While last week was focused on finances, this week it is school!  Last week BCA hosted an auditor and we gained a few more rules so that accounting can go better.  On a personal side, our African director also came through, and delayed the minimum support increase date to April 30.  Of the current $1500 per month required, $166.66 has already come in.  At this rate, we would be allowed to stay.  Keep praying

Mohammed's birthday celebration gives us a long week-end.  Most of my time will be spent preparing for the school trip to Mana. Eighteen students and 7 chaperones head out for a 2 night/3 day excursion in the desert.  Last year we lost a student for over an hour, so I'm definitely praying that doesn't happen again.  Spiritual retreat and outdoor education will be added to roasting hot dogs and sleeping outside.  (The chaperones get the limited beds, and I don't go without the benefit of indoor plumbing.)  By leaving time on Friday we will have returned to school so the kids can go home early, while the teachers stay to join the elementary staff write curriculum for another couple of hours.  Benefits of air conditioning may just put us to sleep instead. 

 

I ask our Heavenly Father to put me on the minds of those who have been praying for me to pray for me yesterday and today. I needed to open a bank account here. One of the documents that I needed is obtained from a police station. It is a long story but, I went to a police station where I had a contact through someone I have known for the last three and one-half years. This friend of mine and I went to that police station yesterday but that officer was not there.   I went again to this police station this afternoon and in less than 15 minutes I was walking out of that police station with a signed, stamped, and valid document. I went to the bank, signed the forms, and later this afternoon Eliz and I went to the Bank, and she signed the forms so that either one of us can sign checks.  The people at the bank who helped us were professional and kind.   What an answer to prayer to have this bank account opened before I start teaching in four days.  I will not have time for these kinds of time consuming details.  I recognize that God was very gracious to me today.

      Perhaps you have read or heard of corruption in developing countries.  Actually there is corruption in every country and the United States is experiencing more and more as pagans and some of those who claim to be Christians disobey the Bible, i.e., what God has instructed His created people to be and how to live.  There is some corruption where I am living but it is not total.  There are some people in authority that are corrupt but  I have met and dealt with some people in authority who were very professional, honest, just  and were instruments  of God's grace in my life.  I met three police officers today who were professional, honest and just in their dealings with me.  I need to pray for these and others I have met here because of the pressure they face every day.  I remember seeing this kind of pressure when we lived in Cote d'Ivoire. 

             Once again, I am reminded of the sovereignty of God and that He does His work through people.  He could have chosen to work through angles, but He has chosen to work using people that He created.  Some of these people He uses know Him and some do not yet know Him, and some refuse to know Him, but He still works His will through them.  As I was reminded by my pastor in my home town this past December, God moved an emperor to call for a census so that God's Son would be born in Bethlehem.  As my pastor reminded us, that passage in Luke starts out with the emperor of Rome and then moves to the focus of Joseph and Mary and then moves to the focus and spotlight of the birth of His son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  As God moved an emperor, He met the needs of His obedient servants, Joseph and Mary, to have His word fulfilled by having His Son take a human body, being born,  so that He could die for the sins of every man, woman, and child. All these events were examples of God's sovereignty and grace in action.  Today I was again reminded of How God is at work to accomplish His purposes and meets the needs of His obedient servants.  This officer that he used to help me obtain this important document crossed the path of my wife four years ago. I was not aware of this past connection but this officer did not forget this past connection, even thought this officer was now in a different location.  Amazing how God works.  Speaking of God working, our day started by friends taking us out to a small restaurant for breakfast, which was also sufficient to be our lunch.

For you who have been praying for us, thank you for praying. Join us in thanking God for His gracious work in our behalf by the people He used to be His instruments of grace in our lives.- Timothy

Our unpacking days coming to an end, but the unpacking hasn't.  Eliz has spent more days than not at school, trying be organized to completely take over administration by next Monday.  She is so gratefulfor the people who have been working at the school, both those who will soon be leaving and those who will finish the year.  Timothy's time is spent fixing broke items as stove, washer, vehicle . .. and getting a bank account now that Mali has no field treasurer.  The kids are finishing up their first semester courses, but didn't get the down time they wanted.  It looks like some course will need to be finished after this next semester at BCA starts. Praise the Lord there is still a week-end coming and Tuesday of next week is a Malian holiday!  Where are the snow storms in Africa when you need them.

 

 

Thursday, the upper level students traveled to the deaf school close to our school instead of having their own chapel service.  Songs, games, pantomines and gifts were presented to these students who waved their hands in the air - their sign for clapping.  Although this might not sound like much, it is a start of encouraging our students to use their talents to reach out to others.  Next year, we plan to expand this ministry for the students.

With just 6 weeks of school left,much can be done before furlough.  Student ministries overnight has run into a snag as an available week-end isn't available any more.  Tomorrow should have been it. 

As for the administrator, I'm working on evaluations, book orders, school supplies, handbook for the interium administrator, and the Middle States Accreditation reports, as well as the school board and association needs.  Oh yes, I still teach my 5 classes.  Every day I get more amazed at God and the way He planned this so that so many of my classes are doing the same type of  math at the same time.

Family?  Well, we all need to wade through our collection of "stuff" and get it down to a packable amount.  We trust to have 3 single staff in our house while we are gone. 

Please pray for the need of teachers - I need at least 4 more.  Three elementary and one social studies/Bible teacher.  I'd also like to find a college age student who would like to take a year off to be with us. PE is on top of the list of what do to, as well as manage recess, and help as needed. 

 

 

Quiet halls only last until the girls or boys loose their red paper hearts.  Normally, some have lost them prior to school starting.  The tradition is gaining momentum as we trade days from girls not talking to boys to boys not talking to girls without loosing their hearts for the occasion. By break, most students had acquired some form of food and a balloon from some valentine and Erica, in charge of the honey grams, needed a shower.  School life will return to studying and tests, but not for today.

Life has returned to myself, and hopefully, my family, as the teachers are all here, functioning well in their classrooms.  MSA application papers were sent off the last day of January.  School board met, new copier works just fine, new computers ordered and the budget is being met.  God is good, all the time.   -- Eliz

By the time you read this both of BCA's new teachers should have their feet on Mali soil.  One arrived last week and is in the 3rd/4th grade classroom.  The math teacher arrives this evening and I'm hoping will be in the classroom by next Thursday.

Flu hit last week, giving both Timothy and Eliz breaks from high school classes - as there were no well students.  Danielle was among those out.  It is a 4 day illness, so we are praying the adults don't get it.

Grades come out in 3 days, and then it is accreditation paper dues time.  Never a dull moment!

Eight days into the school year, the last teacher arrived to her classes.  The electrical fuse boxes were rewired over the week-end and life just continues to get better.  God has provided for the health of our janitor, the a/c's are all clean and Eliz actually has some free time to read to the kids at home.  Timothy will continue to find other jobs, like the plugged bathroom sink, so he has yet to stop from all the summer activities.  Thanks for your prayers.  God has even send some nice cool days while the a/c's were down at school.  God is good, all the time.