Over the Hump

We’re down to 1 of us still feeling bad (a new one).  The prayers are working!  Keep it up.  You are standing in the gap for us.  We can’t do this without you

Thank you so much for all the comments on the blog!  We read them every morning and evening.  The tears come more easily the longer we’re here and share this amazing experience.  The team is really doing well; their confidence is increasing daily, and it’s my prayer that the “infection” spreads beyond these 2 weeks.  The need to share the gospel at home is becoming more clear. 

The house-to-house teams have been so efficient, we have begun to move beyond Mukongoro.   We’re getting tired, so tonight it’s just the high points.  (realize that for every story we blog, there are 50 more behind it.)

A man with stomach cancer said to his wife this morning that the Mzungu (white man) was going to come today and talk about God.  He doesn’t have long to live, but was overjoyed when Steve Costello fulfilled the prophecy.  He and his whole family came into the Kingdom today. 

When whole families receive Jesus as Lord, they are so overjoyed, they want to give a gift.  Today we got bananas, magoes, and oranges. Often the pregnant mothers name their children after us.  Ferrelyn’s and Matt’s namesakes will be born very soon!

The Pentecostal church in strong in today’s area and are doing wonderful things.  There is truly a spirit of community and mutual edification in doing ministry together on behalf of the Kingdom.  (If only the walls came down so easily back home) .  As a result, many people came to Christ today.

The new believers are invited to discipleship classes each afternoon to shore up their new faith with a better knowledge of sin, repentance, the Holy Spirit, Bible study and prayer.  It’s a crash course in theology to give them some root and encouragement.

The Medical Clinic ministry started today and saw hundreds of patients.  The word really got out today, so we’re expecting thousands in the next two days. 

The pain is sometimes too much when the clinic comes to town.  Seeing the crutches, makeshift wheelchairs, the babies dying of malaria, the mothers trying to give us their babies and take them home, the old, the sick, they dying. 

Dan was the de facto “hospital administrator” today as he set up the triage area, ingress, egress, 4 exam waiting areas, and then took blood pressures for 4 straight hours.  Several other members of the team stayed at the clinic to preach the gospel and encourage those waiting for treatment. 

500 treated mosquito nets were purchased (THANK YOU HONDO FBC!) and distributed today to help prevent malaria. 

Today’s “It’s a God Thing” story:  a rabid dog was in the community.  It bit a woman who had moments before trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  It was as if the devil was trying to steal her joy (and life).  The locals “took care of the dog” in short order and the evangelists immediately provided first aid and then took her directly to the clinic.  Had the clinic not started today, she probably would have died by tomorrow.  It was a good day to be bitten by a rabid dog!

At prisons, we encountered an “Andy Griffith” style (minimum security) arrangement, where prisoners could come and go.  Normally, we just bring staple items for their basic need (mats, blankets, soap, food).  Today we delivered more Bibles and they immediately began to read them.   

Today, after most of the prisoners turned their lives over to Jesus Christ, the prison team leader addressed them with this charge:  “Your lives change today.  I’ve heard rumors of homosexual activity in this prison.  As new believers this behavior stops now.  You have a responsibility to be an example to the people now.  Don’t be like the world.  Be like God’s people.  Different.  Set apart.”  

3,003 children enjoyed the school ministry team today.  9 teachers were saved!

BONUS:  Randy hooked up with his sponsored “Compassion International” child in Soroti (2 hours away). It was an extra-curricular activity to be sure - no roads up to the home site.  Instead, they had to hike through the bush for several hundred yards.   He was greeted by 20 Africans at the home.  Got to hug and high-five “Daniel” (5 years old), and give him some gifts.  Daniel then ran away to get Randy his gift…a live chicken!  It was a wonderful blessing.