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STREET KID EASTER PARTY

Once again our yearly time of celebrating Jesus's death and resurrection has come around, and we've opened our gates to let the abandoned and rejected in to experience the love and salvation of the One who gave His life for them. We had a wonderful time of playing games, praising & worshipping God, explaining the gospel to them and praying a prayer of dedication, watching the MATTHEW movie in Bambara, doing a Q & A time with candy, handing out drinks, having a good meal, and giving a pair of shoes to each street kid.

If you'd like to see pictures from our party, click here.

If you'd like to read the report of what we did including pictures, click here.

NEW CHILDREN'S CENTER - LEADER NEEDED

In these next few weeks Paul and I will be heading to Mopti, a 6-hour-drive north, to look for a house to rent for a new children's center in this little but important town. We have two of our grown-up children in mind to send there as leaders, but still need a Westerner to head up the center and oversee administration and finances.

So we're believing that God has just the right person in mind for this position. Do you love children? Do you love Africa? Have you been looking for a place to make a difference? Do you speak French or could learn it? Then pray about this opportunity.

We're planning to start the center in these next few weeks, while our kids are on summer vacation and can help us out getting it started, plus we have visitors this summer who can help. Once September comes around, we need that permanent Western person.

PAUL'S WEDDING

Paul (23) is getting married to Rokia (18) on January 7, 2012. He'd like to invite all his friends in the US and in Europe to come and honor him with their presence at his wedding. Please contact me if you can come to Mali at that time.

QUICK NEWS

•        Papers - Please keep praying for our papers. Several things are in motion, but the wheels turn slowly in Mali.

•        Paul's Fiancée - Rokia is in first grade in school and need someone who can sponsor her schooling. We still need 220 EUR or 330 USD for the current academic year.

•        Electricity Shortage - It's hot season, and it's a tough hot season once again because we don't have enough electricity even for our basic needs. Every night the power goes out, and when it's close to 100 F (37 C) it's already hard to sleep with fans, but impossible without. Thankfully, more solar panels will be installed in June; we'll just have to hold out until then.

•        Construction Progress - We have finished our add-on apartment and can now continue work on our third house again (see above). Unfortunately the dollar is gaining value, and so the amount still needed to finish the building has been rising. We need to finish this building by September at the latest.

•        More Activities - We're starting up again a few of our activities we used to do, as well as starting new ones. We are doing a weekly movie night with Christian movies again, projecting onto a screen in our courtyard, and our neighbors love it. I've also started to teach the street children to read and write their mother tongue again. And finally, I'm not only doing a marriage preparation course with Paul & Rokia in private, but we're also doing a class for the whole church.

•        New Family Members - Tomorrow our new family members from America arrive - Mim, Ray & Julie (or Mimi, Yakou and Julie in Mali). Please pray for them and us to adjust to the new situation.

•        My Book - My book can now be ordered from all over the world. Just click on the link on the left side.

•        Personal Assistant Needed - I'm still looking for a female on-fire Christian with a heart to serve who travels with me as my PA. Preferred are those who have done the IRIS, Bethel school, Fire & Fragrance, or the like. Reply to this email for more information.

Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: "Bless me, O bless me! Give me land, large tracts of land. And provide your personal protection—don't let evil hurt me." God gave him what he asked. (1.Chr 4:10, MESS)

Loving HIM,

Claudia