As I grow older it seems that my eyes are not as good as they used to be. I can't run in the predawn darkness like I did ten years ago because I just can't see the potholes anymore. (Not to mention that I am completely out of shape.) The dark I referred to is physical darkness. The absence of light.
Africa just seems to steal the light. Ask any newcomer to this continent about driving at night and they will insist that car headlights here are not as powerful as they are elsewhere. Unless of course they are aimed directly in your eyes. Then they are too bright!
So my question now is, "Is it getting darker or is it just not as light?" This is a spiritual question not a physical one. Here is what I mean.
Jesus told us "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Mt.5:14-16
So many of us come here from the western world and forget that we are to bring light. We are to chase the darkness away not make it darker. How do we "lights of the world" fail to do this? We live like the world does.
When we come to a different culture we have to respect that culture's values except where those values conflict with the Bible. An example from here is drinking alcohol. Born again Christians are not allowed to drink. It just is not accepted here. It may be fine in Germany, England, USA or elsewhere but it is not here. When we do this, people see good works as bad works and the light turns to darkness.
Our style of dress can be the thing that steals our light. If a girl's clothing shows an overabundance of skin on the legs or chest even though it might be considered modest, stateside, no one will listen to her no matter how well she shares the gospel or glorifies God in other areas of her life.
Obscene language is just as obscene here as there so leave it there or the darkness starts to encroach.
But just as the car headlights in you eyes make it impossible to see, so our light can do the same to those in the dark. Public displays of affection are not approved here. The President said last week that if he kissed his wife in public he would never win an election.
But we western Christians come and kiss in public and put hands where they don't belong and wonder why no one takes us seriously when we teach on sexual immorality. Our "enlightened" light then blinds those around us.
Homosexuality is a case in point. The western governments are trying to force Africa to accept and ultimately embrace homosexuality. This is not just culturally wrong it is biblically wrong. The light goes completely out when we make the biblical error as well as the cultural error. Our western view of tolerance has made too many lights for Christ become dim and the darkness will fast overtake the light if we don't live in the light.
Then Jesus said to them,"A little while longer the light is with you.Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going, While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."
Is it getting darker or is it just not as light?
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
What Defines Us?
I was talking with a dear brother in Christ this week and our conversation ended up with a question. Where do we find our identity? What makes me, me? Unique to myself but still connected to the rest of mankind.
One person might answer "I find myself in what I feel." The problem with this thought is that emotions and feelings are tricky things that can change like the weather. If I only find myself whenever I "feel" alive then my life would only be a series of emotional highs and lows and at the very bottom I may wish to give it all up. There is no guarantee that I'll ever have another emotional high so I might want to quit while I am ahead. Go out on top! But then life would be something of a high stakes craps game. But like the dice game, either a pair of ones, the lowest, or a pair of sixes, the highest, still put you out of the game. That forces us to live to the most average median number or emotional state. Hardly how we want to be defined, Mr. Average.
Another man might say that what defines me is my work. Western men in general define themselves this way. I'm Bob-accountant. Phil-mechanic. Larry-cook. If our passion is our work, it starts well but when you cannot do what defines you anymore then why go on living. This is why so many men soon die after their retirement. They are totally lost without the definition of worth that work gives them.
Still others find their definition in relationships. Marriage can bring definition. Bev and I once took a trip to Kenya and since she booked everything the name was under Beverly. So everyone we met called me Mr. Beaverly. That name stuck with me for five years! I don't mind being connected with my wife and I hope she feels the same. But will we only be described as, "He's the guy that has the great wife." "She's the one who has that quiet husband."
Some find their definition in their physical ability, what I can do. I am a runner, a tennis player, a cripple, a Parkinson's patient or whatever else ails us. Too often we end up here. Defining our existence by the strength and abilities of our bodies. When we do this, degenerative diseases or cancer or whatever else we face becomes our label. It is constant struggle for me not to define myself by my disease. I am more than that.
Some insist it is their reputation that defines them. How others see them. Sin or righteousness that will define us. "He is such an evil man." Or "Such a good man." This too has its drawbacks as the good man or evil man will often be labeled according to his latest act. Good or evil. By what standard do we measure it. Who of us is objective enough to apply the standard of good or evil, in a fair and timely manner?
Is it our sin that defines us? Is it our drunkenness, our uncontrolled tongue. Is it our sexual immorality, whether heterosexual or homosexual, that says who we are? We must be more than the things that hold us in bondage.
Of all the ways we can find ourselves the only true way is in Jesus Christ. Our relationship with God through His son Jesus is the only accurate definition we will ever have of ourselves. That is because of God's unchanging nature. The best definition we can have is "child of God". And we define ourselves not with pride
but true humility.
When we allow our lives to be defined by Jesus we now find our true worth. Ephesians 1:5 says we are adopted sons of Jesus, or through Jesus adopted as sons of God the Father. Here is where I am really defined. And this should be what is said about all of us. we are holy and blameless; redeemed by His blood; our sins forgiven, having wisdom and understanding, together with God under heaven.
Now what defines me will not change. The immutable God has put His definition on me by means of His true son, Jesus. I am predestined to bring God glory. That is His will for my life and all men's lives. Living to know our Creator, our Savior, our God. Living to show Him holy, full of grace and love. Patient and abounding in love.
What defines me? Not what I feel, not what I do, not who I married. My true definition is I am me because God loves me. What makes me, me is Jesus Christ in me. Any other answer misses God's purpose for why we were created. Find yourself today!
One person might answer "I find myself in what I feel." The problem with this thought is that emotions and feelings are tricky things that can change like the weather. If I only find myself whenever I "feel" alive then my life would only be a series of emotional highs and lows and at the very bottom I may wish to give it all up. There is no guarantee that I'll ever have another emotional high so I might want to quit while I am ahead. Go out on top! But then life would be something of a high stakes craps game. But like the dice game, either a pair of ones, the lowest, or a pair of sixes, the highest, still put you out of the game. That forces us to live to the most average median number or emotional state. Hardly how we want to be defined, Mr. Average.
Another man might say that what defines me is my work. Western men in general define themselves this way. I'm Bob-accountant. Phil-mechanic. Larry-cook. If our passion is our work, it starts well but when you cannot do what defines you anymore then why go on living. This is why so many men soon die after their retirement. They are totally lost without the definition of worth that work gives them.
Still others find their definition in relationships. Marriage can bring definition. Bev and I once took a trip to Kenya and since she booked everything the name was under Beverly. So everyone we met called me Mr. Beaverly. That name stuck with me for five years! I don't mind being connected with my wife and I hope she feels the same. But will we only be described as, "He's the guy that has the great wife." "She's the one who has that quiet husband."
Some find their definition in their physical ability, what I can do. I am a runner, a tennis player, a cripple, a Parkinson's patient or whatever else ails us. Too often we end up here. Defining our existence by the strength and abilities of our bodies. When we do this, degenerative diseases or cancer or whatever else we face becomes our label. It is constant struggle for me not to define myself by my disease. I am more than that.
Some insist it is their reputation that defines them. How others see them. Sin or righteousness that will define us. "He is such an evil man." Or "Such a good man." This too has its drawbacks as the good man or evil man will often be labeled according to his latest act. Good or evil. By what standard do we measure it. Who of us is objective enough to apply the standard of good or evil, in a fair and timely manner?
Is it our sin that defines us? Is it our drunkenness, our uncontrolled tongue. Is it our sexual immorality, whether heterosexual or homosexual, that says who we are? We must be more than the things that hold us in bondage.
Of all the ways we can find ourselves the only true way is in Jesus Christ. Our relationship with God through His son Jesus is the only accurate definition we will ever have of ourselves. That is because of God's unchanging nature. The best definition we can have is "child of God". And we define ourselves not with pride
but true humility.
When we allow our lives to be defined by Jesus we now find our true worth. Ephesians 1:5 says we are adopted sons of Jesus, or through Jesus adopted as sons of God the Father. Here is where I am really defined. And this should be what is said about all of us. we are holy and blameless; redeemed by His blood; our sins forgiven, having wisdom and understanding, together with God under heaven.
Now what defines me will not change. The immutable God has put His definition on me by means of His true son, Jesus. I am predestined to bring God glory. That is His will for my life and all men's lives. Living to know our Creator, our Savior, our God. Living to show Him holy, full of grace and love. Patient and abounding in love.
What defines me? Not what I feel, not what I do, not who I married. My true definition is I am me because God loves me. What makes me, me is Jesus Christ in me. Any other answer misses God's purpose for why we were created. Find yourself today!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
How Long Does It Take To Do Nothing?
Bev was gone for two days with all the women staff teaching a women's seminar at one of the village churches. So being a caring husband with nothing to do I thought I would clean the house for her. But where to start? I decided to start with my desk. It is visible from every part of the house. That is, when it is visible. As of late it has been MIA (missing in action) or MUP (missing under paperwork).
Now finding my desk was easy, I just backtracked the computer wires from the wall socket to the large pile of paper in the corner of the room. Sure enough there was a desk under the mound of paper. Realizing I needed a bigger trash can I left the desk and went to the back yard. Turning off the light reminded me that it needed a new bulb. So I put the cleaning project on hold for 15 minutes. Setting the step stool in place I removed the globe and bulb but the socket itself came out in pieces. This is to be expected since Uganda is the dumping ground for every cheap electrical, plumbing or automotive part in the world. I wisely keep spares on the "shelf".
Other homes have the junk drawer, we have the "shelf". It is like the junk drawer but much larger and more disorganized. 35 minutes after my search began I found the spare socket. Of course the shelf was cleaner by the time I found what I was looking for. Now back to the light. Elasped time since the start: 55 minutes.
Removing the two screws that hold the lamp fixture in place I discovered that the the fixture can't be removed since the mason had plastered it in place. So back to the shelf to get more tools then find a real ladder. I spent the next hour chipping and scraping away plaster so the fixture could come out. Then comes the discovery that even though the old and new parts were from the same company and bought at the same time from the same little guy at the market they are completely different. So now begins the modification process to make the new part fit. This process takes another hour. This isn't going as easily as expected. 2:45 into the desk cleaning/light bulb changing project, I have not finished one task yet.
Finally with the light fixture repaired and in place I go back to the shelf to get a caulking gun to seal up the edge of the fixture. This must be done to keep out the geckos. Unfortunately the caulking gun explodes as I am testing it in the kitchen. Now with caulk everywhere I have to clean the kitchen but since my hands are covered with caulk I decide to wait because it would not be good for me to ruin Bev's kitchen towels with caulk while cleaning my desk. That of course is not quite the way it happened but that is how it would sound.
So going back to the light, I finally get it all sealed up and working. Elapsed time 4:30. Then I clean the kitchen. If I am going to clean the kitchen I might as well do it right. So it is no surprise that ninety minutes later George finds me cleaning tomato sauce spots off the faces of friends whose pictures are hung on the refrigerator a little too close to the stove. I guess I will have to get new pictures since some of the faces now look like they are suffering from leprosy. Perhaps new pictures will replace the visual in my head of dear ones without noses and chins.
After explaining to George how my morning and early afternoon went I get back to my desk and finish cleaning it. It is now 3:30pm. Eight hours and fifteen minutes after starting. The desk is clean, the kitchen is clean, the light in back of the house works.
If I could only find where I put the trash can it would be a perfect day of doing nothing.
Now finding my desk was easy, I just backtracked the computer wires from the wall socket to the large pile of paper in the corner of the room. Sure enough there was a desk under the mound of paper. Realizing I needed a bigger trash can I left the desk and went to the back yard. Turning off the light reminded me that it needed a new bulb. So I put the cleaning project on hold for 15 minutes. Setting the step stool in place I removed the globe and bulb but the socket itself came out in pieces. This is to be expected since Uganda is the dumping ground for every cheap electrical, plumbing or automotive part in the world. I wisely keep spares on the "shelf".
Other homes have the junk drawer, we have the "shelf". It is like the junk drawer but much larger and more disorganized. 35 minutes after my search began I found the spare socket. Of course the shelf was cleaner by the time I found what I was looking for. Now back to the light. Elasped time since the start: 55 minutes.
Removing the two screws that hold the lamp fixture in place I discovered that the the fixture can't be removed since the mason had plastered it in place. So back to the shelf to get more tools then find a real ladder. I spent the next hour chipping and scraping away plaster so the fixture could come out. Then comes the discovery that even though the old and new parts were from the same company and bought at the same time from the same little guy at the market they are completely different. So now begins the modification process to make the new part fit. This process takes another hour. This isn't going as easily as expected. 2:45 into the desk cleaning/light bulb changing project, I have not finished one task yet.
Finally with the light fixture repaired and in place I go back to the shelf to get a caulking gun to seal up the edge of the fixture. This must be done to keep out the geckos. Unfortunately the caulking gun explodes as I am testing it in the kitchen. Now with caulk everywhere I have to clean the kitchen but since my hands are covered with caulk I decide to wait because it would not be good for me to ruin Bev's kitchen towels with caulk while cleaning my desk. That of course is not quite the way it happened but that is how it would sound.
So going back to the light, I finally get it all sealed up and working. Elapsed time 4:30. Then I clean the kitchen. If I am going to clean the kitchen I might as well do it right. So it is no surprise that ninety minutes later George finds me cleaning tomato sauce spots off the faces of friends whose pictures are hung on the refrigerator a little too close to the stove. I guess I will have to get new pictures since some of the faces now look like they are suffering from leprosy. Perhaps new pictures will replace the visual in my head of dear ones without noses and chins.
After explaining to George how my morning and early afternoon went I get back to my desk and finish cleaning it. It is now 3:30pm. Eight hours and fifteen minutes after starting. The desk is clean, the kitchen is clean, the light in back of the house works.
If I could only find where I put the trash can it would be a perfect day of doing nothing.
Monday, November 19, 2012
A Difficult Season
There are times and seasons in life as we learn in Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." The last three months have been a difficult and dry season for me personally.
While the ministry has been having a fruitful season I have struggled. On the July 31st Bev was shot at during an attempted armed robbery. God spared her life and only some bullet and glass fragments entered her eye. These are microscopic shards and the fear is that they will move and cause damage. She flew home to America and the doctors could only shake their heads in wonder and amazement that she has no real loss of eyesight. We praise our Lord, Jesus, who restores sight to the blind but also protects the sight of those who can see. Jesus is with us in all trials protecting us, guiding us and giving us strength to endure all situations.
Not having Beverly here for 3 weeks was difficult. We have become such a team the last few years. She is always there to help and assist me that I can sometimes take her for granted. But she is now back and we are facing new challenges all the time.
I am losing the ability converse with people. Things of daily interest just don't come to mind now. Where I have always been quiet it now takes an all out effort to enter into a conversation. I can teach but the ebb and flow while talking to a friend is not there.
After the robbery attempt, trusting others and not looking at every stranger as an enemy or potential thug has caused strain in all of our relationships. Who can and do you trust? God is there but it is just harder to see Him in others!
Sickness has made this a more trying time. In the last three months I have had two strong colds, a tough case of malaria and a bacterial infection in my lungs. Even as I write this the infection still refuses to heal. I am tired and weak and Bev is getting weary looking after me.
But good things are there as well. George and Luan Fellman have come from the western side of the country to help with the Ministry. This is an answer to lots of prayers over many years. George can give me relief from some of my physical duties and Luan can take the strain off Bev.
Isaac and Clea Wootton will join us in December and will take over the School of Ministry and some other duties. That takes away five hours of daily work. Connie Cross, Clea's mother will also be coming and help carry part of the load. All this is great. So what is the problem?
I have become so focused on work, what I do, and how I serve the Lord that I have started to struggle with how to "Love the Lord your God." It now seems that if I can't serve the Lord to the exact measure that I did in the past, I have become worthless.
Our clinic in Ogongora is struggling to make ends meet. The people want the services and medicines for free. Many would pay if they could, but they cannot. 70% of the monthly charges do get paid but it still leaves a hole. God has been more than faithful to supply but I don't want to take God's gracious provision and then say it is not enough. Therein lies the challenge. To trust God, to let God work according to His plan but also to follow Him and work according to the pattern He has shown us even when we are not sure of the provision.
At the end of it all we endure the difficult seasons for we know that Jesus will get us through even if we do not know how. Psalm 27:13-14 "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
While the ministry has been having a fruitful season I have struggled. On the July 31st Bev was shot at during an attempted armed robbery. God spared her life and only some bullet and glass fragments entered her eye. These are microscopic shards and the fear is that they will move and cause damage. She flew home to America and the doctors could only shake their heads in wonder and amazement that she has no real loss of eyesight. We praise our Lord, Jesus, who restores sight to the blind but also protects the sight of those who can see. Jesus is with us in all trials protecting us, guiding us and giving us strength to endure all situations.
Not having Beverly here for 3 weeks was difficult. We have become such a team the last few years. She is always there to help and assist me that I can sometimes take her for granted. But she is now back and we are facing new challenges all the time.
I am losing the ability converse with people. Things of daily interest just don't come to mind now. Where I have always been quiet it now takes an all out effort to enter into a conversation. I can teach but the ebb and flow while talking to a friend is not there.
After the robbery attempt, trusting others and not looking at every stranger as an enemy or potential thug has caused strain in all of our relationships. Who can and do you trust? God is there but it is just harder to see Him in others!
Sickness has made this a more trying time. In the last three months I have had two strong colds, a tough case of malaria and a bacterial infection in my lungs. Even as I write this the infection still refuses to heal. I am tired and weak and Bev is getting weary looking after me.
But good things are there as well. George and Luan Fellman have come from the western side of the country to help with the Ministry. This is an answer to lots of prayers over many years. George can give me relief from some of my physical duties and Luan can take the strain off Bev.
Isaac and Clea Wootton will join us in December and will take over the School of Ministry and some other duties. That takes away five hours of daily work. Connie Cross, Clea's mother will also be coming and help carry part of the load. All this is great. So what is the problem?
I have become so focused on work, what I do, and how I serve the Lord that I have started to struggle with how to "Love the Lord your God." It now seems that if I can't serve the Lord to the exact measure that I did in the past, I have become worthless.
Our clinic in Ogongora is struggling to make ends meet. The people want the services and medicines for free. Many would pay if they could, but they cannot. 70% of the monthly charges do get paid but it still leaves a hole. God has been more than faithful to supply but I don't want to take God's gracious provision and then say it is not enough. Therein lies the challenge. To trust God, to let God work according to His plan but also to follow Him and work according to the pattern He has shown us even when we are not sure of the provision.
At the end of it all we endure the difficult seasons for we know that Jesus will get us through even if we do not know how. Psalm 27:13-14 "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Saturday, November 17, 2012
An Evening of Entertainment and Sport
I don't want to say that evenings in Uganda are boring but unless you go out every night you do run out of options. So we have developed a new sport. Geckoing.
Origins of the Sport:
Geckos live every where in Uganda. In anything enclosed, like a house, latrine, shed, roof, or box you'll find at least two geckos there. They are cute, fast, but very shy. They may run if you see them or they may freeze. They also poop on anything that is beneath them. This is the origin of Geckoing. My wife has had enough of their mess. Trying to get rid of them before they stain your ceiling, walls or furniture is the object of the sport. (While a large percentage of Ugandans wrongly think geckos are demonic, this has caused confusion between Geckoing and the sport of Dragonslaying. With these similarities one can see how confusion develops.)
The Game
Play begins just before supper time and may last for hours. With the night, the geckos come out to feed on the insects that are always buzzing around. The early moments of the game are spent analyzing the opponent. Does it run straight or zigzag? Is there hesitation in the throwing motion? Is he a sweeper or smacker? In the singles version the contestant takes a throw pillow from the furniture and tries to knock the gecko off the wall and down to the floor. Pillow size and weight are essential to minimize household damage. Then the player pounces on the gecko and if successful, the player throws it outside. The doubles version calls for a lanceman and a wrangler. The lanceman knocks the gecko to the ground with a stick or whip where the wrangler seizes it and throws it out. The winner is the player with the most geckos caught inside and tossed outside into the night.
A Few Simple Rules
1. You cannot kill or maim the gecko during the course of play. This immediately stops play. A lost tail may cause a delay in play but since tails grow back, no harm no foul!
2.Spotlighting to immobilize the gecko is not allowed in eastern Uganda; however it is popular in the West.
3. The gecko must be caught by the wrangler in their hand or a dust pan and put outside to score.
4. While early in the sport's history, aerosols were used to slow the competition, now with the advent of both modern strategies and equipment these sprays are no longer used.
As in all sports there is the risk of injury to competitors. The sport has been endorsed by both the Uganda Gecko Homeboard (UGH.ugh .co) and the Kilimanjaro Intellectual Outdoor Sideral Society (Kil-It-Out-side Society)
Origins of the Sport:
Geckos live every where in Uganda. In anything enclosed, like a house, latrine, shed, roof, or box you'll find at least two geckos there. They are cute, fast, but very shy. They may run if you see them or they may freeze. They also poop on anything that is beneath them. This is the origin of Geckoing. My wife has had enough of their mess. Trying to get rid of them before they stain your ceiling, walls or furniture is the object of the sport. (While a large percentage of Ugandans wrongly think geckos are demonic, this has caused confusion between Geckoing and the sport of Dragonslaying. With these similarities one can see how confusion develops.)
The Game
Play begins just before supper time and may last for hours. With the night, the geckos come out to feed on the insects that are always buzzing around. The early moments of the game are spent analyzing the opponent. Does it run straight or zigzag? Is there hesitation in the throwing motion? Is he a sweeper or smacker? In the singles version the contestant takes a throw pillow from the furniture and tries to knock the gecko off the wall and down to the floor. Pillow size and weight are essential to minimize household damage. Then the player pounces on the gecko and if successful, the player throws it outside. The doubles version calls for a lanceman and a wrangler. The lanceman knocks the gecko to the ground with a stick or whip where the wrangler seizes it and throws it out. The winner is the player with the most geckos caught inside and tossed outside into the night.
A Few Simple Rules
1. You cannot kill or maim the gecko during the course of play. This immediately stops play. A lost tail may cause a delay in play but since tails grow back, no harm no foul!
2.Spotlighting to immobilize the gecko is not allowed in eastern Uganda; however it is popular in the West.
3. The gecko must be caught by the wrangler in their hand or a dust pan and put outside to score.
4. While early in the sport's history, aerosols were used to slow the competition, now with the advent of both modern strategies and equipment these sprays are no longer used.
As in all sports there is the risk of injury to competitors. The sport has been endorsed by both the Uganda Gecko Homeboard (UGH.ugh .co) and the Kilimanjaro Intellectual Outdoor Sideral Society (Kil-It-Out-side Society)
Sunday, August 19, 2012
An African Passover
Friday at 3:00pm, right during the height of the Be Disciples youth conference, the storm hit. It took us all by surprise to say the least. It had been raining a little bit here but it seemed like the rainy season was about over. A couple of days of sun and heat had lulled us into a false sense of meteorological peace and security.
With 260 youth on the compound all having a blessed time of learning and fellowship,who had time to look up? Then it started to drizzle. 90 seconds later the rain came for real. I hoped it would stop quickly but the storm had different plans. It rained even harder Then we remembered the tent.
Our tent is an 80' by 20' tarp that has relatively few holes in it so it is worth saving. But without holes it has no way to release the water. I decided I'd better check. As was feared the tent had begun to resemble an above ground pool only this one was literally three to four feet above the ground. Since poking holes to let it drain was not an option, Faisal and I tried to lift the tent upwards to drain the water off the sides.
Now I admit sometimes I'm not too bright and this was one of those times. Two hundred gallons of water weighs approximately the same as an early model Volkswagon bug fully loaded with twenty high schoolers of your choice. Pushing didn't work since we had to push it up about four feet.. The ropes would have to be untied. Only problem is you can't be under the tent to untie it. So out in the rain we go. The rain is coming harder, the water is getting heavier and the tent is hanging lower but we finally got it done. Faisal and I even managed to avoid being swept away in the flood from the now collapsing tent! People wonder why I don't go white water rafting. Why should I when the same amount of terror is right here at home?
But the cool part is the African Passover. The winds were really howling during all this. We lost two trees on the compound and many in the neighborhood. The next day Patrick and Robert came and told me how it was just like we had read Wednesday night at bible study. Asking how, they said it was just like the Pasover. God protected his people in His house and His people's houses. Apparently the wind tore the roofs off the houses next to the ones the church rebuilt and the roof off the Ministry of Works building across the street. My friends were excited to tell the story of how God had spared them by passing over their houses.. All I could say was "Amen" to that!
I do have to admit I'm not sure what to expect this week. It is Exodus 13-15 the parting of the Red Sea it should be very exciting and hopefully drier!
With 260 youth on the compound all having a blessed time of learning and fellowship,who had time to look up? Then it started to drizzle. 90 seconds later the rain came for real. I hoped it would stop quickly but the storm had different plans. It rained even harder Then we remembered the tent.
Our tent is an 80' by 20' tarp that has relatively few holes in it so it is worth saving. But without holes it has no way to release the water. I decided I'd better check. As was feared the tent had begun to resemble an above ground pool only this one was literally three to four feet above the ground. Since poking holes to let it drain was not an option, Faisal and I tried to lift the tent upwards to drain the water off the sides.
Now I admit sometimes I'm not too bright and this was one of those times. Two hundred gallons of water weighs approximately the same as an early model Volkswagon bug fully loaded with twenty high schoolers of your choice. Pushing didn't work since we had to push it up about four feet.. The ropes would have to be untied. Only problem is you can't be under the tent to untie it. So out in the rain we go. The rain is coming harder, the water is getting heavier and the tent is hanging lower but we finally got it done. Faisal and I even managed to avoid being swept away in the flood from the now collapsing tent! People wonder why I don't go white water rafting. Why should I when the same amount of terror is right here at home?
But the cool part is the African Passover. The winds were really howling during all this. We lost two trees on the compound and many in the neighborhood. The next day Patrick and Robert came and told me how it was just like we had read Wednesday night at bible study. Asking how, they said it was just like the Pasover. God protected his people in His house and His people's houses. Apparently the wind tore the roofs off the houses next to the ones the church rebuilt and the roof off the Ministry of Works building across the street. My friends were excited to tell the story of how God had spared them by passing over their houses.. All I could say was "Amen" to that!
I do have to admit I'm not sure what to expect this week. It is Exodus 13-15 the parting of the Red Sea it should be very exciting and hopefully drier!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Armed Robbers!
This is no joke! Yesterday four armed men forced Bev off the road as she was coming back from the bank. As she slowed down to turn into our compound a car cut her off and the thugs jumped out. We had seen two armed robberies in front of our house and we had prayed it would never be us. Today we can't say that. But today we give thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that in the worst case scenario He is right there watching over us.
As Bev saw the men she started to scream for help. Steven heard her and ran towards the gate and hollered for me to come. Reaching the street Stephen tried to keep the the driver from taking off and I ran over to see if Bev was okay. Then I saw a man holding an AK47 yelling for Bev to open the passenger door. At first I thought he was a security officer but then realized that he and the one with him were thieves and were planning to shoot Bev. I tried to pull her out of the car but couldn't since the robber had his gun pointed at her. I waved with my hands "Don't shoot, wait!" Then I started around the back of the car. Just then they fired a shot at Bev shattering the passenger window and spraying her with glass.
I ran back to Bev and found her laying across the passenger seat. My heart sunk. Then I realized there was no blood and Bev sat up! This time she got out of the vehicle and we ran across the street into the compound. I told Kelli to lock the gate then get Bev inside. Then I ran back to check on Steven.
The driver of the thieves' car had managed to get away so when they fired at Bev, Steven ran towards the car as the thieves ran off. Steven followed in pursuit. They fired two shoots at him but he keep after them. Finally coming close to them they turned around and headed back in Steven's direction then walked past him. Then Steven pelted one of them in the back of the head with a stone, knocking him to the ground.
By this time Rogers, Davis, Joseph and I were spread out into the banana plantation
looking for the thieves. Apparently the one with the gun abandoned his friend, who Steven had stoned, and jumped on a waiting motorcycle. The guys managed to catch and hold the bleeding thief who we locked in our compound. There were more minor injuries to our guys trying to keep the mob from killing him but they kept him until the police came.
Two hours later after fetching the fingerprint man from his barracks and taking him back again Bev and I went to Central Police Station. We were led into an office to give our statements and there on the floor was the bleeding thief, giving his statement. Part of me wanted to go kick him in the head. Part of me wanted to know what drives a man like that.
Perhaps I don't need to know. Perhaps I just need to remember that God is in control and trust Him to do His will. We are extremely thankful that God let none of us be severely injured or killed. He has been so gracious to us. Thank you Lord!
As Bev saw the men she started to scream for help. Steven heard her and ran towards the gate and hollered for me to come. Reaching the street Stephen tried to keep the the driver from taking off and I ran over to see if Bev was okay. Then I saw a man holding an AK47 yelling for Bev to open the passenger door. At first I thought he was a security officer but then realized that he and the one with him were thieves and were planning to shoot Bev. I tried to pull her out of the car but couldn't since the robber had his gun pointed at her. I waved with my hands "Don't shoot, wait!" Then I started around the back of the car. Just then they fired a shot at Bev shattering the passenger window and spraying her with glass.
I ran back to Bev and found her laying across the passenger seat. My heart sunk. Then I realized there was no blood and Bev sat up! This time she got out of the vehicle and we ran across the street into the compound. I told Kelli to lock the gate then get Bev inside. Then I ran back to check on Steven.
The driver of the thieves' car had managed to get away so when they fired at Bev, Steven ran towards the car as the thieves ran off. Steven followed in pursuit. They fired two shoots at him but he keep after them. Finally coming close to them they turned around and headed back in Steven's direction then walked past him. Then Steven pelted one of them in the back of the head with a stone, knocking him to the ground.
By this time Rogers, Davis, Joseph and I were spread out into the banana plantation
looking for the thieves. Apparently the one with the gun abandoned his friend, who Steven had stoned, and jumped on a waiting motorcycle. The guys managed to catch and hold the bleeding thief who we locked in our compound. There were more minor injuries to our guys trying to keep the mob from killing him but they kept him until the police came.
Two hours later after fetching the fingerprint man from his barracks and taking him back again Bev and I went to Central Police Station. We were led into an office to give our statements and there on the floor was the bleeding thief, giving his statement. Part of me wanted to go kick him in the head. Part of me wanted to know what drives a man like that.
Perhaps I don't need to know. Perhaps I just need to remember that God is in control and trust Him to do His will. We are extremely thankful that God let none of us be severely injured or killed. He has been so gracious to us. Thank you Lord!
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