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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

The construction has made much progress as you can see on the picture. You can easily identify the water tower, and the wall on the left. You see the rainwater channel on the right side, just outside the wall. And you see the 3 buildings still on our property that will be torn down once the wall is done and the property closed.

Kossi (left) and his workers (right) (in front of the water tower) are doing a great job building. The wall has been getting higher and longer over these past weeks, and it's wonderful to see the progress. He just informed me that he needs to have money this week if they are to continue building the wall. No money has come in in July, and we still need $16,000 or 11.600€ to finish the wall, and then of course, we need to build the first house. I told Kossi nothing was impossible for God, and He was able to send money these next few days.

For the past couple of weeks I've felt more and more that we should move by the end of October instead of September, and the rental agency permitted us to stay one month longer in our current rented house. So we're moving by October 31st. On November 6 we have a girl from Austria coming to join us for just over two months, and on November 23 a team of Austrians is coming for 10 days to do ministry. I was told they could be up to 20 people, so we sure need to be on our property by then, even if it's in tents!

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God!
(Prov 3:5-7, MESSAGE)

As this huge construction project only God could have imagined is moving along, I look to Him and His direction every day, and He still surprises me. Our construction manager Kossi said that solar energy was not an option, but then I talked to a missionary who is now installing solar systems in different places in Mali, and who knows the current state of development in this area. He told me that much has happened these past few years, and today, it's worth going solar, especially with the high installation costs of city electricity, the monthly high bills (most expensive electrcity in the world, some say), and the frequent power cuts. This missionary is able to do the installation for us, and get the equipment coming from Europe and the US tax-free/customs-free. That way we now pay $35,000 or 25.500€ for the original solar system we need from the beginning, and the same amount later once everything is built and the power needs much higher.

I have updated our construction flyer with this new information (see above for download).

AFRICA TRIP TURNED NIGHTMARE

We had four visitors in July, three French girls and one student from Austria. The girls in the back row came two weeks before the other girls, and greatly enjoyed themselves, being a blessing to us and being blessed.

One is a French teacher, and after our kids final exams, she did a 3-week intensive French course to improve their French skills. It was often challenging to teach 5 teenage boys, most of them former street children, and Frédérique was stretched to the max. But they were able to work it out and had a good, fruitful time together. They all fell in love with each other.

Rilla helped us by translating our teaching materials for the street children - that way somebody other than me could do the teaching in the future.

When July arrived, she had a week of doing creative stuff with the little kids, who enjoyed it greatly.

And our Austrian visitor Carina helped out anywhere needed, just having fun with the kids, and trying out her Bambara skills.

For two and a half weeks, everything was alright, going greatly, except for the kids' unacceptable behavior. It was shocking and saddening, and the only thing I knew to do was soak them in prayer. So we did several soaking sessions, praying for them silently for an hour.

Then suddenly, after two and a half weeks, one girl after another got ill, including myself. One night, they woke me up at 2 am because Carina was crying because of intense stomach pains. I called our local doctor who came over right away. He gave her pain killers, and checked her out, including doing a malaria test. He talked to us, and since Rilla had had all malaria symptoms, and I was wondering myself if I had it, we had the test done as well.

The next day I was told both Carina and I had malaria. I was surprised, since the symptoms were so much weaker than when I'd first had malaria two years ago. I started taking the treatment immediately, and for 5 days I was incapacitated because of the heavy side-effects of the medication. I was worse off than with the malaria!

Carina had IV's done at the house for several days, with the doctor coming twice a day, and then she felt fine.

On Friday, July 27, we all went to the swimming pool together with the kids, having fun, most of us feeling more or less okay. But on Saturday, we had our second emergency night. Carina was reaching 41°C fever - a dangerous point - and the other girls also had a fever. I myself was still on the malaria medication and not functioning properly. I tried to reach our doctor, but to no avail. I later learned that he was abroad.

I'm amazed at God's providence, because that afternoon we had finally received the car! I had taken three long weeks of waiting, but now we were mobile again. And now we were able to drive the sick girls to a clinic missionaries recommended to me.

The "night doctor" examined three of the girls and decided that two had to stay, one because of high fever and one because of low blood pressure. The third girl wanted herself to be in the clinic and moved in two days later.

It turned out that at least one had malaria (even having taken the prophylaxis), and three had an intestinal infection caused by food or water. Most of them then didn't dare eating any more local food, which weakened them additionally. Two girls had their insurance take steps to repatriate them. The last one just left on Saturday, together with a doctor from Austria who had come to accompany her home, even though she was fully restablished already. She had spent the last three days with us again, enjoying herself even after all that had happened. I was amazed because the Austrian doctor was very interested in our ministry and project, and wants to write an article about it in the insurance's monthly magazine (ÖAMTC) that would reach millions of Austrians.

Picture: The founder and head doctor of the clinic - a Malian who studied medecine in the West - together with Carina and myself. Unfortunately the other doctors in the clinic studied in Mali, and the girls had some horrible stories to tell.

Three of the four girls have fond memories of their time with us anyway and want to come back to visit. They've all regained their health now, and have stories to tell - stories you don't want to necessarily have of course. Even though things turned out that way, we have still all been blessed mutually, and I'm thankful for that.

QUITE A TRIP TO DIO

We were under some pressure to get to Dio to take care of a few things. First the car wouldn't come, and then everyone was sick, but finally we went for a few hours, just Paul and me, knowing no better time would come.

We wrote down family stories, often tragic, of all these ladies who try to provide for their many kids. We also gave them a 50 kilo sack of rice each, which will help them greatly in the weeks to come. We looked at the completed new house the pastor built, so he could take in more children, which he will do soon. And we also looked at the church sign that had been put up next to the road - it had been our gift to him when we officially accepted him into our network.

We also talked to Alou again, the local merchant, who's been moving closer and closer to the Lord, and who considers me his pastor. He always wants me to come more often and for longer, and to talk with me more. His wife was healed, and now the Lord healed him as well. He wants to run for the local elections for mayor, and would like our support. Please pray for his salvation.

It had been raining all day - praise God - and when it was time to leave, the car would not start. It was raining really hard at that moment, and we were stuck in the village, the night fast approaching. It took an hour, and getting soaked in the rain, before we were finally able to get the car started and drive home. We needed to replace a fuse once we got back to Bamako.

QUICK NEWS

•        Issa - Our Malian teacher Issa left us July 10 to finish his Master's thesis he had been unable to work on while with us. I believe he'd like to come back after a few months.

•       Hama - Our 6-year-old handicapped Hama has been making much progress, with Firmin working with him every day. He is now able to hold on to the walker with his twisted left hand, which allows him to walk on his own for a few meters. Please continue praying for his complete healing. Pray also for the healing of his heart, as I frequently have to comfort him because of his parents' unacceptable behavior towards him.

•      Solomani - Solomani (13) has now been with us for 8 months, and he's been good at copying the "Christian ways", without seriously following God for himself. For that reason we've not seen any change in him, and his behavior and language is shocking and infecting the others. We came to the conclusion that he had to leave, that nothing more could be done, but ended up giving him another chance. Please pray for him.

•      Souleymane - Souleymane moved in with us in the beginning of July to spend the summer months with us. He lived with our pastor in the village his past year, but would like to stay with us. He would be attending the same Christian school as the Albino kids, since he has completed 6th grade. His old grandmother has to give her consent for that. Please pray for favor.

•      USA Trip - I'm leaving for the USA on Thursday, returning to Mali Sep 18. My path will lead me to California, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri, Kansas and Ohio, visiting friends, sharing and preaching, and attending one of my best friend's wedding. Please pray for much needed spiritual refreshing for me. Details - including where I preach when - on the left and always up-to-date on my CALENDAR page on the website. My cellphone number while in the US is (I have to look at my own website myself...): (714) 675 8015.

•      Back in Mali - While I'm in the US, our kids are going to the village for 16 days, staying with our pastor, while Paul is taking a vacation, and Firmin has classes at university all summer. When the kids come back in the beginning of September, they will help Kossi build our house for two weeks, until I get back. School starts on Oct 1.

Now you have a SMALL idea why July has been crazy, though you don't know half of it. You can always check out my blog if you want more details. The following verse is comforting:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isa 43:1-3)

Loving HIM,

Claudia

Our Resident Family of 12
(March 2007)