Well, so much for writing every month. I am a good example of why you should not make resolutions...but this isn't about my shortcomings, but my hope to better communicate to you what life is like in Mali, after 20 years. And it is easy to forget how very different it is. Sometimes it takes first time visitors with their fresh perspective to open your eyes to some of the unique, weird and even charming things that you just get so very used to seeing. Therefore, I want to give you some idea of what the capital city, Bamako, looks like. These photos were taken by members of a German medical team that came in November. I traveled with them for one week, having arranged in advance, a time of tourism after they did 2 weeks of intensive work including over 30 surgical procedures for free, to bless the Malian population. The team was not a part of my organization, Youth With A Mission (YWAM) but a part of a German NGO that was founded by a very dear friend of mine who formerly worked full time here in Mali.

Bamako is a city that has grown immensely during the years I have been here and now has a population of 1.6 million (probably closer to 2 million) and growing. It is estimated to be the fastest growing city in all of Africa and I have no doubts about that. It is situated on the Niger River and has 2 very busy bridges spanning the river connecting the two sides of the city.

YWAM has had a team and base there since 1998. Their ministries include evangelization, training, intercession, King's Kids, local church work, and inter-church worship development.