Greetings from Africa

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He Points Toward Heaven

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Women with yellow water buckets are lined up at the corner waiting for their turn.  Some know it is going to be a wait.  They rest by using their bucket as a stool.  Here in Kawangware there is a water shortage.  The lack of rain has put another challenge, another hardship, on the people here.  Water trucks no longer come everyday of the week.  Now because of the lack of water the trucks only come two days a week.  The price of water has doubled from 5 ksh to 10 ksh per bucket.  Prices are rising making life here extremely difficult.  A 2 kilo bag of uga or corn meal used to make ugali, which is their main meal, has jumped in price from 45 ksh to 100 ksh.  There are so many in need.  So many hurting people.

 

Thirty nine pair of eyes looked on with anticipation of the next word that would leave my mouth.  The neighboring church didn't have anything for their children today so everyone was waiting with eagerness for the lesson to begin.  Samson was the topic of today's lesson.

 

Shem joined us in the afternoon.  He wanted more prayer.  He has seen an answer to prayer in his own life.  Last time we prayed together we asked that God would bless him with work.  Today he tells us with excitement in his eyes that he has a new job.  Then he points toward heaven J  

 

We also had a young man come in after the service. This young man was not in church but close enough to hear the sermon.  With a big speaker mounted on the outside of the church the service echoes through out the area.  In the afternoon he came into the church to ask more questions about what he had heard.  Before he left Daniel asked Jesus into his heart.  He plans on coming back next Sunday.

 

A while ago we prayed for a woman who has been troubled with stomach pain which hindered her from eating regular foods.  The doctor told her she needed surgery.  Since we prayed she has not had any pain. She is eating normally with out complications.  The doctor has repeated some tests on her and verifies that the problem is gone.  She doesn't need surgery.  The Lord has healed her.

 

Psalm 5:3

In the morning , oh Lord, you hear my voice;

In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Those Who Sit In Darkness

Saturday, January 31, 2009 – Kawangware

Ninety two pastors filled the church today as they had a day of learning and enjoying the company of each other.  Pastors here are being encouraged to try to start their own business.  This will benefit their families, the church and the community. Their success will be an example to many that it can be done.

 

Sunday, February 1, 2009 – Kawangware

The Salvation Army marched ahead of us today as we walked to church. Dressed in white they marched in step with the beat of the drums. Some proudly waved flags above their heads. 

 

A woman with a big smile stopped us along the way.  It was the hairdresser we had prayed for.  When we prayed for her she was resting on the floor of her shop. She did not have the strength to stand and work. There isn't any sign of sickness now.  She is energetic, happy and full of joy. She thanks us for taking the time to pray for her.  She knows it is the Lord Jesus that touched her and healed her.

 

We move benches outside for the children's time.  There is a group of children being taught out side a neighboring church.  Their eyes, followed by smiles, watch me as I get ready.  When they say their last "amen" there is an immediate "rush" to the benches in our corner.  A total of 32 children sat with us today as we talked about Moses.

 

We had a powerful service today. At the end of the service two people ask Jesus into their heart.  Sunday service starts with prayer at 8 am and ends with prayer from 6 -8 pm.  After the main service is over there are group meetings, visiting and teaching classes.  Children from the area come and go freely.  Sometimes we have a little squabble to see who is going to sit the closest to me.  My skin is rubbed to see what is underneath. My hair is touched over and over again.  The veins in my hands are examined.  If I stand and walk I have about 20 that stand and walk with me.  My hands and arms carry many little hands with them.  My skirt is held onto by the little ones. Now and then they will be told by someone to give me a rest. These little ones are the next churchJ

 

As we are sitting inside we often hear the beating of drums.  Today the drums are loud. We realize something is very different as we hear the drums coming our way.  As they near our door we all go to see what is happening.  Men dressed in white robes and women in white dresses are carrying flags of white, green & red. Women are dancing. They have marched through the roads to the door of our church. They turn and then settle in the road out front.  There are probably 200 or so people in this group.  They usually worship in a completely closed and darkened room but today they are meeting in the road.  One man runs wildly up and down the road beating his drum to scare away the evil spirits.  There are so many in need of the truth.  So many are bound by darkness.

 

Isaiah 42 : 6 & 7

 

I the Lord, have called you in righteousness; 

I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you

and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 

to open the eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison,

and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.