Joel’s walk with the Lord started when an Adventist evangelist came to his village of Pelima and began weekly Bible-study meetings. Joel had some education, so he began serving as the evangelist’s contact person and translator. When the evangelist left for seminary two years ago, I took over leadership of the group and began working with Joel.

Joel is a vibrant 22-year old man with a quick smile and infectious laugh who is very interested in anything and everything to do with God. He eagerly searches the Bible to find new truths. Last year, he came to Natitingou to attend school, and I was able to start in-depth Bible studies with him. I put him in charge of the Bible-study group in Pelima where his wife and new baby were staying, and he stepped up to the challenge, writing everything down as we studied.

I see great potential in Joel as he continues to mature in Christ. He loves people but also takes time alone to study. He has an amazing ability to translate complicated subjects, and he is very good at checking the accuracy of translators we use with other study groups. He and several older people are the core of the Pelima group.

Last year, Joel suffered from a strange infection. His skin itched, and he scratched and scratched. He also had lots of intestinal trouble. Finally a stool test revealed a yeast infection, and I was able to give him the right treatment and clear it up. Before the final diagnosis, I gave him antihistamines that seemed to help a little but also made him sleepy. As we would ride out to Pelima together on my motorbike, I had my hands full keeping us upright through the deep sandy spots and keeping an eye on Joel behind me. Whenever he would start to fall asleep, I would reach back and give him a whack to wake him up so he wouldn’t fall off the motorbike. Riding like this for an hour each way to Pelima and back would leave all my muscles sore from tension. He did fall asleep once while we were riding, but he didn’t fall off, and we only wobbled a bit when he jerked awake.

Please keep Joel and the other Pelima group members in your prayers as God breaks down the powers of darkness that have held sway around them for so long. We fight not against people but against the powers of Satan who try in all ways to destroy the work we do and snuff out the truth that has come to Pelima.

Thank you for your continued support so people like Joel can hear the Good News.

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