|
Coming Home To Mali |
|
The doors of the plane
opened, and the heat and smell of Bamako "by night" hit us, as we
stepped off the plane one by one, walking down the staircase to the bus. I
was finally home again, after 4 months on the road in the US and Austria. The
Lord had answered prayer and granted me a good journey – no fever, only my
ear and throat were still hurting. And my beloved Bridegroom King had
arranged for me to be upgraded to business class on the flight from Atlanta
to Paris. Thank you, Jesus! I walked inside the hall,
and started counting my bags – six in total; they were all there. The guy at
the x-ray machine singled out one of them – the portable sound system, and I
had to leave it there because I didn't have the money to pay the customs of
50% of its value. Two days later I picked it up – and it survived the trip
just fine! I finally stepped out of
the building, with carriers taking care of my bags, and saw Mamy and Simeon. A
friend had sent a car with Mamy to have me picked up. Thank you, Jesus! And
so we drove off, home to my apartment. SIMEON I had stayed in touch
with Simeon by email all summer. For those who don't know, Simeon was one of
my neighbors last year and dedicated his life to the Lord last November. He's
been growing ever since. Having been gone four months, I noticed how much
more he had grown and matured. And the Lord keeps speaking to him in dreams
and visions, especially about ministry. At the end of July, he lost his job
(contract not renewed), and so spent days in prayer and fasting to know what
God had for him. From the very beginning, all he wanted was to serve God, to
preach the gospel and bring others to him. While little Claudia wasn't so
sure if it was already time for Simeon to be "full-time", the Lord
spoke to him saying that he should simply trust HIM for everything, and
commissioning him for the ministry, with Jesus Himself actually laying hands
on Simeon in the dream/vision. When I came back, he had
already been without a job for two months, and Simeon started telling me how
God has been providing for him financially. Once, he needed to pay the rent,
and opening his door, there was an envelope with quite a lot of money in it. He
started asking around in his whole building, as well as the neighboring
building, to find out who had lost the money. Until the Lord spoke to him in
a dream, telling him to quit looking because the money was his. Having no job, Simeon
asked the Lord about how to go out and share the gospel. So he got some
tracts and started talking to people on the street, as well as going into
offices, sharing the gospel and handing out tracts. He started relationships
with people, and was invited by some, who were also asking where he went to
church. And every morning, Simeon would go to the river or up the hill to
spend hours with God in prayer. CHURCH I told Simeon to keep his
eyes open for a possible location for the church, and he told me he had found
a place he had fallen in love with. I went with him to look at it: It's a
nice house on a property with garden and a wall around. When I saw it, I
immediately fell in love with it as well. The garden is perfect for having
church services, showing movies, and people would be drawn by the sound of
music and the gospel. It's not very big, but it's perfect for the beginning. We
both feel it's the right place. Now all we need is the necessary funds; the
rent is 380 euros (480$) a month. Anyone out there who'd like to enable us
start the church? I have some pictures by the way; I'll email them to anyone
who'd like to see it. CAR We went to Toyota, and
looked at the kind of car we'd need in Mali – a pick-up truck with four-wheel
drive. I was shocked by the price; and at the same time amazed to realize
that the 30000$ check the lady wanted to give me for a car would have exactly
covered the costs (see the email EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE from June 16,
2004 in the NEWS section on my website). Buying a car in Bamako is more
costly than importing it. The one we looked at is 30000 euros (= 37000$). While
that amount seems impossible in the natural, we are believing for the Lord to
provide a car, and are already thanking Him for it! He has given us a task to
do, so He will also provide the means to do it! CELLPHONES I took two American
cellphones with me, but had to find out they don't work here. If anyone in
Europe has an old cellphone you don't need anymore, it would be a blessing if
you could mail it to me. MAILBOX I have now got my own
mailbox, instead of using the school's. Please note the address change in the
signature below! SCHOOL School was supposed to
start on Sep 27, but when I got here they told me it starts on Oct 4. Yesterday
I went to the school, and my supervisor told me I couldn't continue teaching
the classes I had last year (except for one). Instead I will take a
beginners' class – but one that has focus on languages, so they have 4 hours
of German a week. I'll therefore teach 6 hours per week. But so far, they
haven't made the schedule yet. I guess I'll start teaching next Monday –
maybe :-) NEIGHBORS I have nearly all new
neighbors. The greatest surprise was to find out Aisha and her Mom had moved
into our apartment complex. Now I get to see much more of Aisha! I'm very excited to be
back in Mali, and to step into what the Lord has prepared. This summer was an
important time of preparing, refocusing and equipping. And the voice of the
Lord kept speaking through prophets of what is to come in Mali, to encourage
me and assure me all He has laid on my heart is truly from Him and will come
to pass. And my licensing to the ministry on my last Sunday in Kansas City
was an awe-some time of commissioning and being sent out. I can tell that I'm
not the same as when I left Mali four months ago. THIS is the time for Mali! THIS
is the time for God's kingdom to come, for His glory to cover Mali, for
signs, wonders and miracles to be done to draw all men to HIM! Let it be! Thank you for partnering
with me! All HIS, Claudia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tel. (+223) 220 0311 IMPORTANT: Don't write my name on the check, but add
a note that it's for me. In
Europe: Swift
code: BKAUTWW https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=office%40glorywebservices.com&item_name=Claudia+Wintoch&no_note=1&tax=0¤cy_code=USD |