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TURNED AROUND FOR HIS PURPOSES

I don't know if you caught the good news embedded in my last email concerning a place to stay in Montreal (which I still haven't found). This is the blog for Monday, June 9th:

It took us - Paul and me - about 50 minutes to get to the police station, and then we couldn't find a parking spot; cars were already parked everywhere. We were 10 minutes late, and the police chief already called Paul where we were. How remarkable in a country where punctuality is usually unknown.

Abel, the guy representing the Malian association of churches, wasn't there. I called Baba who works right there, and he came some time later. So we walked in by ourselves, and the commissaire welcomed us warmly. He then took us to the police chief.

He had a very simple office, and asked us to sit down in the chairs in front of his desk. I gave him the copy of our registration papers, and he started asking us questions.

Go to my BLOG to read the rest of the story; look for June 9.

CONSTRUCTION HAS STOPPED

Yesterday all construction work stopped - the third time since we started - because the remaining finances are not sufficient to put up the roof. It takes twenty tons of cement to pour the flat roof, plus steal beams that are also very costly. According to our builder's estimate, we need another $7000 just to finish the roof.

In the meantime, rainy season is well under way. While in past years, I've always welcomed the much needed rain, this year my heart breaks every time as I think of the children living on the streets, nowhere to go to be protected from the rain. As soon as the roof is up, we'll open the house up to them to spend the night in a dry place, and have breakfast, before returning to the streets.

Not only do we need $28,800 more dollars to finish the (future) dining hall (picture in the back), and $8,000 to expand our solar power system, but we urgently need more money for daily expenses. Right now, we spend $16 a day to run our generator and have sufficient power. And within one week, the rice price has gone up by $2.5 (one bag is $43 now), and is expected to keep rising. We've never seen such high prices, from food to building materials.

We lean on our heavenly Father who's promised to take care of His beloved children - that would be us :-).

QUICK NEWS

•        Fanta's Baby Boy - Last Sunday Fanta's baby boy was born. Thank you for praying. Everything went smoothly, and the little boy is healthy. Fanta is our cook, and mother of (handicapped) Hama (7) and Sarata (3). Our baby is not named yet, as it is his grandfather (in the village) who is required to choose his name.

•        Legal Help - We're very blessed that one of the top Christian laywers in Mali is helping us with our paperwork for two more organizations that we need to register in Mali - one for the children's center, and one for the church. He's doing that for a minimal fee of about $300. He's taking two days off - Mon and Tue - to work only on our papers, so they can be deposited before my departure. He has a lot of experience with Christian organizations, and is gonna help us big time in getting our foundation right. Praise God!

•        International School - Both Hama and Sarata spent a day at the international school. Sarata - who's gonna start kindergarten in fall - loved it. And Hama was there so the teachers could see whether they'd be able to work with him inspite of his physical and mental handicapped. Hama LOVED it, and the school gave green light. It's a great school with a Christian director, where they're gonna receive a great education. However, that great education has a high price, even though they only pay half price. It is $1500 each for the first year, and we need to pay the first installment now.

•        Summer Program - I'm excited how the Lord has worked out everything in Mali while I'm on the road. Three children will do a one-week summer program organized by the international school. Two of my teenagers will do a three-week outreach with YWAM in the south of Mali. And in August, all teenagers will go to stay with our village pastor for three weeks, which will give Paul some time off. They return just before I return.

•        New Car - Our American visitors had a huge surprise gift for us: a car. It's a gift from ORPHAN'S PROMISE, that will make a big difference for us. Now we are free to go into the villages, without worrying how to get the children to school, plus other advantages. Praise God!

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Mt 6:31-33)

In HIS hands,

Claudia