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I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The
man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this
world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and
where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves
me. (John 12:24-26)
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Jesus refers to Himself as the seed that died and produced many seeds. These
seeds are us. And like Jesus did, we must die. Our carnal nature must die, if
we want to produce many seeds ourselves (and we are all called to do so). Dying
is not pleasant. Jesus’s death was extremely cruel and painful. Yet He so
loved us He endured the cross, for the joy set before Him, a beautiful bride,
a chosen people, a royal priesthood, friends of the Bridegroom. Will we not
love Him in return? He left all His heavenly glory and became one of us,
enduring life on this earth. Every day He saw the sick, the hopeless, the
desperate, and the proud, the stubborn, the rebellious, and sinners. His
heart was broken as He looked at people, and looked at cities. As a man on
earth, what He could do was limited. Yet today, having died, He has produced
innumerable seeds, all over this earth. The salt of the earth, the light that
shines in the darkness, all over this globe.
Yes, I am one of these lights (and so are you). And I am also called to die. Oh
how often I have died these past 10 years, and yet, I’m still so alive. I
still love this life too much rather than hating it (see verse above). Yes,
I’ve given up everything to follow His call to Mali. But those last weeks,
discouragement and darkness started overwhelming me. What was I doing here? Why
wasn’t I enjoying life in Austria? A nice job where I could earn money, a
nice apartment with everything necessary, no shortage or difficulty finding
food, many friends, entertainment, a good church, etc. But here I was in a
third world country, having none of the above, and getting miserable, lonely
and bored. After two months in Mali (and culture shock at this time is pretty
normal) my worldly nature started acting up, longing for the comforts of the
western world. I didn’t care about Mali, I wanted my comforts. I didn’t care
whether God had sent me here, I wanted to lead a normal life. I didn’t care
about anything, but myself. Had I made a mistake? Wasn’t short-term mission
more effective? Etc. etc.
My friends on the prayer cover could tell you how bad it was, and I thank
those who took time to write back and forth with me. How I need you my
friends!
Jesus called us to follow Him as His servants. A servant is one who takes
orders, who puts his own will aside to do the will of the Master. I followed
my Master to Mali, and I’m here to do His will, not my own. I am here to be a
reflection of Jesus for the people of Mali. I am here to be His extended
hands. I’m here to advance His kingdom, and to see His glory fill this
nation. Yes, I cannot do it. More of Him, less of me. I must be humble, I
must be dead, I must be totally usable in His hands, seeing with His eyes,
hearing with His ears, and speaking His words.
I’m seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph 2:6), and yet I constantly
leave this place where I am meant to live. I’m a citizen of heaven, seated in
heaven, and where my body is on this earth is ultimately insignificant. It is
when I am in His presence, when I spend time with Him, when I look at His
beautiful face, when I dive in the fullness that is in Him, that I am at
home. It is then that I have abundant life, joy, peace, everything. WHY do I
forget that too often? Why is it so hard to go there – it’s really so simple
– when the darkness closes in?
Yet, after this very difficult time, I have refocused, taken my seat in
heaven again, and am focused on my heavenly Bridegroom again. And I have
regained the vision without which I couldn’t go on. My heart is longing to
see the fulfilment of the things I have seen by faith, and in His time they
will come to pass.
Friday Night
Friday night we now have a regular meeting at my apartment (though we’ve only
met once so far). Thanks to a friend in Switzerland, I was able to get a few
songs in French, and translated others, so we can worship together. Simeon is
very hungry to learn and know God. He believes that he is condemned to follow
God because He created him, and therefore doesn’t see a need for the
redemption Jesus provided. Please pray that Holy Spirit would show him the
truth.
I gave Simeon a Bible as a gift, for which he was very thankful. I also gave
him a daily devotional to help him understand the Bible.
Last week, my (Christian) friend Emmanuel with his friend were also supposed
to come (though they didn’t). I haven’t really spent much time with Emmanuel
yet, but he is eager to come closer to God.
So next time we meet, I hope we’ll be several. Si. & E. (Unification
cult) have also returned from their two-week trip to Benin. This weekend,
however, Youth With A Mission is organizing a conference with an American
guest speaker from charismatic background. The topic is Holy Spirit, and
Simeon is eager to go there with me. Please pray that he would meet God
there. Simeon has repeatedly asked me and my friends to seriously pray for
him.
Ministry Possibilities
There is a local church I have been to a few times, who are the ONLY ones to
reach out to the street kids – i.e. homeless kids that end up collecting
money for a Muslim teacher. That church also recently started the only
orphanage with 7 or so kids. I’d like to see their ministry, what they do,
and would like you to pray for God’s guidance whether He would want me to go
involved there.
School
Teaching German at the High School is going very well. I enjoy my four
classes, my students, though they can be pretty challenging at times. They
are not used to having to use their brains, since they usually simply copy
from the board and repeat and memorize. They complain a lot about homework,
and don’t participate in class. I have just done a mid-term test which turned
out okay. It’s hard to encourage them to study and actually enjoy learning a
language. Still, I love it.
My French Colleagues
I spend time with my French colleagues every day, since they are also my
neighbors. They are probably the ones I spend most time with. Recently I had
an hour-long conversation about God and the Christian faith with A. She
considers herself Christian, but thinks every religion leads to God. At one
time during the conversation I was on the brink of tears, my heart breaking
for her, as I was listening to her words. My other colleague deliberately
avoids bringing up the subject.
Aisha
I hadn’t spend any time with the seven-year-old girl for a while, but last
Saturday she came to visit. In a local church I had found Bible stories for
kids, which we were reading together. We also played together, and she likes
drawing. She wants to come to church, but so far it hasn’t worked out. Her
mother works in the nearby hotel in the evenings, in the nightclub, and Aisha
has even been there! You wouldn’t believe (well, you would) what she told me.
Christmas
Less than five weeks and I will be leaving to spend Christmas in Vienna. I’m
REALLY looking forward to that, for many reasons. One thing I realized is
that I need some good books to read – what a difference that makes! During
this recent difficult time, I was blessed to find a book I hadn’t read yet –
Billy Graham’s biography. What an inspiration it has been! So, if any of you
have it on your heart to bless me by sending something, books (esp.
biographies and Christian novels) are a good idea, as are your read CHARISMA
magazines (even NEWSWEEK/TIME), and food.
Finally, if any of you want to be on my prayer cover, receiving additional
emails with more details, let me know. And if you have it on your heart to
send a financial gift, see the details below.
Having to prepare my classes for tomorrow, let me close with this prayer of
blessing for you that I recently read: May the God of peace, who through
the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his
will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to
whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Heb 13:20-21)
All for HIM,
Claudia
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Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance. (Ps 2:8)
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Dr. Claudia R. Wintoch
s/c Ecole Biya
BPE 2165
Bamako
Mali
Tel. (+223) 220 0311
claudia@healing2thenations.net
www.healing2thenations.net
www.glorywebservices.com
Talk to me online with msn messenger - I'm "healing2thenations"
In the US/Canada:
Make checks payable to Catch The Wind Ministries
IMPORTANT: Don't write my name on the check, but add
a note that it's for me.
Catch The Wind Ministries
P.O. Box 11962
Kansas City, MO 64138
In
Europe:
Bank name: BA/CA
Bank number: 12000
Account number: 509.101.468.00
Online (it will say Glory Webservices):
https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=office%40glorywebservices.com&item_name=Claudia+Wintoch&no_note=1&tax=0¤cy_code=USD
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