It's
been a month since my last email update, and I've had a teaching
on my heart to pass on, but there is simply not enough time at this
point. I feel it's more urgent to inform you of our move these next
few days. The teaching will follow later.
MOVING
INTO OUR PROMISED LAND
Kossi
and his team have been working hard to get the house ready for our
move, but they can only go as fast as funds become available. I
brought cash with me that I was hoping would be sufficient to lay
the tiles in the house. However, with the dollar being so low, and
the bank keeping a commission, Kossi isn't sure it will be enough.
We still need $22,500 to finish the house.
Anco
(a Dutch missionary) installed the solar power system this
week - it's working great, providing enough power to start with.
However, we need to pay $6000 right now and are $2000 short
since an expected check didn't arrive. We also stll owe another
$9000 to finish paying off the equipment for the
solar power.
Tomorrow
(Friday) we are starting to pack up our house and moving stuff over
to the property. Kossi has started laying the tiles.
We are moving all our stuff into one half of the house, onto the
dirt floor, while Kossi is laying the tiles in the other half of
the house. Once that is done, we move over and Kossi can do the
other half. I don't know how long that will take.
Then once more
funds come in, there is still some major things to be done:
- paint the
walls (inside and outside)
- install toilets
- install sinks
- install showers
- install windows
(only the metal barriers are in)
So to start
with, we will have all the furniture stacked in one half of the
house, with only our mattresses out to sleep on. There is a Malian
toilet outside - i.e. hole in the ground - as well as a Malian shower
- a wall behind which you can take your bucket to wash yourself.
We will also not be protected from mosquitoes at first since we
don't have windows or doors.
We thank the
Lord for electricity, and the internet
installation is planned for Monday - pray that it works out so that
I can keep you updated!
STARTING
OFF RIGHT
As
we move into our unfinished house with nothing but electricity,
we are dedicating this first month in our Promised Land to the Lord
- our firstfruits to Him. We are entering into a month of
prayer and fasting and praise and worship. We want to lift
His name on high daily, entering into His presence, and giving ourselves
completely to Him. We are entering into a new season, we're moving
to the place where He has promised that His glory would dwell. How
exciting! I can't wait for the times we'll have with Him, on the
dirt floor in our unfinished house - our meager surroundings vanishing
in the light of His beauty and glory!
SHORT
US TRIP SUMMARY
Every time I
travel to the US or Europe I'm amazed at the doors God opens, the
connections He arranges, as there is increase every time, and this
time wasn't an exception.
I went to 4
different cities, and every one was unique and awesome in its kind.
I made many new friends, many of you receiving this email for the
first time. I felt like many seeds were sown that will bring fruit
in the future. Relationships were deepened, or formed for the first
time for future fruit.
One
of the highlights was being on Christian TV for
the first time. I'm working on putting the video up on my website
(the challenge is my slow African internet connection) but I hope
to succeed in the next few days. It was a local Christian station
in Augusta, Georgia. It was such a God-thing, as it only came about
a few hours before the program. I was interviewed for 25 minutes.
Another
highlight was that things were set in motion to incorporate
HEALING 2 THE NATIONS INTERNATIONAL in the US.
I've had this on my heart for quite some time, but now is the time.
I'm putting a board together right now. So far three people have
agreed and a few more are praying about being on the board of trustees.
I will let you know once the paperwork is done and you can send
your tax-deductable donations directly to us. I thank God for Judy
Slavovsky (our architect's wife) who has agreed to be the administrator.
I had the privilege
to preach or share in several churches, which was
such a joy. The Lord touched many hearts - because He's so wonderful!
I have one sermon on CD that I just put on my website to download
from the audio page - or just click here.
It's called YOU QUALIFY, sharing much
of my story.
I'm
thankful for the people God has given me - whatever
kind of relationship it is. People are the greatest treasure God
has. I'm also thankful for spiritual leaders and parents and people
to look up to and learn from. I spent some precious time with an
international leader who I'd be able to glean so much from. I'm
also so thankful for my spiritual Mom Jill Austin who I got to be
with for precious little time. I also met the leaders of Todd Bentley's
network for the first time and immediately connected with those
former missionaries.
Thank you to
all those of you who've talked to me, prayed for me, and encouraged
me. Keep those emails coming!
QUICK
NEWS
- My
Absence - I had asked you to pray for my time away from
Mali, and things went exceptionally well. Praise God!
- School
Exams - Our three second-year students had their final
- very final - exam yesterday. They all passed and will now receive
an Associate degree. Only one of them is from our church - Paul.
Our children had the repeat of their failed exams today - the
results weren't glorious. Pray they'll get motivated to study,
and for wisdom how to motivate them.
- Villages
- The awakening in the villages continues. Our pastor Enoch told
me how people keep getting healed, and the news spread, more and
more coming to the Lord, and asking us to come to their villages.
Pray for workers, for time, and for funds to bring in the harvest!
- Austria
in April - I'm spending the month of April in Austria.
If you'd like me to share or preach in your church, please contact
me now. Details of my itinerary on the left and on my CALENDAR
page.
Being
confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry
it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
(Phil 1:6)
Passionate
for HIM,
Claudia
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