Healing 2 The Nations - Dr. Claudia R. Wintoch

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Thursday, May 31, 2007

Construction Update

On Monday Kossi was supposed to pick up the order to tear down the buildings on our property from the responsible guy. But that man was out of town, and we've been waiting since for his return.

In the meantime Kossi went with other government officials on our property because the water channel on our property (for the rain water) needs to be deviated elsewhere. When they tear down the buildings, they are filling up the channel on our property with the debris.

Hopefully next week that will be done, and the well drilling started.

Our Teenagers

Life as usual has started again for all of us, but the kids are still a little "hyper" and unable to calm down. They haven't done their daily tasks today, and have some discipline problems. Of course, they miss our American friends.

I'm praying that what the Lord has done in them the past two weeks won't be lost, but that they'll continue to grow. They will go door-to-door every Friday now to share the gospel and pray for the sick.

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Americans Wrapping Up

Yesterday our American visitors invited everyone out to go to the swimming pool a second time - to the great delight of the kids (young and old, by the way). They had much fun, as we left after school and lunch to spend all afternoon there.

Today it was yet again not a regular day for the kids (but tomorrow will be!). We had our time of worship and Bible study, though, which is from 12-1 pm. After lunch, it was time for the video interviews, which took all afternoon until their departure at 8 pm. In the end time got really short, as they had to finish the interviews, eat and pack within minutes only. But it worked out just fine.

It was time for good-byes, and tears were flowing. Adults and kids alike will miss our new friends. We packed half into our car that's served us so well during their stay, and the other half into a taxi. At the airport Paul and I had to say good-bye as well, as they walked away to start their long trip home.

Busy Week

I myself am leaving for Austria in 5 days. It will be a very busy time of preparing for Austria, as well as getting everything ready in Mali to be gone for a month. No time for the much needed rest...

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Sunday, May 27, 2007

Morning Service

A first in the history of our church - a Sunday morning service; and hopefully the last for a while ;-)

Krista, one of the two girls on the American team, did the preaching. Before that, they each gave a testimony about their time here. Then we surrounded them and prayed for them as they go home soon.

Global Day of Prayer

In the afternoon we went to a congress center where the Christians of Bamako gathered to pray together for Mali, Africa, and the world. It was full, which was wonderful to see. It was extremely hot, though, and we all had sweat run down our bodies everywhere as we sat in the hot hall for 3 hours (and leaving early then).

Then we all got into our car and two taxis again, and went to my favorite restaurant; one I hardly ever go to, and hadn't been to in a very long time. Reason being that it's on the other end of town.

The Americans wanted to invite us all out to eat before they leave, and we had a great time together, all 19 of us. We had awesome food, which the Malians could hardly believe, and great icecream as dessert.

Picture: Krista with Abdias (left) and Solomani (right).

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Saturday, May 26, 2007

Street Kid Program

The American team did the games, then Paul did a few songs, and then I taught the 11th lesson in our curriculum. We had a great time together.

Prayer Meeting

In the evening we had our prayer meeting. It was very different from last week. Songs and prayers alternated, praying for Mali, for Bamako, for our church.

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Friday, May 25, 2007

Third Open-Air Meeting In Bamako

Finally we were able to do the meeting, on this third and last night. No rain, all equipment working fine.

Again, we had to go three times to bring all people and equipment to our property. I took Paul with me on the first ride, so we could set up all the equipment, while Seybou went back to get the next bunch. We were soon done, with many kids already having gathered. When the Americans came with the next ride, they were all running to the car and shouting. They've been enjoying the hugs and games and songs the Americans have been doing with them.

At 7 pm we started worshiping. The sun was nearly gone by then. Paul led worship, with Firmin helping him, and Abdias dancing next to them, and Saloum playing the drums. They sang and danced for an hour, and it went great. Issa was with the kids, animating them to join in and keeping them away from the equipment at the same time. Our construction manager Kossi was there as well, joining us for the second night in a row.

I'd been pretty tired and not had a chance to take a nap in the afternoon, but by the time I took the mic, God reached down again to take over. I had Saloum give his testimony, and then one of the Americans came up and took some time to share. I continued from there, speaking about the love of the Father, and clearly presenting the gospel. Many listened very attentively, while many children kept talking and doing other stuff. In the end the teams prayed for the sick again, and asked every person if they wanted to know Jesus. 5 people were healed, and 4 saved.

One lady shared that her little baby boy was born with a sickness. Yesterday we had prayed for him, and today he was sitting up and playing for the first time in his life. Praise God!

In the morning, Paul and Firmin went door-to-door together, because we had the kids have school again because of their behavior. They led 3 people to the Lord, but couldn't find any sick people to pray for :-).

In the evening also, somebody came up to Paul before the meeting because he wanted to hear the gospel. Paul told him and led him to the Lord right there and then. (He's included in the number above.)

Every Friday night we'll go to our property to disciple the new converts. Hopefully they'll all show up. I put Paul in charge of that; one of the reasons being that I'm leaving for Austria in just over a week.

These past three days, we had a total of 33 people healed, and 21 saved, in the 3 evening meetings, and the door-to-door, taken together. Praise God!

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Thursday, May 24, 2007

Second Open-Air Meeting In Bamako

It's incredible that tonight we couldn't do the meeting either, even though for a different reason.

Both generators were repaired today, and were working just fine tonight. We set everything up, and all the equipment and the team came over in 3 rides. After 24 hours of a low, and after a restful day, I was feeling good again as we started the meeting with Paul leading Bambara worship. I was looking forward to the evening. I danced with them, and as worship was nearing its end, it suddenly started to rain. We had been praying against the rain quite a bit, but to no avail. It didn't rain hard as well, and I was hoping it would stop again. Finally it got worse and I was getting worried about the equipment as it got wetter and wetter. Finally I took the mic and said we'd pray for the Lord to stop the rain. So I did. After the amen, they started packing up, while we had 6 more bags of rice to give away. We called up the women one by one, and handed them their gifts.

By the time we were done, the rain had stopped, but the car was filled with the equipment, and without light it's hard to put it all up again. So we had no choice but to go home and hope that the third and last night tomorrow will finally allow us to preach the gospel on our property.

Though we could have had reason to be disappointed, I was still upbeat. Thank God! And we had 6 people healed, and 6 people saved tonight.

A while after we got home, it started raining hard again. Tonight everyone's sleeping inside, instead of on the roof.

This morning, two teams (without Americans) went door to door again, but only one person was healed and saved.

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Wednesday, May 23, 2007

First Open-Air Meeting In Bamako

Tonight was the first of three meetings on our property, but nothing worked out the way it should have. Today we got our generators back from being repaired, and were told they both worked again. Well, one didn't, and the other broke down again, so we ended up without any electricity, no light, no sound system, just a half-moon and our voices.

They did a good job praising the Lord and dancing, and they still had light at that time at least. Then I came up, but I couldn't shout louder than everyone was talking. Gladly Paul has a loud voice, but I don't know how much of it is left now.

We handed out 7 bags of rice (6 more to go tomorrow) to single parents who have many kids to take care of. We had identified them in advance. They were happy. Then it was time to preach, but nobody was listening, and many were already leaving. It was frustrating. I managed to talk a little, share the gospel, tell them about a loving heavenly Father, and a God who cares for them, including their physical well-being. Then our prayer groups got ready and started praying for the sick and those who wanted to become children of God.

We counted 5 healed, and 4 saved.

House to House

In the morning we sent out the teams to go house to house around our property, to invite people to the evening meetings, but also to pray for the sick and pray with those who wanted to follow Jesus. They were out for two hours. 16 people were healed, and 3 saved.

High School Biya

We also went back to my High School, where I taught for 2 years, to get some interviews with students and teachers. It was hardly worth it though, because they all just gave politically correct answers instead ot the truth. I was wondering what perfect school they were talking about...

Motorbike For Enoch

10 Days ago I bought a motorbike for Enoch. One mission was selling a few good ones for a great price. I didn't feel it was the right time, but was waiting on God when to give it to him.

Coming back from Dio, I knew the right time had already come, with all the new believers that needed to be discipled. I could hardly wait to surprise. First, I gave him the paper confirming the sale. He had a hard time understanding what that meant. Then I asked him to come outside with me. We walked to the motorbike, and I handed him the keys. He finally started to understand, and started to smile all over. Totally un-Malian, he enthusiastically hugged me to thank me, and then got on the bike. He told me how he had even prayed for a motorbike the night before.

Praise God!!!

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Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Two Quieter Days

Today we all went to the swimming pool, and had fun together. I had to leave earlier with the Bible students, but the rest of them could stay three more hours.

Back home we had Bible School.

Yesterday we went sightseeing around Bamako. They enjoyed it, though the masses of people downtown is always a little much the first time you plunge among them. We went to the artist's quarter, where they bought a few things, and then we went on campus, on a hill overlooking Bamako, where there is a good view.

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Sunday, May 20, 2007

Service With Americans

Just before we gathered at 3:30 pm to pray for the service, it suddenly started raining. And it rained pretty hard for a while, so we had no choice but to do the service inside. So this was the first service of the rainy season, when we often have to do services inside.

At least twice as many people as usual showed up for the special service, and we had a great time together. The Bambara worship reflected the exuberance of our worship during the outreach, and the French worship I led was also great, with Ryan accompanying me with his guitar. The keyboard was not working the night before, for our prayer meeting, but suddenly it was working again - though with a few "hickups".

After our great worship time, with our house being full to capacity (what a wonderful problem!), I shared about our time in the bush. All three adults of my team then testified how it impacted their lives, and so did two of the kids. It's so wonderful to see my kids' lives changed! I had been praying that for them fervently. Thank You, Jesus!

After testimonies, anouncements and offering, it was Ryan's turn to preach. He did a great job, and had a great message to share. After his sermon, my team and Ryan's team split into the same prayer groups as in the bush to pray for people, and they did. One person came up to me saying that the pain in their eye had disappeared. Praise God!

When everyone was gone, we also prayed for Hama's healing. The day will come when he'll be totally restored to the glory of God!

Service In Another Church

Yesterday the assistant pastor of another church (who is also in our Bible School) came over asking whether one of the Americans could preach in his church, and they agreed. So this morning all six Americans, and all my 4 kids plus myself went to that church not too far from us (my 3 adults did other things).

That church is also pretty unique because it has a woman pastor. The assistant pastor in our Bible School (Hyacinthe) introduced me to her a while back. We both thought we were the only woman pastor in Mali until that time. Her church is about one year old.

They received us very warmly. I was asked to introduce the team, and to pray in the beginning and the end, and Ben did the preaching. He seemed a little nervous but did a great job. It's not that easy with TWO interpreters.

After the service they invited us into the pastor's office where we were given coke and did some small talk, before returning home.

The church was blessed, and the pastor was happy that we had come to her church. I myself was invited to come some other time to preach there.

I'll add photos later when I get them from the American team.

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Saturday, May 19, 2007

Street Kid Program

Like every week, it was time for our outreach to street children. Today twice as many kids as usual showed up, with many coming for the first time.

The Americans started off with playing a game with the kids which they enjoyed - especially the winners :-). Then we did a few Bambara songs with them, and Paul prayed. As every week, we did the memory verse, and review questions from last week, and then it was time for the new teaching. We're moving towards the end of a 13-week course on the blood of Jesus. Today the topic was blood covenants. I use a lot of illustrations as I teach the KIDS IN MINISTRY curriculum which the kids love a lot. Nevertheless, many of them fall asleep while I teach. I guess that's a good sign, that they feel safe with us.

After the teaching, many of them wanted to give their lives to the Lord, and we prayed together.

Fanta had had to go to the market a second time, since we didn't expect that many kids, but the food was ready at noon anyway. We had the Americans eat separately, and a few of them preferred eating with silverware to eating with their hands :-)

Prayer Meeting

After a restful afternoon, it was time for the prayer meeting at 6 pm. To my shock I saw that the keyboard wasn't working any more, which really hit me hard. For so long I had wanted and prayed for a keyboard, then finally got it a year ago, and now it was gone. I had tears in my eyes as I grabbed my guitar I had not touched in months. I started with a song proclaiming the goodness of God, and soon the tears were forgotten. We thanked the Lord for all He had done in the village, praising Him with everything in us, and soon went into deeper places in Him. My voice was pretty much gone, and I had a hard time singing at times, but His grace was there. Also, Ryan played his guitar with me, and I gave him a microphone halfway into worship. He was singing about the fire of God burning within us, and I went around placing my hands on everyone for God's fire to fill them. A few testified of the power that hit them. Then I laid down myself on the floor, where Paul and Issa were already, to just receive. Thanks to my wireless headset microphone I was able to keep singing and interpreting the words of the songs Ryan was playing.

When we picked ourselves off the floor, several people shared what the Lord had shown them, and some of it complemented each other. For example, that the glory and fire of God surrounds us and consumes our enemy.

I was also smiling all over, and so excited, when Fousseni shared that he had told the Lord that he wanted to be a pastor, and asked Him for confirmation. He then saw a vision of himself in a church, preaching and praying for the sick. Praise God!

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Friday, May 18, 2007

Ministry On Our Property

We left the village after 10 am to return to Bamako. We had little rest, but enjoyed the showers, before gathering to pray before going on our property.

I split everyone into groups, and gave them flyers to hand out to invite people to our 3 evening meetings next week. Each team also visited the widows and divorced women we identified a while back, to tell them to come on Wednesday and receive their 50 kilos of rice. A few actually refused!!!

The team invited people all around our property, while two of them played games with the kids that had gathered. When the others had returned, we started our program, ministering to the many kids and a few adults. We sang a few songs with them which they enjoyed, and then Danny did a teaching, telling them about David and Goliath. When he was done, I continued from there, sharing the gospel with them and inviting them to become friends of Jesus. Many wanted to and prayed the prayer. Then we prayed for those who wanted to, but many seemed to be in good health.

I then gathered the American team and we walked around the limits of our property. Then we climbed up the hill to the north of it, from where you have a great view. This picture was taken on the top.

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Monday, May 14, 2007

Big Birthday Party

Six birthdays in one week; that warranted a big party. I baked two cakes, and at 6 o'clock Paul's brothers and sisters joined us for the party. Everyone got many gifts, and there was much joy and rejoicing. And they loved the cake!

The party didn't last that long, because we had to clean up, do our nightly family meeting, and then be off to the airport.

This picture shows me with Abdias.

American Team Arrives

Paul and I got in the car to drive to the airport. We didn't wait long before we saw the familiar faces coming out. Familiar because we've been praying for them for weeks and months, and it feels like I all know them already.

We put as many bags as possible into the car, and then put the rest into the taxi two of them rode in together with Paul.

At the house, everyone was up to greet them, and then we got the rest of the cake out, and Ben's gift - he's the 6th person whose birthday it was (second from left). We gave him traditional Malian clothes.

They all settled in and started unpacking, then taking their mattresses onto the roof to sleep there. It got really late - but of course they'er on Virginian time, which is 4 hours behind.

Off to the Village

On Tuesday we're leaving for the village to start our 3 days of open air meetings. Also, the two mornings we have there we're going into two different animist villages where the village chiefs said they would bring ALL the sick people for us to pray for them. Everybody is expecting many healings.

Pray for our car as we're driving to the village, and driving around there.

Pray for all of us, for strength, and most of all for God's power to come down and His kingdom to advance.

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Sunday, May 13, 2007

3-Day Corporate Fast & Prayer Meeting

Tonight we finished our 3-day corporate fast. We had a great time. I was proud of my kids for being able to fast three days on mangoes and bananas only. Paul did a water-only fast.

Last night we did an additional prayer meeting, just to worship the Lord together and seek His face. We started off as always, with me playing the piano and leading worship. Then the power went out. I just continued singing, and lay down on the floor, encouraging everyone to just soak in His presence, and drink from Him. That's what He wanted - for us to simply bask in His presence, and be filled. It was wonderful! We stayed there for a long time, and the Lord spoke to us. After a total of two hours, and with the power restored, we gathered ourselves up and shared what the Lord had shown us.

Paul saw three visions. He told the Lord that he didn't want to go to Dio (the village) if it was going to be a disappointment. Then the Lord asked him whether he had faith in Him. Then He opened the heavens and Paul saw a huge army - there were so many he couldn't see the end of them. Then the Lord said, all these are there for you, will be with you. I will be with you, and you'll be safe in all you do.

Second vision: Paul saw me planting trees. They were watered, and immediately grew and had fruit on them. I had hardly put in the seed, when the tree was already grown and bearing fruit. Everyone looking at them saw that they were very beautiful trees. This vision was also for the three days in Dio.

Third: Paul saw me on our property in Yirimadio, and I was laying the corner stones on each corner of our property. Those were heavy, strong cornerstones, and the Lord said He was building on them. (I need to check back with him for more details.)

Sunday Service

Today I was to encourage my sheep and build them up for the two weeks ahead. Contrary to what I do most of the time (topical sermon), I spoke on one passage today - 2.Kings 6-7. That's the passage about Elisha who is surrounded by enemies, but he sees in the invisible, the army of God, while his servant is panicking. Later the whole city is surrounded by the enemies, and it seems that that same army marched out as 4 lepers approached the enemy's camp who fled in terror, and the city was saved.

There is much in those two chapters, and I applied it to where we are right now. The main points are to believe God, and not doubt His words, and to always trust Him; to stay close to Him and constantly ask Him for direction, instead of acting the way we think we should act. He will reveal the enemy's stragegies to His friends, as He did with Elisha.

Paul shared his visions, and I shared mine, and they were ready to stand up as soldiers in His army and advance His kingdom.

Thief Among Us

Today is the second Sunday in a row money was stolen out of the offering box. We have a box with a little opening in the middle, but you can easily take of the covering to reach inside. Today again, somebody took money out of it, some time between the end of the service and me taking the box to count the money a few hours later.

Last Sunday I talked very seriously to the kids about this, believing it was one of them. Money has disappeared before, unfortunately, but no one admitted to having done it. Today the same thing. I can't say with certainty that it was one of them, but it's very likely.

While especially Paul was very angry about this, I felt more compassion with the thief, knowing how serious this is in the eyes of God, and if he doesn't repent, he will be judged by God.

Team of 6 Americans

On Friday we saw the Lord's grace, as He brought a miscommunication to light. I was shocked to discover that I didn't have the right dates for the arrival (and departure) of the American team. They are coming one day later, and leaving a day earlier. I quickly had to adjust the schedule as well as possible, and am glad I didn't go to the airport on the wrong day.

They are arriving tomorrow (Monday) night. I'm not unhappy about an additional day of preparation. Our church, our team, has prepared in every way possible, and we're ready for their arrival and for the intense ministry ahead of us. We've prepared individually, inside and outside, as well as the house where a lot of work has been done in terms of repairing and rearranging.

Let the time of ministry begin!

Week of Birthdays

I remind you that tomorrow (Monday) is my birthday, as well as Sarata's; Paul's is on Friday, and Fousseni's and Marie-Madeleine's on Saturday. Paul and Fousseni each have an email address - their first name followed by @centreapostoliquemalien.org. Why don't you write them a short note to congratulate them. Paul is turning 19, and Fousseni 16.

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Thursday, May 10, 2007

3-Day Corporate Fast

Tonight we started a three-day corporate fast that will last from the prayer meeting tonight until the service Sunday night. It concludes our 7 weeks of prayer and fasting. While we've been interceding and praying lots, these three days are only for seeking the face of the Lord. No lists with requests, simply gazing upon His beauty. Some fast on water, some on liquids, and some on fruit, especially those who don't really want to do it, like the children.

I'm praying the Lord will meet us powerfully and intimately, and that no person will remain unchanged. We'll probably worship and pray together tomorrow as a family, and on Saturday we have an official "prayer" meeting (meeting God meeting) in the evening.

American Visitors

The time has nearly come for our 6 young visitors to arrive - on Sunday night, at the conclusion of our fast. This past week has been busy getting stuff repaired or purchased, and getting the house cleaned up, and reorganized, and up-to-speed. I've done so much rearranging, I had little time for other things, but now most everything in the house looks good and is ready - just a little more to go :-)

We're excited about our guests, and all God is going to do, and so are they, though there has been little communication from them. Tonight in our weekly prayer meeting the Lord showed Paul his tears over Yirimadio (where our property is) and Dio (the village), and the powerful release of His kingdom that is coming when we minister there these next two weeks. Praise God!

I will email an update out in the next few days that will give you a detailed schedule for their time with us, so that you can pray right on target. It will be a busy time, but a fruitful time.

I nearly forgot... a new picture I took yesterday. It shows Issa teaching the kids, like he does every morning from 8:45 until 12:15, when I take over doing the Bible class.

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Sunday, May 6, 2007

Remarkable Service

These past few weeks the Lord has been showing me in the prayer meeting Thu night what he wanted me to preach on Sunday. This week it was about desiring Him and hungering for Him.

I jotted down a few Scriptures, not knowing how the Lord would bring the message across. At 3:30 pm it was time to pray together before the service. I started to pray, and was sad that nobody else was there on time to pray. I suddenly felt God's heart for everyone to truly desire Him, want Him more than anything else. I then confessed my weakness and incapability of bringing His message across, and asked Him to take control of the service and touch everyone's lives.

And as I preached, I felt more anointing and authority than I've ever felt preaching here in Mali in a Sunday service, I think. It was awesome! The words just flowed, and I could tell they made an impact. Praise God! In the end, many were kneeling in the front, as they asked for more hunger for Him or expressed their hunger for Him.

If you speak French, you can listen to the sermon by clicking here.

Malian Elections

The results of the Malian elections last Sunday have been made public. The current president was reelected with 71% of the votes, i.e. an absolute majority. 36% of Malians that were registered voted, only 2.2 million of the 13 million people.

The opposition leaders are not happy about the result and are trying to get the elections annulled.

This is what BBC has to say in an article from Friday:

Mali's opposition has formally asked the Constitutional Court to annul last Sunday's presidential election.

"We do not recognise these results because it is a farce," said opposition coalition spokesman Djiguiba Keita.

They say the poll was marred by fraud and members of the military were ordered to vote for incumbent President Amadou Toumani Toure.

But the BBC West Africa correspondent says annulment is unlikely, as foreign observers declared it mostly fair.

The Front for Democracy and the Republic (FDR) opposition coalition says that it has concrete proof that it will present in court.

Provisional official figures issued by the authorities on Thursday gave President Toure more than 68% of the vote, putting him well ahead of his closest challenger, parliamentary speaker Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who had less than 19%.

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Friday, May 4, 2007

Construction Update

Because of the Malian elections and the first of May, not much has happened this week. But today Kossi went on the property with some government off icials. In the beginning of next week the one family on our property will be relocated, and on Wed all the buildings on our property will be leveled. Then they will mark the limits of the buildings, and Thu or Fri I will join Kossi and the leader of the well-drilling team there to decide on where to put the well. The week after they will start drilling, which is the first week of our American visitors. And the work on the water tower has already started - finding the materials, welding, etc.

So far no other money has come in, so we can't have the electricity department start their work.

Kids Time

I'm glad I took some time to play with the kids today. We don't do that often enough, and there are still board games they've not played (correctly).

Since I talked to the children very serioulsy 1+ weeks ago, things have been dramatically better. Praise God! Today Saloum, our oldest, even asked to do a TPM session. I've been encouraging them to take advantage of this opportunity to be free, and also testified of what the Lord has done in me through the sessions.

Urgent Prayer

In just over a week, the team of 6 young Americans is arriving in Mali, to do great exploits for the Lord. Our expectations and faith are very high.

Today I learned that one of the passports has not come back from the Malian Embassy, and there they don't know where it is. Please pray that the passport will be found, so that the WHOLE team can come to Mali.

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Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Great Work Day

What a wonderful day!

This afternoon, I decided it was time for some work in the house. There is LOTS of dust in the air in Mali, and everything's always covered with the red dust. Plus several things needed to be rearranged and improved, and I decided to tackle it, so it would be done before our visitors arrived.

To my great delight everybody started joining me to help, and so we were able to get it done much quicker. Three bookshelves moved and rearranged, a table moved, and another bookshelf moved to the kitchen, and the kitchen FINALLY rearranged and cleaned - very much needed. We got much done, and had great fun together. Thank you, Lord!

And then we went to the grocery store together, which is always fun. Firmin and three of the kids came along. It was Firmin's first elevator ride. We enjoyed our time together.

Personal Update

I've been very joyful the last few days, after a very tough week last week. On Friday I did a TPM session via skype to take care what was bothering me all week, and caused me to be desperate, and found resolution of that issue. The last few days I've seen the fruit, as the issue is no more, to my greatest amazement. AWESOME GOD!

The last two TPM sessions I had, I had great breakthroughs with incredible fruit. I'm so thankful to the Lord. He's heard my cry and delivered me. I see the fruit of the 3-week-fast, since this was one of 5 things I prayed and fasted for.

Purchases

We've recently made several purchases, and also had furniture given for free, which has greatly helped us. Now is the time that missionaries leave, at the end of the academic year, and they sell all their possessions before returning to the US. So a lot of great stuff is available for little money. I got some furniture that I'll need once we move, but now I have to find some place to put it until then, since there is no more room in our house. Please pray somebody will store them for us.

One other thing we got is a good quality, more powerful generator. That will help us as we go into the village of Dio with the US team in two weeks. Now we'll have light, praise God!

I also got a freezer that will primarily help us have cold drinks, especially when we have the street kids come; now they'll be able to have a cold drink. Of course it won't help our crazy electricity bill....

Today we had rain for the second time. These are the early rains before the rainy season truly starts in a few weeks. It cools down for a few hours, and then, as the sun comes up, the humidity becomes unbearable...