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EVERYTHING WORSENING

Two days before we were supposed to leave Mali in January, the regional block imposed sanctions on Mali because the twice coup leader now president refused to hold elections as agreed upon, postponing them all the way to 2025. With France siding with those nations, Mali would not allow Air France into the country and told the French to all leave the country. They are now in the process of withdrawing, and the other European nations are following suit. Instead the Malian government has brought in Russian militias (Wagner group) to fight the jihadists, which has led to a stark increase of human rights abuses. Anti-Western sentiment is rising because of the sanctions. Paul told me how a European our Joseph was with was arrested and kept in a jail cell for days for having taken pictures in public. In fact, Joseph was put in jail as well, and it was Paul's intervention that got him out.

Besides the security threat increasing, the already small economy is being destroyed by the sanctions. Prices for essentials like food and clothes have gone up, leading to increased hunger and putting millions of Malians in danger of famine. It also affects us, increasing our expenses, while losing donors in the US (and in Europe) as we have not been able to travel there in three years, which has also meant not meeting new people. By Easter shoe prices are expected to be double what they were at Christmas. While we are expecting even more children for Easter (we had 2400 in Bamako alone), we will by far not have the number of shoes needed as it is. Paul has just given away dozens of bags of rice once again to families in need, and he said that his waiting list is growing and he'd be able to give away 500 bags even now because of the great need. Rice prices have increased by 25% so far, with rice being the main staple.

This just released article is very informative, giving you a glimpse of the current situation:

France and allied European countries are withdrawing their anti-jihadist forces from Mali after diplomatic relations broke down with the ruling junta, which has reportedly welcomed in hundreds of mercenaries from the Russian Wagner Group.

The diplomatic crisis has overshadowed a worsening humanitarian emergency that has seen severe hunger hit the highest level since 2013 and over 350,000 people flee violence linked to jihadists aligned to al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State – a nearly 70% increase from early 2020.

 

If you've always wanted to give and can give in any way, we'd be very thankul for your help. Ways to give on the left.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGE ON OUR BASE

I moved to Mali 19 years ago, having nothing but a big God and a big vision. A year later I moved to a house, where I started a church and Bible school, which was the beginning of everything. At the same time Seybou started working for me as a guard, living in a little house on the same property. He became a believer, I sent him to driving school, and he became our driver. 17 years ago his wife Fanta and then two little kids came from the village to join him, after I had only just found out he had a family. Later Seybou abandoned the Lord as well as his family and left the country for years to make money. Fanta and her now five children stayed with us, with her husband coming from time to time to visit while in the country. Fanta also became a believer, but it seemed to be an outward decision rather than a change of heart. Over the past few years she's been repeatedly caught stealing, and once Paul even kept her out of jail after a theft. Because her children are like my own, I never considered making them leave.

But the situation has changed now, with other serious problems that have come to surface forcing us to act and put a stop to it all. While change is not easy, it is necessary, and I believe this "cleansing" of our base will have positive repercussions. We have found a little house close to our base that we are renting for her and her children (and husband), while she continues to work for us every day, so the only thing changing is where they live. We are also removing the possibility for her to steal from us. We're excited that Korotoumou, a widow and strong Christian in our church, is moving in with us instead, together with her children. She will now be in charge of food money and preparation. Fanta and her family will be moving on April 5th. Please pray for everyone in the midst of this big transition.

HELPING CHILDREN IN NEED

But that is not the only big change in the makeup of the people living on our base. Five siblings between the ages of 6 and 15 recently lost their parents, and we have agreed to take them in. We're in the process of getting everything ready for them to move in soon. That means we will soon have five new children that all need sponsors to support them. A sponsorship is $60 or 50€ per month. Half-sponsorships are possible.

We have also just accepted Esaie (7) into our sponsorship program. His father died a few months ago. His mother, a catholic, started attending our church. Now Esaie was kicked out of school, out of 1st grade, because his mother could not afford the school fees. He was sitting at home crying because he wanted to go to school so bad. We have now paid for his schooling so he can return to school. Esaie has already found a sponsor.

But four boys in the village of Dara that all had to drop out of school for various reasons are still waiting and praying for a sponsor. Could you be the one? You can see their names, pictures and stories on our website here.

QUICK NEWS

•        Daily Blog - If you are not on Facebook but would still like to read my daily blog about our life (with the triplets), including pictures, you can do so on our website. Go to https://h2tni.org/blog/.

•        The Triplets - We have just returned from a missions conference in another part of Austria where we have a booth every year. This year I did not speak at all for the first time in a very long time, which meant that we had few people come by our booth. It was great to reconnect with friends and have many of them meet the triplets for the first time. We had a great time, though we did not really hear any speaker and were really busy with the kids. The children are developing wonderfully, enjoying their exercise and music class, and they just went to the circus for the first time which they loved. Samuel continues his physiotherapy, slowly making progress. He's now trying out different walkers to find out which one would work best for him. He just loves walking.

•        Retreat - We were invited to come to a fully paid for retreat for full-time missionaries where David Hogan and Heidi Baker will be doing meetings. It sounds like a time of spiritual as well as physical refreshing on the Mexian coast. They're providing childcare for the parents to be able to attend the meetings. Now all we need is a miracle to be able to purchase the plane tickets that cost around $4000 or 3700€ for the five of us.

•        Permit & Deed - Every time there is a coup, new personnel is put into place and we have to start the whole process again. Now that they have stopped and picked up work again several times, Paul continues going to meetings so we can have our building permit and title deed soon. Please pray to that end.

•        First-Grade Teacher - We are still looking for a French-speaking first grade teacher to join our team. There is such a need for a good, Christian school where the children are treated with dignity and learn something. Many of our Muslim neighbors would send their children to our school. Please pray we'll find a teacher!

•        Malian Director Paul - Please continue praying for Paul who leads the ministry all by himself. He already has two children, and now his wife is pregnant again, and it looks like they're having twins. Everyone is overjoyed!

•       Volunteers - Do you want to come change an orphan's life? Do you want to heal the sick? Preach the gospel to those who've never heard? Come to Mali for a season and let God change your life. No language skills needed, but French skills are helpful.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Eze 36:26)

Trusting HIM,

Claudia (& Randy)