Healing 2 The Nations - Dr. Claudia R. Wintoch

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Friday, June 29, 2007

Rejected By Austrian Agency

Today we got word that our project was not chosen by the Austrian Development Agency; they had to choose 5 out of 20 projects. The reason was that we discriminate by only employing Christian workers. The lady from my church talked with them, and we can try again half a year from now. It is true that I've employed unbelievers before, for basic things, so maybe we don't have to be so exclusive.

In any case, God is in control and He will provide for everything, even though this is a big disappointment.

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Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Visiting New Churches...

I'm humbled, and my heart is touched by the way I was received by the new churches I visited; three in total. I already reported on my visit to the Vineyard church in Vienna (see June 17).

On Sunday I was invited to share about Mali in the FCG in Wels. It was their evening service, and a healing service, so I was encouraged to share a few healing testimonies. Unfortunately few people came to the service (most go in the morning), but I enjoyed it very much anyway. They had a great worship time, singing the songs I know in English in German. Then it was my turn, and I shared 15 min while the pictures just ran through behind me. People were listening attentively. When I was done, I was touched when they said that they would want to bless me financially as well. After the service, I talked to the pastor a little bit and was very blessed by all he said. Thank You, Jesus!

On Tuesday I was invited to share in a prayer meeting at another church, also near Linz. In both cases good friends of mine who attend those churches talked to the pastor, and that's how I had those opportunities. After a time of singing, I went up to share. This time there were more people (they had anounced my coming on Sunday), and I had more time. I simply shared from my heart - as I always do - all the things the Lord has done and is doing in Mali. I could tell that people were moved. And I got so excited about His work in Mali, I even forgot to mention our need for a car. Thankfully I remembered in the last minute :-). I gave people a chance to ask questions since there was still time, and they did ask - even things like what are my bank details. When I sat down, they had a time of prayer where several people prayed for me and for Mali. Then the leader said they'd take an offering for me - I was so thankful and felt blessed by that unexpected but hoped for blessing. When I opened the envelope later that night, I was moved once again. People had given generously. Now my debts were taken care of. I had asked the Lord to pay off the accumulated debts during my stay in Austria, and He had done it. We're still praying and believing for the remaining 14.000€ ($19,000) for the Toyota to come in quickly.

...And Old Friends

I've been on the road for 4 days, stopping different places in Austria, taking the train daily and spending a night here and a night there. I've enjoyed staying with old friends in all those places. Some of them I've known since my salvation 14 years ago, and so we had much to share. They were a great blessing and encouragement to me. Thank You, Lord, for friends!

Picture of my friends in St. Pölten taken in 2005.

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Sunday, June 24, 2007

Last Week In Vienna

My last week in my hometown was filled with meeting friends and family, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The picture shows an old friend from my church with his pregnant wife and son. It's when I see the kids that I can tell that time is passing!

I met with some other old friends, updating each other, and I also got together with a cellgroup from the Austrian group in my church who've supported me and loved on me. I also met with my one of the Bambara lecturers (my former teacher) at university who is always interested in hearing what's happening in Mali.

In November a team from my church is coming to Mali to minister, and I met with the girl responsible for organizing that trip, talking details while having wonderful Austrian/Italian icecream. I met with a Christian businessman to share my work with him, who was extremely sceptical concerning what I do because of the mismanagement he's seen in the past. I had my least meal with my Mom & her husband, enjoying the fellowship and wonderful meal. I went to my Christian dentist for the second time, who worked more on my teeth - and for free! Thank God! On Saturday I went to the wedding of someone I used to know a long time ago, where I met several old friends I had lost touch with. And on Sunday I had 7minutes in my church to give an update to the international congregation. Afterwards I went out to lunch with my wonderful friend Renate who I stayed with, before taking the train west.

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Sunday, June 17, 2007

Tremendous Weekend

Finally a service, a worship time, a time of being on the RECEIVING end - not the worship leader, but the worshipper. For 3 weeks a heaviness had been on me because of our desperate financial situation, but now the Lord met me as I yielde to Him in worship. It was so beautiful!!! I repented of carrying that burden, of taking His place. HE is the one to take care of everything, not me. HE is our provider, not me. My worrying doesn't make any difference at all. I felt so much lighter, and that lightness increased with each service. This weekend I saw favor, I saw people touched, I saw actions put to words, and it was like healing balm to my soul.

Saturday Night

That night I was with the Austrian congregation of my international (sending) church in Vienna. They've been the most supportive, and it was great to be with them again. I had half an hour to share, to give an update, while 200 pictures passed behind me on the wall. I shared from my heart, and saw people even moved at all God is doing in Mali. I also openly shared our difficult financial situation - the need for supporters, and for a new car. The pastor came back up and said that they had not intended to take an offering for me, but they would do one. People gave very generously, and our debts were nearly cut in half.

At the end of the service, the pastor called people forward for healing, and invited me to come pray for them as well. I was so excited, since I love praying for the sick, and the healed healed a few. One lady had a tumor in her neck, and it disappeared. Praise God!

I enjoyed talking to people after the service, including the pastor and his wife. I'm also excited that a group of people from this church is coming to Mali in November for two weeks of ministry.

Sunday Morning

I had opportunity to share in the Vineyard church for the very first time. I know a few people there, and have been there many years ago, and one of my friends who now attends there made my coming possible.

When I arrived there, I was totally amazed at the warm reception I received. The pastor was traveling and not there, but the guy leading the service had read my website and was surely excited. He gave me no restriction but told me to share without worrying about time. Wow.

I enjoyed the time of worship, and then came up to share, how I had grown up just around the corner from the church, how I ended up in Mali, and what God is doing there now. People were amazed at what they heard. When I was done, the leader came up and asked me several questions about money and support, and then encouraged everyone to support me. Wow!

After the service, 10 people signed up to receive my email updates, and I had several very interesting conversations with people, with potential for new connections and new doors of opportunity.

Sunday Night

Sunday night I was invited to preach at a new church that was started by a wonderful couple who are like parents to me, since they've known me for most of my Christian life. I was among family in their church, where I know many people.

In the middle of the week the Lord showed me what to preach, and I had such an excitement about it, which seemed to be weird in light of my discouragement. By Sunday night, I had such a joy, I was amazed; and such anticipation of what God would do in the service. I was very much looking forward to it.

Picture: with the pastor before the service

We had a precious time of prayer before the service, with God's presence there, and He already shared His heart with me for the church and pastors. Worship was led by their son, who is a wonderful worship leader and who I hadn't heard in years. I just stepped into His presence and lay before my beautiful King.

I then came up to show the pictures and tell of all the Lord's done this past year. When I was done, the pastor came up and had someone pray for me. Then it was time to preach, and preach I did. I loved it, and I wished they had recorded it (sigh). I talked about stepping into your destiny, about seeing your dreams and your vision fulfilled, about the things that keep us from that, and the things that are needed. I felt such a heaviness in the church of dashed dreams and visions, and the need for encouragement, and I had great feedback afterwards.

At the end of the service, I called those forward who wanted to lay everything down and allow Him to resurrect their dreams, and many came, and the Lord touched them. My heart was breaking as I felt people's pain while praying for them, and some were in tears, while others were laughing for the first time in a while, while others ended up on the floor with Jesus. I also prayed for the pastor for whom I'd had a burden the whole time, and the Lord met with him. In the end I also prayed for the sick - how could I not.

After the service I enjoyed talking to several old acquaintances, but time was going far too fast. Together with my friend Renate where I'm staying and a few friends of hers we went out to eat, and had a good time together. I thank the Lord for this wonderful weekend, and pray the rest of my time in Austria will be as fruitful and as full of divine appointments.

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Thursday, June 14, 2007

Meeting People

These past 4 days I've been to the university every day, and have met with former professors and other acquaintances, old and new. It's been an interesting time of sharing and renewing relationships, and nearly exclusively so with non-believers. Few Christian friends have contacted me so we could get together, but I have one more week in Vienna.

This Saturday I have 20 minutes in the Austrian congregation of my church to share, then 15 minutes Sunday morning in a church I haven't been to yet, and Sunday afternoon I'm preaching. Details on the CALENDAR page.

News From Mali

Today they started drilling the well (not confirmed yet!).

Last Sunday, Paul preached, and 5 of the new believers who live in the neighborhood of our new property came all the way to our current location for the service.

If the money for the Toyota doesn't come, I'm ready to borrow it. Without a car, we're immobilized in every way.

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Sunday, June 10, 2007

Sharing In My Homechurch

Because of the wedding, I didn't dare announce my coming for the 9 am service. I showed up towards the end, and had an opportunity to talk to some old friends. But having been gone for 6 years, I hardly know anyone any more.

Between the two services, I spent a few minutes with the pastor who shared about their huge construction project with me. They're building a state-of-the-art center, probably the biggest (non-catholic) church in Austria, for several million $.

Then it was time for the African-English service, where I had 5 minutes to share about Mali. I did, and they prayed for me. The next service was the Filipino service, and the Filipino pastor also gave me 5 minutes to share. I left right after that since my host Renate needed her car back. (Picture: in my church March 2006).

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Saturday, June 9, 2007

My Brother's Wedding Part 2

After 11 years of being together, and 10 of living together, my brother and his girlfriend got married today. They were already lawfully married by the government on Tuesday, but today was the big wedding in the catholic church. There were over 100 people in the church, and over 50 at the reception. While my brother and I don't have any aunts or uncles, his new wife has MANY aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her Mom is Swedish, and many of the Swedish relatives came as well.

They got married in the church where my grandparents got married 50+ years ago (they don't live anymore). It was a nice church, like we have many in Austria and Europe. We marched in behind the bridegroom, and when we had all taken our seats, the bride marched in. She sat down next to her bridegroom, and the catholic deacon started the ceremony. They had asked me to do the second reading, a passage on loving your neighbor from Rom 13, and I agreed. At least something for me to contribute! Afterwards everyone told me how great I did - I had to smile. One person said to my Mom, "as if she preaches every day", and she replied, "she does".

After the ceremony we marched out together again, over to the other building where they had prepared snacks and drinks. I was glad to be useful and served drinks until most people were gone. Since I rode in the car with my Mom, her husband, and my grandmother, we all went to my brother's house and dropped off the flowers there. From there we went to the restaurant where the reception took place.

It was nice place on the edge of Vienna. We first sat in the garden having drinks, and then went inside. Once more (as at my Mom's wedding last year), I did not sit at the table with the newly-weds. But I had my step-father's daughter and husband next to me, who wanted to know much about Mali. As is the custom in Austria, there was music and dancing all night, and different games. I also danced Viennese Waltz with my brother; every person has to dance one with bride(groom). Just before midnight, they cut the wedding cake. It was after that - because I was disappointed that I'm not even on any picture - that because of my intervention a picture was taken together with the newly-weds. (Unfortunately my camera doesn't take good night pictures.)

At half past midnight my grandmother left with me to drop me off at my friend's house, while many stayed to the end at 3 or 4 am.

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Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Fitness Center

One thing I miss in Mali is sports; it's hot, and moving makes you hotter (and I still exercise occasionally).

So every time I come to Austria I take advantage and go to the fitness center I used to go to in the past. They give me an exception, several day passes, since it's a club you need to be a member of normally.

Today I went for the first time, and it was wonderful! Half an hour on the bike, and an hour on the machines. I felt like continuing on, that's how much my body enjoyed it and craved it! I can go 7 more times in the remaining 2+weeks. Thank You, Jesus!

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Tuesday, June 5, 2007

My Brother's Wedding Part 1

My body still on Malian time, and after a long night in the plane, it was difficult to get up early in the morning, to go to my brother's wedding at the government office.

My Mom and her husband picked me up, and we joined the rest of the family at the office there. My brother was pretty nervous. I had the honor of doing the filming of the 8 minute ceremony. They said "I do", exchanged rings, and signed the papers - then they were married. They are still getting married in a catholic church on Saturday, though, which is the big celebration. They have asked me to read a passage from Rom 13 on love, and I agreed.

News From Mali

Though I can only connect via dial-up, I've been able to talk to my kids in Mali on skype (but often losing them). Enoch has come from the village, and with great news.

Remember the two villages where hundreds came to the Lord... The first village, Goro, has decided to build a church for 300 people. They will provide the bricks, and would like us to provide the wood and metal roof.

The second village of Sotoly has shut down the mosque. The local imam had come to our meeting, and even at the time, we prayed the mosque would be transformed into a church. Looks like that's happening now. Praise God!

And there are so many more villages like that out there...

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Monday, June 4, 2007

(Un)Eventful Trip To Austria

With our car once and for all gone, I had to take a taxi to go to the airport, just like in old times. As I was waiting, I told my kids about one time, when the taxi blew its tire on the way to the airport. Not fun!

The taxi came, and it was time for good-byes. We didn't get very far, before a tire blew! I couldn't believe it! The driver got another taxi for me, transfered my stuff, and... we weren't leaving. When I inquired, he said he has a blown tire and needs to change it. Can you believe it?

Finally we got moving again. Good thing I always leave early. At the airport I checked in and then waited. Nine times the power went out during that one hour of waiting! Unbelievable! During that time I sat reading my Bible - something I've had precious little time of recently. While I was reading, such a deep sense of peace and of His presence around me came over me.

But there were more things that were a first than just the power going out at the airport. I was the first to get on the plane. And for the first time the plane was parked further away, and we had to walk all the way from the terminal.

There were a few other little things that were different from usual, and I was wondering wether there was a significance to that. I then felt the Lord say to me that things had changed, I wasn't the same, and the season wasn't the same, and those little things declare that. How exciting!

The rest of the trip went smoothly. I hardly slept at all on the overnight trip to Paris, where I then had to wait over 3 hours for my connection to Vienna. I was excited to go home to my birth town. ä

My Mom picked me up from the airport, and then we had lunch together, before she took me to a supermarket to buy some groceries. It was like paradise! Anything you want, you can buy. It's all right there! I found cheese, and ham, and diet coke, and great Austrian bread, and wonderful milk, and many other things like strawberries and raspberries and apples... Wow! What a joy!

My Mom dropped me off at my friend Renate's place, and I enjoyed spending the rest of the day with her. I had a wonderful cup of tea, and then some wonderful bread and ham and cheese...

The only downside: It's COLD! Used to the grueling heat in Mali, I start getting cold at 27°C (81°F), and it's 22°C (72°F)in my room!

Now it's time for bed, not having slept hardly at all last night. I have to get up very early to go to my brother's formal wedding at the government office tomorrow.

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Saturday, June 2, 2007

Weekly Street Kid Program

Today was the last sesson in our BLOOD OF JESUS course. From next week onward Paul is teaching them what the Lord puts on his heart.

Thanks to our American visitors, we played "chocolate marbles" today with M&M's. The kid who got one of his 3 M&M's closest to the candy, won all the chocolate. They loved that game :-)

Extended Power Outage

The power has been gone for the five past hours. Then I remembered our generator and decided to connect my office to it. So it's loud now, but I can use my computer and internet, praise God! I hope though power will be restored soon, as the kitchen gets inundated with the ice melting in the freezer and fridge.

Construction Update

Kossi passed today, since I was looking for some answers.

He has an appointment at the government office on Monday. Hopefully they'll give him the order to level the buildings on our property. When we were there yesterday, they were already digging the new channel - praise God!

One important question I asked Kossi, that had come to me this past week, was whether it wasn't possible to use powerful generators to power everything on our property, rather than paying $44,000 for the electricity installation, and then $1,000 a month for electricity (a luxury article in Mali!). He'll look into that possibility.

I also told him that I gave notice at the agency this week, that we're moving out end of September. I asked him to not build both houses at the same time, but do one first, to be sure one is done end of September. Gladly he said that is possible.

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Friday, June 1, 2007

Discipling New Believers

We had told everyone that we'd be coming every Friday afternoon to teach the new believers. I was curious if and how many would show up.

When we got to our property, the kids all came running to us and gathered around us in the shade. We started singing some praise songs, with more kids coming, but no adults. So I just started teaching the kids on their level, and they listened carefully.

While we were doing that, Issa and a few kids went door-to-door in our neighborhood to share the gospel and pray for the sick. They had one person get healed and saved.

Paul then went to visit one of the new believers, and found out that he thought that we'd come at sundown. Hopefully next week people will know that we come at 5 pm and not 7 pm. It's Paul's task to teach the new believers, and he has the ALPHA course materials to use.