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
past 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 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, 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. 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. 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) |