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CHRISTMAS EXPENSES

NEW HELPERS NADIA & OLGA

A week ago we were happy to pick up Nadia and Olga from Belarus from the airport who came to help us for 6 weeks. Nadia speaks a little English and French and translates for Olga. Although communication is sometimes difficult, they have already been a great blessing to us. They are picking up Bambara, while the kids are picking up Russian. They are a great help with the children and have a huge heart to serve and help. They have been working with the children to do a Christmas play, and I can't wait to see how it's gonna go.

At our service on Saturday we introduced them, and they sang a song in Russian. You can watch a little clip online here.

At the end of the service, we prayed for three ladies in pain, and all three of them were healed instantly. Praise God!

We also had a great time playing together with all the kids. Another video clip here.

Yesterday, we had the first prayer meeting since their arrival.

In the evening, we gather first with the street children spending the night on our base and read them an inspirational story. Since this is advent, they get to open chocolate advent calendars every day. Then we have a family meeting with our children in our house where we check if they did their chores and listen to the verses they memorized.

Look at all our pictures here. And don't miss our new family picture on the very bottom of this email.

We are so thankful to have helpers again, as we needed them desperately. In January, another lady from Belarus (living in Paris) is coming for two weeks. After the three of them leave, we have two American visitors for a month, and then a German Bible student for two months. Please pray this is just the beginning and that others will come and some will stay!

CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES

Saturday, December 22 - This year we decided to cancel our anniversary celebration and combine it with our Christmas celebration instead. On Saturday, our tents will be up, our baptismal filled, as people come to hear why Christians celebrate Christmas. We'll be doing Bambara praise & worship, tell the story of the ministry, preach the gospel and heal the sick in Jesus' name. Then we'll have a special meal of couscous & fresh mutton and drinks for all.

Monday, December 24 - This is the day for our family celebration. We're taking all our sponsored kids and workers out to the restaurant for a special meal of chicken, fries and a drink. Then we'll return to our base, gathering in our living room, to remember what we're celebrating, and exchange gifts. We have 33 children in our sponsorship program, and prepared bags for each of them in the name of their sponsors, filling them with school supplies, candy, toys, clothes and hygiene articles. Those living on our base have also drawn the name of one other person to give a gift to, anonymously, and those gifts have been gathering in our living room. Last but not least, we'll be eating the Christmas cookies our children have baked.

Wednesday, December 26 - Christmas Party for street kids and neighbors' kids. At our last two parties we had 200 children show up. Each child gets candy as they come in. We play games, have a time of praise & worship, share the gospel and pray with them to receive Jesus. Then we serve them a meal and give them a drink, more candy and a pair of shoes. The day ends with watching the life of Jesus in their language.

Thursday, December 27 - Christmas celebration in the village. We're going to the village of Dara where we have had a church for many years. We'll be handing out toys and shoes to the children in the village, share the Christmas story, pray for the sick, and show the life of Jesus with our new portable battery-powered video projector and speakers. It will be something the villagers have never seen before.

Monday, December 31 - We're celebrating on our base as a family. We'll be finishing off the Christmas cookies, play games, look back at the last year, including all the pictures, and look forward to the next year. We will fix our eyes on Jesus and worship Him and start the new year with Him.

Please pray for us in this busy season. Pray for strength, for great fruit that is eternal, and for all the finances needed for these activities.

QUICK NEWS

•        Spiritual Warfare - We always need more intercessors to hold us up in prayer. On her third day here, Nadia sprained her ankle. The children prayed, and she was healed! Praise God! She also had a dream of the enemy attacking us the same night that I had some weird physical attack. Please pray for us.

•        Construction Update - I finally had a meeting with our construction manager who told us that he was really sick and is now picking up work again. They have done some work since, but have not worked the last few days. We are still waiting for the walls to go up. Believe with us for the remaining 56.000€ or $64,000 to come in so we can finish it and start our school.

•        First-Grade Teacher - We are still looking for a French-speaking first grade teacher to join our team next September. 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 we'll find a teacher!

•        Malian Director Paul - Paul's wife Rokia has been sick and is currently undergoing treatment. Please pray for her complete healing.

•        Security Situation - Mali is becoming more and more radicalized by jihadists. Please pray for peace, and for protection from jihadists.

•        Miracle Baby - Keep praying as we are not ready to give up on our promise for a child.

•       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.

[..] The goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared in human form as the man, Jesus Christ. (Titus 3:4, AMP)

Loving HIM,

Claudia (& Randy)