Youth Ministry in Mali

Hi. Just wanted to write this week about youth ministry. So many of you are friends from youth ministries where we've served, orparents of kids we've worked with. So many of you will understand when we say that while it is very rewarding, youth work can be frustrating as well. This year, our youth group is not having a stellar year. We got off to a late start,and all of our men are seniors in high school. So they've been struggling with senior-itus.They see the end of the school year, and have mentally checked out already.This is a factor that has made meetings difficult this year.Individually, I've been meeting with 2 of them for prayer, and 2 of them for English practice, but it has been very hard to unite them in group time.

Also, two of our girls (both are only 15) are pregnant. One gave birth about a month ago to a baby boy, and the other is in process. These girls both have been talked to a lot in the last year about behaviour, both by their parents, pastors, us, and people in the church.They didn't want to hear then. We pray that they will repent, and be the women God wants them to be.

Some years in ministry are like this aren't they? Youth ministry friends in Hayden Heights MN, Long Prairie MN, Lake Phalen MN, Moorhead MN, Ortonville MN, Taylors Falls MN, St Hyacinthe Quebec, Wheaton IL, Elmhurst IL, Geneva IL, Aurora IL, Lansing Il, Madison Wi, Midland Michigan, Lansing Mi, Ft Wayne IN, Elkhart IN, Minot ND, Winnipeg Manitoba,Stonewall Manitoba, and so many others can attest to these kinds of struggles. But we don't give up. Youthgroups in struggling times are why we as the youthworkers are there, aren't we? When the youth work is going well, and all is fun we sometimes wonder if we're needed.
Then the bottom falls out, and we're very needed.

Pray for us as we minister to these young people here in Kadiolo. We need the wisdom, the grace, the forgiveness, the patience that the Lord gives us.
Here's a pic of the group that met last Sunday...Note: the pic is missing 4 senior guys, and the two girls mentioned. They weren't there on Sunday.


Thanks for stopping by, Tom & Lisa Seward