Ministry Partners,
I'm was marching around the church with my welcoming committee from the Refugee Camp while singing praises to Jesus.
I woke early this morning being thankful for a good mattress and the hot bath I had last night. I never realize how much I miss something until I do not have it. When we are traveling through any country here in Africa, we just have to take the place we can find and many times, we have already checked with 3-4 hotels/guest houses before we can find anything partially acceptable. By then the day is so late and we are so tired that we end up settling for a place that definitely would not be our first choice but it has a toilet and a seat……..sometimes! One place had metal doors with a slide bolt to lock the door to our rooms, I think they got the doors from the nearby prison and I am not exaggerating. The shocking thing is how much we have to pay for those less than comfy/fancy rooms.
Then there are times when we order from their menu like BBQ beef or pork and what comes is unrecognizable. Whatever it is, it is so tough with a large portion of gristle that we just leave half of it uneaten. Or we look at the “menu” and make a choice only to be told, “We don’t have that. Then we make a 2nd, 3rd & 4th choice only to be told the same thing. Finally, we ask, “What do you have?” and end up choosing the only thing they have. There are times I choose to just eat a PP&J sandwich, which we carry in our lunch box. But, I do wonder why they have a menu at all.” Between the rooms and the food, those times bring such humor for all three of us and we do laugh a lot.
It is those times that I remind myself of why I am here, and that is not to stay in a fancy hotel or always eat the foods I like that are familiar to me. I am here to share the love of Christ everywhere I go, teach them about taking responsibility for your choices, forgiveness and ending with having them apologizing to each other to start the reconciliation process.
This trip we did 53 prison crusades, 2 church crusades, 1 Refugee Camp crusade and watched the Holy Spirit bring 1.000’s to salvation. That is why I am not ready to come home. The fact is that I will not be able to share my days with Alfred, my son, and Arron, who says he is son #2. We have been living and working as the family we are. God really knew what he was doing when he put us together back in 2005. These two godly men are something special and they sacrifice a lot to be with me for almost 8 weeks to do ministry and they enjoy sharing the Gospel just like I do
Today, they ran errands and I packed up the suitcases to be stored at Alfred’s house plus getting my two suitcases ready to bring home. Our remaining days here filled with finalizing this trip.
Your continuing prayers are appreciated.
That none would be lost,
Arlene
Another good day for you. God bless you as you get ready to leave Africa. Sharing what you've been through daily sharing your prisons visits and finding places to stay overnight is interesting. Praising God for many prisoners who accepted Jesus into their hearts and mind. Enjoy your days ahead with Alfred and Aaron.
ReplyDeletePraying for you now, and as you process and acclimate to being back home. I think that's the word I want. I know coming home is hard.
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