Donations:

We are believing and contending for the money needed to purchase a new pickup truck, for our deficit to be erased and to be able to complete the third building we've built.

We declare the time of lack is OVER!

TERROR ATTACK IN BAMAKO

On Friday, November 20 - the first day of our conference - two Malian islamists stormed into the number one hotel in Bamako (that I have stayed in before) and started shooting people. 170 people were in the hotel, and they released those that were able to recite verses from the Quran. After many hours a special commando stormed the hotel and killed the two attackers. 21 people were killed in total.

Two other people have been arrested since. This past year radical islamists have moved further south, infiltrating the population and doing attacks all over the country. A new group has formed in the center of Mali who - together with other groups from the north - all claim responsibility for the attack that occurred exactly one week after the Paris attacks. Ever since the liberation of the north of Mali from sharia law by the French, the different jihadist groups have vowed vengeance against the French. A French cartoonist colored the Eiffel tower with the Malian colors as a sign of solidarity with their former colony.

Our American speaker for the conference was concerned about the events, but we continued our program as planned.

As a result of what happened, Westerners are asked to stay away from public gatherings. Air France - whose crew stayed at that hotel - is not letting their people stay in Bamako any more. The American embassy in Bamako just announced that they are reducing their personnel to only those absolutely needed.

Please continue to pray for us - your prayers are making a difference! At no time have we ever felt unsafe or in danger. We are in the palm of His hands.

ATTACKS ON HEALTH & FINANCES

Sickness - Our last email newsletter was all about the attacks we have endured during the last few months. Unfortunately I have to report that they have not ceased but continued, maybe even intensified. Randy spent weeks not walking with his sprained or broken toe, and now we have both been pretty sick these past few days, trying to recover. And not just us, but several of our team and children are also sick.

Thefts - The thefts on our base have also continued and become more serious, including money and electronic equipment. We've gone to the police, and had a very serious talk with everyone, but while we are pretty sure it's someone from our center, we have no lead as to who it could be. For now we've secured everything as much as possible so that another theft is not possible. I recently preached on integrity, and God's Spirit really fell on me and then on our boys. One boy fell to the ground, while another one was so moved he just stayed in his seat after the service while everyone went on their way. He later told me he had never been touched by God like this before. Unfortunately the thefts did continue after that service.

Lack - We have spent $10,000 on schooling so far these past few months, and the second installment of tuition is due in January. We have not had enough money come in to help us with that extra expense which has left us in a bad place financially. In addition, two of our biggest supporters are discontinuing their support by the end of this year. We're praying for more monthly supporters as well as one-time donations, especially in light of the upcoming Christmas festivities.

11TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE

Last year we had our 10-year anniversary conference, and both our speakers canceled on short notice because of Ebola. This year pastor Alan Koch from Kansas City, MO, made it to Mali - though the terrorist attack sure made things interesting.

We started our weekend with our prayer meeting and had a great time worshiping and praising God. You can watch a short clip on YouTube here.

On Friday and Saturday Alan preached 5 sessions. Our theme for the whole weekend was Holy Spirit. And the first night He surprised us when Alan started prophesying over Paul, and then I continued and called six of our boys forward and started prophesying over each one of them. It was a powerful time.

While we didn't have as many people show up as we had hoped, there were a few new people who listened intently and ended up giving their lives to the Lord. Hallelujah! We also prayed for the sick, and God healed them. We had a wonderful time.

On Sunday we concluded our weekend with a big celebration. Paul and the boys led us in Bambara praise, Alan prayed a prayer of blessing over our church, we dedicated Paul's son Christian to the Lord, and we baptized four children - Aaron (10), Sarata (10), Ibrahim (16) and non-resident kid Miché (12). Then we prayed and prophesied over each one of them.

Our children wrote two skits that they performed where people were getting healed and saved, and people loved them. Our young leader-in-Training Joseph sang one of the songs he had written, and finally Alan got up to preach a powerful message on the blood of Jesus. He and Randy spent a long time praying for people, while many started eating our banquet feast. It was a wonderful celebration of 11 years of God's faithfulness to Centre Apostolique Malien! (our church name)

Click here to see our November pictures that include day 1 and 2 of the conference.

Click here to see the pictures of our actual 11th anniversary celebration on Sunday.

QUICK NEWS

•        Bible School - We have done our first intensive weekend with 8 of our oldest boys, and this coming weekend will be their second. Last weekend Karim (19) preached for the first time, and I'm really proud of our boys all growing up and becoming men of God.

•        Man With Snake-Bite - A man showed up at Paul's house with a snake-bite that had happened 6 days earlier. Paul prayed for him and led him to the Lord. Then we paid for the expensive anti-snake venom vaccination to save his life, and he's doing much better already. The first believer for the new church plant in Paul's village.

•        Renovation - In spite of his foot injury, Randy was able to finish painting the inside of our dining hall before our conference. He has also closed up the holes in our walls, and dug trenches around our buildings he put very toxic termite poison in. Unfortunately termites are eating up all the furniture in our house. Next, we'll have to paint the outsides of our buildings, however, we are lacking the money to do so for now.

•        Monthly Donors - Please pray for new monthly donors, and for those who committed to support us last summer to follow through with their commitment.

•        Child Sponsorship - Seven of our children are currently praying to find a (new) sponsor to support them with $60 or 40€ per month. Please go to our CHILDREN's page to see which ones and let me know whose sponsor you'd like to become.

•        US & Europe Trip - Randy and I will be in Europe early January and the first half of March, and in the US in between. If you'd like us to come to your church to preach or share, please hit reply.

•       Volunteers - We always need volunteers in Mali who can stay a few months or more. If you'd like to come help us, please contact me.

If you say, "The Lord is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. (Psalm 91:9-10)

All HIS,

Claudia