Healing 2 The Nations - Dr. Claudia R. Wintoch

January 2006

2005

Monday, February 27, 2006

New Developments

Once more we went to Yirimadio; and once more for nothing, though that isn't really true. Today, the village elder even refused to greet me back - I was shocked! He then started complaining that we never bring any gifts or money for them, saying we'd never get the land that way. Emma said that me, the white lady, didn't know we should bring gifts, and that he hadn't been along from the very beginning. He apologized and said we'd bring gifts and money next time. The elder gave us another chance, giving us an appointment tomorrow afternoon. Now we have to buy cola nuts and dates and bring money tomorrow. Let's pray it will be a good meeting, and that we will get their favor back!

BIBLE SCHOOL

Tonight my three students did their exams - Emma, Paul and Simeon. Emma passed, but Paul and Simeon failed. Simeon even more than Paul!!!! I don't know if he doesn't study or what.... In any case, Simeon was VERY discouraged, Paul handled it better.

VAN

We got more information today on what it takes to become an ONG, and it looks pretty impossible right now. So we won't have any choice but to pay customs on the car. I wished I had the money now to take care of it before I leave, but even with making debts it's just not enough.

HEALTH

Since I couldn't take time out last week, with our outreach week, I'm still battling this virus, unable to breathe through my nose, cough, fever. I started taking antibiotics today. I need to be fit when I travel the day after tomorrow, and then with my busy schedule in Austria.

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January 2006

2005

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Thursday, February 23, 2006

Discouragement

Because of our land. And because of the car.

The official told Emma, customs would be $3400 - the amount so high because of the van's age (19 years). The older the car the more you pay; they do that so that people don't import old cars (the city is full of old cars anyway).

Now we're in a big dilemma, because we don't have any money to pay that. That means, we have a parked car, and still no way to get around. Oh Lord, what's the solution???

We keep going to Yirimadio for nothing. Now Emma has a sickness that doesn't allow him to go out during the day. Tomorrow he's going with me anyway, if he feels up to it (myself, I'm still sick). Hopefully we'll meet the elder, but even if we do, he'll probably tell us (again) to come back the next day to go see the village chief, and then he won't be there.... It's been like that for the past 4 weeks. I'm leaving in a few days and need to get this done before!

OUTREACH WEEK

Tonight was the fourth and last night of the discussion nights, with the last night tomorrow being the party. I have to say, all nights worked out great, with great discussions. The only disappointment was the small number of people showing up. That will certainly change tomorrow with the party.

NEXT WEDNESDAY...

... I'm already leaving for Austria. I have so much to do, I don't know where to start. Today I finished the English video presentation, now I still have to do the German version. That's just one of many things to do.

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January 2006

2005

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Monday, February 20, 2006

Eventful Day - First Day of Outreach Week

Sick or not sick, I've had a very busy and eventful day, while feeling worse and worse. Before our first outreach night, I took all the medication I could to keep going.

OUR LAND

At our prayer night on Saturday I warred in the heavenlies, breaking the enemy's hold on our land, breaking the barriers that keep us from moving forward, and proclaiming that on Monday we'd have success - and we did. The last several times we always went there in vain, but today we were able to connect with the village elder who's gonna introduce us to the village chief. He told us to come tomorrow morning at 10 am, when he will lead us to the chief, who will then tell us their decision on whether to give us the land or not. I also hope he will take us there and show us exactly where it is.

MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL

Since leaving the High School, I've only been back once, and that was when few students were at the school. So today, they all saw me, and it was overwhelming how they received me, how happy they were to see me, teachers and students alike. I asked whether I could put up a poster for our nightly program this week, and they said yes. They even told me to go through all the classrooms to announce it and make students aware of it. Wow! Since I came today at a time when they were done with their classes, so I could talk to them, I need to go there tomorrow morning to make my rounds. I handed out all my invitations today, and many said they'd come (none did tonight). I had a great time there, and it energized me.

OUTREACH NIGHT 1

For 4 nights we're discussing hot topics, and then on Friday we're having a party with music, food and gospel presentation. For the discussion, we're using a Christian TV program made in our neighboring country of Burkina Faso, where they discuss hot topics young people are interested in, including interviews with experts and people out there. We're showing two (related) episodes of half an hour each, each one followed by 40 minutes of live discussion.

Tonight: Friendship between guys and girls; Choosing your partner

It was the first night, and we didn't have as many people as we would have liked, but I'm sure it will increase daily. We had a panel of 5 people discussing, 4 students (all guys) and 1 graduate (girl); 3 of them were Christian, one is close, and one Muslim. When the first discussion didn't work so well, I took the mic to be the MC for the second, which made a huge difference. We all had a great time discussing, and the audience also had a chance to say their opinion. There were Christians and Muslims among the audience. They all wanted to keep going, but we did close out the evening at 9:30 pm. They all took invitations with them to invite others to the remaining nights, and we had great feedback that they liked it, including the panel members. Honestly, I really didn't know how it would go, but it truly worked out perfectly. Glory to God!

Tomorrow's subject is rather delicate: Youth & sexuality and sexual violence. Please pray for God's Spirit to guide the discussion and to speak to people's hearts.

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January 2006

2005

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Sunday, February 19, 2006

Service: Evangelism & the Father's Heart

Since my return from California in January, I've not had any problem knowing what to preach on Sundays; it's been very clear. This Sunday, the night before the beginning of our outreach week, I was talking about evangelism and the Father's heart of compassion for the lost.

Like always, only the core team was there at 4 pm when the service starts; yet by the time the service is over, a lot more are present. These past few weeks we've been growing in number - Myclair, Jean and Samba some of the new members. And tonight, at the end of the service, a young man by the name of Hassim came up to me because he wanted to become a Christian. He hadn't even been in the service!!! This is not the first time someone comes wanting to become a Christian, and I always ask them why, and what a Christian is. Like always, he had no clue, so we sat down and I presented the gospel to him. It was as if the light came on, and he still wanted to become a child of God. Since he doesn't speak French, and his Bambara is poor as well, his friend Jean (our new church member) who brought him, translated into Dogon - I prayed in French, Paul translated into Bambara, Jean into Dogon, and Hassim repeated the prayer in Dogon. Praise God for a new member of the family! Since Hassim (and neither his friend Jean) can't read or write, I gave him one of the mp3-players with the word of God on it to listen to.

But back to the service. As always, we had a fun time praising God in Bambara, before I did the worshipful second half in French. And as always, I asked the Lord to take over and speak through me, and as always, He answered my prayer. The Lord imparted His heart of compassion for the lost, convicting of not going out, not sharing the good news. In the end, I asked those who wanted to receive the Lord's heart for the lost to come forward; five came, and we went before the Lord together, giving Him permission to break our hearts for our family, our friends, our neighbor, our country. I also went around praying for them. I didn't see any tears or signs of the Lord breaking their hearts, but may they truly have HIS heart for the lost at all times.

Myclair was the only one signing up to go evangelize this week, besides Simeon and myself. Paul is at school and can't join us, and Marie still attends some classes. Seybou and Sekouba will probably also join us some time.

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January 2006

2005

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Saturday, February 18, 2006

(Our 2nd ever) Prayer Night

Awesome!

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January 2006

2005

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Wednesday, February 15, 2006

The Warfare Increases

There is a lot of opposition right now, a lot of warfare going on in the invisible realm.

The car is already ours, yet we're not allowed to drive it, and that day now seems farther than it has in a long time. Why? Because we need to pay another $2000 for the license plates (customs) or become an NGO, which would be another process of several months and not necessarily desirable.

Well, there isn't any money.

Nothing's going on with our land either. The pastor whose help has been invaluable does not have the time to go there with me (again), after having gone several times in vain.

Simeon is in a very bad spot of depression and tangible attacks by demons, including insomnia, and barely surviving.

I could say more, but won't.

Next week, we're having a week of outreach.

I just designed our new church logo, according to what I saw in my spirit a few days ago:

Do you like it?

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January 2006

2005

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Monday, February 13, 2006

Spiritual Warfare Causing Obstacles

These past few days we've seen some warfare on several fronts. With the car we've already paid - more bureaucratic hurdles have come up, so we don't get license plates yet. It will take another week at least, if we get the paper we need.

And with our property-to-be, I keep going there, with another pastor who's a great help, and we keep getting nowhere, going there in vain, not accomplishing anything.

Simeon is having a hard time again, being tormented, and the list could go on.

Please support us in prayer for God's will to be done, His kingdom to be ADVANCED!

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January 2006

2005

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Saturday, February 11, 2006

Saturday Night Prayer

Finally another blog! Life's just been so crazy since my return from the US! So much to do!

Tonight we had another wonderful prayer meeting, with our precious Lord. There were Simeon, Paul, Marie, Seybou and Sekouba. When I started leading worship, I could sense the heart of God, and my own heart's hunger for HIM. HE was the one guiding the worship, with prophetic singing. It was so precious! When we then put in the video to watch, I was amazed at the speaker saying some of the sings I had expressed during worship! Truly, God had been the one leading.

So, I put in a video from our sister church in Paris, from when they had a guest speaker in January. It was entitled RIVER OF FIRE. It was a great message, with a time of worship at the end. We all stood up as well, engaging with God and praying. The speaker had certainly created hunger for more of God. After some time of each of us "alone with God", I started ministering to them. There was only Simeon and Paul left, and Sekouba was asleep on the floor (since he doesn't speak French, he tends to fall asleep during videos). I started praying for Paul, and suddenly the power of God "hit" him, in a pretty sudden way. I prayed for him further for some time, before going on to Simeon. Simeon knelt down in the first place. There was a strong anointing of the Father's love - something they both/all need desperately. After Simeon, I even went to pray for the (sleeping) Sekouba.

When the video was over, I picked up my guitar and ministered with (prophetic) singing for some time. It was after 10 when we brought it to a close (having started at 6 pm).