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[...] And God says, out of Mali, out of Bamako, I am going to release a wave of glory that is going to affect the French-speaking world. [...] And the Lord says, I’m gonna give you ALL that part of Africa, Western Africa, for your inheritance. [...] I set you aside as this apostolic voice.

Cindy Jacobs prophesying over Claudia in January 2013

FRENCH COLONY MALI

The land of Mali was rich and powerful for many centuries, having significant influence in West Africa and controling the salt and gold trade through the desert, making Timbuktu on the edge of the desert an important town and stronghold of Islam.

In 1892 Mali - then known as French Sudan - became a French colony. The Malians worked and fought for the French. During our three-week tour through France we visited Verdun where one of the most important (and very long) battle of the first world war was fought. In the exhibition I found this plaque honoring a Malian fighter (who has the same last name as Paul, a very common name in Mali) for his oustanding service during the war. In the war museum in Paris we saw how African soldiers from French colonies came to help the French during the second World War as well.

In 1960 Mali became independent and adopted the name Mali. A separation between Mali and France happened - two nations that had been tied together for 68 years and that had been in a relationship of mutual assistance and dependence. The French withdrew, leaving the nation of Mali to figure out itself how to function on their own. The next few decades were some of the worst of Mali's history. Today Mali is the sixth-poorest nation in the world. The educational system is a mess, as are many other sectors of society, permeated with corruption and greed and self-seeking. Women and children have no worth, oppressed by men, having no hope for change. People live in fear of the spirit world, appeasing spirits with sacrifices, having adopted Allah as their main god. Radical jihadists have spread all over the country, trying to impose their strict form of Islam that the Malian people do not want.

Jesus is the only hope for Mali.

BREAKING INTO FRANCE

I have always had a heart for France. Just over a month after I found Jesus in 1993, I moved to Paris to study at the university there for half a year. The studies didn't work out as planned, and so I threw myself into working with the Christian student group there, becoming a leader very fast. It's in Paris that God called me to full-time ministry. It's in Paris that He called me to French-speaking Africa. And it's in Paris that He filled me with Holy Spirit when I had no clue what was going on. I had spent my "Christian childhood" - my first 6 months as a believer - in Paris, marked forever with a deep love for the nation of France.

I have felt for years the need to focus more on France, trying to make inroads and build relationships in that country. However, I was constantly running against walls, unable to break through to this nation.

Before this trip, I felt strongly that NOW was the time to make a stronger push into France, to give it another try. We set aside three weeks to travel around France, even having days where we didn't know in advance where we would be, leaving it up to God to lead our steps, wherever He wanted us and whoever He wanted us to meet. And lead He did.

We saw parts of that wall crumble, finding favor with certain of God's people in France. We attended the retreat/conference of two different networks in the French-speaking world and made great connections that already led to us speaking in new churches. Seeds were planted for future visits to France. We also did a few meetings at a small church in France that loves Holy Spirit and where I've ministered before. The meetings were powerful; we saw emotional, physical and spiritual healings and lives changed forever, and Randy gave his first words of knowledge ever.

While in France, the Lord opened my eyes more and gave me more understanding and insight on the significance of us being in France. I realized that this was so much bigger than just speaking in France and trying to get French teachers to come teach in our school. I was blown away!

Look at the pictures from our France trip here.
Look at the pictures from our ministry weekend in Angoulême here.

FRANCE AND MALI NEED EACH OTHER

A separation happened between France and Mali when Mali became independent, but the Lord wants to reconnect the two nations as they need each other. In fact, France needs its former colonies! God did not want this divorce and abandonment. The African colonies were like babies left to die and try to survive when France retreated. God wants to bring reconciliation and restoration as well as a healthy relationship between the now adult colonies and their creator. It is essential for both the future of France and the former colonies.

I saw the Lord build a bridge between France and Mali (West Africa) and people walk over it in both directions. As they walked back and forth, the bridge became stronger, and more healing happened in both nations with every person walking across, and the number of people walking increased, creating a momentum. I saw each nation drawing from the strength of the other, lifting them up, building them up, and helping them draw closer to God's destiny for them. I saw God's glory move in France, and move across the bridge to Mali and West Africa, and return to France with a different flavor of His glory.

This bridge HAS to be built, this reconciliation HAS to happen for both France and its former colonies to come into the fullness of God's purposes for them! We are committed to doing our part and are excited to return to France next year and excited to see what God has in store. May we be His instruments, and may the prophetic word Cindy Jacobs gave (above) come into fruition in this season!

QUICK NEWS

•        Our Health - Claudia has had tooth pain for a while and was seen by a dentist in the US. He said a root canal is probably needed, which is now scheduled for Austria. However, we only have a few days before returning to Africa, so we might have to postpone our return by a week. Claudia also found out that her thyroid was totally off which was the main reason for keeping her from conceiving. She's now taking medication. Please pray for our promised biological children to come forth.

•        Our School - Our five students will take an exam upon our return and then continue classes with me. My heart is burning to start a first grade for the many children who do not go to school and have a bleak future. Please pray for teachers who speak French to come to Mali to teach!

•        12th Church Anniversary - Every year we do a conference with an outside speaker in November to celebrate our church's anniversary. Not so this year. We feel like it would be too much with all that has happened this year. We will still have our big celebration on December 4th, where we baptize new believers, share the gospel, sing and dance, and have a big banquet. Please pray for finances, and for God to show up to save, heal and deliver!

•        Government Papers - Paul is visiting government offices nearly every day to try to get the papers for our three entities as well as the tax exemption papers that we now know won't get in time for the car. Please pray for favor, and for us to get all papers soon.

•        Malian leader Paul - Please pray for our Malian leader Paul! He's an amazing young man, and he has a lot on his shoulders. This past year has been really intense for him, and he is tired. His wife Rokia is about to give birth to their second child, a girl. Please pray for them.

•        Language Learning - Please pray for Randy as he continues to learn the local language Bambara which he really struggles with. Also, we now see the need more than ever for him to learn French.

•        Building #4 - We'd like to start building our next building that will service as dorms and classrooms for our elementary school in the beginning, and will be our business and workshop section later. Cost: $94,000 or 84.000€.

•        New Presentation - End of August I created a new video presentation about the events of this year for the churches we visited. You can watch it here on YouTube.

•        Partners - We're looking for monthly financial partners as we only have 49% of our budget covered by regular monthly donations.

•       Volunteers - Do you want to come change an orphan's life? Do you want to heal the sick? Preach the gospel to those who've never heard? Come to Mali for a season and let God change your life. No language skills needed, but French skills are helpful.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. (Isa 60:1)

Loving HIM,

Claudia (& Randy)