The dust has settled--but changed hearts remain.

The dust has settled.  The tents have been taken down. The crowds and Pastor Anthony have gone home. But there have been lasting changes in the lives of our boys -- and of us!  


Pastor Anthony prayed into each of our boys while he was here, many of them more than once.  He spoke truth and life into their spirits and their futures. Last night we heard testimony during family-meeting of the changes and the impact that they, themselves, are aware of in that impartation.
 One of the powerful things that Claudia has instituted here on the base is the daily Bible reading and then, out of that, the kids are to memorize a verse each day. First thing in the morning, they sit down together for devotions in their family-room. They listen to a chapter (or 2 or 3) of scripture and some explanation of it, and then thru-out the day are to memorize a verse from that portion that has importance to them.  Claudia has recorded many of these passages and a commentary on them in French and  translated into Bambanakan, and put them on their computer. If the computer does not work for some reason, one of the older boys reads the passage out of their Bamanakan Bible. Several of the boys can read, and you will see them carrying their Bibles as they memorize their verse. One of the older boys has the task of helping the 3 little ones (Sarata, Bakary and Yousseff) choose and learn their verse as part of his daily chore that week. 
 Family-meeting is held each evening at 8:00pm. Most nights we start in the Dining Hall with the street boys. Everyone is expected to be there, including the older ones who live and work here, unless there is a good excuse (like night school for 3 boys on weeknights, or 'Messiah' Choir practice on Wednesdays for us).  A Bible story is read in French and then translated into Bambanakan by Paul, who then asks questions from it to the street boys, with back-up help from our resident kids if no correct answer is forthcoming. Of course to see the waving hands, the snapping fingers and the frantic calls of “ne!, ne!” to draw Paul's attention, it does not sound like it is back-up help.
 After Hawa or Paul pray a goodnight prayer over these boys, we adjourn to the family-room for  our family-meeting.  Chore completion is noted on the chart. Instructions for upcoming events may be given. Then the boys are called on to recite their Bible verse of the day, and the 25cfa reward is marked on the chart inside Hawa's door, along with their pay for completed chores.  The verse they choose is entirely up to each one to select, as long as it is of some significance [not verse 'X' that says: “and when the whole crowd had gathered together and was seated, he said to them.”--where the following verse has the teaching that Jesus gave.{:'))], and it must be different from what the others are memorizing.  Sometimes the boys will do more than 1 verse, and are rewarded with an extra 10 or 25cfa  if that is done well.  
 You Bible Quizzers will love this: There is also usually a energetic round of Bible quizzing- 5 or 6 questions that are read from a card (like a Bible Trivia game card) that the boys vie to answer.  Again, there is a small reward for a correct answer(10cfa), but a corresponding subtraction for a wrong answer, so hands sometimes go up and then are retracted.  “Now, who's hand went up first?”
 Last night, since Pastor Anthony was leaving, we had a special time of sharing.  Claudia asked the boys if they wanted to say anything to him before he left.  This is a time that we have experienced before when one of the short term volunteers has been preparing to go home, and the boys are given an opportunity to say thanks and express their appreciation for what they have received.  Tonight's comments seemed deeper and more poignant than some other times. 
 I was especially moved by Flo's comments.   Flo, our resident comic and all-round clown, started by saying “I am not joking around when I say this.  Some things are different on the inside because of Pastor Anthony's prayers.  When you prayed over me, some things on the inside stopped! It is different inside me now. Thank you for coming.”  Many of the comments were poignant.  Several spoke of the way that he came among us with humility, not holding himself aloof or setting himself above them.  He accepted them as his children, and they felt that. They noticed that he sat (or knelt :)) and ate with us, and did not consider their food beneath him. That was powerful as well.
 After all of the children gave their comments, Fanta asked to say something, too, and spoke of his eating the food she prepared and coming among us with humility.  Claudia asked Ray & I if we had anything to say, and since we had just spent a little time with him over coffee and had thanked him for what he contributed to us in these days, we didn't say much there.  Julie did ask to speak, and with tears in her eyes and in her voice, she thanked him for imparting into her, but also, and especially, thanked him for what he has prayed and imparted to these boys who have become very dear to her. She is seeing it making a difference, and God has tenderized her heart to receive and be thankful.
Thank you, Pastor Anthony, for your gift of yourself to us in these days.  Thanks to those of you at home who have released him and thru your support, made it possible for him to come. May you share in this prophet's reward.  Thank you all.
We will be blessed for weeks and months to come, and will endeavor to bless others with the blessing that we ourselves have received.
Mim in Mali