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And everyone who has left houses or
brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake
will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (Mt 19:29)
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Three weeks have passed, less than
two more weeks left in the city I have come to love dearly. The city the Lord
called me sovereignly to two years ago; a city with a high calling in the
Lord. The city where I found HIM like I've always dreamed; the city where He
met me, transformed me, equipped and empowered me. And the city where He has
given me friends and family beyond what I thought possible. But now it's time
to say good-bye; or rather, "see you in the nations". Good-bye to
this city that played such a significant role in my life in preparing me for
God's destiny, and good-bye to precious friends. And the latter is extremely
hard. Yet, the Lord has been comforting me with the above Scripture. When I
left Austria, I gave up "houses" and "fields", an
apartment I loved and a dream job, a monthly income and my students (and yes,
friends), and He taught me to trust Him as my provider. Now I'm not giving up
material possessions, but I'm leaving "brothers or sisters or father or
mother or children". And that seems so much harder. I'm meeting with as
many friends as I can, and nearly every day I'm saying good-bye. Yes, it's
hard, yes, it's a sacrifice, but God rewards those who give up everything
else for Him. He loves it when we seek first His kingdom, and He promises to
provide the rest. The "hundred times" are not just for life after
death, but it is for life now.
He said, "it's time". He
called me ten years ago, and I said, "Send me! Send me where nobody else
wants to go. Send me where they haven't heard." And eight years ago He
answered my prayer and showed me Mali. And now it's time. It's time to step
into my destiny. And it's really not my destiny, but His destiny for Mali. Because
it has nothing to do with me, but all with His purposes for Mali. He was
looking for someone to answer His question - "Who will go for Us?" (see
Isa 6) - and when I said yes, He started His work of preparation, to equip me
for the task. And now it's time.
Friends, believe me, I feel less
qualified than ever before. I feel smaller than ever before, weaker than ever
before, yet I know my Lord and King and Bridegroom more than ever before. I
know the great plans He has for Mali, and the only reason I can fathom why He
would send me is that I said yes. God can use anybody who will totally rely
on Him, knowing who He is and who he is in Him. The vision is big, the task
is big, and only God can bring it about. All I can do is follow His call and
take one day at the time. Yes, the task is daunting. Yes, I'm weak. Yes, I
have nothing to offer. Yes, I'm just a single woman. But the Almighty God
lives in me, and rivers of living waters are flowing out of me, and I will
take His hand and follow.
PRAYER COVER
Over the past few weeks the warfare
has been intensifying. The enemy knows that there won't be a better time to
still keep me from fulfilling God's call than now. He has been attacking me
on all levels, dumping his lies to keep me from going.
Friends, as I step into what is
ahead, your prayer cover is going to be more important than ever. Actually,
it's absolutely crucial to be covered by prayer as I'm stepping into the
enemy's territory to claim Mali for the kingdom of God. For that reason, I'm
throwing out a divine challenge to you - will you covenant to pray for me
regularly? Pray about it, and let me know since I'll be regularly sending a
prayer cover e-mail to you intercessors.
ACADEMICS
Those who looked at this e-mail's
author above will have noticed the change in my name - Dr. Claudia R.
Wintoch. Yes, I've completed my doctorate - and I didn't even have a chance
to tell you about it.
Returning to Kansas City, it was unclear what degree I would get from World
Revival School of Ministry since I had no time to write a thesis. The
Lord opened the door for me to go to Faith Bible College which is also
in the area and accredited with the same organization, and they told me I had
enough credits for a doctorate. All I needed to do was take their minimum amount
of classes by correspondence. So I got the six course books, and within one
week of intensive study, I completed them today. So, I now have a Doctorate
of Theology, and next week we're having the graduation ceremony at WRSM where
I will be given a Masters of Divinity after all.
Awesome God! I didn't come to Kansas
City for the degree, and I really don't care about it, but it sure is a good
thing to have.
MOBILE PROVISION
Another praise report is that during
my last three weeks in Kansas City I'm mobile again. Praise God! Last week
somebody lent me their spare car - which now allows me to move around freely
and get a lot accomplished.
GLORY WEBSERVICES
I’m also thankful that the Lord has
sent a few more ministers and ministries who needed a website, and I have the
joy and honor of hosting them and setting them up. If you need a website ($10
per month), don’t hesitate to contact me.
AWESOME MOVE OF GOD
Last week, I had the sad joy of being
part of my last conference with Jill Austin, who was my teacher for most of
my two years here. As always, it was an awesome conference, but one afternoon
God did something very special that I cannot keep from you.
My friend was doing an afternoon
workshop which was awesome. At the end she said she’d pray for people. After
the first guy, she called me forward because God had told her to pray for me.
She told everyone I was going to Africa, and then she started praying. One of
the things she prayed was for provision. Suddenly somebody came up and put
money into my hands. Then another one came up and put money into my hands. Then
another one. I started to break, bursting into tears. More people came up and
put money at my feet, while I was crying hard that anyone would do anything
like that, and that God would do something like that for me. I had been
telling God that it was time for some money to come in. Then a teenage girl,
all choked up, said that she had to give me that, and it was all she had. She
wrote a check for $500 (with a map of Africa on it!). As soon as she had done
that, people started giving her money, and she ended up having more than she
gave me.
Awesome! It was such a sovereign move
of God! Such a demonstration of how God’s economy works. Give and it will be
given to you. It was like a kiss from God, a hug to assure me that He was
there and He was gonna provide what’s necessary. I was given $950 – one tenth
of the necessary amount. Awesome God!
WANNA BE A PART TOO?
I have been asking God to send the
next amount so I can buy my ticket to Mali and ship my stuff over, and I have
total confidence that He will. It’s simple – it’s His work, and I can only do
it if He sends the provision. Could it be that you are part of the answer? Do
you wanna sow into His work to take the gospel to Mali? If you do, you can
give online using Paypal by clicking on the button in the signature. If
you’re in Europe, you can use the bank details in the signature. If you’re in
the US, you can now give a tax-deductible donation. Just make the check out
to “Catch The Wind Ministries” and make sure you don’t write my name anywhere
on the check (important!), but include a note that it is for me. Then send it
to the US address in the signature.
PAPER NEWSLETTER
I’m trying to be more efficient and have decided not to send paper
newsletters out to those who receive the e-mails unless you desire so. If you
get the paper newsletter, but don’t need it since you get the e-mails, would
you please let me know?
THE REMAINING WEEKS
Time is going really fast, and there
is so much more to get done here in Kansas City. Please pray for wisdom, for
efficiency, for divine appointments, and for answers to open questions
concerning the move.
On the 21st of August we are having the graduation ceremony, on the 23th I
will probably be sent off, on the 24th I’m having a farewell party (all you
K.C. people are invited) and on the 25th I’m leaving Kansas City to return to
Austria. I will have about three weeks in Austria before flying to Mali. And
I don’t know yet where I’m gonna stay in Vienna.
One more month and I will be back in
“my” country, to be a bright shining light in the darkness. I’m excited, as
well as anxious, being encouraged by God’s words to Joshua as he was about to
enter the Promised Land – “be strong and courageous…” (see Jos 1).
I’m thankful for each and every one
of you, and glad that you share in these exciting times with me. May you be
inspired and blessed as you read, pray and give.
Mali for Jesus!
All my King’s,
Claudia
(Hawa Kampo)
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Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance. (Ps 2:8)
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Dr. Claudia R. Wintoch
Wurlitzerg. 50/19
A-1160 Vienna
Austria
Catch The Wind Ministries
P.O. Box 11962
Kansas City, MO 64138
claudia@healing2thenations.net
www.healing2thenations.net
www.glorywebservices.com
Talk to me online - I'm "healing2thenations":
msn messenger
In the US:
Mail checks to Catch The Wind Ministries
In Europe:
Bank name: BA/CA
Bank number: 12000
Account number: 509.101.468.00
Online (it will say Glory Webservices):
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