My two
months of traveling in Canada, the US and Austria have
come to an end. Those were 9 rich weeks of drinking in, and pouring
out, of meeting old and making new friends, attending conferences
and ministering, of going east, then west, then back east, flying
through the time zones every few days and sleeping (too) little.
I'm refreshed spiritually, and it's really time to go home. I don't
think I want to be gone for that long in the future.
There
would be much to tell about this trip - just check out my blog if
you want to know more. Some of the highlights were the following:
- Four
new locations - Montréal, Lompoc, Lakeland,
Phoenix.
- Being ordained
to the ministry by HIM in Pasadena (video
online).
- Being interviewd
by Christian TV for an hour (video
online).
- Doing prophetic
worship on the keyboard for two hours with the heavens
opening up (video snippets online soon).
- Seeing more
healings as I minister than ever before - even
while I preach, and even in the US and Austria.
- Flowing in
the anointing at a ministry school, and seeing a spirit of generosity
released.
- Being in
a meeting with Joshua Mills and entering into God's glory.
- Receiving
a total paradigm shift in my thinking as I learn
about the
seven mountains of culture and how to take a society for God.
- The first
two board meetings of Healing 2 The Nations
International.
- Seeing and
holding my 4-month-old nephew for the first time.
- Meeting Anita,
an amazing woman of God, who is now the secretary
of the ministry.
- Designing
the first floor of our main building (medical
center, sanctuary, offices), and the architect accepting all of
my design. Look
at it here.
- Bonding
deeply with a pastor lady in California.
- Spending
precious time with my spiritual Mom Jill.
- Renewing
relationships in my old hometown of Kansas City.
- Preaching
in German, and seeing many healed, and the glory
of God drawing people to Himself (download
the mp3).
And
there is more - forgive me, if it's you I've forgotten to mention!
NEWS
FROM MALI
My
20-year-old assistant Paul has been carrying the load of leadership
for 9 weeks now, and he's rather tired and discouraged. Some of
the recent developments have contributed to that. These are some
of the challenges I'm returning to:
- People have
tried to steal our solar panels, and our guard
(hired by the builder) did not intervene. Nothing was stolen,
but we're now looking for a new guard. Pray for
the right person to join us.
- Seybou
(father of Hama, Sarata, and new-born Jonathan) has seemingly
turned away from God, telling neighbors he's not a Christian and
only with us for the job and money. He has hardly attended services
or prayer meetings while I was gone.
- There are
serious problems with our village pastor Enoch
that I need much wisdom for to resolve.
- Our lawyer
informed me that he doesn't believe we'll get the legal
papers for church and children's home because my team
is too young. Pray for favor.
- Prices
keep rising, and we really need more monthly supporters
to cover our expenses.
Some other news:
- Hama
and Sarata have started school (international
English-speaking kindergarten) and are doing very well.
- Saloum (18)
and Fousseni (17) did a 3-week outreach with
YWAM, and especially Saloum's life was impacted.
- Hyacinthe
is teaching our 3 teenagers for 4 weeks, before they're doing
an entry exam to attend a regular Malian (private) school.
School starts in October.
- Thank God
for visitor Matt from Topeka who's arriving Sep
4 and staying for a month.
- We need another
$19,000 to finish the Dining Hall. The roof is
up and windows and doors will be put in in the days to come.
- In a few
days we're opening the doors to bring in the street children
every night, so they can sleep in a dry and safe place.
- Paul failed
his end of High School exams. He will simply try again a year
from now, and continue working on his Bachelor's degree in our
Bible School.
- Paul and
I are planning on going to Mozambique to learn
from Heidi's ministry the last two weeks in October. We still
need $4,400 for the airfare.
- We need another
$3,000 to have sufficient electricity
on our property (see above).
The
transition from traveling to being back in Mali is never easy, and
I covet your prayers. I have so much work waiting
for me, and so many people pulling on me, that it could be overwhelming.
- Pray
for grace and wisdom to prioritize.
- Pray
for strength, and Christ-likeness, and enough time to spend with
HIM.
- Pray
for His Spirit to be poured out on us.
- Pray
for workers to be sent to Mali to help us out. Today Paul surprised
me by saying he now realizes that I'm right that we need some
mature people to help us out.
Check
my blog in the days to come to find out what other challenges there
are that we need prayer for that I'm unaware of this point, and
whatever else is awaiting me in Mali.
I
can do everything through Him who gives me strength.
(Phil 4:13)
All
HIS ,
Claudia |