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MILITARY COUP

In March there were presidential elections in Mali, where the incumbent president was reelected. Malians were outraged, accusing him of fraud, and started going on the street protesting. As the months went on, the protests were getting more violent, and the calls for him to step down louder. A very influential imam was heading the opposition movement.

On August 18 high-ranking military officials toppled the president and took control of the country. The previous president was also removed by a coup in 2012, which was the beginning of the downhill spiral for the country of Mali. That's when islamists were able to conquer the north of Mali, and they have been operating there ever since, even though the French and European Union have missions to combat them.

As they did last time, the regional bloc imposed sanctions again Mali, closing the borders to our landlocked country, the flow of money and goods, and putting the fight against the jihadists on hold. Food prices started going up, while the amount of stockpiled food decreased more and more. In addition it happened to be the height of rainy season, and this year so much rain fell that people's houses were swept away, some losing everything, and a few even their lives. And then there was Covid-19, people losing jobs because of foreigners leaving the country, and people dying of malaria at the height of its season, as medication prices had gone up even more, making it unaffordable, as people believed it treated the Corona virus.

Talks with regional leaders started. In the end they demanded a civilian be put into place as interim president, and new elections be held within a year. Mali did not like outsiders telling them what to do, and they did not like the military being in charge (again), as that was not what they had had in mind. Still, in late September a retired army colonel was sworn in as president, and the coup leader as vice president. Instead of tightening the sanctions, regional leaders demanded a civilian prime minister, who was sworn in not long after. They also accepted new elections within 18 months, as they feared the jihadists taking advantage of the situation again, as they had done 8 years ago, if the sanctions remained. Thankfully they were finally lifted in October. Please pray for Mali, for peace, and against the plots of the jihadists. Right now there are tensions between Mali and France because of their differing opinions on how to deal with that threat, and Malians are taking to the street to protest the French influence.

THE VILLAGE OF SEBELA

I have told you the story of the village of Sebela before. A few years ago the only believer in that remote village, Beni, came to us, pleading with us to bring them the gospel, and even though at the time it was only accessible by motorbike, Paul went there. The whole village had gathered, and over 200 people received Jesus as their Lord and Savior that one night.

When Paul returned a few weeks later, he was summoned to the village council where the Muslims complained loudly about the sudden appearance of all these Christians. In the end it turned out that most of the village elders on the council had become believers and declared they had the right to worship the God they chose.

Beni was elated but his wife's fierce opposition to his faith made life difficult for him. Until the day when she had a dream of Jesus and became a radical follower of Jesus herself. Today she has led over one hundred women to the Lord, and the only reason she is not leading a Bible-discovery group herself is that she cannot read and write. And that's why she is about to take a literacy class to change that.

Today the majority of the people living in Sebela are Christians, and our groups are multiplying, as people have dreams of Jesus and see that He is alive and acting in their midst.

DELIVERED

Half a year ago, this young man lost his sanity and ended up living on the street, surviving somehow, as his family could not handle him. Beni decided to fast and pray for him for seven days, and lo and behold, he was completely delivered and recovered his sanity. He has now decided to follow the One who restored him. Praise the Lord!

RICE FOR THE HUNGRY

This year we have given away more bags of rice than ever, as the needs have risen because of Corona, the heavy rainy season and the sanctions after the coup. It's amazing to see how one bag of rice can change and save people's lives, and we have shared many testimonies with you before.

Biendio is in one of our Bible-discovery groups in Sebela and eager to learn more about Jesus. She is a widow and has 7 children. For this past year none of them had ever eaten rice which is the main staple of Mali, as they could not afford it. And for the past year and a half they were only able to eat one meal a day. She was overwhelmed with gratitude when we gave her a 50 kilo bag of rice.

Go to our website for more testimonies. If you'd like to help a family in need, a bag of rice costs $34 or 31€.

CHRISTMAS IN MALI

Last year was the first time I missed Christmas with my children in Mali, and it was miserable, for them and for me. This year I was not going to make the same mistake again and wait too long to buy our tickets to Mali. We're leaving Austria on December 9th, have to stay one night in a hotel in Paris, and arrive in Mali on the 10th. On January 4th we leave Mali, have a 9 hour layover in Paris, and arrive in Vienna on the 5th. We will need all the prayer we can get for this trip! When we went to Mali in January, it was an extremely tough trip. This time the babies are older, more awake, heavier, and more mobile, and the trip is longer than it's ever been. We will need the Lord's help big time! Add to that Covid-19 and who knows what the situation will be like then...

Having said all that, I'm excited that we get to make Christmas special again for all the children (and adults) in Mali. And Paul is so excited to see the triplets again, as is everyone else there. I'm excited for the triplets to be back in Mali, now that they are older, and spend that special season with our family there.

We would love it if we could find people who would join us in Mali, either for that whole time and travel with us, or only for part of that time. Please contact me if you're interested. I can promise that it will be an experience you will never forget, as you hand a pair of shoes to a barefooted street kid or a toy to a village child who has never owned one before. You will never be the same again!

THE WILSON FIVE IN AUSTRIA

We have now settled well into our new apartment, where everything is finished (except for IKEA still not having finished the kitchen they installed over 3 months ago). We're extremely busy, which is why I have to work at night (writing this at 2 am), as I don't have time for anything during the day, the babies keeping us on their toes all day long. Tammy and Emmy can now walk alone for over 10 steps, and Emmy walks more and farther than his sister. Sammy has finally mastered turning from his back to his belly and does it all the time, and he's also become good at crawling. His next goal is to learn to sit. He still goes to physiotherapy every week, and they all take a swim class again.

Samuel day 429                 Tamara day 428                Emmanuel day 426

QUICK NEWS

•        Support - Because of Covid all our trips were canceled, and not being able to do itinerant ministry has meant not making new connections or finding new supporters or getting offerings. We have also lost some regular supporters, and that has meant that our finances have taken a big hit. Paul has asked me to send money to Mali, but all our accounts are empty. Please consider helping us out.

•        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 we'll find a teacher!

•        Malian Director Paul - Paul has been leading the ministry in Mali by himself for quite some time now and he's tired. Please pray for him!

•       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.

But unable to contain themselves, they went out and spread the news everywhere! (Mt 9:31, TPT)

Amazed by HIM,

Claudia (& Randy)