Psalm 96:10
"Say among the nations, the Lord reigns"
We have finished the job and this leg of the race set before us. We were surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (YOU) walking the African plains with us in prayer. (Heb 12:1)
"By faith Abraham went ... not knowing where he was going."
Although we had seen a map of the Shinyanga region, and had some idea of the direction - two weeks ago we did not know where or why the Lord would take us to such a place, but by faith we went. (Heb:11:8)
We did not raise all the money needed for the trip or the costs of the Bibles, but like the commercial says "for everything else there is Mastercard." (Phil 4:10-19)
And as far as the "priceless" things we witnessed:
Katome villagers who have practiced sacrificial killing of elderly women - holding their first Bibles (Heb 4:12-13)
Those same villagers standing and reading the Word of God out loud with pride and honor at the gift they have been given (Eph 5:19-20)
Two Muslim men in the village asking for a Bible school and a church to be built to teach the children the "light". (John 1:4)
The tribal leader taking copious notes for one of the victims accused of witchcraft (because she is illiterate) so her daughter can read them to her and teach her whole family (Deut 6:7)
Village women bringing in a "thanksgiving" offering of peanuts and 5 gallons of honey for us to enjoy the sweet, savor and remember we "tasted" the Lord was good to us in every way (2 Cor 8:2-5)
Villagers and women in attendance at the conference in Mwanza chanting the same song "Unity" reminding us we are ONE in the body of Christ and when one suffers we all suffer! (1 Cor 12:26-27)
Naama, the late Bishop's widow who traveled with us transform from a bereaved woman who had not left her house in 9 months, to one filled with joy and new purpose speaking out to the villagers and the women of her husband's church showing strength that clearly came from God (Psalm 30:11-12)
The driver Exhoud, (whose pig had just had a litter that we were able to purchase two piglets from to help the Bishop's widow) agree to the task at Debi's exhortation to teach the young son how to raise the pigs and help his family (James 1:27)
Rev Sabina Lumwe, on the last day stand for women's rights in the Diocese in speaking with the Associate Bishop on the work women CAN do and are often the only one's willing to do (using us as an example of two years of prayer) (James 2:22-23)
Mama Shangwe, whose significant role in the region does not keep her from humbly serving as her church secretary or an escort and agent to 4 sometimes "needy" American women (Eph 6:7)
And my three team members who laughed through the long and dusty roads of Africa, uttered not one complaint after two meals a day of rice and beans, shivered under cold showers or NO showers, used handy wipes as a luxury item, wiped each others feet off at the end of a long battle filled day, and prayed the strongholds of the enemy down! (Eph 6:12-13)
These things ARE priceless. However you have participated in this LIFE SAVING and LIFE GIVING mission - may God bless you. 2 Cor 9:6-15
"The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice." Psalm 97:1
From the home shores of American - I can still hear the echoes "rising from the African plains". The sound of the redeemed!
Smiling - still praising
We have finished the job and this leg of the race set before us. We were surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (YOU) walking the African plains with us in prayer. (Heb 12:1)
"By faith Abraham went ... not knowing where he was going."
Although we had seen a map of the Shinyanga region, and had some idea of the direction - two weeks ago we did not know where or why the Lord would take us to such a place, but by faith we went. (Heb:11:8)
We did not raise all the money needed for the trip or the costs of the Bibles, but like the commercial says "for everything else there is Mastercard." (Phil 4:10-19)
And as far as the "priceless" things we witnessed:
Katome villagers who have practiced sacrificial killing of elderly women - holding their first Bibles (Heb 4:12-13)
Those same villagers standing and reading the Word of God out loud with pride and honor at the gift they have been given (Eph 5:19-20)
Two Muslim men in the village asking for a Bible school and a church to be built to teach the children the "light". (John 1:4)
The tribal leader taking copious notes for one of the victims accused of witchcraft (because she is illiterate) so her daughter can read them to her and teach her whole family (Deut 6:7)
Village women bringing in a "thanksgiving" offering of peanuts and 5 gallons of honey for us to enjoy the sweet, savor and remember we "tasted" the Lord was good to us in every way (2 Cor 8:2-5)
Villagers and women in attendance at the conference in Mwanza chanting the same song "Unity" reminding us we are ONE in the body of Christ and when one suffers we all suffer! (1 Cor 12:26-27)
Naama, the late Bishop's widow who traveled with us transform from a bereaved woman who had not left her house in 9 months, to one filled with joy and new purpose speaking out to the villagers and the women of her husband's church showing strength that clearly came from God (Psalm 30:11-12)
The driver Exhoud, (whose pig had just had a litter that we were able to purchase two piglets from to help the Bishop's widow) agree to the task at Debi's exhortation to teach the young son how to raise the pigs and help his family (James 1:27)
Rev Sabina Lumwe, on the last day stand for women's rights in the Diocese in speaking with the Associate Bishop on the work women CAN do and are often the only one's willing to do (using us as an example of two years of prayer) (James 2:22-23)
Mama Shangwe, whose significant role in the region does not keep her from humbly serving as her church secretary or an escort and agent to 4 sometimes "needy" American women (Eph 6:7)
And my three team members who laughed through the long and dusty roads of Africa, uttered not one complaint after two meals a day of rice and beans, shivered under cold showers or NO showers, used handy wipes as a luxury item, wiped each others feet off at the end of a long battle filled day, and prayed the strongholds of the enemy down! (Eph 6:12-13)
These things ARE priceless. However you have participated in this LIFE SAVING and LIFE GIVING mission - may God bless you. 2 Cor 9:6-15
"The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice." Psalm 97:1
From the home shores of American - I can still hear the echoes "rising from the African plains". The sound of the redeemed!
Smiling - still praising
