Ministries update March 18th

Sunday School
In church, the Sunday School kids are preparing for Easter. They are putting together some songs to share for Easter Sunday. Here is a pic of them performing in the Christmas program. They work very hard, and sing with such vigor and enthusiasm.

Womens Ministry
At our women's meeting this week, we got the names of the women who plan on attending the Conference in Sikasso at the end of the month. Thanks to two supporting churches, we have 18 women who can go fully supported, with tee-shirts publicizing the Pain de Vie (Bread of Life) in Kadiolo. There was enough
money to make sure each woman has her own Bible in either French or Bambara, so as she begins to learn to read, she can practice with Bible passages. We're hoping that starting in the Fall, most of the women can begin a correspondence Bible study on her own. Please pray that as the women travel on Monday the 27th to the conference, returning the following Monday, God will give them safety, good fellowship, and edifying teaching while there. Also, that He'll bless
and protect their families while they're away. I, Lisa, plan on going over for the day on Wednesday to enjoy the singing and dancing and fellowship, as well as teaching from God's Word. I'm unable to attend the entire conference because of colleagues visiting from Senegal during that time, and we're leaving for
Bamako on the 2nd for kid's school testing and mission meetings.

A subject of prayer for us is the fatigue that comes from being asked for money on a daily basis by both strangers and friends. Being undersupported as we are, and trying to renovate housing and also start some new programs and help get Ivoirian friends/refugees installed in new jobs and housing here is stretching us to the limits. Because of the locust infestation last year at the end of the growing season, and now a long dry season with no rain since the beginning of November, wells at people's houses are dry, so finding water to drink, wash with, and cook with is a growing problem. Pray for God's wisdom in knowing who to help, how to follow up with them for future opportunities, and how much to help.

One regular need is children's schooling. We have two families that help our ministry who can't afford to send their children to school. So we've been helping them as we can, but are considering setting up a special project account where people could "sponsor a child" to attend school and have as much regular
contact with the child as they want. The cost for a child's school year is $5 a month for tuition plus the books needed. It is so small a price for us as Americans, but when the parents have 3 kids of their own, and 3 other kids from family members, it is difficult for them to put their kids in school. Often it is the girls
who are left behind. (then we see them later in women's ministries needing to learn to read.)

We have another student who wants to follow an automotive training course next year
in Burkina Faso. He's gathering the cost information for us so we can consider how we can help. If you would be interested in contributing to a child's schooling costs, drop us an email and we'll get back in touch with details.

Kids-School Pic
All of these kids at our gate are kids whose families can't afford to send them to school. So they spend a lot of time wandering around town. Sometimes getting into mischief, sometimes looking for odd jobs they can do to help their familes...


Our kids continue to adjust to life in Kadiolo. They have a lot of local friends now. Caleb functions in french as he plays with them. The kids love to swing on our hammock.


Here is a pic of Ben and Caleb together at the waterfall.