BUNTU YAKAAR: THE STORYIn September, we felt a strong leading from the Lord to begin ministering to the women and children living on the streets in our city. There are many in our neighborhood who survive by begging, largely supported through alms given by other Muslims. Some of these women are from this country, but most come from Mali with their children. They are uneducated and do not speak French—some do not even speak the primary tribal language here. The number of languages represented, combined with their lack of education and extreme poverty, makes this a particularly difficult population to reach. We began simply by walking the streets, meeting basic needs where we could, and letting them know where we lived if they needed help. In October, we started inviting the women to our home for lunch and to learn about the Word of God. They also love having dance parties together! We have begun learning the local language so we can minister more effectively, and God has been so faithful to provide local believers and a fellow missionary who speak the various tribal languages represented. Every Tuesday, around 25 women attend, along with their children. We prepare a nutritious meal and share a Bible lesson, dividing into groups according to language. During the week, Danielle often walks the streets to visit the women and children, meeting needs as we able—mostly through prayer ministry and assistance with school supplies and medical needs. We cannot fully express in an email the incredible ways God has grown this ministry in such a short time. Over the past few months, we have seen these women become increasingly open as they experience consistent love and service. Their lives are extremely difficult, but we believe this trust is opening doors not only for physical help, but also for spiritual transformation. While we live in a Muslim context, most of these women’s day-to-day beliefs are rooted in animism. Some have maybe heard of Jesus before in the muslim context, but almost all have never had the gospel clearly presented to them. We have named this ministry Buntu Yakaar, which means “Door of Hope” in the local language (https://emberglobalvision.org/buntu-yakaar) . Our prayer is that every woman and child who passes through our door experiences the hope and love found in Jesus—hope for survival, hope for salvation, and hope for joy.
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