The "Sonshine People" of the Desert Triangle & other random thoughts

As I write this our team is preparing to begin our new work this week.   The "Sonshine People" of northwestern Mali, on the edge of the Sahara will be our focus. They are an unreached people group of about 1.8 million throughout Senegal, Mali, Mauritana. There are no none believers and no-one engaging them at this time. There is not a written Word in their language, however, a NT book is being worked on.  Our base is a mid-sized town called "North Star"  We will be working in a village around there as well.


The 'enemy' is hard at work in the people in the area are are very devote to their 'faith' and animistic, African tribal ways. 
 We ask that you bathe these people and this land in prayer:

• For us to find a man of peace that will be open to us being there and quickly adopt us as 'family'
• For us to quickly find good language helpers and friends
• For our safety and health in the extremely dusty, hot and dry climate
• For us to find some believers or seekers that have already 'seen visions' of Esa and to be able to help encourage then
• For the Holy Spirit to move powerfully across the "Sonshine" people through miracles, visions and healings
• For us to do His will and completely trust in our Father

I will be sad to leave my new friends here in town and the people I've had the chance to visit with.  One in particular is my friend "Shack".  He is the tailor that does most of our clothes.  It is fun getting clothes here because you get to be your own fashion designer and draw out what you want!  He has been wonderful to speak French with(Dad I know you'd be proud of this) and I've gotten quite a bit of practice as we've sat for hours while he patiently bares through me 'butchering' what I'm trying to say.  I'm teaching him some English too. 

A few other things I've forgotten to mention....  I found out that even medicine men here pray in the name of Esa as they are trying to heal someone!  Even though they don't believe in His saving grace, they believe in the power of His name.

Another thing that's taken some getting used to... just as we might nod or say "uh-huh" while someone is talking to acknowledge we are listening to them, they click.  It's a back of the throat, closed mouth sound.  I still can't do it quite like they can, but I'm practicing. 

Our Father blessed us with a beautiful "couche de soleil" the other night and I thought I'd share the photo. 

Lastly, I haven't shared a picture of Bamako.  There are 2 bridges that cross the Niger River into downtown.  From this photo you might think it looks really nice, however, there are generally 100's of people bathing or doing laundry at all times so you can imagine what the water is really like.  Oh, and they fish out of it too!