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I'd like to introduce to you the team I'm working with, the young men of God I'm raising up to become all God has created them to be, walking in the fullness of God, doing the works of God.

SIMEON

Simeon Assogba, 32, is from Benin. He came to Mali three years ago to work, and was my neighbor during my first year. Two months after my arrival in Mali he dedicated his life to the Lord, and immediately started following the Lord radically. The Lord gifted him in the prophetic, and Simeon was and is pursuing HIM with all his strength. In the summer of 2004 Simeon lost his job and heard from the Lord to live by faith, evangelizing in the streets of Bamako. This past summer he had the awesome opportunity to go to Mozambique for three months, where he did a school with Heidi Baker.

Last year, Simeon ran all the errands for me and the church, and was half-supported by me and half by a donor in the US. Right now, Simeon does not have any function with the church, and no support. He needs about $100 a month, and is in a serious financial crisis right now. He continues to evangelize in the city. I had to cut down his responsibilities for good reasons, and I'm now giving him some room to grow in character and maturity. Simeon's greatest passion is still to serve the Lord with his everything, and he's a second-year student at our Bible School.

Prayer points: Inner healing, character development, financial provision.

EMMANUEL

Emmanuel Dolo, 22, is Dogon (Mali). Emma grew up in a well-respected Christian family and moved to Mali two years ago, at the same time I came to Mali. I've known Emma since 1999 (my first time in Mali), and have known him as a young man who has an intense hunger to know the Lord intimately, who's yet frustrated by the spiritual desert around him. Emma is a passionate writer, but enrolled at the economy department of the university in Bamako. God has spoken to him repeatedly about his call to be a pastor, which he has fully embraced. However, he needs to fulfill his obligation to the family and finish his studies first.

This past year Emma was hardly ever with us because of the situation at the university. This year we have him back as a member of our team. Emma has a passion for preaching, and preached at CAM for the first time a week ago. I'm intending to let him preach once a month to encourage him in his gifting and help him grow. Emma is very sensitive to the Holy Spirit, yet has a lot of fears that keep him from many things, including releasing complete control to the Lord. Emma is a first-year student at our Bible School.

Prayer Points: Deliverance from fear, grace for studies.

PAUL

Paul Traoré, 17, is Bambara (Mali) and an Albino. Albinos don't only have severe physical problems, but are socially ostracized, especially in the countryside. Paul comes from a catholic background and has a deep desire to know God and serve Him. His step-Mom Elisabeth was the first to come to CAM from his family, part of our literacy class and one of the ladies we gave a sack of coal to sell to. Last year, Paul came by from time to time, more and more so, and he's now become an important member of our team. Paul has finished his "middle school", and is about to start "lycée" (grades 10-12). He's been greatly discouraged this weekend because for some reason his name was not on the list of students to start lycée this week, which means no schooling for him. He will try to find out whether that's an error or not this week. And tomorrow, he's going to an eye doctor to get a prescription for glasses (Albinos have very bad eye-sight), which I'm praying we'll have the money to have made.

Paul is a gifted interpreter and interprets me on Sundays, as well as for the children's program, movie nights and other events. He's also a new student at our Bible School, and extremely stretched by it. Until a few weeks ago, he had never even opened a Bible! However, he's very eager to learn and hungry to know God more and grow, so he's giving his best to cope with the amount of information and homework to do. He is also faithful in coming to our team prayer meetings, and helps out wherever he can. Paul's desire is to preach the gospel to all people, and he's on the best way there.

Prayer points: Placement in lycée, glasses, ability to learn and absorb.

SIMON-PIERRE

Simon-Pierre Dembélé, 18, is Bobo (Mali) and was my German student these past two years. He comes from catholic background and became a student in our Bible school a year ago. Simon-Pierre is a brilliant student, very intelligent, and has a very tender heart.

I have not seen Simon-Pierre yet this year, because he spent all summer in his village. When I came back to Mali, I found out that his Mom had died in June which was quite a blow for him. With the new school year starting tomorrow, he is back in town but I haven't seen him yet. I've talked to him on the phone, and he should be back for Bible School this year. Simon-Pierre is still a part of his catholic church, where he is also involved quite a bit, so that he hardly joins us for any activities. He has a call to be a pastor, of which he is not aware yet. I have seen some growth in him this past year, but there is still much he hasn't grasped yet.

Prayer points: a living, vibrant relationship with God, comfort for his loss.

SEYBOU

Seybou Ongoiba, ca. 28, is Dogon (Mali), and so is his wife Fatoumata. They have two children – Hama, about 2, and Sarata, about half a year. I hired Seybou as my night guard last November, and found out a few months later that he had a family in his village more than a one-day trip away. I prayed about it and told him I'd like for them to be reunited. So, when I got back to Mali end of August, I sent him to get his family from the village, and they now all live with me, in the little house behind my house.

Seybou has been very faithful and trustworthy as a guard, and with the arrival of his wife and the need to employ her as well, I have given him more responsibility, more important tasks to do, many of those Simeon used to do. Seybou was one of the first students in our literacy class, very eager to learn to read and write. Over the months, through reading the Word as well as the movie nights and services, he was constantly coming closer to the Lord. Coming back from my summer travels, I found out he was serving the Lord now. He still has ways to go, but he is on the right path.

It's a lot more difficult with his wife Fatoumata, who I'm having a hard time to connect with, and who only half-heartedly joins our activities. Her baby Sarata is in really bad shape physically – visibly malnourished. I gave them vitamins for both kids, but that might not be sufficient. (Any advice?) The little boy, Hama, has put on weight since coming to Bamako, looking a lot healthier now than he did at first. Every time he'd see me, he would start screaming in terror. He had never seen a white person before. He told people around him to hit me. Unfortunately, Hama couldn't run away from me. He was born with his left side partially paralyzed, unusable, therefore he cannot walk or use his left hand. By now, Hama doesn't scream any more when he sees me and lets me pick him up, even though he is still not comfortable. I grab him every week to pray for his healing.

Prayer points: Hama's healing, Seybou's growth, Fatoumata's salvation.

POTENTIAL TEAM MEMBERS

Marie, already a Christian, recently joined our English class, and then our church.

Hassim came to our service a week ago wanting to become a Christian. We prayed together, and he's coming over often, to learn more. He's joined our literacy class, so he can read God's word for himself as soon as possible.

Sekouba, my new son, is now sleeping on our property every night. He has also joined our new literacy class, and I'm working with him more often so he can read as soon as possible. We also sit down at times, and I read God's word to him, and we pray together.

I'm planning on sitting down for half an hour or so every night with Seybou, Hassim and Sekouba. They desperately need to hear God's word, and find out how to pray. I'm hoping to be able to start doing that soon.

Finally, remember praying also for me. I just had malaria for the very first time – interesting experience. My schedule is pretty full, and my only prayer is to stay close to HIM, to have my precious times of intimate encounter with Him, which are being challenged all the time. There is so much to do, yet only so much time and energy. I need wisdom in all I do and say.

To Him, who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine, be all glory, power and praise! AMEN!

Love, Claudia