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Let me start this newsletter with a few testimonies. As you all know, we've had a lot of troubles with our neighbors since moving to our base in 2008. The biggest reason was us being Christians, but they were also bothered by the street kids coming to the neighborhood because of us, since they'd steal or cause other problems. Some neighbors hate us more than others, and some tried to organize the neighbors against us to attack us, stone our children or get the police and tell them lies about us. I've shared some dramatic moments with you before. Most parents let their children come to our Christmas and Easter parties but not to a weekly program, and some have complained about their children singing Christian songs of changing (for the better).

Since the sanctions were imposed in January (and there is no end in sight), prices for everything have risen dramatically, which has led to increased hunger and even famine and much desperation. We've noticed that particularly in the number of people pleading with us to give them rice, saying they had not eaten in 2 or 3 days. During one shoe distribution a lady from our neighborhood asked Paul for a pair of shoes as she could not afford buying any, and Paul gave her money of his own to go buy some.

One of the neighbors who was a fierce enemy of ours was Yacouba. However, his family became so desperate that Paul gave him a bag of rice to help. That has now turned his heart towards us and he's become a friend. Paul is still witnessing to him. On the whole we've seen a softening of hearts in our neighborhood because of the increased desperation everyone is feeling.

And God continues moving in the villages. A few days ago Paul finally made it to the village of Darala where we did a shoe distribution once, and the village chief has decided to become a follower of Jesus. Paul is now starting a Bible-discovery group there.

...AND IN THE VALLEY

And even as Christians, we still live in this world, even though we are not of this world, and so we are affected by the world around us. God has been so faithful, and I'm just amazed and overwhelmed by what God has done these past 19 years since I went to Mali all alone. I went to Mali with no money and no supporters, and we've always had to trust God to provide for all our needs. When my first book was published, it was firstfruits offered to God, and so all money from its sale is going to Him. Once I started doing itinerant ministry more and more, we were able to make new friends and spread the news of what God is doing in Mali, leading to God's people supporting us in various ways.

Three years ago everything changed, when our three gifts from God were born. And then the pandemic started, leading to the cancelation of our planned trip to the US. We have still not been able to travel to America because of the vaccine mandate for all non-Americans. Not meeting our friends or supporters for over 3 years now has unfortunately led to a distance between us and the loss of some. We have also not traveled much in Europe and have lost supporters there too.

All this has led us to a desperate place of no money. Fanta was supposed to move to a rented house 3 days ago, but Paul was unable to pay the first 3 months of rent at once. He's now planning on paying it on Monday, and then Fanta and her children can move that very day. Korotoumou is already impatient to move in and is coming that very same day with her children. Paul is then picking up the five orphaned siblings from the village right after. Three boys of those five are still looking for sponsors to support them. A sponsorship is $60 or 50€ per month, and half-sponsorships are also possible.

Paul has been asking me to send money, but all I can tell him is that there is no money to send. Last week he couldn't even pay everyone's salaries. School enrollment for the next school year has to be paid, our car (on the road all day) needs four new tires which cost a fortune, and we constantly have repairs on our base. And then there is the medical checkups for Paul's wife who is pregnant with their third child. All I can tell him is that another monthly supporter has informed me that they cannot continue. Inflation and rising food prices have also reached the Western world. Paul and the children in Mali are praying for provision to our heavenly Father, and asking me every few days whether there has been an answer to those prayers yet. At this point I do want to express my deepest gratefulness to all those of you who have been supporting us faithfully and regularly over the course of the years.

I know that my candid and transparent words will lead to people unsubscribing from our newsletter, but I also know that many do appreciate me being real and not just putting on the happy, smiley all-is-always-well face. The Paul of the Bible said that he knows what it's like to have plenty and to not have anything, and he did not hide that fact.

A PERSONAL UPDATE

We are also affected personally, as the little salary that we get from the ministry is not enough for five people, especially now that the prices for everything have gone up. For that reason I have just started tutoring online, an hour here and there, which brings in a few additional coins. Needless to say, it makes my already busy schedule even more busy. And if that wasn't enough, our faithful friend and helper for the past 2+ years has now found a job (I'm glad for her!), which means we have basically not seen her around for the past two months. We now have no helpers and more work, and only those who have triplets themselves know what that's like. Add to that that we have a special needs child and that we're not in our twenties or thirties like most parents of toddlers. Please do remember us in your prayers as well.

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 - The children are doing well and are enjoying the music and exercise classes that are still continuing in the summer. Samuel has quite a few appointments ahead - physiotherapy, speech therapy and a psychological assessment. He's currently trying out another walker that he can walk with pretty well and we'll then have to purchase with our own money.

•        Family Changes - Next week our family living in the center is changing dramatically, with Fanta moving out with her children and Korotoumou and her children moving in, as well as the five orphans. Fanta is going to continue to work for us every morning, but it could be a hard transition for her to hand the reins over to Korotoumou. Please pray for this time of transition!

•        Child Sponsors Needed - We still have 3 boys in the village of Dara who had to drop out of school for various reasons and need a sponsor so they can go back to school. Please check out their stories here to choose who you would like to support for $60 or 50€ per month. We also need sponsors for the 3 orphaned boys about to move to our base. Half-sponsorships are also possible.

•        Situation in Mali - The jihadists are moving more and more south and have just kidnapped three white people in the south of Mali, which has so far only happened in central and northern Mali. And the coup leader and current president of Mali has just announced that Mali is withdrawing from the 5-country anti-jihadist force combatting jihadists in the Sahel, isolating Mali even more. The sanctions imposed on Mali in January are still in place and exacerbating rising prices for everything, increasing hunger and even famine. We now have a long list of people in need of rice that we help whenever we can financially. The rice price has increased by 25% so that a bag of rice now costs $40 or 38€.

•        Permit & Deed - I'm pleased to inform you that Paul has received our construction permit, and so work on our fourth building can finally continue. Praise God! They still haven't given us the title deed to our property yet, so please pray for that.

•        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 with their third child due end of August.

•       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 know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Phil 4:12)

Trusting HIM,

Claudia (& Randy)