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OUTREACH WEEK

Last week Monday we started our outreach week with nightly meetings, and street evangelism during the day. We used a Christian TV program called BON-T(H)E (meaning good tea or goodness) done in our neighboring country Burkina Faso, where young people discuss hot topics that concern them, like sexuality, HIV, drugs, etc. Every night we showed two (related) half-hour programs, each one followed by a live-discussion that I moderated. I put together a team of 5 people, 3 Christians and 2 Muslims, who discussed the topics, with the audience occasionally adding their opinions. We had a very fruitful time, even though there weren't as many people in attendance as we'd have liked.

On Wednesday, we had our children's program for street kids as always. The week before I had taught the kids on evangelism, and now it was time to do it. The difficulty is our turnover of kids, and so quite a few hadn't heard the teaching, but I did a review, and they were able to catch on. In fact, we had a good number of kids, and many prayed with us to give their lives to Jesus. Barely saved, it was already time to tell others. About two thirds were willing to go with Paul and me, while Simeon stayed with the remaining third, praying for us. I showed the kids how to walk up to people, what to say, to ask if they can pray for them, and in the end give them an invitation to the evening meetings. I have to say, it worked out really well. Some were timid, others just went for it. One little boy just went from person to person, and it was a joy to see the contentment on their faces when they "did it". Some people let them pray for them, others just walked on.

The highlight of the week was the party on Friday night to close out the week. We cooked a special meal for 100 people, and many came. We projected African worship DVDs, while kids and adults danced, until the food was ready. I didn't allow them to keep me from serving the kids and adults myself, and they all enjoyed the food. Then it was time to tell a story. I was so excited about the story/parable the Lord had given me that very afternoon - a parable on what Jesus did for us. Everybody looked at me intently, riveted to my words - it was awesome! You could feel Holy Spirit moving among people! I prayed a prayer of commitment for them to pray for themselves if they wanted to. After that, we did a tombola, giving away gifts to people, before putting the music back on to dance.

CENTRE APOSTOLIQUE MALIEN

On Sunday, we actually saw more people than usual, which was wonderful. In fact, since my short trip to the States in Jan, we've really seen increase in numbers as well as in what the Lord's doing in the services.

A week ago Sunday, one of our new church members brought a friend along who wanted to become a Christian. Read my blog of what happened that day:

"And tonight, at the end of the service, a young man by the name of Hassim came up to me because he wanted to become a Christian. He hadn't even been in the service!!! This is not the first time someone comes wanting to become a Christian, and I always ask them why, and what a Christian is. Like always, he had no clue, so we sat down and I presented the gospel to him. It was as if the light came on, and he still wanted to become a child of God. Since he doesn't speak French, and his Bambara is poor as well, his friend Jean (our new church member) who brought him, translated into Dogon - I prayed in French, Paul translated into Bambara, Jean into Dogon, and Hassim repeated the prayer in Dogon. Praise God for a new member of the family! Since Hassim (and neither his friend Jean) can't read or write, I gave him one of the mp3-players with the word of God on it to listen to."

On Saturday night, we always pray together, and the Saturday before our outreach week, we had a night of prayer (our second ever). And the Lord surprised us by coming the way He came, touching each one of us, talking about REALLY knowing Holy Spirit. For three hours we were worshipping Him, before going into several hours of intercession.

NEW ADDITION TO THE FAMILY: BROUHAMA

A few days ago Sekouba introduced his friend Brouhama to me. He already knew Brouhama back in his hometown Segou, and they were both sent to a Muslim teacher in Bamako, and both to the same. Now Brouhama has also run away because he couldn't stand the beatings any more, and Sekouba asked me whether he could stay with us. I prayed, and how could I NOT say yes! So, now I have two sons living with me :-)

PROPERTY & VAN FRUSTRATIONS

Have you ever done the same thing over and over without achieving anything? Have you ever felt like trying to walk up a wall, but you never get any higher?

That's the way I've felt the past few weeks, moving forward with the property and the van. What would literally be a matter of minutes. is still not done weeks later (property). What seemed to be a simple matter, becomes more and more complicated and further and further out of reach (van). We persevere, but it's discouraging at times.

PROPERTY

I've been going nearly every day over the past four weeks to Yirimadio, where our new property is. And I never achieved my purpose for going. In the beginning, another pastor was coming along, to help us, but he was soon too frustrated to bother any more. Then Emma helped out, with his brother's car, but he also got frustrated. But I kept on, saying, we just need to persevere!

So, God-willing, tonights appointment will work out, for us to be introduced to the village chief. A few days ago I talked to the village elder who's our contact person, and all he said was encouraging. One of the best news is that the government has lifted the 3-year ban this very week, a ban that did not allow any property to be given away. So, we can now not only start building, but also the paperwork. After tonight's meeting, they will be moving the people that are currently on our property, and then we'll be ready to start the building process.

VAN

We now have a van, a parked van, and no authorization to drive it - how frustrating. I've been trying to look at all the options and know what to do, but things seem to constantly change, with new information coming. Since we are NOT an NGO, we need to pay customs, and customs is very high, since the van is already 19 years old (the older the more you pay); in fact, customs is more than the price of the van was.

If we become an NGO (another long process), we would not have to pay customs. But some legal issues I was told of would not allow us to become an NGO. So I'm trying to get all the information and make the right decision. PLEASE PRAY!!!

MINISTRY TRIP TO AUSTRIA

Well, the time has come for me to leave for Austria (on the 1st). On one hand I'd like to stay, but then it will be a great chance for my team to take responsibility and use their giftings. All the Bible students will preach and teach and lead.... I know my cat will miss me, and little Hama as well. You should see his face light up when he sees me! And during the outreach week, he got to sit on my lap every night, during the videos, like he does every Friday night during the movie. I've come to love those times with him, in fact every minute I spend with him.

While it is hard to leave, I'm also full of anticipation of what the Lord will do in Austria. If our prayer night is any indication, as well as some of the things God has shown me.... :-)
Please pray God will give me the grace to preach in German - a first!

I hope I will be seeing many of you again, as well as making new friends. If you want to know where I am when, please look to the left, and go to the CALENDAR page of my website for more details. I've made a new video presentation that I will be showing, but you can also watch it online by going to the VIDEO page of my site, or clicking right here on your preferred language to download it: English or Deutsch.

My phone number in Austria, from March 9 onwards, is the same as always: (+43) (0) 676 / 426 7617

Yesterday I gave my church family a "holy commission" for them to be sanctified and advance with the Lord, even while I'm not with them in body. I want to leave you today with the following prayer:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph 3:16-21)

All HIS,

Claudia