January 1, 2012. The day has dawned cool and glorious here in Mali. Last night there was noise and celebration,with firecrackers and rockets shot into the night sky as midnight approached. Here at the H2tNi base we celebrated with games and prayer, goals setting for the new year after review of goals set last New Year's eve. There were about 2 dozen boys and young men. a few of us ladies and one little girl gathered together in our large multi-purpose hall. Christian Spindler, Eva Durst and Mattias deMink, 3 young Austrians who served here in the past year and have traveled back for Paul's wedding were also with us.
The evening started with our customary 'family meeting' at 8pm. Then began a slide show of pictures from the last year. Claudia has done a good job of getting pictures of everybody included in that selection: resident kids and some street kids, staff , Paul and Rokia, Anthony Turner, who was our guest speaker for the 7th Anniversary (you would have been gratified, Pastor Anthony, to hear the murmer of warm remembrance that your pictures brought from our residents and the street boys alike), Austrian and American helpers. It is always fun to sit in a group and see pictures of good shared memories.
Games were 'youth group' types, circle competitions of dexterity and attention, which needed no props. Arms crossed and hands palm down on the floor complicate the required slap slap of left-right or the reverse right-left, and little ones were elimnated quickly. They didn't seem to mind as a cookie from the leftover Christmas cookie stash was given to each one that lost out..I manned the camera this evening and even finagled one for myself. Yummy! :))
As the midnight hour approached, Claudia got out the letters that our boys had written to themselves last New Years Eve, listing goals and desires to be accomplished in 2011. After they looked them over, she asked who had goals that they had achieved, and got some varied responses. Slips of paper were given out and they wrote goals to strive for in 2012. Rather a neat variation on the resolutions we often plan and then forget about. Thanksgivings and prayer followed as we stood for the countdown--then the noise!Some of the street boys were ready for bed before the midnight hour struck, and some had already dozed on benches. Except for a few of the older ones who had gone off base to celebrate, things were well settled before long into the new year.
Ray and I took the opportunity to make our first skype-call of the new year to my sister in Harrisburg and wish her a Happy New Year 5 hours before they got to it. Then we saw that friends at Roxbury were on-line and skyped with them for awhile as well.
Amazing the wonders of comunications technology-- and then I was reminded again this morning ('wouldn't you like to link your cell phone to your google-facebook-skype accounts so you can have another way to recoup if you are hacked or forget your password?") of Gods prophesies to us about the end of time, when knowledge would increase explosively, and mens hearts would faint for fear. I often ponder on the networking that we are subscribing to -for our convenience, NOW, and wondering what it will lead to or be used for in the future. I am so glad that HE, gracious God, our loving Father, is in charge and ever will be, else MY heart might freeze in fear of the prospects.
We are looking for Jesus' return to earth in power & glory-perhaps in 2012- and desiring that all who we know will look forward to that event in joyful expectation as well. If you do not know God's great gift to all the world - JESUS- as your saviour and Lord, find someone who can introduce you to Him. You will never be sorry that you did.
We would love to make the introduction if you have no one closer. raymimheisey@gmail.com
Wishing you a New Year of blessing, spiritually first and foremost, but also physically, financially and in all of your living.
Til Christ returns or we see you again, Be Blessed and be a Blessing.
miminmali
