Healing 2 The Nations - Dr. Claudia R. Wintoch

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Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Coming Home

I had a great flight from Los Angeles to Paris, though I didn't get my sleep. I was glad to have all that time to write my email update (click here to read it).

In Paris security gave me some hassle because they were bored, but I had plenty of time. I ended up in the lounge, where I sent out the update, and got to talk to everyone in Mali via Skype; they were surprised I was online and asked where I was.

I finally arrived back in Mali at 9:30 pm. The heat greeted me - we already have temperatures in the upper nineties during the day (upper 30s Celsius), and my room has 32°C (90°F). I picked up my bags, and walked outside. Our car is small, and still 5 of them had come: Seybou (driving), Firmin, and 3 of the kids - Solomani, Eli, and Fousseni. We all hugged, and I didn't want to let go of my boys. Normally the transition is hard, especially the ride from the airport home, and then when I get into the house and see all that's not the way it should be. But I was upbeat on the way home (and did notice all those things they should have known to do or not to do).

Fanta, Hama, and Sarata were already asleep, but Simeon was waiting for me, and Enoch (from the village) was also with us, since it was Bible School night. I was surprised even Enoch hugged me; they all did. I was so filled with love for them! If anything, my love for them has doubled since leaving! Saloum and Abdias were already asleep, and unwilling to wake up :-)

I spent a little time talking with everyone, before starting to unpack. It was after 1 am when I went to bed, and it took me a while to fall asleep with the heat.

First Day Home

I slept the longest I have in a long time - 13 hours; I was very surprised when I woke up at 2 pm (which is 6 am Californian time, my body time). I spent time with the Lord, before going outside and starting the day. Abdias fell around my neck, not wanting to let go, and each kid had his tour. Fousseni and Abdias spent the most time in my arms, one on each side. Then Hama came into the room. When he saw me, he started to scream with joy and jump, and he fell around my neck, smiling the broadest grin. He held me so tight, and wouldn't let go. I knew it would be a while before I could set him down again.

When Sarata came in later, she also fell around my neck, and held tight to me, without saying a word.

I was amazed at the way our love for each other has deepened. It's the first time the kids are more happy to see ME than to receive gifts. I did bring out some gifts, though. A family in Ohio had given me a candy cane for each one, and I explained to them its Christian origin. I was amazed at the way they danced and jumped and thanked the Lord for the candy cane! They fooled around, pretending to use it as a cane - which you can see on the picture; all seven kids are on it (I need to get a better camera some time).

Then I brought out the game "4 in a Row" a 6-year-old boy in Ohio had given me for our kids. I showed them how to play it, and they loved it! They played it the rest of the day. Thank you, Rygh! (In the picture from the left: Fousseni, Eli, Solomani).

Finally I gave Paul his gift from Papa Bill - two shirts. He was SO HAPPY, kept saying "Hallelujah" (he's copying Bill with that). He really does need them. In fact, I also had good news for him, because a friend of mine in Austria has just decided to sponsor him. The kids have sponsors, but my adult helpers really need food and clothes as well. So praise God!

Later it was time for me to finish unpacking, and take care of some business. Unfortunately unnecessary mistakes were made, things they should have known, and while I tried to deal with it rightly, it had an impact on both Paul and Firmin who've made mistakes. Mistakes in our culture are unpardonable. I had in mind to start the TPM sessions first with Paul, and then with Solomani, and now it seemed that both Paul and Firmin were ready, since they were triggered.

The time was right, our guest room empty right now, and so we used our "Most Holy Place" for the sessions (that room used to be my prayer room). Both gave me permission to share. Firmin was done in 15 minutes, going to a memory where a similar thing had happened, and received truth and freedom. With Paul we prayed for 50 minutes. We went to 4 different memories, and in the end he had received truth and freedom in all of them, knowing but peace where there had been turmoil before. In Mali, teachers beat children, and once Paul had failed a dictation and was whipped by his teacher in the back so badly, he had welts all over. He went to his Dad to tell him about it, and expected him to go to his teacher to protest. His Dad did go to his teacher - but told him to whip him even more next time. What a trauma for a little boy!

By the end, Paul was radiating and full of joy, praising the Lord, and overwhelmed by the wonderful things the Lord had spoken to him! He showed him how precious he is to HIM, and His great plan for him, and that he's given him mothers and fathers now (I'm his Mom, and Bill is his Dad). I hugged and held both Paul and Firmin with a mother's love, before we joined the others again. He is so awesome!!!

We had a good remaining evening, and family reunion. I wanted to lay hands on each kid tonight (normally Paul does half, and I the other half), since I hadn't done it in a while. It was a precious time of calling forth their destinies and blessing them, and holding my precious little ones in my arms.

I love them all so much, and I'm full of joy and of excitement of what lies ahead! Tomorrow we're having our weekly prayer meeting - I'm curious how it's gonna go.

By the way, my cat is slowly "unthawing". Malians don't like cats, are afraid of cats, and don't know how to deal with them, so it's always hard to leave her in their hands. As always, she was so frightened, so traumatized, like a wild cat when I came back. There was no way I could touch her. But now she's slowly becoming more approachable and lets me touch her and show her love. What a picture! Slowly but surely loving her back to life, until she can receive and pursue love herself again.

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Monday, January 29, 2007

Long Trip Home To Mali

I didn't think I'd be able to close my suitcases and take everything with me, but in the end it worked out. They were filled to the max, and I had no clue how heavy they were.

I couldn't find a ride to the airport, but somebody paid an airport shuttle for me. How kind of him! The morning had been a little stressful, because time was just flying by, and so I even had a little nap in the shuttle to the airport.

Unfortunately I was dropped at the wrong terminal, and didn't know how to pull 3 bags with 2 hands. Carts aren't free here at LAX, but I had no choice but to get one, and make the long walk to the other side of the airport. I was just praising God while walking over there, thanking God for a chance to walk a little bit - I had more than enough time.

There were no lines at the check-in, and I was curious to find out what my bags weighed. Because I'm a frequent flyer gold member, I get to have 10kg extra now - thank God. So I was allowed a total of 56kg (124 lbs). Guess how much my bags weighed? Exactly that!! Praise God!

So now I'm sitting in the lounge, waiting for boarding, to go on the 11 hour flight to Paris, from where it's another 5 and a half to Bamako.

I talked to everyone in Mali this morning (I actually talked to them every day of my trip, thanks to SKYPE), and they can't wait to have me back. I told them, nobody would be able to escape my hugs tomorrow. Fousseni replied that he wanted 20. I laughed and told them we'd spend the whole night hugging :-)

Love is transforming them, one person at the time; we're starting a cultural revolution driven by love.

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Monday, January 29, 2007

6 Awe-some Days In Pasadena, CA

Awe-some is the only way to put it - filled with awe, overwhelmed by His goodness, moved by all His blessings.

What did I do in Pasadena? The HIM headquarters are there; the network I'm a part of. They had a one day pastors' retreat before the start of a prophetic conference with marvelous speakers like Chuck Pierce, Bobby Connor, James Goll, Jill Austin, and Stacey Campbell. This was my fourth time in Pasadena, and each time the Lord is deepening relationships, as well as forming new ones.

I was so very blessed that my pastor from Kansas City was also here for 3 days, and that I had the joy to spend much time with him and a couple who are also missionaries sent out by his church. I'm thankful to be connected to a church like this one, with a pastor like this one, who has such a father's heart, and heart for the Lord.

And the Lord gave me another new relationship with an amazing man of God who received the Father's heart for me from Him. I was greatly blessed to meet Timothy, and spend a little time with him, since he was riding back and forth with me to the conference. He lives in Portland, Oregon, and I know the Lord connected us for a purpose.

I tried to count how many men of God are in my life now, who are like fathers to me, some more than others, and there are 5. I thank the Lord for this huge blessing!

Last summer I saw that the Lord had put me on the heart of two people in the HIM leadership, and that has been a tremendous blessing. This time I also connected a little more with the director, who even called me apostolic from the pulpit. His wife has been faithfully praying for me, and I was disappointed not to see her this time.

HIM also blessed me with 17 lbs (8 kg) of Mannatech vitamins for the kids. Those are great vitamins; the pastor from Malawi said that they've seen people healed of AIDS thanks to those vitamins. If we can do all the paperwork and progress reports, there is a good chance Mannarelief will continue providing vitamins free of charge. Praise God! The kids in Mali sure need them!

Finally, I really enjoyed the conference, and the times of worship. God was speaking some profound things for 2007, and I'm very excited about the times ahead.

I left Mali bankrupt - physically, emotionally, spiritually - and I return alive again. My body healed, my emotions restored, my spirit filled with His Spirit, my vision refocused on the One I love, and whose hand I never want to let go off.

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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Pasadena, California

Yesterday morning I left Kansas City very early to fly to Los Angeles. It was a first when both planes arrived early. However, my bags hadn't made it into the second plane in Salt Lake City, and so I had to wait for their arrival in the next plane an hour later. My wonderful friend Holly picked me up, and I had the joy of spending the rest of the day with her, and later also with her family.

Holly is an amazing friend I made here while standing in line at the conference during my first visit to CA (this is my fourth). And it looks like I'm gonna see her for the last time (at least here), since they are moving to nothern CA. So I cherished my last day with her even more. She helped me run errands for Mali, and then we went to her house where we had chicken together. I also enjoyed talking to her sons, who are very interested in Mali.

It was late when she dropped me off at another friend's house, where I'm staying this week. This friend is one I know from Austria, where she was in my church. She spent 3 years in Vienna as a teacher. I'm very blessed to stay with her - it's close to the conference, and she lends me her car to go there. Praise God!

Before the prophetic conference starts Thursday night, there are meetings for the HIM pastors only. I was very much looking forward to those meetings, and the first day was really wonderful. Every time I come back here, God connects me more to people and to this apostolic network. I could see a difference again just today, and am curious about what tomorrow will bring.

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Monday, January 22, 2007

Wonderful Weekend In Kansas City

I just had an awesome weekend in Kansas City. It was so short, just 2 and a half days, I was wondering why I felt I had to be here. I've been abundantly blessed this weekend, and maybe that's the only reason why.

This weekend has been a testimony of the deep work the Lord has done in me this past week. I could see the fruit in me, the ways I reacted differently than before, free from stuff I've carried all my life. Praise the Lord! Nothing is impossible for Him!

I'm so excited about the keys of theophostic the Lord has put into my hands. I can't wait to get back and see it transform lives, and transform the country of Mali, as His love gets a hold of people, who will then be able to step into their destiny and advance His kingdom in power.

I've been online every place I've stayed on this trip so far, talking to the kids and my helpers on SKYPE every day. I've felt very connected thanks to that, and it's been wonderful to talk to everyone every day. Things are going well, and Paul is doing an awesome job replacing me. I heard the two times he preached were awesome.

I am so very blessed, blessed in every way. I'm just overwhelmed by the goodness of my heavenly Father. That He would love me so much to not leave me the way I am. That He would love me so much to give me friends like I have. That He would love me so much to give me an earthly father who reflects Him.

Yesterday morning in church, I couldn't help but go down on my knees before my awesome God during the second worship song. I ended up spending the whole 2-hour service stretched out on the (cold) floor, in such a deep place with God. While on the floor, he showed me this beautiful picture, of Him as the potter with me, His little pot. Everything He did, He did with SO MUCH love! I saw Him pour out the dirty water inside the pot, and then removing the colors and decoration outside the pot. The pot became less and less pretty, nothing to look at. Then He gently started breaking the pot, with so much tenderness, until there were only pieces left. Now He had access to the impurities on the inside, and He started gently removing one stain, one little impurity after the other, with SO MUCH love. Then He took water and poured it over the pieces, until the clay became moldable again, and He put all the pieces into one big mud ball, to start all over again. He was so excited, because He knew that the pot He was making would be so much more beautiful and glorious and reflective of His craftmanship than the pot of old had been.

I can tell you, seeing this picture over a period of an hour or more, was ministering to me big time. I'm a work in progress, not done yet, but His immense love while working on me deeply touched my heart.

May we all be ready to be taken back to the potter's wheel and be formed into beautiful vessels for Him!

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Saturday, January 20, 2007

First Poem In 11 Years

I'm sitting on the plane from Ohio to Kansas City, and I just wrote this poem reflecting on the past few days. It's my first poem in 11 years, and the first with a "happy end".

I hope all I wanted to get across comes across. Just want to say that each verse reflects a day. Towards the end, the first positive verse reflects our heavenly Father, and the second one the earthly father I found this week. It is the power of that love that released the tear, when I had to say good-bye and was driving off.

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THE POWER OF LOVE
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Tears.
The sweet release of emotions within.
They wouldn't come.

Memories.
Dark memories.
Painful memories.
Unknown memories.
Flashes, hitting with reality.
Can this be true?

Tears.
The sweet release of emotions within.
They wouldn't come.

More memories.
More intense.
More painful.
Darker and darker still.
Can this be real?

Tears.
The sweet release of emotions within.
They wouldn't come.

And on it goes.
Doesn't stop.
Increasing, increasing.
Darker, darker.
Where is the end?
How can it even get more horrendous?
Can all of this really have happened?

Truth.
It did.

Tears.
The sweet release of emotions within.
They wouldn't come.

I'm not alone.
Never was.
Held in His hands.
Safe.
Loved.
Unconditionally.

Time to say good-bye.
No more fatherless.
Loved.
Valued.
Cherished.
Treasured.
Can this be true?

It is.
Last look.
Driving off.

Tears.
The sweet release of emotions within.
A single tear escapes.
Runs its course down my cheek.
The power of love.

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Friday, January 19, 2007

Four Amazing Days In Dayton, Ohio

To see the details of my itinerary, please go to the CALENDAR page.

I'm blessed. I'm greatly blessed. I bless my Father in heaven for these past four amazing days in Dayton. It's hard to put into words.

I've had four days of extended TPM sessions (a total of 20 hours or so), and the Lord has done an amazingly deep work in me. It was Bill (picture), who was the person ministering to me. I met Bill in Ghana, when Paul and I went there for the theophostic (TPM) seminar. Everybody calls him "Papa Bill" because he is a spiritual father to many. He loves people like you rarely see. He's now the person in this world who knows more about me than anyone else, and he still loves me the same he did a week ago (he said even more). He knows, and I know, that the Lord has brought us together - yes, for this week, for my healing, but for a lot more. In my life, I've had several father figures, but not one ever stayed in my life, and I've always had to fight in some ways for their love and attention. I've only once called someone Dad, and lost him again, and it was hard to trust again.

But I did, and now I have a spiritual father again. It hurts to have to leave tomorrow and be separated geographically, but it's part of the price a missionary pays (constant good-byes). But I know that I still have a Dad in Dayton, and a Dad I will be able to talk to on the phone. Thank you, Lord, that You are our perfect Father, and that you also give us earthly fathers that reflect you!

Bill is not the only one who was a huge blessing to me - making time for me sacrifically every day - but also my wonderful hosts, some of Bill's spiritual children. I was treated as a princess of the King of kings, blessed continually, a beautiful room, food, hot shower, kindness and true caring. Thank you, Jesus! On the picture you see their 6-year-old boy with a game he gave me to give to my kids in Mali - what a remarkable young man!

It's hard to say good-bye when you're in a place of blessing, but we're called to live in that place continually. Tomorrow I'm going to Kansas City, and I can't wait to see so many friends again. It will be 2+ days of continuous meetings with people, and I'm greatly looking forward to it.

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Tuesday, January 16, 2007

First Day In Dayton, Ohio

After 5 and a half hours at the Cincinnati airport, waiting for my connecting flight of 19 (!) minutes, I finally arrived in Dayton at about 10 pm (which was 4 am for my body on Paris time). Bill and my host were waiting for me at the airport, and took me to the house where I'd stay. I felt (and still feel) like some of heaven came down to earth and I get to be there; beautiful house, hot shower, awesome food (cheese and ham...), and most importantly wonderful people who are an amazing blessing to me. I haven't felt so valued in a long time. Bill as well as the couple having me in their house all give their best to bless me, to do anything for me, to make this stay unforgettable, and right now that looks very likely.

I'm also blessed that there is a wireless network which allows me to do emails and most importantly stay in touch with my family in Mali. I spent quite some time talking to them on Skype today. I found out that Daouda (a kid that stayed with us for some time until we had no choice but to send him away) had come back this morning and stolen our (new) car radio. I wasn't even angry or anything - it can be replaced - but sad for Daouda.

I also talked to Enoch, since it was Bible school tonight. He told me that the new believers in his village would like to be baptized. One of them is a mason and is building a baptismal in the courtyard for free - that's wonderful! He wants to do the baptism with us when we go to the village in February to show the Matthew film. Praise God!

My first night in the US wasn't that great, due to jetlag, and I already got up early. When I looked out the window, I was so blessed because during the night it had started snowing - their first snow - and I just love snow. God made it snow for me in Austria last year, and now He did it again. Thank you!

Having gotten up early, I soon got very tired. Thankfully it was only 1 pm when we started the first TPM session. We had 5 hours, with several short breaks, and it was a good start, with more preparative work going on. I had a breakthrough towards the end, and hope for it to continue tomorrow.

After the session, Bill invited me and my hosts out to eat. We had a good time, though not much time. From there we went to the local IHOP (International House of Prayer), where we still had 90 minutes before it was over. I was tired, but lay down on the ground with my Bible, praying and reading the Word. Bill is very known and loved and played a crucial part in the establishing of the IHOP, and after they prayed for a missionary leaving tomorrow, he asked them to pray for me. Wasn't that sweet? So all these people gathered around me and took a few minutes to pray for me. Bill also anointed me with oil - lots of oil that was running in my one eye. I felt blessed again. When was the last time people prayed for me like that?

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Monday, January 15, 2007

4 Days in Paris, France

I was expecting my days in Paris to be restful physically, but in the end they weren't, and for good reasons. It worked out for me to do all necessary shopping, things I can't buy in the US for language or electrical reasons (different voltage). Transportation is never easy in Paris, but in the end people and cars were available at different times to help me out, thank God! Only my arrival from Mali was somewhat jumping into cold water. After one hour of sleep in the plane that night, it was a 2.5 hour trip by bus (2 buses) to get to the church, from where somebody took me to the place I was staying later.

I was very blessed by the lady I stayed with, and seeing old friends again. Physically, it was difficult. I was tired a lot, with headaches, and couldn't enjoy the services the way I would have liked.

On Sunday I had lunch with the pastors and friends of theirs who were visiting. Those friends have an organization working in many African countries, and maybe my purpose for coming to Paris was to meet them to collaborate later. They provide anything necessary for ministers in Africa to do their work - Bibles, sound systems, etc.

I have now arrived in the US, in Cincinnati, and am waiting for my connecting flight. These next few days I will take time to rest physically and to receive prayer to bring my life into alignment with the Lord as much as possible. Your prayers are much solicited!

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007

(High) Time To Leave

Finally the time has come to board the plane to Paris, to leave for 20 days. I'm tired, and ready for a break. I'm leaving without expectations - that way I can only be surprised for the better. I know I need a total overhaul - physically, emotionally and spiritually. The first few days will be the physical refreshing, in Paris, where I intend to sleep and rest much. Then the emotional refreshing in Ohio, where I will receive inner healing prayer (TPM) for four days. And then the spiritual refreshing in Kansas City and Pasadena - friends praying for me in KC, and a prophetic conference in Pasadena. So I'm hoping, crying out to God, that I will return to Mali on the 30th a new Claudia, ready for the things ahead. It's not just a desire, it's an absolute necessity - for my sake, for my kids' sake, for the ministry's sake.

So please pray for me these coming days, and pray also for Paul and the rest of them who stay in Mali. The Lord is with them.

To see the details of my itinerary, please go to the CALENDAR page.

My American cellphone number is on the CONTACT --> MAIL & TEL page. You can reach me under that number between Jan 16 and 29.

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Tuesday, January 9, 2007

The Last Few Days

On Saturday I got sick again, and suffered from running nose and fever the whole weekend and Monday. On Sunday I didn't know how to do the service. It was probably the hardest service I've ever done. I sat down while preaching because I was too weak to stay standing.

What's new? We're continuing to have serious problems with Abdias.

Tonight the second trimester of Bible School started.

This afternoon I picked up an Austrian girl from the airport, who's flying to Timbuktu tomorrow morning to join the other 4 Austrians who all passed through our house.

And tomorrow night I'm leaving myself. The Lord is putting all the details of my trip together - 4 cities in just over 2 weeks. I'm looking forward to some physical, emotional and spiritual refreshing.

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Saturday, January 6, 2007

Children's Program & Bible School

Time for our weekly program! I was very tired when I got up this morning. I started the program with the kids, but realized I wasn't able to teach them. I was too tired for anything, and excused myself, handing it over to Paul. I ended up sleeping 4 hours.

Paul told me the program went well. He shared the gospel with the kids, since there were a lot of new ones.

While the program was going on in the garden, it was the 5th and last day of our intensive Bible School with 4 students. Paul and Hyacinthe led each half a day every day (the discussions at the end of the video teaching). The students did well, enjoyed it, said it wasn't too tiring. Now they have a month to do all the homework, reading, and then do the exam.

Today we tried another TPM session with Abdias. He's been insisting on it, because he's tired of sleeping in the living room and not having the right to leave the property. Unfortunately we didn't get anywhere in our session, because he didn't really want to remember his past.

We've been having a lot of problems with Abdias recently, and serious ones. May he find the willingness to open his heart and let God heal him.

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Friday, January 5, 2007

Baptism In The Spirit

We went to our property for our weekly ministry, and the lesson of the week was on the baptism in the Spirit. We had many children gather, and they listened more or less carefully to the teaching. In the end, there were about 25 who prayed to receive Jesus, and then to receive the baptism in the Spirit. We had them pray in tongues - praise God! Let the children arise, to be witnesses in their neighborhood, and to do the works of Jesus!

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Tuesday, January 2, 2007

What A Day!

If you read through everything that happened today, you will probably have a hard time thinking it was all today. It is a true miracle that I was able to do all this, because yesterday morning I was still very sick. It is truly the prayers of hundreds of God's people that made the difference. If it had been my choice, I would definitely not have had a busy day like this on the first day up. But it was possible, thank God!

Intensive Bible School

Our first intensive started today. It's the whole first trimester in a week (instead of 12 weeks). Students have classes from 9 am till 5 pm every day for six days, from today through Saturday. Two former students are helping me out - Hyacinthe in the mornings, and Paul in the afternoons. They put in the videos and guide the group discussions. I expected about 7 students, but only 3 were here today (2 have already completed the first half and join us later). Of those one is Issa, our kids' teacher, and two are from another church, whose pastor I know.

Airport Visit With Hindrances

I was taking care of paperwork for the Bible school this morning until it was time to go to the airport to pick up two more Austrians, that would also stay with us (for 2 nights), increasing our number to 17. I felt well, just a little weak on my feet. Any other option would have been too complicated, so I drove with the group's leader Johannes and Abdias to the airport. But as we wanted to leave, we noticed that the tire I've been blowing up daily was totally gone now. Time was short, but we had no choice but to put the very last, remaining spare tire on it. Seybou and Johannes changed it. Finally we were able to leave. When we got to the airport, the people from the flight were already coming out, and so I let Johannes out to get them, waiting nearby with Abdias. We waited and waited, and still they had not come. But somebody else came - a policeman. He asked for my car papers. I asked why, but he was very gruff, only demanding the papers. I gave them to him. He said to park on the payable parking, and walked away with my papers. Frustrated I parked the car, and went with Abdias to find Johannes and our new guests. They came, and Abdias showed them to the car, while I went with Johannes to find the policeman. It's an advantage to have a white man at my side, because people will think he is my husband, and treat me totally differently. We found a group of 4 policeman, and I explained what had happened, and that I was looking for that man. He said he'd call their colleague to see whether it was him. He asked for my cellphone, and I gave it to him. Unfortunately I rarely use it, and the two-week-window after recharging it was past. I quickly bought a new card to recharge it, but in the meantime the policeman had already used his own cellphone. He had the right guy on the phone. Johannes (who doesn't speak French) asked the kind policeman to come with us, and he really did. We found the mean guy, and he asked us to follow him to the office so he could write my fine. The kind policeman spoke on our behalf, and suddenly he did get my papers out of his pocket and just gave them to me! No bribe needed! Amazing! Thank you, Lord! That's the second incident with a mean policeman, and the second time I got out of it. That's justice, and favor.

Second Ride - Immigration Police

I really wanted some rest, but my now 4 Austrian guests really had no alternative than to have me drive them to immigration to prolong their visas. As a driver, and translator, and experienced in visas.... We got their at 3 pm, and found out that 2 pm was the time they took the last passports. By a miracle, they took them anyway when I said that they'd travel Thu morning and needed them tomorrow. Praise God!

Exams

At 5 pm Bible School was over for today, and the students left. Our own kids refused to study for their repeat exam in the subjects they failed, saying they already know everything. I said, in that case they can do the exam, and they agreed. I also quoted to them that pride becomes before the fall. And I was right. They did one of the 3 exams and failed.

Third Contact With Police Today

I was very distracted for the last part of the exam (which was a dictation), because in the middle of it, suddenly several men stood at the door. Neither Paul, nor Firmin, nor Issa were nearby. I didn't know them and answered to find out what they want. The first one had a paper in the hand and gave it to me. No explanation, nothing. I asked what it was, from whom, but he refused to answer, and they just left. Weird. I looked at the paper, and it was an official summoning to the police station. That's all it was. And it only had my Malian first name on it. I immediately knew that it was because of the constant drum playing of our Austrian guests, who play from morning till evening. They came to take Malian drum lessons from Malian professionals, and so they have lessons half a day, and practice the other half. I have to admit that it really does get somewhat tiring to have drums going next to your window 8 hours a day.

I sent for Paul, and went to my influental neighbor Fanta to show it to her. She had once told me a week ago that someone complained to her about the noise during lunch hour, and so I informed my guests that they couldn't play between noon and 2 pm, when people want to rest. She looked at it, and said she knew the boss at the police station, who she called. The police chief said he'd talk to the officer in charge of this affair right away and would call back. Ten minutes later he did call back, saying it's taken care off, but we should still go to the officer at the station who was waiting for us. Paul, Johannes, and I went.

We found the officer and talked. He was very kind. He said several neighbors had come to him to complain about the noise. I told him I was disappointed they didn't come to me first, to simply talk about it and take care of it normally, and he said they had told him they had talked to me, and that I had told them to go to h__ with their complaint. Can you believe that???? I was shocked. I told him next time, he should tell them to go find me and talk to me. I mean, those guys didn't even know my last name to put on their complaint! The police officer was totally on our side. You need to know that we are in a very nice neighborhood right now, with rich Malians. The officer said that those Malians have tried to become Europeans, and forgotten their roots, and now they're neither Malian or European, and worse off than both.

It's true that most Malians would enjoy their traditional drum playing. It's also true that we simply have neighbors who are looking for ways to cause us trouble. They either hate us or love us. I've told you before that they are people who want to stone us. I found out recently that Saloum had been one of those people wanting to stone us, when he was still Muslim and going to a Muslim school. He has a powerful testimony!

Back home I took care of a few more incidents, with the kids, as well as Firmin, and didn't get back to my room until 10:30 pm. But I was amazed at how much energy I had! Truly, three days in bed with much sleep has replenished my batteries!

Now it's after 1 am, and I must not get back to bad habits. I'd like to take better care of myself. :-)

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2006

2005

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Monday, January 1, 2007

Daouda Did Leave This Time

Because I was/am so sick, and hardly showed myself these past few days, I only found out today that Daouda has stolen again - twice, and both times within two days of receiving a second chance.

I sat down with him, he had nothing to say, and so I told him there was only one thing to do - leave. He refused to take any of his gifts including clothes with him, and left.

Prayer Night Into The New Year

It was the third day Paul had to manage and lead everything because of my sickness - and he did a great job. I was sorry to miss the prayer night into the New Year, but was able to burn the 2006 pictures onto a CD to be shown.

I heard they had an awesome time - praise God! In fact I could hear them very well in my room, and rejoiced with them.

Five Suitcases From Germany

Last Thursday I picked up five suitcases from Germany that CCARA (the NGO managing our kids' sponsorships) sent, filled with clothes and towels. It was somewhat a two-hour hassel that cost some under-the-hand money for us to take them with us, but now we have clothes again to give to our kids as well as others that are in need. Thank you, CCARA!