Now there is a main road from our town that goes through the Capital and then to Scott's town that is all paved road. In fact it is probably the best 2 roads across Mali. But that is not the road we took. There is another road from our town that goes through some of the cliffs separating our town from Scott's town. The first 50K is dirt road, leading to a village we call Sama. This part was pretty decent for a dirt road. After the first 50K the shape of the road was unknown as well as the distance from Sama to Scott's town. Because of that we were warned by different friends that it might not be a good idea to travel this road, and it would be better to take the more common, larger, and easier paved road through the Capital.
The reason we chose to go on this road was to find out how many Maninka villages are along the way, if it's still our dialect of Maninka, and if they've been exposed to God's Word, and how many followers of J can be found on this road.
The reason we chose to go on this road was to find out how many Maninka villages are along the way, if it's still our dialect of Maninka, and if they've been exposed to God's Word, and how many followers of J can be found on this road.
After about an hour drive that morning we reached Sama. There we got in touch with a friend of a friend, Chris Kringle. We had learned prior to meeting him that he was a follower of J.
Chris Kringle and another man Simba were our two main contacts who answered our questions while others sat around and just observed and was curious how these 3 white girls ended up in their village, speaking their language.
We had learned during our conversation that Chris Kringle, his wife and 5 children are the only ones on the J. road. Everyone else walks a different road. We explained that we walk the J road too, and we are here in Mali to share God's word.
We were then given an opportunity to present God's word to them in a 6 minute story going from Creation, to the Return of J. In the end we asked Simba what he learned about J through the stories. He said he was amazed that J went up to heaven and will come back again, but that's all he can tell us for now for he still needs to think about the other things he heard about J.
We also explained that God has given us a peace in our hearts through J and that is why we want to tell people about it. Simba then asked if we can get the peace while we're here on earth. We explained that the kind of peace he was familiar with is different from the kind of peace we were talking about. We were honest that to walk the J road is a hard road with lots of trouble and persecution, and because of that there would seem there is no peace between men, but God gives us a peace in our hearts between us and Him the moment we choose to follow him.
Chris Kringle and another man Simba were our two main contacts who answered our questions while others sat around and just observed and was curious how these 3 white girls ended up in their village, speaking their language.
We had learned during our conversation that Chris Kringle, his wife and 5 children are the only ones on the J. road. Everyone else walks a different road. We explained that we walk the J road too, and we are here in Mali to share God's word.
We were then given an opportunity to present God's word to them in a 6 minute story going from Creation, to the Return of J. In the end we asked Simba what he learned about J through the stories. He said he was amazed that J went up to heaven and will come back again, but that's all he can tell us for now for he still needs to think about the other things he heard about J.
We also explained that God has given us a peace in our hearts through J and that is why we want to tell people about it. Simba then asked if we can get the peace while we're here on earth. We explained that the kind of peace he was familiar with is different from the kind of peace we were talking about. We were honest that to walk the J road is a hard road with lots of trouble and persecution, and because of that there would seem there is no peace between men, but God gives us a peace in our hearts between us and Him the moment we choose to follow him.
We left Simba with many things to think about, and we did our best to encourage Chris Kringle to press on in his walk and went on our way.
The rest of our journey was nearly 200K of rough somewhat non-existent roads. We went on paths that look like only bikes have been on it. We were thankful when we would come up on a village and greet and find out we still were heading the right direction. And even more thankful when we came upon paved road, after almost 8 hours since we started, meaning we finally made it to Scott's town.
The rest of our journey was nearly 200K of rough somewhat non-existent roads. We went on paths that look like only bikes have been on it. We were thankful when we would come up on a village and greet and find out we still were heading the right direction. And even more thankful when we came upon paved road, after almost 8 hours since we started, meaning we finally made it to Scott's town.
As we visited with Scott and his people on Sat. and Sun. we were able to meet the few followers of J among the many Maninka who don't. We discussed what it means to truly turn away from your sins, and to truly walk the J road. We talked about how people cannot walk two roads at the same time. If they choose the J road, they must choose to put their faith in Him only, and not also in fetishes or other beliefs. We were able to encourage some of these followers and get excited with them as they began to plan how they were going to celebrate their first Christmas as followers of J.
There are many who want to walk the J road, but don't fully understand what it means and what it takes. Then there are those who have never even heard about the J road. Just like the road through the Capital was larger and easier, so is the "other" road, and since many of their families have walked on this "other" road they choose to do the same not know where it's leading. Unlike the 2 roads that lead to Scott's town, these two roads seem to be going the same direction, but in the end only the J road leads to God.
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