing grain.  – Judges 15:4  How did Samson catch 300 foxes and tie them tail-to-tail in pairs?  This story must just be an example, a story, a parable of what happens when a man of his strength gets angry!  But no, Bakary was told by his Toubob friend that this is true – completely true!  Bakary tried to catch a fox one night when it was in the chicken house; not only did he not catch the fox, but he accidentally killed two chickens and pretty much destroyed the chicken house.  Pray for Bakary to accept God’s Word as completely true; pray he will have the opportunity to listen to it, read it and experience it first-hand.

Sat, Aug 24:            King Nebuchadnezzar said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”  The words were still on is lips when a voice came from heaven, “This is what I have decreed for you:  Your royal authority has been taken from you.  You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle.”  Immediately what had been said was fulfilled.  His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. Nebuchadnezzar said, “At the end of that time, I raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored.  Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.”  Pray for the MNK to come to terms with the reality that everything they have and everything they are comes from God, for His glory alone.

Sun, Aug 25:            Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”  “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.  “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”  Abraham answered, “God himself with provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”  And the two of them went on together. – Genesis 22:7-8  Sacrificial animals played a significant role in the religious history of the Israelites.  They play a significant role in the lives of Muslims today.  Every holiday is marked by the killing of a goat or a sheep.  One holiday in particular marks the remembrance by Muslims of this very event recorded in Genesis 22.  Bakary has always been taught that the son Abraham took up the mountain with him was Ishmael, Hagar’s son.  Yet Scripture is clear that it was Isaac, Sarah’s son.  Pray for MNKs to come to know the One who was the perfect sacrificial lamb.

Mon, Aug 26:            Jesus said, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” – Luke 15:4  Bakary woke up this morning to bad news.  He has two bulls he uses for farm work.  They are kept by a friend in a neighboring village.  Last night, one of the bulls disappeared.  His friend has looked and looked and still can find no sign of it.  Bakary has now joined the search with his machete in hand.  It is unclear if he will use the machete on the thief, but he is determined to get his bull back.  The point of Jesus’ parable is lost on Bakary.  He does not realize that God is searching for him, personally, and that He will not stop.  Pray for the MNK to allow God to find them and welcome them back into His fellowship.

Tue, Aug 27:            Jesus said, “Do not worry about what you will eat or drink.  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?” – Matthew 6:25-26  During the rainy season, there is a plethora of small birds in and around the villages and the fields.  Children create their own fun by catching, playing with, and eventually cooking and eating these tiny creatures.  They appear to “torture” the birds, but it is not done with the idea of inflicting pain; they’ve never been taught to give that part of God’s creation respect.  The concept that God cares for the birds puzzles them greatly.  Unfortunately, they do not grasp that if birds have value to God, how much more valuable are children.  Pray for MNK adults and children alike to see their value to God as individuals; pray for them to know that God cares for each one.

Wed, Aug 28:            They brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys.  And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock. – Genesis 47:17  This time of year – the end of August – is called the “hungry season” among the MNK.  The storehouse of food from last year is depleted; the new crops are not yet ready to be harvested.  While Bakary is not a cattleman, he does own a couple of bulls; Fatou and Kadi each own one cow, and multiple sheep, goats and chickens; Binta owns two donkeys.  But an MNK will not consider selling animals to feed his hungry family.  He will sell them for a huge profit for religious holidays, but not for food.  Pray for the MNK to know that every good thing comes from God; pray for MNK men to know how to care for their families in a way pleasing to God.

Thu, Aug 29:            Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air.  He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. – Genesis 2:19-20  According to the Biblical account of creation, Adam gave names to every creature God made.  American children are taught that he named cows, horses, dogs, cats, and butterflies.  But this is a confusing concept to MNK men who are able to understand more than one language.  Did Adam speak Mandinka?  Wolof?  French?  English?  Arabic?  What were the animals Adam named, and in what language?  Were there hyenas in the Garden of Eden?  Scorpions?  Baboons?  Oftentimes Satan clouds our minds with superfluous thoughts in order to keep our minds confused.  Pray for MNK men to begin to see that God’s mind is so much larger than mankind’s and that it is not always possible to explain everything in the Bible.

Fri, Aug 30:            Jesus said, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” – Luke 10:19-20  Kadi screams as she enters the kitchen to find a snake eating the chicken eggs.  Binta nearly stepped on a scorpion as she went out to the latrine last night.  What is going on?  Who is causing these near mishaps?  The women decide to go to a marbout tomorrow while in town to determine the cause for these happenings.  If only they could read the Scripture poster given them…it is in English…it is in Roman script.  If it were written in the Mandinka language using the Arabic script, they might find someone who could read it to them.  Pray for the production and distribution of Scripture portions in Mandinka language, Arabic script; pray for MNK names to be written in heaven!

Sat, Aug 31:            The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. --- Isaiah 11:6  Over the years Bakary has seen fewer and fewer wild animals due to deforestation and population growth.  When he was a child, Lamin used to tell him about lions in the bush; his grandfather told him about elephants that lived further up-river.  Today the most common wild animals are hyenas, bush pigs, and baboons.  But as these men listen to the verses of Scripture on the radio, they are amazed that a wolf would live with a lamb, a leopard with a goat, that a child would be anywhere near them!  Pray for the MNK to realize that God’s idea of paradise is for all of His creation to live in harmony, praising only Him for eternity.