Healing 2 The Nations - Dr. Claudia R. Wintoch

2005

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Arrived Back In Bamako

After a long journey that started in LA, going to Paris, and then to Bamako, I arrived tonight. I had a smooth journey, and am excited to be back home. Now it's time to do all the Lord's shown me in Pasadena.

We're starting tomorrow morning with the kids' program. Please pray I'll quickly get over jetlag (8 hours difference). There's so much to do!

We have an awesome God!

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Monday, January 30, 2006

Let's go home!

My week in Los Angeles/Pasadena has come to an end and it's time to go home. It's been a very rich time, and I now understand better why I needed to be here. God just downloaded so much to me, talking about this year, and I will implement some of those things right away.

In a few hours I'm boarding the plane. I'm going from LA to Paris, and then from Paris to Bamako, arriving Tue night. Then I'll have to prepare the children's program for Wed morning.

Please pray for a good flight, no problems, and strength and health, overcoming jetlag quickly.

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Saturday, January 21, 2006

Paris, France

This time I had a very hard time leaving Bamako - even though it's for less than two weeks. Saying good-bye to my kids, my family there, and they didn't like it either.

Here in Paris, it's been a restful two days - I hardly remembered what it meant to rest! The only thing I don't like is the COLD ;-) It's wonderful being with friends and family again. Tomorrow Sunday, I'm showing a short presentation in the church service. It's only 6 minutes and shows what's happened the past half year. You can also watch it right here on my website, in the gallery section, either in English or in French (click on your language).

The day after tomorrow, I'm leaving for LA. Please pray for a smooth flight, and especially entry into the US. I'm always screened more because of my status when I lived in the US a few years back.

And as always, plenty of packages are waiting for me to be taken back to Mali. I'm especially excited about the mp3 USB-sticks that will allow me to put several books of the Bible on them and then give them to my illiterate church members to hear the word of God. Hallelujah!

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2005

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Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Let's go to Paris!

It's been a busy few days, getting ready to travel; making a presentation, copying CDs, printing papers, teaching English, reading and writing, and doing the children's program this morning. And then - unexpectedly - I spent hours this afternoon pursuing the acquisition of our property, before getting back home and starting to pack.

Now I'm nearly done, and in an hour I'm gonna leave for the airport. Air France leaves Mali once a day, at midnight, so that I'll arrive in Paris at 6:30 am. This time, it's really hard leaving my family here, even though a wonderful 10 days lie ahead of me. I'm gonna be in Paris until Monday, at my sister church, and then on Monday I'm flying on to LA with the pastors from Paris. I'm staying in LA for one week, attending the pastors' conference at HIM, and then the prophetic conference. I'm looking forward to seeing good friends of mine again!

Please pray for a good trip, and pray for CAM and the team back in Mali. Simeon is preaching next Sunday, and Marie the week after. I'm really disappointed at Emma, who's constantly not showing up when he said he would, and I haven't been able to talk to him in weeks.

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Sunday, January 15, 2006

Seybou & his family

We had "a lot" of people at our service today. Miclair has been coming, and I found out that he now considers CAM his church. Praise God! Hawa also keeps coming, though she hasn't given her life to Jesus yet.

I talked about intercession - and preached for the longest time ever (1h 40m). But the people encouraged me to keep going, because they wanted to hear it. At the end, I handed out little cut-outs of our property to be used in intercession for it. Then I put on some music, and we took some time to intercede - though not very long since it was already so late.

Then it was time to pray for little Sarata - Seybou's and Fanta's baby girl. In obedience, Fanta had taken off all the amulettes and now we were gonna burn them and pray for freedom for Sarata.

However, Seybou was not ready to burn those magic objects, because it was his Dad who had put those on his daughter (Seybou was not with his wife at the time of birth). We talked for some time, and he said he'd think it over. Then we anointed Sarata and prayed for her, as well as for her Mom. Please pray also for her health - Sarata is visibly malnourished.

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Saturday, January 14, 2006

Pursuing Our Property 2

We were all excited as we gathered together at the church to go find our property in Yirimadio. A few people didn't make it, so it was only Simeon, Paul, Sekouba and me.

We had our map, and knowledge where the school near our property is, as we got into the taxi to drive there. Yirimadio is a part of town on the edge of Bamako - not too far from the airport, and immediately on the road towards the north(east) of the country.

The taxi dropped us off, and we walked to the school. I was praying that the Lord would give us this land, these people living there, wherever we'd set foot. I was excited because it looked more like what I had in mind, than where we are now. Right now we are in a rich and nice neighborhood, but over there, people are very poor and live in a very basic circumstances. Perfect!

We arrived at the school, and we saw the hill close-by, but somehow things didn't match our map. So we started marching the 100m from the school in each direction, still unable to find it. It was somewhat frustrating. Finally we gave up and climbed up the hill to pray up there over the area, which included our land. The picture above shows me extending my hands towards our property and our new part of town.

With excitement, even though we hadn't found it, we returned home - after walking quite far since taxis rarely come out that far.

But - hopefully we can buy the car when I get back from my trip!

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Friday, January 13, 2006

Fanta has decided to follow Jesus!

Praise God!!! While I had friends over last night, Marie - who has lived with me for 3 months now - invited a pastor over who was from the same people as Seybou and his family, and who was able to speak with Fanta in his mother tongue, and even the same dialect (Dogon has many different dialects). That pastor (who I've never talked to in person) has a church not too far from us, and is friends with Marie. Last night, he presented the gospel to Fanta in her mother tongue, and she gave her heart to the Lord! Hallelujah!

It had been frustrating over the past four months that she's been here, to see her disinterest, and her lack of understanding language-wise. A while back, I gave Marie the task of befriending her (which she had already started to do), and leading her to the Lord. But she also came to her limits language-wise, since Fanta's Bambara is very limited. Praise God that she took the initiative to invite that pastor!

However, the discipling is gonna be as challenging. Please pray for her and her family. Her husband Seybou, my guard, gave his life to the Lord last summer. Praise God that their kids will now grow up in a Christian home! Pray also for Marie who will help her grow.

The necessity for our nightly half-our Bible reading & prayer times increases - it's just hard to keep doing it, everyone (me) being tired as well as busy. I think once we're on our property, these things will be easier.

Pray also for her little daughter, Sarata, who is malnourished. We'd like to have her treated so she becomes a healthy little girl.

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Thursday, January 12, 2006

Pursuing Our Property 1

I went to the government office that is responsible for our part of town, where we were supposed to meet with the guy who would be able to show us the property. I was, once again, with a pastor from one of the two Associations of Churches in Mali, who has done this before, numerous times, and whose help is invaluable. We find the official who told us that he wasn't able to find the guy who knows the property. He would continue trying to contact him, and I should call him next week.

So, we didn't get to see it, but even so, we learned some valuable things, and were able to make a photocopy of the map (see above).

These are the next steps: On Monday we'll hopefully be able to go there with the guy. After having seen it, we will go to the LOCAL chief, to present ourselves and declare our desire for that land. If he says OKAY, we can start building there right away!!! Because of the government's policiy regarding places of worship - whether Muslim or Christian - they will simply give it to us at the time when they sign the papers and release it to be given.

So you understand better - the government designates places for churches and mosques and markets etc. in every part of town. As a church, we simply look for these available properties and then deposit a request to be given it.

In this case, the property is designated, but the papers are not officially signed and released. But since we'll have been to every level, receiving a green light everywhere, we can start building, letting bureaucracy catch up with us later.

Now it's time to pray for finances to build! And to find an architect to make the plans!

PRAISE GOD!

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Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Sekouba - growing?

Another Wednesday, another children's program. I was disappointed when - once again - we had a new and small group of kids; half of which left half-way because they don't speak Bambara (or French). We ended up with five kids. The topic was the soul. At the end I asked who had talked to God this morning (nobody), yesterday (nobody), this past week - again nobody. I was grieved. Yes two kids were rather new, two kids come rarely, but Sekouba? I was grieved and shocked. I didn't know how to end today's session. I ended up praying, asking God to reveal Himself to the kids and give them a hunger for Him.

Tonight like every night, Sekouba came for a reading/writing lesson and to play the computer game. Though I'm still sick, we had a good time together. When we were done studying and playing, he suddenly said he'd pray for me. He went behind me, put his hands on my back and prayed that God would heal me. I was stunned! I've been sick with a virus since Sunday.

This morning, he still said he couldn't pray, wasn't even able to thank God for the food!!! But praise God, it seems he's growing after all!

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Sunday, January 8, 2006

The Father's Love Poured Out

I wasn't feeling well all day today and in the evening it became clear that I was sick. Before the service started, I didn't know how I'd do it. So, as I do often, I asked God to take charge, asked Holy Spirit to be the one doing the service, since I had nothing to offer and no strength to do it. While leading worship, I needed to interrupt a few times to blow my nose. The time for the sermon came, and as so often, I was absolutely amazed at how the Lord answered my prayer. He took over, inspiring me, and making a difference in people's lives. I talked about different kinds of prayer.

At the end, I suggested we'd put into practice one of them - ADORATION. I put on a CD, and we started worshiping God. We had very few people yesterday - only the core team, with many of our family missing. So there was Paul, Simeon, Seybou, Marie, Sekouba and me. I took little Hama in my arms and we were worshiping together. Then I went down on my knees on the steps. Hama copied me, kneeling right next to me. So I put my arm around him. Then Sekouba came and joined us, and I put my other arm around him, praying for my sons. I wished I could have a picture of that! Hama couldn't "sit still" for long, so it was Sekouba and I left. As I had my arm around him, praying for him, the Lord gave me His heart for him and it overwhelmed me.

Then I moved on to Paul. He was sitting on a bench praying. Again, I put my arm around him and started praying softly. There was an anointing of the Father's love. He started bending over, then went on his knees, and finally ended up stretched out on the ground. The Lord gave me words of love and affirmation, to go against the rejection.

I finally left him and went to the back where Simeon was sitting and praying. Simeon has major problems with rejection and abandonment that rob him of all capacity to function normally. Today again, he came overcome by darkness. The whole service he was sitting in the back, hiding and surviving. So, I went back to him and asked if I could pray. I put my arm around him again and prayed for the Father's love to invade him. He slid to the ground, trembling, while I spoke the words of love and affirmation God was giving me. Then he also lay face-down in the presence of God, trembling, as God was obviously doing a deep work of healing.

I returned to the front, where I sat down on the steps. Both Simeon and Paul were still on the ground. Marie and Seybou had left before I had a chance to pray for them. Sekouba walked by and asked him to sit down next to me. Because of Hama's squirming, we'd been distracted earlier. So I put my arm around him and prayed. He put his face in his hands, while I held him as tightly as possible. He tried to hide his tears, wiping them away.

Afterwards, Paul and Simeon shared what God had done, while Sekouba again denied that anything had happened. He has a hard time opening up - comprehensible when you've lived on the street, abandoned by everyone you ever loved.

Simeon shared how just the night before he'd had a dream where God used me to heal his heart - he said that tonight that was fulfilled! Praise God!

Paul shared how up until today he hadn't known FOR SURE that God was calling him to join us in the ministry, but now he knews. God was also showing him a lot of things for us as a church. As He also did with Simeon, by the way.

Before they left, I invited them in to share my vision for our property, the buildings, layout, etc. They got as excited as I am! Then Sekouba sat down at the computer, as he does every day, to play computer games - no reading/writing lesson today.

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Saturday, January 7, 2006

Remember Sekou?

Sekou gave his life to the Lord in Nov 2004, one year after Simeon, whose friend he was. He joined us and over the months I saw him grow in every way. He was my interpreter in the services and formed the core team with Simeon. And then, half a year after his salvation, his family told him he had to choose between church/God and them. He left us, leaving us hard-broken.

However, Simeon stayed in touch with him. When Cliff was here, Simeon went to his house to invite him. When the family listened in to their conversation, they chased Simeon out of the house, threatening to kill him. However, they have recently started praying together again, every night. At tonight's prayer meeting Simeon told us this story:

Sekou has a mean uncle who is deep into witchcraft. That uncle started putting curses on Sekou, to hurt him and destroy him, even kill him. BUT Jesus is greater! Sekou never left the Lord! None of the curses that mighty marabout (sorcerer) put on him worked! On the contrary, they backlashed on the uncle. By now, Sekou's whole family is amazed, saying Sekou is a great sorcerer himself, greater than his uncle! So I asked Simeon to pass on to Sekou, that THIS IS THE TIME TO STAND UP FOR JESUS! They are all wondering about "his" powers - let them know that it's JESUS!

Simeon said, when we move onto our property, and can take care of Sekou financially, he will finally make his stand. Sekou is a university student.

Pray for Sekou's continued protection!

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Saturday, January 7, 2006

Little Hama Confronted With Abandonment

Two days ago it happened, and today it happened again. I hear Hama crying loudly, wailing like crazy. When I go ouside, I find him all alone, abandoned, full of tears and full of urine. When he sees me the tears cease and he stretches up his hands to be picked up. I take a towel before I do. And on Thursday, I cried tears myself as I held Hama to comfort him. And today, this intense anger burned in me that they have done it again, after I had told them on Thursday not to do that again.

On Thursday, I took care of Hama for 90 min before one of his parents showed up. When I told Seybou that you cannot leave a 4-year-old crippled kid alone, he didn't seem to get it. Today, it thankfully didn't take that long for them to come home. But I was so angry, I had a hard time concentrating on the upcoming and starting prayer meeting. After the meeting, I sat down with Seybou and Fanta and had a long talk. When Hama saw me coming, he crawled over, smiling all over, and I picked him up. I explained to them the issue of rejection and abandonment and how important it was not to allow this to happen again; I also told them how to discipline their kids, since I've witnessed Fanta hitting Hama in a way that tore my heart out. They thanked me for my input and promised to apply what I said.

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Friday, January 6, 2006

PROPERTY FOUND!!!

I'm so excited!!! I believe we've found the place the Lord has for us! It's in Yirimadio, on the edge of Bamako, and it's perfect for several reasons. I wrote a report to everyone which will give you all the details.

Read them here.

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Wednesday, January 4, 2006

Street Children

Another week with our kids. They come at 10 am, we go until about 12 and then we eat together before some take a nap, while most leave.

Even before we got started, Simeon - who always goes to invite kids to come - told me that the group of kids that has been coming every week now refuses to come and tells everyone else NOT to come. It looks like they don't like being told not to talk, to leave when they hit someone, etc. They don't like discipline, with one word. It really grieved me, and I was very discouraged by it. We had a totally new crowd today, with a few exceptions! How continue teaching - today lesson number 12 - if they haven't had the first 11 lessons!

However, the discouragement was eased later because it went really well, plus because of Samba.

I had been thinking about how to improve the program, what to do differently, plus I was very aware that what those kids need most is LOVE. To know I TRULY care about each one of them! I'm afraid that our program becomes JUST THAT - simply a program, something you simply do because you're supposed to, going through the motions.

In any case, I wanted to bring more "pep" into it, games. From my teacher training, I have a good idea of games, but so many of them require kids to know to read and write which they don't. So today we did the game we didn't get to do at the Christmas party (and only 3 of the kids today had been here for that!!!) - musical chairs. They LOVED it! I told the winner (Sidiki who had come for the 2nd time - a cute, younger, kid) that he'd get all the stuff I'd give away during teaching time - today a banana, a glass of milk and a slice of bread. He was so happy, with a beautiful smile!!!

There were about 20 kids, and they were better behaved than the ones we usually have. They were pretty attentive, so it was much more fun. When we do reviews, when I ask questions, most of the times Sekouba is the only one knowing the answers, raising his hand and shouting "me, me, me...". I told him today that his new name now is ME. :-)

Today's topic was our SPIRIT. At the end, we prayed to follow Jesus and to be filled with His Spirit, making a resolution to feed our spirits, talking to God every day, hearing his Word and worshipping Him, listening to Him.

But I haven't told you the most awesome thing yet!

Paul was interpreting me, like always. During the teaching, Simeon suddenly stood next to him - because Paul had called him forward. Paul said that he had an excrutiating headache. He had come straight from school, meaning he was late, so we didn't even have a chance to talk before. I took advantage of the opportunity and told him to go to the middle, and the kids to surround Paul, putting their hands on him. Then I told them to say "Pain go, in the name of Jesus!". They did. Suddenly Paul started giggling and rubbing his forehead. He said that before, he hadn't even been able to rub his eyes or forehand, but now, all the pain was gone! We praised the Lord for that!!! Later, I encouraged the kids to go out there and find sick people to pray for.

But then, the following week, I'm always discouraged because they can't remember any of the teaching of the week before (when I do review), they have no testimonies, and they have no clue how to pray. Today I asked who'd thank God for the food. They had a hard time but were able to repeat a simple sentence of thanksgiving.

It just takes much love, much patience, much endurance and perseverence.

Please, keep praying for Simeon also. He's struggling hard with rejection and all that's related to it. It affected us all during the prayer night, as well as today.

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Sunday, January 1, 2006

Prayer Night Into The New Year

We started our prayer night at 10 pm and went till 4 am - and I could have kept going, not being tired at all.

Though our family was reduced (Emma in Sévaré, Marie with her fiancé, Sekouba partying), we had some visitors, and had a great time - at freezing 20°C (68°F) ;-). We started with a time of worship, then prepared for taking communion, which we did just before midnight. After midnight we looked at the year 2005 by looking at pictures, then had a time of thanksgiving. After that, we looked forward and prayed for 2006. At 4 o'clock we closed, and Simeon and Paul went home, Seybou at his post in front of the door (he's my night-guard), and I went to bed by 5 am.

It was a wonderful time of closing out the old year and starting the new year with our beautiful Lord Jesus! On the left you see Paul, and the projection of my computer I used to show the time and the pictures, as well as song lyrics.

Click here to read the full report of the prayer night as well as our Christmas celebrations.