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KIDS' EASTER PARTY ON OUR BASE

On Easter Sunday we put on our Easter Party for children. As they knew we didn't have shoes to distribute, not as many kids came. However, we were able to buy hundreds of pieces of clothing, and the kids were very happy about the clothes they received.

As every child coming through our doors receives a number (for the gift) and candy, we know that 1437 children came through our gates. First, Paul played a few games with them, then they went inside where they did a few praise songs for Jesus. Then Paul explained the gospel from beginning to end, followed by a Q&A time to see if the kids had listened. In the end, he prayed a prayer to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior with them all.

It was time for the gift distribution. They laid out the clothes all over the floor of our hall, and put the drinks in one corner so that those who didn't get any clothes would at least get a drink. Then they came in with their numbers to pick out a piece of clothing and left our base very happy.

More children had gathered at our gates, especially after finding out about the clothes, so Paul went outside and preached the gospel to them as well.

      

 

EASTER IN THE VILLAGES

On Easter Monday Paul arrived at the village of Dara at 5:45 am, when it was still dark. He was surprised to see that a group of women and children had spent the night in front of the school in anticipation of the shoe distribution. For many of the children in Dara, it's the only time of year they get shoes. Paul and his team started laying out the shoes we had brought, while more and more people gathered outside and lined up to come in to pick out a pair of shoes. Once everything was ready inside, Paul went outside and preached the gospel to them, then prayed a prayer of commitment with them all. Then they came inside one after another to pick out shoes. Over 1300 pairs were distributed. Once they were gone, we had to buy another 570 drinks so the rest of them didn't have to go home empty-handed.

     

We have now done many shoe distributions in Dara, where there is a big number of Christians by now. The local government let us know that they will give us a certificate of recognition for all that we have done for the village. That is really a big deal! A big thank you to all of you who have given and prayed, and especially the German NGO CCARA who has financed most of the shoes given out.

     

Today Paul is in the village of Darala. Thanks to your donations, we were able to buy another few hundred pairs of shoes to distribute there. That is especially significant as they're visited by government officials today, and the village elders want them to see what we are doing for their village.

 

MIRACULOUS HEALINGS & SALVATIONS

This is Aichata. Her husband was the tresorer of the general assembly of the government and helped our neighbors against us, causing us a lot of trouble in the past. When the current president overthrew the government a few years ago, her husband was sent to prison, together with many officials of the previous government. After he was sent to jail, Aichata got very sick. She couldn't do anything, couldn't walk or talk any more. She tried to go to France to be treated but the Malian authorities wouldn't let her leave the country. She then had a dream that woke her up. Then she had a vision of Jesus who told her that she had to come to Him to be healed and saved. She told Jesus that she couldn't talk, and He then opened her mouth. Aichata told her children to call Paul who then prayed for her for several days. Today she is completely healed and a follower of Jesus and member of our church in Bamako.

A few years ago we did our first shoe distribution in Darala and a church was started. In the past few years the number of Christians has been steadily increasing which has greatly bothered the Muslims who decided it was time to get an imam for the little mosque in the village. A pakistani organisation then sent a marabout and imam to Darala to counter the increase of Christians. His wife was so curious about Christianity that she secretely started attending our church meetings and soon became a believer in Jesus. The local church then started praying for her first-born Souleymane (picture) who was meant to be the imam's successor. 14 years ago he became paralyzed and could not walk or talk any more. For 12 months the local church prayed for him to be healed without ever laying hands on him. And then it happened. He started speaking and walking again and is now largely healed. He has also become a believer in Jesus.

Today the imam knows that his wife and son have become Christians and would like to take the same step. However, he's paid by the pakistani organization and does not know how to proceed. He's asking us to pray for wisdom for him.