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Captivated By God In Mali |
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When you put a little
salt in a soup without any salt, the whole soup becomes salty even if you
only put a tiny little bit into it. No part of the soup can say, "not
me, I don't want to be salty". When the soup is already salty, and you
add more salt, you might not even notice the difference. We are the salt, we are
the light. In the Western world, our light might not be that visible, but
take it to a dark place like Mali
Yes, it is ironic what my
French colleague, neighbor and friend Alice said the other day she had to
come to a Muslim country like Mali to find God. She didn't find Him during
her year in the US, nor during her year in China, nor in France. And while
she was wondering why in the world she came to Mali, she now knows God
longed for her to come to know Him, and He devised a plan to captivate her
heart, to draw her and to reveal Himself to her. He drew her apart to a desolate
place, with little to do, few people around, much time to think, and where He
knew that He had put a light very close to her. A light that would shine into
her life, so she could see the truth, see Him who died for her, and who loves
her with an everlasting passion. And Holy Spirit starting wooing her, drawing
her, captivating her, until on the day of her departure, I had the honor of
praying with her, as she dedicated her life to Jesus. Alice spent 8 months here
in Mali, teaching literature at the High School I'm also teaching at. I still
remember our first conversation about God, and I remember how God broke my
heart for her that day. I nearly started weeping right there in front of her,
as Holy Spirit imparted the heart of God for her to me. We need to have that
compassion of Jesus, His love, as our motivator to pray, to love, and
share. It's been an amazing journey, watching her over these months. With
nothing to do, Alice started borrowing my Christian novels, and loved
especially the author Francine Rivers. Seed was sown, and Alice was impacted
by the gospel she saw in those books. Many evenings, we would have dinner and
talk about God, her asking questions, me sharing stories and testimonies and
about His greatness. Alice started reading the New Testament and counting the
cost. And God delivered her from cigarettes, shortly before we finally prayed
together on her day of departure. Now she is starting over
in Paris, after two years abroad, continuing her doctoral studies. Please
pray for her during this significant time in her life! High School A few days ago I finished
my year at High School, supervising at finals, and grading once again 150
copies myself. Over all, it has been very frustrating and discouraging for
Alice as well as myself, as students simply don't care and don't work (with
very few exceptions). Still, I love my students, and I love teaching, and I'm
planning on teaching there another year unless the Lord has other plans. Two More Weeks Yesterday I
"lost" a good friend, colleague, neighbor and young sister. Without
her, it's very quiet and rather lonely here in Mali. I have nearly two more
weeks here before I myself am leaving, and I'm making the most of that time,
getting things ready here and for my stay in the US and Austria, being gone
for 4 months. Traveling I'm leaving on June 1,
traveling straight to Kansas City, where I'm going to "refuel". I'm
expecting this summer to be a significant time on God's agenda for my life,
since big things are ahead in fall. Schedule June 1-2 Traveling to Kansas City I'm praying for
opportunities to be a blessing, to minister, share and preach, and impart
God's heart and the vision for Mali. Please remember to send
me a line from time to time I'd like to dialogue, rather than have a
monologue, and also take part in your life. All for Jesus, Claudia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tel. (+223) 220 0311 Cell (+223) 636 6727 IMPORTANT: Don't write my name on
the check, but add a note that it's for me. In Europe: https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=office%40glorywebservices.com&item_name=Claudia+Wintoch&no_note=1&tax=0¤cy_code=USD |