“Hey!” the young woman sitting on the mat shrinks back in surprise while my daughter’s friend gleefully holds something out to her.

“N te!” (“I don’t want it!”) the boy beside her shouts fearfully. Meanwhile, the mother of my daughter’s friend laughs uproariously, bending over in her chair. I shake my head as I observe the scene. We are sitting outside next to one of the huts on our property. The air is hot. Chickens peck near our feet, and three fluffy chicks fight over a fat bug too big for them to swallow.

The uproarious laughter and shouts of surprise continue from the women in front of me. What is causing all this hubbub? A toy Hadassah brought back from the States, a little battery operated white polar bear cub that makes noise and moves its arms and legs back and forth. After about 30 seconds, the toy puts itself to sleep, shuts its eyes and snores. When woken up, it makes a little cry amazingly similar to that of a baby. The mother of my daughter’s friend had already seen the toy and specifically asked me to bring it out to show the other women, who weren’t sure if it was alive or not. After I show the women the bear’s battery pack and they understand that it truly is just a toy, they laugh, too.

Around four in the afternoon, our visitors take their leave. It will be dark by 6:30, and they have far to go before they reach their village. I am sure they will have plenty of stories to share about the toy of the tubabudenw (white children). I hope someday soon they will be retelling different stories about how much they are loved by their Creator, and how He has a purpose for their lives.

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Please continue to pray for the Malinke people of Mali. Thank you so much for your prayers and support that enable us to be here.

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