April-May 1999 Prayer Letter

"Les bandits"

"Would you give me an apple in the name of Jesus?" asked Mousa, a 15-year-old bandit. ("Bandits" are street kids who live on the streets of Bouak‚ and beg for money.)

"I will not do it for you. I will not do it for me. But for Jesus I will give you 100fcfa."

So began my relationhip with Mousa. For the next week I saw Mousa everywhere in town. He talked about all the missionaries he had known in Bouak‚. One missionary said that he had met Mousa six years earlier and had watched him grow up on the streets.

One day Mousa showed me his bandaged leg and asked for some money for medication. His bloody bandage was torn, ragged and dirty. At the time I did not have any money on me. Later I talked to several missionaries who had known Mousa. Each of them had said that Mousa had that "bad" leg for years. One missionary nurse had treated his leg five different times and finally stopped helping him, realizing the wounds were always reappearing. Mousa had found a way to "survive" on the streets. If he would cut himself, he could get money to live on.

Mousa is one of many street "bandits" on the streets of Bouak‚, some as little as six years of age. There are many others that are in juvenile prison. If people complain that there are too many beggars on the streets the police round some up and put them in juvenile prison.

I am at a loss as to how to reach him with the gospel of Christ. He knows all the "Christian" terminology, having many missionary "friends." Please pray for Mousa and the other "bandits", that they might come to know the God who provides. Pray for us also that we might know how to effectively minister to these "bandits."

Family news

Hannah, our second oldest daughter, had malaria after being here for only four weeks. It was quite an ordeal for her, and for us. Please pray for her complete recovery.

Thank you!

Thank you, Pastor, for your faithful and consistent support. You have made it possible for us to be here. We really appreciate that fact.

Your missionaries to West Africa,

The Joyces