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FAMILY CHRISTMAS

On Christmas Eve we invited all the 50 children in our sponsorship program as well as all the people working for us to a special dinner on our base. Some of our grown-up children came as well. We served them a special meal of Western chicken with fries and a drink, then every sponsored child received a gift bag in the name of their sponsors. They all had a great time. I wished I could have been there with them.

      

 

CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR (STREET) CHILDREN

The following day we put on our Kids’ Christmas Party. Last year we broke records, but this year we did not have the funds necessary to hand out thousands of gifts. As the children already knew we did not have shoes to give away, only 1000 children came to our party. Paul had purchased 800 pieces of clothing and 1000 drinks, so the kids received one of each. They also played games, heard the gospel and had the opportunity to start a life with Jesus.

      

 

CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGES

Then Paul went to the village of Sebela, where he preached a gospel message and then gave away 1300 pairs of shoes. Parents and children were so very thankful as for many of them it’s the only time they get shoes, when we come to distribute them. We didn’t have enough shoes for another village, so we're keeping the remaining shoes for Easter, when we're going to do a distribution in Dara and Darala, where they also need them desperately.

      

 

TRIAL AGAINST US

End of November the trial against us started up again after a half-year recess. It lasted several days, with witnesses on both sides giving testimony. At the end, the head judge said that he was impressed with our activities and could not confirm at all that any of the allegations against us were true. He said that he could not understand why he was supposed to condemn us and shut us down given that we helped the community as much as we did. He said that the verdict would be announced in January.

At the end of January, Paul had to go back to court to hear the verdict, or so we thought. Instead there were more witnesses speaking, and there was more questioning happening. The judges said the verdict would be announced the following Tuesday. However, as we still had not been able to resolve one paperwork issue the judges had demanded from us, our lawyer requested an extension so we could take care of it. This change they're requiring of us is going to mean increased monthly fees to the government. The announcement of the verdict is now scheduled for the end of this month. Please pray for a positive outcome. Should we be found guilty, the ministry would be shut down and Paul put into jail.

We’re so thankful for the great lawyer that God provided us with whose work has made a big difference. He’s finally told us that we have to pay him about $6,200 for his services, which is a big challenge for us.

 

ONE CHILD GONE, ONE ON THE WAY

In 2020 Awa fled the jihadists in the north of Mali and came to Dara with her family. We took her into our sponsorship program so she could continue her schooling. She became a believer in Jesus and part of our church. Last year she graduated from High School and started university in fall. Three days ago, a car hit her and killed her. She was 19. Today Paul did her funeral. Thanks to you guys she can now spend eternity in heaven.

But that's not the only news Paul shared with me today. His wife is pregnant with their fourth child. Hallelujah!

 

 

CENTRAL MALI HORROR

The jihadists are controlling central and northern Mali and have spread all over the country, attacking whereever they can. Just a few days ago the checkpoint we pass to leave the capital was attacked.

There are countless refugees that have been able to flee the horrors the jihadists have committed. Paul just met three families that came from the same village in central Mali. The jihadists killed all males in their village, then grabbed a bunch of women and girls to take with them to rape. Every week they bring a group of women back and grab another set of women and girls for the next week. It's not easy to flee, but those three families did it. And we're thankful that we've been able to help in their dire need by giving them rice.

There is a grand-mother that fled with 11 of her grandchildren. Then there is a woman who was able to get her handicapped relative out. Another widow fled with her many children. She was so desperate that she gave her 8-year-old daughter Djeneba to another family as a household slave. They were giving her $20 per month in return. Paul was able to get her to bring her daughter home, as the rice we gave her provided her with the much-needed food she was after. We'd like to start sponsoring Djeneba and send her to school in fall.