Welcome

Hi, we're Dan & Marsha Haynes, and serving the Lord as missionaries in the country of Mali in West Africa.  We're involved in church-planting and evangelism among the Songhai-speaking people which includes about 6 different tribal groups.  We're working in Niafunke which is in the region of Timbuktu, in the Sahara desert near the Niger river. 

We're glad you stopped by, and hope you'll come back often to read a little bit of what God is doing in this region, and so that you can pray effectively for His work and His people here.

Prayer Update - March 8, 2010

The road back to Africa has some straight-aways but the there are a few
 rough spots too. But for every bump, the Lord's grace makes it smooth.
 1) Goodbyes are never easy, from grandbabies to our children to Dan's
 Mom, the only parent we have left in this world, to many close family
 and friends. It seemed harder this time, perhaps because of the extra
 three months of bonding.//// The Lord's words of Matthew 10:37-39 help
 us have the right perspective.
 2) Contrary to the forecast, we had dry pavement nearly all the way
 from NH, but nearing Boston, snow began and continued to fall right up
 to boarding time. Our memories were painfully etched by three failed
 attempts the last times we tried to travel in snowstorms.//// The
 steady snow was not accumulating because the Lord adjusted
 temperatures to stay above freezing. We had NO weather delays.
 3) New baggage limits from 70 to 50 lbs in each bag had us pushing
 the limits indeed. Combining all six, we were about 15 lbs over. This could
result in some  hefty penalties, so we scrambled to remove some of the
heavier objects
 to add to our already bulging handbags.//// As we were repacking, the
 Delta attendant kindly advised us that since we had already paid for
 two extra bags, the weight allowances were higher. Thus, we unloaded
 several pounds from our handbags into those two extra checked ones.
 4) At one the security checks, we were advised that we had one too
 many hand bags. We could EITHER return to check in one more bag
 ($$$$$) OR consolidate five into four. //// The space vacated in item
 3 (above)gave just enough room to stuff in the smallest handbag and we
 were home free.
 5) Runway construction at JFK airport caused an hour delay. It
 could be very tight to make our connection. Last time, we had gotten
 to the same boarding gate just after closing and had to spend an extra
 night at the airport out of pocket.//// This time, we were able to get
 through the ever increasing maze of procedures and security checks and
 have 30 minutes to spare before boarding!
 6) With a five hour time change and layovers at two airports, it
 would take us part of three days to get to Mali. This is normally very
 tiring.//// Having already enjoyed relative ease (above), we landed in
 Morocco to spend 12 hours at the Atlas Hotel at the airline's expense
 including a private room and two buffet style Moroccan dinners. 60* to
 70* out among palm trees and flowery pathways was so relaxing.
 7) Stepping out of the airplane in Bamako to 84* at 2:40 a.m. was just
 a prelude to the heat of sub-Saharan Africa. It has come early this
 year. Daytime temps are over 105*. We are in a land where our personal
 comforts must give way to being His servants among a needy people.////
 Walking the dirty pathway, the call of a smiling child catches our
 attention. At the little boutique (store) we laugh and converse in
the native dialect. In the local Baptist church founded by EBM, 200-300
 believers sing from their hearts. The chorale presents  these lyrics. "No
more witch doctors, no more fear of evil spirits....  in every situation,
Jesus is ALL we need". From the pulpit, assistant Pastor Fassara, a graduate
of EBM's Bible school, clearly expounds the  Word of God. Bamako is the
gateway north to a land of a dozen churches reaching out to scores of
villages. This is God's place for us.

 We appreciate your prayerful support as we readjust and make plans
 for another term in Africa. One of the first major events will be the
 annual conference, postponed until April. More later... as we roll
 along, Dan and Marsha

 See older prayer letters under the "Get Involved" menu above, or here.