Second And Last Day Of Skiing

First Day Of Skiing

Cheese Fondue

Exciting For Hama

Reputation For Healing

Abdias With Glasses

Family Crisis

Rising Costs

Before The Service

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Shocking Behavior

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Easter Miracle

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Long School Day

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Car Troubles Again

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Master Plan

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Running Errands

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Cut Off From Outside World

The whole of Mali is cut off from the rest of the world - in terms of internet. There is no internet in Mali at this time.

This morning the internet stopped working, and I thought it was just a temporary thing since it's not like that doesn't happen. Later I heard from someone passing by that all the internetcafés are offline as well. Later Anco came over who was informed, telling us that the cable that brings the internet from Senegal into Mali was broken somewhere. That's why the flow is interrupted. He also said - what an encouragement - that last time that happened, it took them 5 days to repair.

Well, you'll see when you get this email (if you get it in your inbox).

Street Kid Program

Today we had the first real (after last Saturday's) street kid program on our property. Seybou came with 17 boys piled on the back of his truck. Yesterday I hadn't been sure whether I'd be up to doing the program, but today I was. I've now measured 36.4°C inside the house (97.5°F).

I had been unhappy with the way the program was going on the old property, and had been praying for new inspiration, creative ideas and wisdom to know what to do differently, and the Lord has answered.

One problem was their attention span is very short. Half of them would always fall asleep during the program. I was teaching them an excellent curriculum and seeing the fruit of it. What to do?

I remembered the pre-school curriculum I had from the same ministry, and decided that would be more their level. I prepared three 5-min lessons from that curriculum. I also prepared several games.

Paul was not really at his best - whether for physical or emotional reasons, I'm not sure. The kids did the first game - clearing cans off with balls - and loved it. Those who succeeded got a candy and a point. Then I gave a five-min lesson, plus verse to memorize and little activity to visualize the lesson. Those who did the activity got a point. Then another game, the same way, and another teaching. And then a final game. All this took quite some time, and I burned my skin since I was in the sun much of the time.

One kid had gotten 3 points in total, and he got a special prize.

I was pretty tired by the time we were done. I was also disappointed that some of my own kids don't behave better than the street kids, talking and being disruptive. Paul stayed with them and supervised the meal. Then Seybou took them back to the bus station.

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Weekly Prayer Meeting

The day was pretty discouraging, with the way the boys were behaving - from fights, to lack of respect, to mockery. Once more I contemplated dissolving the center and starting over.

The time for our weekly prayer meeting came, and nobody showed up. So I just sat down at the piano and started worshipping God out of my discouragement. If we can't pray, then there is no point in doing anything else. I started singing MY LIFE IS IN YOU, LORD and before long tears started streaming down my face, as I meant every word I was singing. He was my hope, and I would praise Him. After a few minutes of playing and singing (my voice would break up again and again as my tears came forcefully), they started filing in and joining me. I didn't look at them, but just kept worshipping God with tears running down my face. Then I switched to BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD, which speaks about worshipping the Lord during the hard times, and more tears flowed. We went on like that for a while. Then I got off the piano, knelt on the floor and poured out my heart to God, asking for His intervention, His help, His mercy on us.

After some time, I got back on the piano and played a few more songs. Then we went into a time of prayer and intercession for different subjects.

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A Scorpion?

Last night I was lying on my mattress next to the house door still reading a few minutes before going to bed, when I suddenly saw something crawl real fast around my book and lamp, and it looked like a scorpion. I jumped up and shouted for Seybou to come. He came, and they found it, but it turned out not to be a scorpion.

However, we are on the foot of a hill in a rural setting, and scorpions and snakes are not a rare occurrence. But God promises us that we will trample on them, and they won't harm us. Keep up the prayers!

Flying Termites

As the sun went down tonight and we turned some lights on, suddenly dozens of flying termites were flying around each light. I immediately told them to turn off the lights. Every year around that time is a season when those flying termites come out. They don't live long, and an hour or so later, you can sweep the heap of them off the floor. They come through even under the door, but without glass anyway, they came in unhindered, of course.

In fact, a lot of animal life finds refuge in our house, especially insects. The cockroaches I have already grown somewhat accustomed too - we had many of those in our old house as well. I still don't like them, though.

And then there are those Malian wasps. They are much bigger than in the west, but are not aggressive and don't hurt you. However, they build these caracteristic little houses all over the wall, and I've already seen several of them all over the house. That doesn't surprise, since I see them inside the house much of the day.

I guess that's enough about Mali's wildlife for today :-).

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Business Not As Usual

The three of us are still sick, and it's pretty certain it wasn't malaria. I was wrong that Paul was back on his feet. He is on his feet, but not doing well at all. He doesn't want to eat, and so he doesn't, but he still goes to school every day, and that's tiring with all the walking and the heat. I told him today he needs to eat, and if it's only a little. His morale is also very low.

Hama is also still sick, but on the way up. As for myself, last night was pretty bad again. I lay awake in bed for 3 hours, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The kids did something that wasn't nice at all last night, and it was a strain on my strength.

It's the third day that the kids haven't had classes, and that concerns me probably more than anything else right now. They simply can't handle having that many hours in a day and nothing to do. That's when they get all kinds of ideas what they could do.

Today I talked to Paul about this. I was lying in bed, and he on the floor outside. Itold him there are things the kids can do without me, naming a few. But of course, with Paul out like that, he can't enforce anything. And Firmin can't enforce anything by nature.

Conclusion: I need to be up to teach them again. Jessica told me to get out for a day, but I guess it's not happening. I also told Paul he needs a break, a day away. But he has school 6 days a week. Otherwise I'd take him and go to the swimming pool for a day. With the intense heat right now, that would be nice.

By the way, the heat is another reason it's hard to sleep at night. I start off lying on a mattress near the house door, where the breeze comes through (since there is no glass), if there is one, but then at one point during the night I go back to my stuffy room because my back aches too much from the thin mattress on the floor. It's too bad the power we have is not enough for the AC. I can tell it was God's timing for me to go to Austria in two weeks, skipping the hottest time of year in Mali.

If you can think of anything physical, that would be great. I think it would be wonderful if the construction work could continue, and they could help build.

Mosquito Nets As Windows

There is this lady from a ministry I've been connected to for years because I translated a big devotional book for them. She is an amazing networker and when she heard of our plight, she knew of some group who raised money for us to buy mosquito nets for each one of us to sleep under, and the rest to tape across the windows so they mosquitoes can't fly inside. We just bought those today, and now we have to put them up. I don't know if Paul and I are up to it, but it is exciting anyway.

Paul later said that it's not gonna work to put them on the windows. Well, we'll see.

Serious Family Meeting

Firmin told me he has to study tomorrow, since he has exams Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. And Paul is in school. So if I'm still sick, there is nobody else to oversee the boys.

The kids all apologized for what they did yesterday, the last ones tonight. I told them how concerned I was about them having nothing to do, and one of them admitted that they are bored. I told them, if I'm not fit to teach tomorrow, I expect them to work on their own, naming different things to do for school that they could have done even today. Instead, they go outside to goof around - of course, if no adult is watching.

I told them the situation is serious. If we were not enough people to keep our operations running, and then they are not doing their part, then there would have to be serious consequences nobody wants.

Our Health

I am feeling much better today, though the constant demands on me are wearing me down. Constant knocks at the door, and always a different person... I understand now why our nurse Jessica told me to get out for a day.

I'm concerned about Paul's health too - he has chest pain, he said. Paul works hard, at school and then at home, and I told him he needs to rest. Sick or not, he won't miss school. He was gonna go to the villages on Monday, staying overnight, but I forbid him to leave. He needs to get well first, and get some rest. And now he just went off to visit his family, instead of going to bed!

It's time for another hot night, and I'm not sure what to do about sleeping better. Can't change the heat, or the mattresses, or the mosquitoes.

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Sick With High Fever

I had a horrible, restless night, unable to sleep, and shivering with cold, though it wasn't cold. The fever was pretty high obviously. I could barely stand on my feet in the morning and knew I had to stay in bed.

I took some medication to lower the fever, and some time later I felt better and though I could teach my kids. They haven't had much school since the move, and we just need to make progress. I went over there, but after a few minutes I started feeling very miserable again, and I knew I couldn't do it. I had to lie back down.

Firmin was at university all day, and Paul at school, and so the boys were by themselves while I was in bed shivering. Hama is also sick. Paul was the first, and it seems, it's a virus that he's passed on to us. We have all taken malaria medication, but it hasn't made a difference.

I don't like being in bed all day, and I was too sick to even read most of the time. I finally measured the fever and was shocked how high it was.

With Denise and Hama sick, I asked Paul to stop over at Jessica's house, our American-trained nurse who I haven't seen in three months. And then Jessica came over to our house with our car, to look at me and Hama. That was very kind of her. She gave me antibiotics to take, gave antibiotics to Hama, and bandaged Abdias's foot that was injured while playing soccer. Then Seybou left to pick up the kids from school, and Jessica went back home with the car.

I was glad my loving cat Sweety was always on my side - she's the sweetest cat there is. Later in the evening, I called Paul and asked whether he'd spend some time with me, since I was really bored. He helped with some stuff, since I couldn't get up, and we talked for a while. At that point I measured 39.5°C (103°F) which was pretty shocking.

After talking for a while, I asked him whether the kids would maybe come over to talk a little. They all came! I was really glad. We all talked for a little while, and then they all laid hands on me and prayed for my healing. That's probably why I'm even able to write this blog right now.

Things have been going well with the boys, and I told them from a sincere heart that I had the best family in the world. I love them dearly and want to be a good Mom and reflection of Jesus for them.

During the day, I had been grieving about the events yesterday, because in reality the fault was with me. I had jumped to wrong conclusions. Before going to bed yesterday, I needed to talk to Paul and told him I was sorry, asking for his forgiveness. I told him tonight that what I'm currently working on personally is to love like Jesus. I was gonna preach on love yesterday. In any case, I know I fall short by far, and I pray God would change me so I could love them with His love.

By the way, the car wouldn't start in the afternoon. They pushed it and then it started. A cable had come lose. They put it back in, and now it works fine.

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No Sunday Service

This is the second time in a few weeks that I didn't get to preach the sermon I had prepared.

I'm fed up having two childish team members. I'd like to send every one away and start over; with orphans, and with mature Christians.

But of course, I can't do that. I have to work with what I've got. But I'm tired, and need God to help me and give me wisdom, and give me love. I was gonna preach on love today. I know I have far too little. I don't know how Heidi Baker does it, but she is a great example for me.

Last night, no one came to worship God, so I guess the outpouring is over. If they are not hungry for God, there is nothing I can do. I doubt He'll pour out His Spirit if nobody is there.

I'm looking forward to leaving Mali in a few weeks. Now all I want to do is survive until then. But I'm also concerned how it's gonna all work with me not being here. But then, maybe it's gonna work better. There is so much they don't care about, so it doesn't bother them.

Honestly, I wished that TV reporter wasn't gonna come back to Mali with me from Austria. That's scary, the way things are now.

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Failed Street Kid Program

I was actually excited to start our weekly street kid program again - that in itself was a miracle, since I had felt we were only doing a routine any more, without any life in it. But now on the new property, the Lord had answered my prayer to know how to do things differently, so there is life in them again. I was motivated, creative, and had done my preparations.

Paul has school until 9 am on Saturday, and Seybou was gonna pick him up at the bus station, together with the street kids, to bring them all home to our property. The perfect plan - or so I thought.

Paul has been sick, and did not wait for Seybou at the bus station. Though that meant a one-hour journey home, by bus and then a long walk. And then Seybou forgot his cellphone at home, and so I couldn't call him to tell him Paul was home, and he could come as well with the kids.

We waited and waited, and Seybou didn't show up. So I did some games with the kids from Paul's family, and they loved it. Finally I was getting pretty hot and tired, and I told Firmin I was going inside. If Seybou came now, it was too late for a program anyway.

Seybou came at 11:30 am, with about 25 street kids. I was simply not up to it, and so we put a Bible story DVD in, and had them watch it. Firmin asked questions about it in the end. Then they had a meal together, and already asked to be taken back to the bus station.

I was disappointed that Paul had let us down that way. He should never have gone to school, as sick as he is. He spent most of the rest of the day in bed, and we went to buy some malaria medication for him. It was a serious of unlucky circumstances, but I'm sure disappointed.

Solar Power System

Anco came again to improve our solar power system. He exchanged one of the machines that has been malfunctioning, and so we should have more power in the future. The generator has been running all day since Anco showed up, hammering noise in my ear. In spite of a working system and the generator, the power wasn't sufficient to make my AC run. So with a sigh I put my mattress next to the open door of the house again, where I'll spend the night, in the hopes of a wind blowing through the house, as it is typical this time of year.

Anco said he's willing to improve our system already and put more solar panels up, but only if we pay another $12,000 by the end of the month. With no money anywhere, and no hope for money, I could only tell him with sadness that I believed that unlikely.

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Errands Again

We finally got our car back last night, which enabled us to run some much needed errands today.

I let Seybou do a few first, while I did school with the boys. When Seybou came back, it was time for me to leave. I took Saloum (our oldest) with me. I promised them I'd take them out to eat one-on-one, and the lack of transportation kept that from happening. So Saloum was gonna be first.

We went to the bank, and then to the supermarket, where I spent a lot of money filling up on groceries and other necessary items again. Seybou then dropped us off at the restaurant closeby, while he went off to pick up the smaller kids from school.

Mother-Son Time

I spent two hours with Saloum, and they were very precious. We had good food, and a great conversation - probably the best ever. Saloum told me more about his family, and his future dreams. It was great. He is a fine young men who God will use mightily for His kingdom.

Seybou came later than expected, since he had to eat and take the kids back to school. So it was quite late, when we got back home. Time for homework or rather more school, since we had stopped school early in the morning. I sat with them until 5:30 pm, doing schoolwork.

Worship Meeting

Then it was time for our weekly prayer meeting. Since we didn't do a meeting yesterday, I was curious what it would be like tonight. Paul has been sick all day, and dragged himself to the meeting. He just lay down on the floor right away.

I got on the piano, and we started praising God. At one poin we sang a song saying the kingdom of God was here, and I asked them to surround Paul and declare it over him, that he was healed. Then they did the same with Firmin, who has been having hip pain.

We did a RIVER song, and then we made a circle, and invited everyone to jump in. Firmin, Abdias, and I ended up on the floor, where we stayed. His presence was there! I enjoyed His presence, and really wanted to go deeper. Hama was on my left, and Sarata on my right, each holding one hand of mine. Finally I got up and started praying for each person - and Sarata (who will turn 3 in a few months) helped me out. She also lay hands on them with me, and repeated what I was praying. I loved it!

Finally Paul got up and said he felt much better. Firmin as well.

We stopped earlier than we would have normally, but it was time to go to the bus station.

Street Kids

I stayed home, while all the others went to the bus station to hand out food to the street children and invite them to our weekly program tomorrow. Because of the broken car, we had not been there last week, and they asked us where we had been. They were happy to us.

Tomorrow is gonna be the first program on our property. Please pray for it.

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Break, Broke, Broken

After the car, guitar, the solar system not working properly, now the computer my team and the kids use has reached its end of life. The adults do their email on there, and use it for school/university work, and the kids do educational games on there. It was a cheap computer, so it shouldn't be surprising. With the heat and dust, the lifespan of electronic equipment is condiserably shortened. That's why twice I bought a good quality computer, even though it cost more, but it was sure worth it. After over two years, it reached the end of its life, and so I had to buy a new computer while the US in January. This time, however, I thought I'd take a chance, and bought a cheap computer. Only a few weeks later, I already have problems with it. It looks like I should buy a good quality computer again - that will last - and then I could give my present one to the team and kids to use.

Of course, all this is pretty ridiculous at this present time. I just spent $3000 I don't have to have our car repaired, and we are out of money on every side. We can't do anything in the house, and I have to figure out how to pay my ticket to Austria.

Solar Power System

Anco has finally come back to town and came over today. I've been unable to use water kettle or microwave, and several times we were without power for many hours.

Anco noticed that we use A LOT OF energy, a lot more than makes sense. He's not sure if he has the right equipment with him, but he'll try to find out where all this power is going. It's tomorrow he's gonna install another piece, so that we'll hopefully have more power. We'll know then whether I can use the AC at night, so I'm able to sleep.

In fact, I'm very tired because of the heat and not sleeping well at night. The hot season has started, and we have 35°C (95°F) inside the house at all times. And no AC or even fans. Outside it's about 40°C (105°F) during the day now, but at night it goes down to the temperature we have inside the house. So you can see why it's hard to sleep. The mattress is really hot to lie on.

So I'm really hoping we'll have enough energy for me to turn the AC in my room on at night. Sleeping well would make a big difference.

In any case, Anco said he needs to install more solar panels to give us more energy, but of course we don't have any money now. I'm thankful that he brought a good generator with him that he can lend us. He said it needs to run because the batteries are too low. However, it costs a lot of money to run, and the noise is deafening. I'm sitting in my office, with the noise hammering on my ears. If somebody stood next to me, I would not be able to hear him. Since I'm really tired, the noise is not helping me.

Because of the noise, we are also unable to do a worship meeting tonight.

School

I was in a great mood all morning, enjoying doing school with the kids. It was definitely an answer to my prayers that I had the idea to do math one on one with them in my living room. It works great! We got a lot done today, working morning and afternoon.

The Car Is Back

In the afternoon our car returned, after 10 days with the mechanic. It's repaired and working. I pray that it will work A LONG TIME now before something breaks again. Why don't I have faith for that....

Tomorrow Seybou can pick up the normal routine again, taking kids to school and picking them up. No more taxis! Also, there is a whole list of errands to run - for him as well as me. I have hardly any groceries left at home any more. I'm not sure if it's gonna work out for me to go downtown tomorrow.

We will also be able to get back to the bus station again, to hand out food to the street kids and invite them to our program. We have not restarted our program on our property yet, but will do so Saturday.

A few days ago I was so full of energy and looking forward to having the street kids with us again. Now I just feel tired. We need God to come down and refresh us again!

Visitation

Nobody showed up again to our 6 pm time of worship. I was somewhat saddened by that. I've paid the price - the hunger, the crying out, the contending for an outpouring - but they haven't. I don't think an outpouring or revival can be carried on me alone.

Paul showed up at 7 pm, praise God. He sure is hungry! And then Firmin showed up some time later; none of the kids. I got on the piano and led worship, and it was good, but not like the nights before. No outpouring of joy or His tangible presence. And they didn't stay that long. When they left, I got down on my face and cried out to God to keep pouring out His Spirit, more and more, and to not stop what He has started!

Tonight, the generator is running, and the noise makes it impossible to get together.

Is the visitation over?

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Car Update

This morning Emma - who is in charge of the car - came by and informed me how much the mechanic charges. It was somewhat of a shock. It's the first time we use this mechanic, because he was recommend to me.

In the evening Emma came by again, and told me there were even more costs involved. It was somewhat discouraging since we don't have any money anway. We are now up to $3000.

On the upside, we should get our car back tomorrow night. I really hope so. Then we have one month to make sure the engine is good. There is a one-month-warranty on it.

Visitation Day 5

We did school again this morning, while Enoch watched a Jill Austin DVD. He then left in the afternoon.

Emma left at 6 pm which was the time we get together to worship God every day. However, Paul was asleep, Firmin gone, Seybou gone, and the boys at the nearby soccer field. So I just started worshipping God on my own. I was so hungry for Him. I need so much more of God!

After an hour, Paul suddenly showed up and joined me. We spent another hour seeking God's face, Paul on one side of the room and me on the other. At one point, God poured His joy and new wine out again, and I went over to Paul and layed hands on him, and he got filled to overflowing, laughing and trembling in His presence. It was wonderful!

Paul left at 8 pm, but I kept going a little more. I realized that while I'm so thankful He is coming down, I need Him so much more than that. I'm hungry and desperate for Him! And I'm excited, because I believe this is the time for the fulfillment of promises. It's the beginning of so much more to come!

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Quiet Day?

The events of the last few days were taking their toll. I was very tired and wanted some rest instead of teaching school. So I canceled school but unfortunately I got caught up in office work and never had the rest I needed.

Enoch (our village pastor) showed up later in the day - great timing.

In any case, I was glad for the first day without a major crises in a while!

Visitation Day 4

Our 3 weeks of praise & worship ended yesterday, but how could we not get together to meet with Him now that He is visiting us. I spent some time talking with Enoch before our meeting. He told me that things had been very difficult for him as well this past week. He shared how several times he saw the devil walking around his property, with a sword and flaming torch, trying to find him, but he couldn't. He also shared about a fight with his wife. And then he told us how his service yesterday was on a whole new level. Praise God! While He is visiting us in Bamako, He's also moving in the villages!

I was glad Enoch could join in with us and get some much-needed refreshing.

I had translated two new songs in the afternoon, one of them a fast river song. We started dancing UNDIGNIFIED and other fast songs, and were all dancing like crazy. I left the piano a few times to join in the jumping and dancing. His joy was so tangible! Then we all held hands and invited God to come down in power, and He did. I went around laying hands on those who wanted to, and His presence increased on and in them. Enoch was also touched powerfully. We then went into a time of intimate worship, and I did some prophetic worship.

The meeting lasted two hours. There were some disruptions, the kids were already gone, and then I asked the team whether they wanted to continue or stop. I was energized after having been in God's presence, and knew we had barely touched on all He wants to do, and wanted to go deeper, but they didn't. So they left to have dinner.

After dinner, I showed Enoch the video clips I showed to my household two weeks ago, of God's glory manifesting through gold dust, diamonds and oil. Those things should stir hunger in our hearts that there is so much more out there, so much more He has for us. It did amaze Enoch.

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Paul & Firmin

I can still hardly believe the behavior of Paul and Firmin! Yesterday it was the boys, today it's them. And the intensity of their reaction! That's not at all Firmin's nature! I don't know whether I have EVER seen him like that! It would all be so funny, if it wasn't so sad.

I guess I don't have 7 children, but 9 children. They act like kindergarteners today. It makes me sad because I thought they wanted God's presence more than that.

I'm thankful for the peace and joy I have in the midst of this, no anger at all. At the same time I feel that determination to not let the enemy stop this starting revival.

Since I will not let the enemy win that easily, I decided to not just wait and pray, but to be proactive. I humbled myself, and went up to them to talk. They just kept doing their stuff, not responding to me. I took away what they were doing, and then they just sat there, staring and not responding. They refused to look at me or talk to me. I tried reasoning with them, but to no avail. Finally they said they'd finish what they were doing and come over to talk later.

Now I had not slept well at all last night. It was so hot, I finally moved my mattress into the living room, where it's 2°C cooler. It was 2 am. Two hours later I moved back into my bedroom. Because of that restless night, I got up later than usual. And then the situation with the guys, and they finally came around at 11:30 or so. Our teenagers had left to do door-to-door without them because of it all. They took note of their behavior and had fun with it somewhat, since now they were the kids, and our boys the adults.

I sat down with Paul and Firmin, and they didn't say anything. I just waited, and finally get up to do something, coming back a few minutes later. Then they spoke up. We talked over half an hour. They told me how shocked they were that I had locked the door, locked them out. I told them if I had known what effect it would have on them, I would definitely not have locked it. However, their intense pain and anger shows they need healing there. They didn't want to admit that, though they know the basics of TPM. I offered to do a session with them to go to the root of the issue and be healed. They were not willing, of course. Somehow they didn't want to listen, and when they left, nothing was resolved. They said they'd go think and pray.

Fifteen minutes later - while I was FINALLY praying - they came back asking for forgiveness for their behavior. I gladly forgave them, and was so glad we'd be able to do the service, expecting God to move in power. There was little time left to get ready for the service.

Service - New Wineskin Needed

I was so glad Paul and Firmin had come around, that I started setting up for the service real early, while the others were still busy. I put up all the mats we have so we could lie down on the floor, in case God came down again.

Finally the others joined me and we got everything ready. I don't know why, but most Sundays I'm in a bad mood before the service, and it was a real testimony of God's work in me that I was joyful today. I could hardly wait for the service to start! It was the end of our three weeks of praise and worship, and we would do just that.

However, everything was plugged and still we didn't have power for the sound system and keyboard. We tested each extension cord and found the one that wasn't working. It was our longest, and we don't have any other left, so there was nothing we could do about it. No power, no piano.

I told everyone that that didn't make a difference at all - we'd still praise and worship God. I put the keyboard away, and got my guitar out.

First, Paul and Firmin started leading Bambara worship, and we all danced along. I haven't danced like that in public for a while - usually because I lead worship myself. We had so much fun! More and more people showed up, mostly kids, but they all just sat there, even though we encouraged them to join in.

After 45 min or so I talked to Paul who told me he felt we needed to go inside the house to seek God like we've done the last two nights. I also felt like we weren't getting anywhere. I picked up the guitar anyway to lead French worship. With percussions and drums, my voice was not heard, and the worship felt totally dead, not even reaching the people present, though Paul and Firmin and a few of our kids danced. I finally stopped, and spoke a few words to those present before closing the service.

I told them that God has started moving, that He was doing a new thing, but we didn't know yet what that looks like, and what we'd be doing.

Our service had lasted a total of one hour. We decided to pick up inside the house after an hour, giving us time to talk to people and get a little rest. As we put everything back into the house, my guitar broke - not for the first time. The top broke off, and I think this time it can't be glued back again again. That's sad.

Visitation Part 3

Back in the house, I realized how extremely tired I was - after a short and restless night, all the emotional stuff going with Paul and Firmin, and fasting lunch like we always do on Sunday.... I really just wanted to lie down and sleep. I finally put my head down on my desk and was close to falling asleep, when the hour was up already and everybody showed up to meet with God.

I wasn't the only one who was tired. I was wondering if and how we were gonna get anywhere. I felt too tired to play the keyboard. Finally I got on my knees and started praying, telling God I had nothing in me at all, but all I wanted was to meet with Him. I asked Him what He wanted us to do, and felt to just lie down on the floor and soak for a while. So I put a CD on, and the others followed my example.

After a short while, I felt strength coming back and I got up and sat down at the piano to start leading worship. I sang a few songs, and sang prophetically, while everyone just rested in His presence. Finally I got up and started praying for each one, and God visibly touched a few of them.

After some time, I felt it was time to get up and hold hands and let Him fill us. Paul couldn't get up, and others didn't want to. So it was Firmin, Fousseni, Souleymane and myself, and His presence started filling us powerfully. Souleymane was acting in the flesh, but Fousseni was truly touched. A little time later, I felt God speaking to me prophetically about Fousseni and I laid hands on him and released it. He was touched powerfully and lay in His presence for quite a long time.

Just after that, I looked at Abdias who was sitting there bored, and I felt I needed to pray for him. I prayed for God's fire, and he was touched powerfully. He stayed like that for quite some time, and confirmed later that God had done something in him. He sure needs it. :-)

Again, all in all, we praised & worshipped for over 3 hours. Paul, Firmin and I were the last ones up.

Benefit Concert

I told you about the benefit concert in Austria to help with our construction that took place on Friday night. Much work had gone into it, and we were praying hard that the proceeds would allow us to finish our house.

I heard that the concert itself was a great success. However, a monumental hurricane swept over Europe, killing people - including 4 in Austria - and people were advised to stay at home, and so not many showed up. For that reason, our hope was 10 times higher than reality, and so we can't even pick up work on the house again. That's definitely disappointing. Especially after all the work they've put into it in Austria.

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Open Rebellion

We asked the children to clean the floors, and they refused. One said they are not slaves, and together they all went outside and sat down. I told them if they didn't want to do their job, they'd have to go to their room. They refused. Instead they were playing around, and I had to take a cord from one of them. They were out of control, not listening. So we started removing the percussions set and drums so they couldn't play those or have anything to do outside. When they came into the living room for a few moments, complaining about all kinds of things, I told them clearly they were free to go if they didn't like the rules of the house. We couldn't do anything but just let them be. And I was waiting for Paul to come home from school who can usually reach them better than I in those situations.

However, when Paul came home, he was extremely angry about their behavior and I was fearful to let him close to the kids. I tried reasoning with him that his anger was not helping, and that he'd have to be able to sit down with them and talk calmly. In fact, I was even surprised about myself that I had total peace about this all and was not angry or upset at all. If that is not proof that God's been visiting us!

I told Paul the best thing to do is have them read Scripture and then talk - if they were willing. Since the kids had an issue with being disciplined, I wrote a list of verses talking about discipline. Paul was able to quiet down, and together they read all the verses. The kids realized that discipline has to do with love and is necessary. Paul then talked to them without me.

Some time later, one teenager came up to me and asked forgiveness. And then one after the other came, until all five had done so. We then sat down together to talk. One issue of contention has been that they want to be able to leave the property. I let them leave but they were unable to respect the time frame, and so they had to stay on the property. I told them they could leave for 2 hours every day, but needed to stay close to the property and be back within the time frame, and that they shouldn't be surprised if they had to bear the consequences of not respecting the boundaries. They were happy with that. We all hugged each other, and everything was restored again.

I was amazed how that had changed from extreme lawlessness to complete restoration! Now we were ready to worship God together and see Him come down again.