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WORKSHOPS & BUSINESSES

LOSING MORE CHILDREN

When Arouna was 6 years old, his parents sent him from Ivory Coast to his uncle in Bamako. When he showed up on our base to sleep in a safe place, he had already been on the street for a while. We contacted his uncle who allowed him to stay with us. Over this past year he was one of the students in our new school, and so I got to know him really well.

In July his mother came to Bamako to get back her only son. She refused to come to our base or even talk to us, and sent Arouna's uncle to get him for her. The uncle also tried to tell her what a great place our center was, but to no avail. We could not tell Arouna she was coming to get him or he would have run away. So it was really hard the day the uncle came, as Arouna was taken off guard. It broke all our hearts.

A few days later the uncle of one of our new kids showed up. Paul was not on the base, so the guard asked him to wait. While he was waiting, he talked to the neighbors who told him that we were kidnapping children and selling them. He was so alarmed that he went to the police who came and removed Dramane forcefully from our base. When Paul returned, he had to go to the police station to face the accusations. Thankfully there were policemen who knew us and Dramane also told them he had not been kidnapped. Everything was cleared up, the uncle apologized, and got a tour of our center seeing how good the children have it with us. However, he took Dramane with him, and so another one of our family members was gone.

And a few days ago, one of the new children we took in this summer ran away again. Unfortunately that happens quite a bit as they are used to the supposed freedom of the street and don't like all the rules and regulations in our center.

SPONSORS NEEDED

Two of our cook's children have lost their sponsors and are looking for someone who would help take care of their every needs by sending $60 or 50€ per month. Both Miché and Patrice spend much time on our base, but then go home to sleep at night.

Miché (14) and Patrice (10)

THE VILLAGE OF SEBELA

Last year Benni, the only believer of his village Sebela, came to us and pleaded with us to come bring the gospel to his village. At that time, the village was not accessible by car, and so Paul got on the back of Benni's motorcycle to be taken there. When he arrived, it was already dark, but people had lit torches and were waiting patiently for the messenger of God. Paul healed the sick and preached the good news, and many got healed and saved. A new church was born.

When Paul returned to check on the new believers two weeks later, he was told he was summoned in front of the city council the following morning. The Muslims spoke up, complaining about a big part of the village having become Christian. Then it was the council's turn to speak, and it turned out that all the council members had become Christians. They affirmed their right to worship the God they chose to worship and silenced the Muslim complaints.

Today we have several Bible-Discovery groups in this village, and Benni has become their pastor. A few weeks ago, his wife came to know the Lord after she had dreams of Jesus. Benni was overjoyed! His wife is so on fire, six other ladies have given their lives to the Lord (most of whom also had dreams), and Benni's wife now disciples them in a group. And Benni just told Paul that he now wants to burn all his idols. Praise God! His kingdom is advancing!

SECURITY SITUATION

Next year there are presidential elections in Mali. For that reason the current president is trying to give himself more power, making sure he gets reelected. They want to hold a referendum to change the constitution to include those new powers, and also to declare Mali a Muslim nation, and paradoxically to also legalize homosexuality.

The population of Mali is outraged and rising up against the president, threatening to topple him. For that reason they had to postpone the referendum until further notice. However, demonstrations against the president continue and increase in volatility. Please pray for the political situation.

The other danger comes from jihadists who now target Western missionaries. In June the different jihadist groups in Mali merged to create one powerful, efficient group, and they then released a video where they declare who their new target group is. Up until now, only military installations and hotels and bars where many Westerners gather have been targeted. We were made aware of a specific threat against us that the police and anti-terror unit is now pursuing. We now need your prayers for safety more than ever.

ITINERARY

We have now started our busy three months of traveling Europe and the United States. These are the places you can meet us. You also have a detailed list of when we are where on the left.

Aug 22 ~ Vineyard Rheintal ~ Lustenau ~ 6 pm ~ preaching

Aug 27 ~ FCG Großrust ~ morning ~ preaching

Aug 29 ~ FCG Pucking ~ evening ~ long report

Aug 30 ~ FCG Klagenfurt ~ evening ~ preaching

Sep 3 ~ Le Bon Berger ~ Saint Denis (Paris) ~ 10 am and 12:30 pm ~ short report

Sep 5 ~ Christ la pierre angulaire ~ Epinay sur Seine (Paris) ~ evening ~ just visiting

Sep 6 ~ Villars ~ just visiting

Sep 7-10 ~ Cornerstone Christian Fellowship ~ Vallauris ~ preaching

Sep 14-16 ~ RNC ~ Auch ~ network retreat

Sep 21-23 ~ Zérah Ministère ~ Angoulême ~ preaching

Sep 24 ~ Christ Lumière des Nations ~ St. Ouen (Paris) ~ Afternoon ~ preaching (to be confirmed)

Oct 1 ~ Miracleland ~ Eupora, MS ~ morning ~ preaching (to be confirmed)

Oct 8 ~ Christ Triumphant Church ~ Lee's Summit, MO ~ morning ~ short report

Oct 12-14 ~ Christ Triumphant Church ~ Lee's Summit, MO ~ Women on the Frontline (Patricia King)

Oct 16-20 ~ Global Awakening ~ Lancaster, PA ~ Voice of the Apostles

Oct 29 ~ Harvest Valley Christian Fellowship ~ Pleasanton, CA ~ morning ~ short report

Nov 1-3 ~ Bethel Church ~ Redding, CA ~ Leaders' Advance

Nov 5 ~ Northcounty Christian Life Centre ~ Oceanside, CA ~ morning ~ preaching

Nov 11 ~ VCC Jesuszentrum ~ Wien ~ 5 pm ~ preaching

QUICK NEWS

•        School Start - Paul has asked me to send money so he can start paying the schools which has to be done now. I had to tell him we have none to send him. We have over 30 children in school, and the beginning of the school year is always the most challenging time of year for us financially as we need thousands of dollars/euros to pay tuition, school books and uniforms. Please consider helping us in this time of need!

•        New Presentation - We have just made a new video presentation. Click here to watch here.

•        Our Carpenter - Our carpenter Caleb has set up his shop on our base, and Bakary (13) is happy to be his apprentice. Please pray for him and for us in this transition.

•        Our School - 13 months ago we started with 10 children in 5th grade. A year later we ended with one student, Sarata, who did very well on her final exams. It is now time to find a first-grade teacher.

•        New Driver - We were looking for a new driver and have decided that one of our grown-up children - Saloum (27) - can return to fill this role. He's now moved back in with us and this is his first week driving for us again, like he did before we lost our old cars and were without vehicle for 2 years. Please pray for him and us in this transition.

•        First-Grade Teacher - We are still looking for a French-speaking first grade teacher to join our team. There is such a need for a good, Christian school where the children are treated with dignity and learn something. Many of our Muslim neighbors would send their children to our school. Please pray with us for this great need!

•        Bible-Discovery Groups - Falani is a village that has so far refused to let any Christian church start a work there. Paul has now started a Bible group with people exciting to hear and learn.

•        Language Learning - Please pray for Randy who is now learning French. He still needs prayer as it's hard for him.

•        Building #4 - As soon as we have some money, we are ready to start building the foundation for 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: $90,000 or 84.000€.

•        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.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. (Psalm 91:7)

Trusting HIM,

Claudia (& Randy)