Donations:

As the hot season progresses, and the heat increases, the brain and body slow down more and more, reducing your physical and mental capacity to work. Yesterday I first saw the thermometer go beyond 40°C (104°F). Still, we joyfully continue on growing as a family, and showing people the way to a closer relationship with the Lord. I've been focusing on teaching and preaching on the Father's heart, and modeling it to the children, spending quality time with them. I love my children, and love my life in Mali (transition was hard after my last trip, but it didn't last for long).

Let me give you a few updates:

FINANCES

We're very grateful to the Lord and the congregation of CTC that gave generously just before my departure from the US without which we could not have made it until now. However, that money has now run out, and we're urgently praying for funds to come in. No donation is too small! The next installment of tuition for 15 children we have in school is due in a few days, and is a total of about 1100 EUR or $1,500. Please help us keep those children in school!

Our monthly food budget is around 700 EUR or $1000. Can you help us feed the children, the orphan and the poor? Because we're nearly out of money.

SOME LEAVE, SOME COME

There've been some changes in our household recently, and more are to come. One of the children who had been with us for half a year - Moise - chose to return to the streets where he had lived for several years. He left secretly, without a word. What a sad day!

After Sekouba - my first street kid - who worked for us as a day guard had to go, we decided to take in one of the older street children who we baptized in November and had shown himself very faithful as our day guard. It's been a great blessing to have Moussa with us.

We have also taken in another street child who we baptized and who's shown a great hunger for God, wanting to live for him. Joseph is in my class of street children, learning to read and write, and will go to night school in the fall, as does Moussa already. We're hoping he can learn to become our gardener.

We also have a new night guard, as things with the old guard weren't working so well. Dami quit working as a night guard for someone else to join us. His wife Rosalie has been doing the cooking for us morning and evening since last fall. They live in the neighborhood and are a part of our church.

Our driver Jean is getting married in April, and so his wife will be moving in with us as well. Please pray for them, and for her to settle in well (I've never met her), and find her place in our family. We'll have to find out what tasks we can entrust to her.

Paul's fiancée Rokia gave birth to a baby boy a few weeks ago - the fruit of a rape by her uncle who's now in prison. This season has been very hard for Paul as he seeks to know what the right thing to do is. Also, the baby has been in hospital these past few days, fighting for his life. If you would like to help them financially with the hospital costs, let me know.

We have two more free beds to take in new children, and have some candidates. We're waiting a little, though, because of finances, and the school year being nearly over.

STREET CHILDREN

Every night I teach the street children to read and write, for one hour, and they're making a lot of progress. I love teaching school more than most other things, and it's so rewarding to see them learn to read and write. I'm amazed at how motivated the children are!

The street children spending the night on our base, sleeping in the unfinished dining hall, have totally captured a heart. When a regular kid is not there, I ask the others where he is, and feel the pain when a child stops coming. I love watching them get to know the Lord, and having fun with them.

One of our "worst" behaved kids - Ali - is now totally off drugs, and has changed a lot for the better. It's so exciting!

Please pray for the kids' protection - we have just learned some scary news. The city is right now building a third bridge across the Niger river dividing the city in half. The brick-laying was a huge event, with the Malian and Chinese president (the Chinese pay for it). Now the marabouts (Muslim leaders) intend to sacrifice 60 children for the building of this bridge, and street children are prime targets for human sacrifices. They are afraid! May Jesus destroy that wicked plan, and keep each child safe!

CHURCH SERVICES & PRAYER MEETINGS

As I've mentioned above, I'm currently focusing on teaching and modeling the Father's heart which is such a huge need in this country where fathers don't show physical affection or speak positive words to their kids, or even spend time with them.

We're in the process of introducing Theophostic Prayer Ministry (TPM) to the church and the street children, and offering this ministry to them, so they can get healed of their issues that they become aware of as I teach and seek to help them get to know the Father.

We have a prayer meeting once a week, and this pictures shows our time of praise & worship that I lead, with Paul and the children responding to the presence of God.

By the way, I have finally updated the PICTURES pages on the website (at least for 2009), but the best and fastest way to see them is via Facebook where I upload them right away.

AUSTRIA TRIP - May 2009

I'm spending the month of May in Austria, and am now scheduling speaking and preaching opportunities. If you would like me to come preach at your church, or share about the work in Mali at your church or group, I'd be happy to do so. Please email me so we can pin down a date.

If you'd to know where and when I preach or share, please check my CALENDAR page regularly, as it will have all the current information.

Don't forget to look at the new family picture below!

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 3:20-21)

Loving HIM,

Claudia