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ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL

On September 17 the capital city of Bamako was attacked by jiahdists for the first time in years, and the attack happened in our general area. They attacked the police school as well as the airport, where they set flames to an airplane. The population is still siding with the government and tried to stop them, lynching some people they thought to be jihadists. In total about 70 people lost their lives that day. The military moved in and still arrested two suspected jihadists near our base the next day. The jihadists' goal was to show the government that even the capital is not safe, and they have sworn to take Bamako by the end of the year. They are trying to turn the population to side with them, but so far that is not working in the capital yet.

However, they are more successful in the center of Mali. They have rounded up all the Christians there. First they made them pay a fee, now they have told them to either become Muslims or leave the region if they did not want to reap the consequences of being Christians.

The Malian government is becoming more and more authoritarian, imprisoning those that talk against them. They have turned away from the Western world and have brought in the Russian Wagner group to fight the jihadists. However, while ruthless, they are less than successful and have just suffered their biggest loss of life ever in the north of Mali.

Please pray for the country of Mali, and pray for Paul and our base in particular as the jihadists ramp up their attacks.

FLOODING

As if Mali didn't already have enough problems, we also had to deal with severe flooding in the month of August so that Mali was declared a disaster zone. Rainy season in Mali is from June to September, and then it does not rain at all for 8 months. This year the rains were so intense that 75 people have lost their lives and 250,000 people have lost homes or possessions. Even our own neighborhood was affected more than ever before. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the videos of rivers in the streets around our base, carrying people and possessions away. In the village of Dara, many houses made of dirt brick crumbled.

Paul had just repaired the ramp into our base, when the rains swept it away again. Even though it's October, there's still water everyhwere, which is unusual. The road to our base is in such bad shape that we have to repair it, as well as the ramp to our base. We don't know yet how much that is going to cost us. Our new builder tried to have building materials delivered to our base twice, but the trucks could not make it through the water. Now he's waiting for the road to be repaired, then he can finally bring the materials to our base and continue work on the fourth building.

The picture of our gate was taken in August. It's worse now.

Unfortunately the water also flooded our power room, where the heart of our electric system is located. It was completely ruined, leaving the base without power. Thankfully we were able to reestablish the connection to the city's power grid. Unfortunately the power is out for hours every day. To repair our power room and get our solar power system back up and running, our electrician gave us an estimate of $12,000 or 11.000€.

BROKEN CAR & SCHOOL EXPENSES

As if we didn't already have enough (financial) challenges, our truck is having more and more issues, now even the engine is starting to die. It's not going to make it much longer. We need a new truck, which costs between $50,000 and $70,000 in Mali. Obviously a used one costs less, but they age fast in the Malian climate and with the road conditions there.

Adding up all the numbers of what we are supposed to pay everywhere, including the about $10,000 for school fees, materials and uniforms we always have to spend this time of year, it's so humanly impossible that it doesn't even make me despair but makes me laugh. Only God can take of all this, and our trust is in Him!

On a positive note, while school was supposed to start in October, the government has suspended school until November 4th as all the people displaced by the flooding are still housed in the schools and because there is still so much water everywhere (picture). That means that we still have more time to buy the school materials and uniforms for the 50 children in our sponsorship program.

QUICK NEWS

•        Daily Blog - If you are not on Facebook but would still like to read my (nearly) daily blog about our life (with the triplets), including pictures, you can do so on our website. Go to https://h2tni.org/blog/.

•        Court Date - The terror attack in Bamako caused our September court date to be postponed until November, but we don't have an exact date yet. Please pray as a negative outcome would mean the end of the ministry in Mali.

•        20 Years - This november it is 20 years since I started the church in Bamako. I have considered making a quick trip to Mali for this special occasion. It's already been more than 2 years since our last time in Mali. However, the Lord clearly warned me about traveling to Mali at this time as the jiahidsts are still waiting for our return to kidnap us.

•        Randy's Permit - Randy received his permit to be allowed stay in Austria for next three years. That means that next summer we'll be able to go to the US again.

•        Triplets - The kids have started all their classes of this semester and have classes going on nearly every afternoon - dance, soccer, PE, piano, swimming, climbing, etc. For the first time Tammy and Emmy are going different directions doing classes alone. Sammy continues his wheelchair class besides physiotherapy. All three go to kindergarten, and Tammy and Emmy are now in preschool. I still teach online every free minute I've got.

•        Healing Needed - I've had a latent eye condition all my life that became acute a few months after the triplets' birth, during the first lockdown. It makes me go cross-eyed, causing double-pictures and headaches if it goes on for a long time. It has made life difficult and also embarrassing in the past 5+ years. Please pray for healing.

•        Malian Director Paul - Please pray for Paul who carries the full weight of the work in Mali on his shoulders. Pray also for his safety as he moves around a lot, while jihadists are increasing their attacks everywhere.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isa 43:2)

Trusting HIM,

Claudia (& Randy)