Follow The Gruddas

It will be difficult to sum up my weekend in Siby, Mali into something short enough that you may be willing to read but here goes:

Our 10 person Leadership Class left Kankan at 6AM bound for Bamako where we met with the Intervarsity Club. 

Though Mali is little more than 120 miles away, several of the guys had never been there. They were very impressed with the big city, lights, cars, gas stations, electricity, etc. Honestly, after only 5 weeks in Kankan, though I've been to Bamako before, I was caught off guard by ceiling fans and cars and monuments. 

I was also able to spend an hour or so with my parents who were passing through on their way back to Senegal from Cote d'Ivoire. 

We arrived in Siby (near a natural arch and "waterfall" some of you may know) Friday evening and met Pastor Samuel. 

We spent some time in prayer (which is often an exciting time of everyone praying out loud together at the same time), ate dinner and the 10 of us spent the night on the floor of a 90 degree 10'x10' room which turned out to be full of mosquitoes. I also learned that our group has a 30% Extremely Loud Snore Rate. 

After a very unrestful night during which I took my doxy without water (resulting in drug-induced esophogitis: a punch-in-the-chest sensation everytime you swallow) the pastor took us to meet some dignitaries of the village. He also took us on a hike during which I irresponsibly fell about 50 feet down a steep hill. Miraculously, my life was spared and my scrapes, bruises and dislocated finger are on the mend.

Pastor Samuel has been doing ministry in Siby since 1995 on a (recently given) salary of $50/month and is still trying to have a church building constructed. They meet under a mango tree in his garden while they fundraise. (Their last 18 month campaign produced about $80). Five of Samuel's 6 children are still in school and their school fees eat about $35 a month, but he considers education worth the investment.

Samuel has had his life threatened, been tied up to be beaten with sticks, poisoned by his family, turned away from his mother's funeral and received numerous delegations of people discouraging and cursing him all because of his faith. Despite all this, the village has entrusted him with some key financial projects because they know that he is an honest man of character. He has evangelized all 18 of the Imams (Muslim pastors) in the village and given them all copies of the Bible in Arabic. Periodically some of them call him with questions about the Bible and how it relates to the Qu'aran. Every dignitary we met told us that they respected this man and he gave Jesus a good name in this community. 

By living a life of integrity, Samuel has earned the respect of those who disagree with him (and yet the persecution continues) and he estimates there are about 100 Christians in the village. Besides his family, only 3 come to church services for fear of what will happen to them. 

Our delegation is trying to develop ways to support this man's remarkable ministry. I was struck with the courage of the Christians who come to church under the mango tree. 

Embarrassed at how easy church is for me. Inspired by the effect this man's character has had. Challenged to be willing to suffer for Jesus. And humbled by the faith this family has to do God's work with so little.

-Brandon