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20 YEARS THIS MONTH

On September 13, 2003, I got on plane to Mali with no money, only a big God and a big vision, and a few intercessors. That day I stepped into my destiny that I had prepared for for the previous 8 years. I had found a little Muslim school that said I could teach German there. The Muslim school director picked me up, took me to his elementary school, put a mattress on the floor and said that this is where I could sleep.

It was the beginning of a big adventure. I found an appartment near the school, and after a few months one of my neighbors accepted Jesus and became my first leader. Just over a year after arriving, at the end of November 2004, I started the church. We had about 80 people show up to that first church service, which was a lot. I was the pastor, worship leader, and did everything else as well. At the same time I started the church, I also started the Bible school that Paul a few years later, after his conversion, completed. And at New Year's Eve of 2004 I did a healing service that was amazing. The prophetic word that 2004 was going to be the year had been fulfilled. From there the ministry just took off.

We have never had enough money, yet God has been so faithful and has done amazing things these past twenty years. Hundreds if not into the thousands have been healed, even resurrected from the dead, and thousands have found Jesus because one little girl from Vienna said "send me" and went alone to Mali. I'm so thankful for the street children I had the privilege to raise and so thankful to God for everything he has done. And I'm extremely thankful for my spiritual son Paul, who I had the hard job to raise, but who is now the amazing leader of the ministry in Mali, even when I cannot be there.

God warned me in a dream not to go to Mali, as the jihadists are just waiting for our return to kidnap us, but we still want to celebrate what He has done. If Paul can pull it off technically, I'll be preaching from Vienna in our anniversary service in Bamako at the end of the month.

COURT DATE

The enemy has always been trying everything to stop the work in Mali. We have gone through many trials and tribulations, but now that it's the 20th anniversary, we find ourselves facing the biggest ones yet. The enemy is the closest he's ever been to shutting down the ministry and killing its founder.

We had our first court date in May. It had already been pretermined by the government that we'd be found guilty, the ministry shut down and Paul sent to prison. However, two of the three judges suddenly sided with us and another court date was set. That court date is now THIS MONTH (what are the chances!) between the 20th and 25th. We'll know the exact day in the next few days. That day it will be decided whether it's the end of the ministry in Mali, or whether we may continue. Paul says that they've been working hard to make sure the judges condemn us this time, while our great lawyer has also been working hard, using all his connections, so it turns out well. Please pray.

OPERATION ON MONDAY

And the enemy is not just trying to stop the ministry in Mali, but also destroy its founder. Three weeks ago I started having terrible pains, so bad I could only cry. After some ordeals and false diagnoses and being sent home by the hospital, it was finally diagnosed that I had a 16 cm cyst in my ovary that they thought was malignant. The antibiotics took care of the infection and the pain. Today I was finally told that the operation is on Monday (the time will be set on Friday). That means I have to go into the hospital on Sunday morning. The operation will be between 1 and 8 hours long, depending on what they'll find, whether it's benign or malignant, easy to remove or not. When I wake up, I'll find out. I'll have to be at the hospital between 2 and 7 days. Please pray.

Unfortunately, I'm not the only one needing an operation. Amadou, my grown-up ex-street kid in Mali that I raised, who now works for us taking care of the children in our center, also needs to be operated, and it might also be this coming week. He also has a bad case of malaria and ulcers, and those have to be taken care of first, then they'll operate his hernia. Even Paul has an infection right now, is taking antibiotics and not feeling well.

NO MONEY

As if all those challenges weren't enough, we're in the worst financial situation we've been in in a long time. We're so thankful that the Lord has given us an amazing lawyer with great connections who only wants to be paid after the case is over. However, he just asked for an advance, and Paul had to tell him that we have no money right now. We even have old bills that have not been paid and need paying urgently. The needs are getting greater and greater, and while we're thankful for every donation, it's just not enough. These are the needs:

• old unpaid bills
• school fees and materials
• our electrical system destroyed by the flooding ($12,000)
• constant car repairs
• need of a new car
• payment of the lawyer after the court case is over (thousands of $?)
• repair of the road and gate to our center
• medical bills for Amadou and his operation

And I don't know if the list is complete. I keep telling Paul that there is no money I can send him, especially as he's withdrawing money with the cards all the time - money we don't have. Is that another attack of the enemy in the midst of all the others?

The next few weeks are critical for us, for the ministry, and I expect to have praise reports of victory to give you next time! Please join us in prayer! Let's push back against the enemy and win! Our God is GREATER!

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/.

•        Triplets - Tammy is already crying, when I tell her I'll have to stay at the hospital for a few days. Please pray for the kids while I'm away from them. Pray also for Randy who'll have to take care of them by himself while I'm gone.

•        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.

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. (Rom 8:11)

Trusting HIM,

Claudia (& Randy)