A new sister

Since I now have the other koutialakids blog, there sometimes is overlap of the two blogs. For that, I apologize. Some of these kids have become so special to me that it is hard not to include them in my own personal blog. So for those of you who have read the other blog, this is kind of a repeat.

Mamine has been in the hospital for a couple of weeks now. Her pain has gotten worse and she needs continual medicine. I've talked to her several times about the Lord. Carol and I have prayed with her every week as we visited her. We've told her that we wouldn't be in Mali if not for Jesus. To come here only to heal the physical is overwhelming. The need is too great. If we were trying to do it in our own strength, we would leave. We'd do 6 months rotations in the country like Doctors Without Borders. But we are here because Jesus died for us. He gives us hope. He works through us. He provides peace in situations that are heartbreaking. I've shared the gospel with the family several times in my broken Bambara. This is really the first time I've done this on my own. But there became discouraging times. The family started seeing a medicine man for treatment. I felt like we had given of time and money (not to mention emotions) on this family and they were turning to other things. I must admit I wanted to stop going to visit. I did for a couple weeks. Thankfully, Carol had me keep going. Now Mamine is with us at the hospital and I see her each day.

Two weeks ago, Mamine said she wanted to become a Christian. We had just gotten her tv set up in her room. I asked her if she wanted to pray then but she said no- she wanted to watch tv first! :) But a few days later she did in fact pray to accept Christ as her personal Savior. It was a special moment. No, I didn't pray with her, it was a pastor who was there, but I got to sit and enjoy the moment. How special. No, we can't provide physical healing. But now she is truly healed! Soon she will be able to walk without pain. She will be free. What a blessing. It made all the times of frustration so worth it. I'm so thankful for a friend who wouldn't let me give up on her but continued to pursue her. What a gift.

I told Mami that day that she was no longer my friend but my sister. I'm especially thankful for that day as now her pain is getting much worse and she's loopy from the meds now. She sleeps a lot. Thankful that the pain held off some so she could make a decision to follow Christ first. Praying He provides her with true peace in these last days.