Donations:

DEFICIT

OUR VOLUNTEERS

Last night at our daily family meeting everybody had a chance to say good-bye to Nadia & Olga who were leaving us after 6 weeks. Some were close to tears as one kid after another, and then Paul and Randy, expressed their hearts, thanking them for everything, and showing clearly how much they loved them. I became more and more emotional myself, and when it was time for me to speak, I broke into tears. These two girls have been such a tremendous blessing to us! It's amazing how God spoke to Nadia about Mali when her eyes were still set on Burkina Faso (our eastern neighbor), and she was startled. She had an invitation to go to Burkina Faso, but she had no peace. Then she was told about us - and she knew that's where she was meant to be, before she ever communicated with me, or really knew anything about us.

Olga had always had the dream of going to Africa, and so they came together, making a great sacrifice of not being with their families for Christmas and New Year's, as well as all the other sacrifices involved. From the very beginning they have been a blessing to us and blew us away with their love and dedication and energy, always doing activities with the kids they had come up with. They also prayed and loved the Malians, taking every opportunity to share the love of Christ with everyone.

Zoya joined them in January, meeting ALL of us for the first time in person. While also from Belarus, she lives in Paris, so she had the advantage of speaking French and it helped having her to translate for Olga (who speaks no French and little English) and Nadia (who speaks basic French). But that was by far not the only way she blessed us. She joined the girls in all the activities, keeping up with them, and the two weeks she was here passed really quickly.

When Nadia told me she wanted to come back for a year, my heart was deeply touched and so very thankful. I've been in Mali for over 15 years, and year after year, I prayed for workers, for people to come help us, and my prayers didn't seem to be answered. We had a few people come for shorter and longer, some of whom should not have come at all, but after the military coup in 2012 visitors were rare. We were overjoyed when the Romanian girl came a year ago to stay, and devastated when she left after two months and did not come back to work with us. Now I understand that it was all God's plan. Out of the death of that dream come true, the Lord sent us Nadia (and others), that dead seed producing much more fruit.

So we praise God and we thank Him and are excited to have Nadia join us again in May or June. But first, next Wednesday two American students arrive to stay for one month, and then a German Bible student is coming to stay for 2 months. Praise God for all these volunteers, the fruit of many years of pouring my heart out to God!

Look at all our December pictures here.
Look at all our January pictures here.

But now it's time to let our volunteers speak for themselves:

ZOYA FROM BELARUS, LIVING IN PARIS, 2 WEEKS, FIRST TIME IN AFRICA

Missions trip to Mali - I was not looking for it, but I'd often say to myself that one day I'd go to an African nation. And now I'm here. It's a different world for me. Living in a developed nation you cannot imagine not having water and eating simple even primitive food. But we don't choose where we are born. I thank God for allowing me to see it with my own eyes. Because of the poverty a lot of children cannot go to school and the older generation is also illiterate. But I saw that the Malians are very simple and kind people who'd listen to all of us when we went out to evangelize; even the geology student showed great interest in the Bible stories.

I was very impatient to go to the village and it was a blessed time. All the villagers came to watch a film about the life of Jesus Christ, and then we prayed with them to receive Jesus, followed by prayer for healing and other needs. Even though there was a mosque in the village, the inhabitants of this village believed in Jesus.

The CAM (our Malian name) became home for me during this time. I fell in love with the children of whom many do not have parents. They need a mother's love and friends they can share their experiences with. We tried to become those for them. And now I'm going home. One prayer request is to pray for this country, for Mali. Join us in that!

OLGA FROM BELARUS, 6 WEEKS, FIRST TIME IN AFRICA

I had always been dreaming about going to Africa and prayed a lot about this, and then God gave me the opportunity to go to Mali. What an amazing country and beautiful people! God loves the people in Africa a lot, and I trust He has a great plan for them.

I'm so very grateful to Randy and Claudia Wilson who took us into their mission and gave us a family that took care of us and directed us in ministry. Nadia and I had a great time and the six weeks just flew by. When I arrived here, I knew no French, Bambara or English, but in spite of not being able to communicate with words, we all became best friends at the center anyway.

Not speaking any language but Russian, I was a deaf mute, but I asked God to show me the hearts of people, and He gave me dreams and revelations about specific people. I worked on overcoming the language barrier and tried to pass on God's words to those people and just love on them.

Evangelism, prayer, participation in ministries, fellowship with the children, all the work at the center left a deep impression on my life. What remains now as I leave is a heart that burns for the African people, to the extent that it hurts. I'm indebted to Africa, and my heart stays with these people. I'm asking God to help me learn the languages so I can serve these people more effectively.

God needs laborers in His field, and we are co-workers with Him. Who will go? Who will send money? Who will open his heart to Africa? God is looking for those who say, "Here I am, send me!". I do not want to be indifferent.

NADIA FROM BELARUS, 6 WEEKS, PREVIOUSLY IN BURKINA FASO

When I arrived in Mali, in the town of Bamako, I thought that it ressembled a lot à Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, where I had spent extended time, but I was wrong. It turned out that Bamako has fewer churches and a lot more people, and I felt a very heavy atmosphere. There is a great need for workers to come. We need help to work with the children, with evangelism, starting churches, prayer.

Mali is a Muslim country with a population of 90% Muslims and 5% Christians. Many people eat only once a day, there are a lot of orphans, and a lot of people with physical sicknesses that can't afford being treated. But there are also a lot of people with spiritual sicknesses. Millions of people walk in darkness without seeing the light. This city needs people to save them. This city needs those who will show people the right way.

In Bamako there is a center named CAM where orphans live. They currently have 9 resident children, and each child is so very different. Each child has his own pain and his own destiny. I understand that it takes time for their hearts to be healed. For example I may say to a child, "You are good!" but I immediately I hear back, "NO!!!" I say, "You have done a good job with your homework. Well done!" but the response I get is, "NO!!! THAT'S NOT TRUE!!!" But in reality it IS true! It's just hard for these children to hear something positive said about them.

When we are hurting, we hurt others. I don't speak much French, and even less Bambara, but I so desire to tell each child how special he is, that he is needed, that he is not a mistake, and that it is not his fault that his parents left him, but that God loves him and has a tailor-made plan for him! I understand that you have to be careful with children and show them the right direction in life. I'm happy that these children have a future. They are well taken care of at the center. They eat three times a day, go to school, and listen to the Bible in their mother tongue Bambara every day. They memorize Bible verses, play games, have different chores, and all that is great! That is what life is like!

I understand that a lot of work and profound dedication created all this. Only two people, Claudia and Randy, for such a great work, with so few helpers. But I see the Lord sending good people to help. I'm very happy that the Lord entrusted me with serving these children. It is hard, but it is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit who knows the key to open each heart.

2018 FINANCIAL REPORT

At the beginning of each year I like looking at our finances (I enjoy numbers!) and compare them with the previous year. We want to be transparent and give you an idea where our biggest expenses are and how much things cost. So here we go:

      General donations & sales - up 6.5%
      Expenses - up 1.7%

While we started 2018 with a deficit of 700€ or $820, we ended the past year with a deficit of 1.400€, i.e. $1,660.

The monthly average amount we spent was 11.780€, i.e. $13,500.

Our faithful monthly donors currently give a total of about 5.260€, i.e. $6,000.That means we are 55.4% of our expenses short every month, which is slightly less than 2017. In the best case scenario, that difference comes in through one-time donations. In the worst case scenario, the ministry goes into debt. It is our travels that help bring in those one-time donations.

People ask me where most of our donations come from - 58.7% of last year's donations came from the USA, while 37.6% came from Europe.

And now some numbers of expenses so you have an idea of where our greatest needs are; these are averages per month for 2018.

Food - 1.346€, i.e. $1,540 (excluding Claudia & Randy's food)

Schooling - 1.405€, i.e. $1,610 (tuition & supplies)

Electricity & house repairs - 1.050€, i.e. $1,200

Car - 544€, i.e. $623 (gas & maintenance)

I hope these numbers are beneficial to you. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions.

QUICK NEWS

•        Spiritual Warfare - We need intercessors to hold us up in prayer!

•        Water Pump Miracle - Remember when our water pump broke down and a new one cost $3000 and we were already thousands of dollars in debt? In the midst of our greatest need, an organization who has never given to us before stepped in and helped buy a new pump. That is our God, and we thank Him and them!

•        Lost Emails - Praise God, I was able to install a different program and recover all my emails as they were still on my harddrive.

•      USA & France - We have started planning our next trip and are in the final stages of finalizing our itinerary. We're in Austria in March and early June, in the USA late March and April, in France late April and May, and possibly in Quebec late May. Please contact me if you'd like to see us.

•        Construction Update - Our construction manager has been slow in picking up work again. 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 doing well with the treatment she is getting. Please pray for her complete healing.

•        Security Situation - Mali is becoming more and more radicalized by jihadists. Also, the population is rising up against the government, still not accepting the president's election. Please pray for peace, and for protection from jihadists.

•        Miracle Baby - Keep praying as we are not ready to give up on our promised 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.

How truly wonderful and delightful to see brothers and sisters living together in sweet unity! (Psalm 133:1, TPT)

Loving HIM,

Claudia (& Randy)