THE WIDOW OF FOUZI AYOUB EXPRESSES HER THANKS

A.E.C. Box 140, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. May/June, 2000

"The LORD gave and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21).

"BUT HIS BOW ABODE IN STRENGTH, AND THE ARMS OF HIS HANDS WERE MADE STRONG BY THE HANDS OF THE MIGHTY GOD OF JACOB." (Genesis 49:24)

Dear Praying Friends,

The past weeks of shock and grief have been undergirded by the merciful goodness of God. Through it all there remains the assurance that 22nd 2000 was Fouzi's appointed time to be called home and Mali was the appointed place - otherwise he would have walked away from the accident as the three other men did.

Let me try to clarify what happened that day, as some of you are hearing one thing then another and facts are getting distorted.

There were four people in the vehicle - three took turns in driving, Fouzi carried a recording machine and said the vehicle had broken down again during the night of the 21st. It was Wednesday morning before a mechanic (of sorts) could be found - they knew they would be late getting to the ferry, so Pastor Ibrahim telephoned his wife to make other arrangements for the Bible class that afternoon.

Fouzi was driving the vehicle at around 8 pm when it came off the road, turned over twice and hit a tree. The door sprung open and Fouzi was thrown from the vehicle. Ibrahim had a head injury which needed stitches. When he got out of the vehicle, Ibrahim said Fouzi had already died (from a fractured skull) The two other men were bruised and badly shaken but otherwise unharmed. No other vehicle was involved. The funds Fouzi carried to Mali were released to Ibrahim after a fax to the British Embassy in Senegal was forwarded to the police in Mali.

Ibrahim has suffered from flashbacks and was very distressed at what happened. Please pray for him. The church there did all they could to help but feel badly that Fouzi died. I have not received any other information from Mali.

Years of working alongside Fouzi have been my privilege and there are no regrets at all. Long ago he used to quote 1'He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." He lived it out on a daily basis and I believe the grain of wheat which fell to the ground on 22nd March will yet yield more fruit to the glory of the God.

Sorting through his papers here reveals the enormous amount of work he did. He was a giant in the work and a remarkably devoted family man too. There were no half measures in any area of his life.

My personal thanks now to each and everyone of you who helped strengthen Fouzi's arm in the work through prayer and sacrificial giving, and to all the voluntary helpers. Fouzi knew he owed a deep debt of gratitude to the Trustees who helped over the years by giving wise counsel, support and encouragement, and to those who made it possible for him to work full time for the Lord. Call of Hope (Germany), and The Trinitarian Bible Society were a tremendous help.

Once again, my thanks for all the cards, letters, telephone calls and prayers at this time There will be a huge, huge adjustment to make but, by grace, I am leaning on the shepherd daily.

The week before he left for Mali he said, "Wendy, I'm ready to go Home at any time"' It comforts me to know that Fouzi 's free from the restrictions of this life and he's now with the Lord he loved, served with enthusiastic devotion, and longed to know better.

Please do pray on for those with whom Fouzi corresponded - may the Lord raise up others to befriend and help them.

Goodbye from me, and may the Lord richly bless you and yours.

By Sovereign Grace Alone,

Wendy Ayoub