Have you ever wondered how many people in America would go to church, if they knew they would be locked in a room without food for a day or two for making that choice?
Mai (Mah-ee), the recently converted Muslim girl that we mentioned in our last update, faced persecution this month for trying to go to church. About 10 days ago she arrived at our house near tears. She had run away from her mother's household in Goumere. Her mother had repeatedly hit her for wearing a skirt with Christian words on it, had locked her in a room a day and a half without food when she tried to go to church, and a distant uncle threatened to beat her if she went to church. A family council convened to interrogate her, to see if she had truly decided to follow Jesus, or if Christians had forced her to go to church. She stood firm in declaring it was her choice. Quite remarkable for a teen of 17.
Things are better now. Many people are praying and others have approached her family to seek a peaceable solution. About 5 days ago, her mother said she could go to church. Pray with us that this positive decision was sincere, and that Mai can follow Christ, while still having a relationship with her family. She was at church yesterday, although an uncle threatened to whip her when she got home. Things will be better when she returns to Bondoukou in October for high school, because the man who provides her housing and food here is a Christian.
Today will you remember in prayer the many people around the world like Mai, who pay a high price to call Jesus, “Lord.”
PRAISE
- Cara arrived home safely from a meaningful E-Team experience.
- Our vacation in Ghana was spiritually, emotionally, and physically refreshing. With dear missionary friends, we feasted on the Word and good food, sang together, played tennis, football, chess, and other games, and soaked up the beauty of God's creation.
- The National Association and National Youth Convention this month were well-attended and spiritually uplifting. Pastor TAH, George and his family were approved to return to the Bouake Free Will Baptist church-planting endeavor as soon as enough funds are pledged.
- Our coworker Alice Smith had the basal cancer successfully removed from her scalp and hopes to return to Cote d'Ivoire soon, pending doctor approval.
PRAYER
- The Goumere CHE team is excited about the ministry opportunities in the village of Krako . Their weekly visits are eagerly received by the people. Next week a date should be set for an important meeting with all the villagers in early September. Pray for continued good will and wisdom as the seed project to enter the village is discussed.
- Our family has numerous opportunities to lead children's Bible clubs, Bible studies for teens, and English classes, as school starts in October. Pray that we will have wisdom to select effective ways to share the gospel, while leaving ample time for all the facets of CHE, too.
- Pray for one of our pastors-in-training, Daniel, recovering from tuberculosis. Yesterday he attended church for the first time in over a year, having been too weak to get out of bed for many months until his illness was correctly diagnosed. His medical treatment will last at least 6 months.
Gladly serving Him here,
Verlin, Debbie, Cason, Cara, and Corbin Anderson
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