Tony occasionally reads my blog and suggested that I post my comments under the photos rather than above it, so being the super submissive wife that I am, I decided that from now on, I will post my comments under the pictures :-) Hahaha!
I was preaching in a 7 month old English speaking church. By the way, French and Kiswahili are the languages use in DRC. This was the only service where I did not have an interpreter. It was liberating!!
Here I am ministering to a group of orphans. This is one of the three groups that met that Saturday. They were divided according to their ages. I had the teen group.
Here I am ministering to a group of widows. Due to ongoing wars in different parts of the country, there are many orphans and widows. Life is challenging and difficult for them. It was a tremendous privilege for me to minister God's love, comfort and hope to each one of them. During ministry time, my tears are mingled with theirs. I felt the love of God for these precious people. God loves them and has compassion for them.
Remember the wooden contraption I was talking about in one of my earlier post where they use this vehicle to transport goods, like a taxi? This is the side profile. It's quite crude looking but effective anyways!!
My batteries for the camera ran out during the pastor's meeting so we didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked. Anyways, we met with over 70 pastors and their wives. Most of these pastors do not have a salary and are self supporting; we fed them a good lunch with rice, fries (a global favorite!), roasted meat ( a rare indulgence) and vegetables. I was with these pastors and their wives from 9am to 5 pm. I taught, preached and answered many questions. I was suprised that these African "men" actually sat under my ministry.. I was touched by their humility and hunger. I was able to share from our ministerial experiences and from the Word of God how to remain faithful in difficult times in the ministry, how to guard their personal spiritual disciplines, walking by faith and not be limited by the resources we "see"; how to protect their marriages, etc. I think we talked about everything imaginable! I was very open and transparent with them and trust that the Lord used what I shared to encouraged them.
I was a little concern when I saw them piling their plates that we might not have enough food but I was so happy to be wrong! The food seemed to have multiplied and there were more than enough. God is faithful!
This bucket is the "dish soap"! They collect this soil from the river bed (or stream) and use this to scrub their pot and pans and dishes. This soil is assumed to be sterile and clean since it is under the running water of the stream/river. You can't get more organic or natural than this, can you? I am sure someone someday will package this and market it as organic soap for a ridiculous price to the developed world!
As I write this post, I am reminded how almost every group and family I met mentioned to me when I first see them how they have prayed for me. Often, they tell me that they are so grateful for my safe j0urney to DRC - they specifically thank God that despite the many airplanes accidents in DRC, the threat of the rebel soldiers (foreigners had been kidnapped for ransom), the treacherous roads, etc that God has kept me safe and brought me to them. While I surely were not unaware of the dangers yet I did not realise how real the dangers were. Hearing their prayers and concern for me was tremendously humbling to me. God is faithful! Not only that, I ate everything that was given to me and had laid my hands on many and cried with many - and bless God that He kept me healthy and well. Beyond just healthy and safe, I am completely rejuvenated and refired for the ministry. I thought He sent me there to encourage others but I ended up being in the receiving end! Proverbs says that he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. How faithful God is!
God opened my eyes to see how wide and ripe His fields are and how few the labourers are. There is so much to do before our Master comes again - many hearts are opened wide, many are still unreached and untouched by the tremendous power of the gospel that God has entrusted to us. In the words of one of our favorite TV character, Jack Bauer (from the TV series, "24") - WE DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME! ( and yes, we are completely and pathetically addicted to that series :-)
I am reminded once again why God brought us to this university - to train and empower more laborers and to thrust them to the fields - standing with them, going with them, praying with them. The work is not easy, extremely demanding BUT so very rewarding. Pray with us as we continue to strategize how to release more laborers. "How can they know if they have not heard, how can they hear, if they have not been preached to and how can they preach if they had not been sent!" We must do our part to make sure the gospel is preached as the waters cover the seas. My trip was made possible through a group effort of many people - some gave, many prayed, other make the preparations for the meetings, some open their houses for me to stay in, many made sacrifices to come for the meetings, some drove, others cook, etc. Truly, we are one Body - and we each must play our part so that His kingdom can continue to expand.
I was preaching in a 7 month old English speaking church. By the way, French and Kiswahili are the languages use in DRC. This was the only service where I did not have an interpreter. It was liberating!!
Here I am ministering to a group of orphans. This is one of the three groups that met that Saturday. They were divided according to their ages. I had the teen group.
Here I am ministering to a group of widows. Due to ongoing wars in different parts of the country, there are many orphans and widows. Life is challenging and difficult for them. It was a tremendous privilege for me to minister God's love, comfort and hope to each one of them. During ministry time, my tears are mingled with theirs. I felt the love of God for these precious people. God loves them and has compassion for them.
Remember the wooden contraption I was talking about in one of my earlier post where they use this vehicle to transport goods, like a taxi? This is the side profile. It's quite crude looking but effective anyways!!
My batteries for the camera ran out during the pastor's meeting so we didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked. Anyways, we met with over 70 pastors and their wives. Most of these pastors do not have a salary and are self supporting; we fed them a good lunch with rice, fries (a global favorite!), roasted meat ( a rare indulgence) and vegetables. I was with these pastors and their wives from 9am to 5 pm. I taught, preached and answered many questions. I was suprised that these African "men" actually sat under my ministry.. I was touched by their humility and hunger. I was able to share from our ministerial experiences and from the Word of God how to remain faithful in difficult times in the ministry, how to guard their personal spiritual disciplines, walking by faith and not be limited by the resources we "see"; how to protect their marriages, etc. I think we talked about everything imaginable! I was very open and transparent with them and trust that the Lord used what I shared to encouraged them.
I was a little concern when I saw them piling their plates that we might not have enough food but I was so happy to be wrong! The food seemed to have multiplied and there were more than enough. God is faithful!
This bucket is the "dish soap"! They collect this soil from the river bed (or stream) and use this to scrub their pot and pans and dishes. This soil is assumed to be sterile and clean since it is under the running water of the stream/river. You can't get more organic or natural than this, can you? I am sure someone someday will package this and market it as organic soap for a ridiculous price to the developed world!As I write this post, I am reminded how almost every group and family I met mentioned to me when I first see them how they have prayed for me. Often, they tell me that they are so grateful for my safe j0urney to DRC - they specifically thank God that despite the many airplanes accidents in DRC, the threat of the rebel soldiers (foreigners had been kidnapped for ransom), the treacherous roads, etc that God has kept me safe and brought me to them. While I surely were not unaware of the dangers yet I did not realise how real the dangers were. Hearing their prayers and concern for me was tremendously humbling to me. God is faithful! Not only that, I ate everything that was given to me and had laid my hands on many and cried with many - and bless God that He kept me healthy and well. Beyond just healthy and safe, I am completely rejuvenated and refired for the ministry. I thought He sent me there to encourage others but I ended up being in the receiving end! Proverbs says that he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. How faithful God is!
God opened my eyes to see how wide and ripe His fields are and how few the labourers are. There is so much to do before our Master comes again - many hearts are opened wide, many are still unreached and untouched by the tremendous power of the gospel that God has entrusted to us. In the words of one of our favorite TV character, Jack Bauer (from the TV series, "24") - WE DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME! ( and yes, we are completely and pathetically addicted to that series :-)
I am reminded once again why God brought us to this university - to train and empower more laborers and to thrust them to the fields - standing with them, going with them, praying with them. The work is not easy, extremely demanding BUT so very rewarding. Pray with us as we continue to strategize how to release more laborers. "How can they know if they have not heard, how can they hear, if they have not been preached to and how can they preach if they had not been sent!" We must do our part to make sure the gospel is preached as the waters cover the seas. My trip was made possible through a group effort of many people - some gave, many prayed, other make the preparations for the meetings, some open their houses for me to stay in, many made sacrifices to come for the meetings, some drove, others cook, etc. Truly, we are one Body - and we each must play our part so that His kingdom can continue to expand.
Comments
My wife and I are just as pathetic as you guys! Actually, I can see how Tony would like a character like Jack Bauer, ask him about being Indiana Jones ;-)
Have him do the trademark Indy Jones "entrance" move . . . running his fingers across the brim of his hat, the bullwhip etc. I thought for sure he would be an actor, if not being on the Lord's staff. :-)