monthly focus ~ it's a small world after all

IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL

As we move through life, we cross paths with hundreds of people.  With some, the encounters are brief, with others a few years, and still others for a lifetime.  A variety of circumstances can change our relationships. 

Don and Jan Carson arrived in Mali in 1966 to begin missionary work there.  They spent years ministering as church planters, Bible teachers and language translators, serving in Timbuktu, Niafunke and Menaka. 

Rebels from Libya attacked Menaka where they were working in 1990.  They safely evacuated at the time, but it became clear that they would not be able to return there.  Through a series of events, the Carsons resigned from EBM in 1994 and have served in California since then.  Last summer, they responded to an urgent need for a couple to relieve furloughing missionaries from Mali for a year at the guest house in Bamako.  The Carsons are doing a great job of serving not only EBM personnel who travel to Bamako, the Capitol City of Mali, but also are extending hospitality to a number of others who are in Mali ministering. 

Recently some of their visitors to Mali were missionaries from Guinea, who were being evacuated due to civil unrest. Because of the experiences the Carsons went through over 17 years ago in Mali, they can minister in special ways to assist them.  A few days ago, Mark (one of the guest missionaries) went to an internet café close to the EBM guest house.  The missionary met an African there who saw a Protestant Mission sign on his vehicle.  The African man started asking questions about where Mark worked and learned that he had evacuated because of civil unrest.  The African fellow talked about when he was attacked by rebels in Menaka and was shot in the mouth.  He then mentioned that he had known missionaries in that city and mentioned Don and Jan Carson.  What a wonderful surprise when he learned that Mark was staying at the guest house with the Carsons!  Mark quickly asked for the African man’s phone number to give to Don and Jan who called him. 

Isn’t this a small world?  We have an amazing Great God that restores relationships.