April 23 2010
Hi again; I know, three blogs in a week, what’s going on!!??
An update on the CRIB kids with Malaria:
The 5 kids that have it are:
1. Kwizera - 80% - at home, seemingly not much improvement yet
2. Francois - 80% - hospital, much, much better today than when we visited him two days ago
3. Clavier - 50% - same as Francois
4. Claude - 70% - at home, improving
5. Jacob - 70% - wasn’t responding well to meds. at home, so he was admitted to hospital last night; looked better already today.
Keep praying for them please.
Honda has invited Isaac and myself to preach at a crusade that he is organizing for up-country for Friday, April 30 - Sunday, May 1. Previous years there’s been about a thousand people in attendance. One evening “The Jesus Film” is being shown. On top of preaching two times (with a translator), we are likely to be involved in personal prayer ministry. We are very pumped about this weekend and can hardly wait to see how the Lord is going to advance His kingdom.
We will be in a very poor area; showers, if any, out of a bowl, behind some palm leaves. Bed - on the ground, with a straw “beach” mat is what will be provided, but praise Jesus, the day before we left Canada I was getting a few last minute necessities at Superstore, and I for some reason (thank you Jesus) bought 3 thin camping mats that are a scant 1/2 of an inch thick, so that will be luxury compared to just the straw mat.
This year Honda wants to try and drive further than previous years so the hike up the mountain to reach our destination isn’t so long and strenuous. It’s in a very remote area, so to carry all the gear up is quite taxing; this includes a heavy generator to power the mics. and movie projector gear. We will also be bringing basic things like soap that will be given away. Thankfully, the sponsoring church sends guys down the mountain to meet us to carry the brunt of the load. Honda said last year a guy carried the generator on his head, whereas normally it takes two people to carry it!!
Please pray for Honda, Isaac, Colton and myself for a rich anointing, empowerment of the Word. Pray that the people will come hungry and expecting to meet with the Lord in a very intimate way. Pray for protection, both in transport and from the transference of evil, especially in personal prayer times, This is Africa, and as you probably know, witchcraft and occultism run many generations deep in many people. Just this past Sunday afternoon at a function in church we witnessed two women get delivered from the clutches of Satan. It took four people, three of which were men, to restrain one women. Please pray that the Lord will give us wisdom, insight, knowledge, understanding, discernment, an increase in faith, perseverance in prayer……
…….energy, good restful sleeps, tolerance of the food - I tend to lose my appetite once I start chewing on rocks or sand left in the beans; Isaac and Colton can generally resume eating after picking the extra roughage out. Some of the African cuisine is pretty awful. Seriously!! Sombe is very common - a cooked, mushy, deep green dish which tastes like what I imagine fermented silage/grass clippings to taste like. Tiny fish with heads intact - bulging eyes and all, the infamous bugali - the maize type is not bad, almost entirely void of taste actually; it’s basically just mass to fill an empty stomach. However, the cassava bugali is awful - texture, taste…. Ugghh!!! And we’re not very picky eaters. Honestly!! And thankfully!!
April 26
So… an accurate update, straight from Debbie the head teacher, on the school riots.
The group that came to Primary was much bigger than I said earlier; there were in fact about 500 secondary kids in that group. And they weren’t overly concerned about Primary, since it only goes to year 6. They’ve been out of school now for two months, and things seem to be at a stand still. The possibility of all the grades having to be repeated next year is looming very real on the horizon. Please continue to pray that this issue will be resolved in a peaceful manner.
Our internet connection, or lack thereof, is very problematic as of late. I go on Facebook for a bit when I go online to see what’s happening in our friends’/families’ lives, and once I try to email the connection usually cuts off. The norm lately is that it automatically disconnects every few minutes, which is so time consuming with the system that we have here, to constantly log back on. This is very frustrating - please pray for better internet connections.
We thank you for your support in prayer.
April 27
As long as I can’t post this blog because of internet issues, I’ll just continue it.
All the CRIB kids are well on their way to recovery from malaria; everyone’s out of hospital, one’s back at school already, the rest are just basically regaining their strength. Malaria takes a lot out of a person. Thank you so much for your prayers for these kids. Love and blessings to you, our family and friends.
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Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
School's Out!! Hooray.... NOT!!
School’s Out. Hooray…… NOT!!! April19
The King’s School Primary, where I spend my days, was almost under attack this morning. Here’s what happened, and I want to straight away add that I do not have all the details, but this is what I know.
The public school teachers have been on strike here for about a month, and it’s looking like this whole current year will be a write-off for students attending public schools - in other words, if a student is presently in year 9, they have to repeat it next year.
To protest, students from public schools decided to throw rocks into the grounds of private schools; the thinking behind this is that if they can’t continue with their education and with the next grade next year, than private school students shouldn’t have access to education. This was instigated by teachers, believe it or not!!
So this morning, with quite a bit of commotion on the way to our school, between 150 - 200 students arrived at the school with the intent of throwing rocks over the fence and gate. The gate and the fence that surround the school are approximately 7ish feet high. The nursery class is right beside the gate, and the teacher of that class informed Aime, who works in the office, of the goings on.
Together they went out (brave souls - leave it to Aime and Olive to do this) and Aime started talking to the group. He told them that there were students from other countries than just Burundi, and that if they would get hurt, it would be worse. Moreover, these were little kids he informed them. They also had intentions of damaging Aime’s car which was parked right there.
Well, praise Jesus, this deterred them from throwing rocks, only with the intent on going to the International school (private) which is close by. I don’t know what happened after this.
This is serious, as there has been death as a result of this kind of activity in Gitega, a city that’s up country. I don’t know how many students were killed.
I imagine there will be more info. forthcoming tomorrow, and I’ll keep you posted.
We need your prayers.
April 20
Soooo, I tried desperately to post the above yesterday, but was unable to…. Internet access issues that are very frustrating.
Today there was a very heavy police presence close to our school, as well as the International school.
Like Isaac said before, prevention is so much better than dealing with a potential aftermath.
I know of no fear amongst the children, in fact I don’t think many even know about yesterday’s incident; there’s no talk about it from students. However, the Secondary kids were concerned/scared that they might become a target. We know of one close friends’ friend that was hit by a rock yesterday at a different school.
The timing for this is awful as well - just 2 months before a very sensitive presidential election. So the political parties are having a real go, trying to manipulate and use the strike to their advantage.
The school board has informed the teacher’s that if they continue with this strike, they will not help/support the teachers for the next 5 years. I wonder what kind of ramifications that would bring with it.
We need your prayers for a peaceful resolution.
CRIB is “under attack” with malaria - 5 kids have it as of this afternoon, with a few additional alerts pending test results. Two children have an 80%, two 70%, another 50%. This is how they measure the severity of the illness, with 100% being very, very sick, and death is not uncommon. Two of the 5 are hospitalized; one of the 80% and the 50%. The way they determine if you need hospitalization is if you can keep the tablets down or not. If you can’t you’re admitted. Malaria is accompanied by high fever, and if you can’t keep anything down, there’s a real risk of dehydration. It’s really hard seeing the kids so sick. The one that is the sickest is also one of two that is by far the most difficult at home and at school, but seeing him today made all 3 of us realize how much we love the guy.
The previous 2 subjects are heavy - I don’t feel like continuing, but I will for the sake of bringing you more up to date in our lives; I’m already behind with this.
During the last week of the two week Easter break Colton was so blessed to be able to participate in a soccer ‘school’. Honda and Libby had organized a group of 8 professional soccer coaches from the UK to come and run this. This was intended for Honda’s 60 boys plus 40 others by invitation, but things turned out very differently, as they often do here.
What’s a bored school boy to do when there is no school and he sees others engaged in an obviously unusual training camp, run by 8 muzungus!!?? Join in, of course!! By the end of the week, they played a bit of soccer and the coaches were managing at times near chaotic activity. On Friday there were almost 400 players on the two pitches!! As Honda remarked, “it’s much easier to let them play than to try and keep them off the field, and that way they don’t steal the equipment on the sidelines.” The team from the UK brought in loads of balls that they gave away, as well as huge inflatable nets that they’ll probably use again next year when they return - yep, they already said that they will probably come back next year. This is a huge blessing.
Well, Dave and Lynn, one of our pastor couples from Calvary Chapel is still stranded in London as a result of Heathrow being shut down because of the debris in the UK airspace from the volcano eruption in Iceland. They spent 5 days in London/Paris on a planned holiday after they left here, but involuntarily that holiday is lengthened substantially. What a rough life eh, - to be stranded in London!!!!!
It was a huge blessing to have Dave and Lynn here; we laughed, we cried, we prayed, drove through many potholes, were very grateful for Maryanne’s spirit that accompanied us up country, (only Dave and Lynn will understand this) we had fun, heard some of Dave’s near death experiences, re-positioned the fans in front of them yet again - I’m not complaining in the least tiny bit, it was just funny how hot they were. Oh, and Lynn got Colton pining for one of those cool IPOD touch gadgets. And they brought us Werther’s Originals. And Cows - the caramel ones. And Lynn gave me her ‘original’ , ‘Apple’ travel coffee mug. Lynn, I’m still pumped about it.
Seriously, we are very blessed to have Calvary Chapel as our church family, and that they see the importance of a pastoral visit when you’re so far removed physically. The Lord really knit us together a lot more, and we are very grateful for the visit, and for a deeper relationship.
Enough for today. Happy Tuesday.
The King’s School Primary, where I spend my days, was almost under attack this morning. Here’s what happened, and I want to straight away add that I do not have all the details, but this is what I know.
The public school teachers have been on strike here for about a month, and it’s looking like this whole current year will be a write-off for students attending public schools - in other words, if a student is presently in year 9, they have to repeat it next year.
To protest, students from public schools decided to throw rocks into the grounds of private schools; the thinking behind this is that if they can’t continue with their education and with the next grade next year, than private school students shouldn’t have access to education. This was instigated by teachers, believe it or not!!
So this morning, with quite a bit of commotion on the way to our school, between 150 - 200 students arrived at the school with the intent of throwing rocks over the fence and gate. The gate and the fence that surround the school are approximately 7ish feet high. The nursery class is right beside the gate, and the teacher of that class informed Aime, who works in the office, of the goings on.
Together they went out (brave souls - leave it to Aime and Olive to do this) and Aime started talking to the group. He told them that there were students from other countries than just Burundi, and that if they would get hurt, it would be worse. Moreover, these were little kids he informed them. They also had intentions of damaging Aime’s car which was parked right there.
Well, praise Jesus, this deterred them from throwing rocks, only with the intent on going to the International school (private) which is close by. I don’t know what happened after this.
This is serious, as there has been death as a result of this kind of activity in Gitega, a city that’s up country. I don’t know how many students were killed.
I imagine there will be more info. forthcoming tomorrow, and I’ll keep you posted.
We need your prayers.
April 20
Soooo, I tried desperately to post the above yesterday, but was unable to…. Internet access issues that are very frustrating.
Today there was a very heavy police presence close to our school, as well as the International school.
Like Isaac said before, prevention is so much better than dealing with a potential aftermath.
I know of no fear amongst the children, in fact I don’t think many even know about yesterday’s incident; there’s no talk about it from students. However, the Secondary kids were concerned/scared that they might become a target. We know of one close friends’ friend that was hit by a rock yesterday at a different school.
The timing for this is awful as well - just 2 months before a very sensitive presidential election. So the political parties are having a real go, trying to manipulate and use the strike to their advantage.
The school board has informed the teacher’s that if they continue with this strike, they will not help/support the teachers for the next 5 years. I wonder what kind of ramifications that would bring with it.
We need your prayers for a peaceful resolution.
CRIB is “under attack” with malaria - 5 kids have it as of this afternoon, with a few additional alerts pending test results. Two children have an 80%, two 70%, another 50%. This is how they measure the severity of the illness, with 100% being very, very sick, and death is not uncommon. Two of the 5 are hospitalized; one of the 80% and the 50%. The way they determine if you need hospitalization is if you can keep the tablets down or not. If you can’t you’re admitted. Malaria is accompanied by high fever, and if you can’t keep anything down, there’s a real risk of dehydration. It’s really hard seeing the kids so sick. The one that is the sickest is also one of two that is by far the most difficult at home and at school, but seeing him today made all 3 of us realize how much we love the guy.
The previous 2 subjects are heavy - I don’t feel like continuing, but I will for the sake of bringing you more up to date in our lives; I’m already behind with this.
During the last week of the two week Easter break Colton was so blessed to be able to participate in a soccer ‘school’. Honda and Libby had organized a group of 8 professional soccer coaches from the UK to come and run this. This was intended for Honda’s 60 boys plus 40 others by invitation, but things turned out very differently, as they often do here.
What’s a bored school boy to do when there is no school and he sees others engaged in an obviously unusual training camp, run by 8 muzungus!!?? Join in, of course!! By the end of the week, they played a bit of soccer and the coaches were managing at times near chaotic activity. On Friday there were almost 400 players on the two pitches!! As Honda remarked, “it’s much easier to let them play than to try and keep them off the field, and that way they don’t steal the equipment on the sidelines.” The team from the UK brought in loads of balls that they gave away, as well as huge inflatable nets that they’ll probably use again next year when they return - yep, they already said that they will probably come back next year. This is a huge blessing.
Well, Dave and Lynn, one of our pastor couples from Calvary Chapel is still stranded in London as a result of Heathrow being shut down because of the debris in the UK airspace from the volcano eruption in Iceland. They spent 5 days in London/Paris on a planned holiday after they left here, but involuntarily that holiday is lengthened substantially. What a rough life eh, - to be stranded in London!!!!!
It was a huge blessing to have Dave and Lynn here; we laughed, we cried, we prayed, drove through many potholes, were very grateful for Maryanne’s spirit that accompanied us up country, (only Dave and Lynn will understand this) we had fun, heard some of Dave’s near death experiences, re-positioned the fans in front of them yet again - I’m not complaining in the least tiny bit, it was just funny how hot they were. Oh, and Lynn got Colton pining for one of those cool IPOD touch gadgets. And they brought us Werther’s Originals. And Cows - the caramel ones. And Lynn gave me her ‘original’ , ‘Apple’ travel coffee mug. Lynn, I’m still pumped about it.
Seriously, we are very blessed to have Calvary Chapel as our church family, and that they see the importance of a pastoral visit when you’re so far removed physically. The Lord really knit us together a lot more, and we are very grateful for the visit, and for a deeper relationship.
Enough for today. Happy Tuesday.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Increase my Faith Jesus
So go back to the Sunday that Isaac, Colton and I watched the movie/documentary on George Muller (a few blogs ago), and once you’re there, you’re in the right time frame.
So on Sunday we watched the movie, and the Lord started talking to me about asking for that kind of faith.
The following day, Monday, our guard found an itty, bitty thing of a kitten next to our yard. He showed Colton, who brought it in.
Now you need to understand, I am so not a pet person - at all! They’re fine to look at, but quite frankly, they gross me out. It’s very important for you to remember that I don’t do pets, so that you’ll see that what transpired was a complete God thing.
When I saw this tiny kitten, which we ‘guesstimated’ to be about 1 ½ weeks old, I immediately felt compassion for it. It was meowing really loudly, clearly needing it’s mother. I went and got a tiny little plastic spoon and started spoon feeding the kitten. The poor thing sputtered, choked, and resisted. I wrapped it in a cloth so that it’s wild paws couldn’t hit the spoon and dump the milk. As it opened it’s mouth to meow, I’d empty the milk into it’s mouth. It was a long, slow process.
Well, it sort of seemed like we had a baby in the house all of a sudden; I had to feed it before school. In fact one day it made us a little late for staff devotions; I had to feed it upon returning from school, before bedtime, before going out, before…
Our domestic help vehemently declined to feed Belle the one time we asked him to. We’ve since found out that to an African a cat is akin to what a mouse is to us. I certainly wouldn’t dream of spoon feeding a mouse…
Isaac was saying that maybe we should (gulp) kill the kitten. Not to be mean or cold hearted or anything, but she was struggling with the feeding, she was far too young to be away from her mom, and that way she wouldn’t have to suffer. Now normally, it would be my nature to have agreed entirely with this suggestion. But not this time. You see, God was doing something in me with, or perhaps through this cat. I couldn’t put my finger on what, or how, but I just liked this little thing, and I had a very strong feeling that God was behind it. I told Isaac this numerous times when I’d be patiently feeding it, or if he would mention getting rid of it again.
I found myself talking to Belle - the name Colton gave her - and I’m thinking to myself, “what’s going on - I’m talking to a cat!!!”
She meowed a lot, and Colton, compassionate Colton, even got tired of it. The second day we had her he announced: “ Yesterday she was my kitten, today she’s our kitten, but I think tomorrow she’ll be your kitten.”
Well, that Wednesday, 2 days after Belle came, I prayed that prayer of wanting that huge, massive faith, and thinking about and wondering about all the ‘implications’ that could come with praying and receiving such a faith.
On Thursday, the next day, I was responding to, and writing emails in the evening. I don’t even turn our computer on nearly every day, so when I do, often there’s lots of stuff to tend to, and it ends up getting late. Isaac had gone to bed before me, and so when I finally finished my stuff at about 11:30, I was going to feed Belle, and hit it as well.
I got her wrapped in the cloth again, and I started to feed her. All of a sudden she died, right there in my hand!! I just stared at her. After some time I started to try and make her move - I held her up, moved her legs, her head, but nothing. She was as limp as a rag doll. After about three or four minutes, her little mouth opened and her tongue came out. Her eyes where still open, so I closed them. This was not good, how would I tell Colton… yes, he didn’t appreciate everything about her, but he wanted to see her grow and thrive.
All of a sudden, this strong feeling came over me and I laid my right hand on the tiny thing that I was still holding in my left hand, and I prayed; “Jesus, in Your name I ask You to raise this cat from the dead.” I removed my hand to look. Nothing. I repeated the same thing and looked again. Nothing.
At this point, two things rushed into my mind. One - Jesus said in Mt 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” And two, the Holy Spirit lives in me, and as such, I have the power and authority to raise this cat from the dead in the name of Jesus Christ.
I laid hands on it again and said; “ In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to live.” I looked, nothing. I repeated the above. Nothing. I repeated it a few more times, to no avail. There was a little puddle on the floor, indicating that her bladder had relaxed. Well, I tried. But then the thought of putting the kitten in the big box that had been it’s home since Monday, and placing her outside and having to show Colton in the morning that she died didn’t appeal to me at all. This compelled me to start again.
And nothing happened after numerous times. I thought, “okay, that’s it, I tried and it didn’t work.” But right on the heels of that was this powerful thought; “persevere.”
And so I persevered. I kept repeating, “ In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to live.” And I’d look, expectantly. And repeat; and look; and repeat... By now a fair amount of time had passed - probably close to 10 minutes, but I continued.
All of a sudden, little Belle began to move!!! I could hardly believe it!!! I started praising the Lord as Belle came to life more and more. I was whooping it up, loudly, very conscious of the possibility of Juvinal, our guard coming to look in the window ensuring that all was well, but I didn’t care if he saw me having a party with the cat in my hands, praising and worshipping Jesus.
At one point I figured I’d go and tell Isaac what happened. With Belle in hand, I went to our bedroom and exclaimed, “ honey, wake up, Jesus just rose Belle from the dead!!”
Isaac, squinting, rolled over to face me and half propping himself up, he said; “oh man, why didn’t you just leave her dead?” and lay back down.
I said, “honey, Jesus just performed a miracle in my hands - he raised this cat back to life.” Needless to say, he wasn’t going to join the praise party, so I went back to the living room and continued on my own.
Little Belle was fine. I set her down, and she walked/pulled herself along as she had done before.
I was pumped beyond words! I saw, with my own eyes, the resurrecting power of Jesus Christ!!! My faith was soaring to new heights.
I excitedly related the previous evenings’ happenings to Isaac and Colton in the morning.
Colton told some of his friends at school, and they had started a debate. Some said, yes it was possible for Jesus to raise the dead, but not a cat; a dog maybe, but never a cat!! : )
Well, after supper that day, Colton was playing guitar on the couch, and I’m sitting beside him on the same chair where I always sat to feed Belle - the chair where Jesus performed the miracle the previous night. I’m feeding her, and all of a sudden, just like the night before, she died. I watched as the life drained out of her; Colton noticed something was going on, and he asked me if Belle was dead. He slid closer to me, and we just looked at her.
Of course, after what happened the night before the thought occurred to me, but there was no compulsion in me to pray over her this time. I just continued holding her, thinking of how much this kitten had come to mean to me, how the Lord had used her to increase my faith in Him. I sat there for about 45 minutes, reflecting on the last 5 days. Finally I handed her to Isaac, and I went and cried on our bed.
I’m talking to Jesus about my desire to see Him raise particularly non- Christians from the dead so that they can have an encounter with Him, and be spared living in hell for all eternity.
Two thoughts - 1. never dismiss God’s sovereignty in using anyone/anything, in teaching, molding, shaping His children, no matter how unlikely. 2. Like Colton’s classmates, do we doubt that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, and that he still does radical miracles?
So on Sunday we watched the movie, and the Lord started talking to me about asking for that kind of faith.
The following day, Monday, our guard found an itty, bitty thing of a kitten next to our yard. He showed Colton, who brought it in.
Now you need to understand, I am so not a pet person - at all! They’re fine to look at, but quite frankly, they gross me out. It’s very important for you to remember that I don’t do pets, so that you’ll see that what transpired was a complete God thing.
When I saw this tiny kitten, which we ‘guesstimated’ to be about 1 ½ weeks old, I immediately felt compassion for it. It was meowing really loudly, clearly needing it’s mother. I went and got a tiny little plastic spoon and started spoon feeding the kitten. The poor thing sputtered, choked, and resisted. I wrapped it in a cloth so that it’s wild paws couldn’t hit the spoon and dump the milk. As it opened it’s mouth to meow, I’d empty the milk into it’s mouth. It was a long, slow process.
Well, it sort of seemed like we had a baby in the house all of a sudden; I had to feed it before school. In fact one day it made us a little late for staff devotions; I had to feed it upon returning from school, before bedtime, before going out, before…
Our domestic help vehemently declined to feed Belle the one time we asked him to. We’ve since found out that to an African a cat is akin to what a mouse is to us. I certainly wouldn’t dream of spoon feeding a mouse…
Isaac was saying that maybe we should (gulp) kill the kitten. Not to be mean or cold hearted or anything, but she was struggling with the feeding, she was far too young to be away from her mom, and that way she wouldn’t have to suffer. Now normally, it would be my nature to have agreed entirely with this suggestion. But not this time. You see, God was doing something in me with, or perhaps through this cat. I couldn’t put my finger on what, or how, but I just liked this little thing, and I had a very strong feeling that God was behind it. I told Isaac this numerous times when I’d be patiently feeding it, or if he would mention getting rid of it again.
I found myself talking to Belle - the name Colton gave her - and I’m thinking to myself, “what’s going on - I’m talking to a cat!!!”
She meowed a lot, and Colton, compassionate Colton, even got tired of it. The second day we had her he announced: “ Yesterday she was my kitten, today she’s our kitten, but I think tomorrow she’ll be your kitten.”
Well, that Wednesday, 2 days after Belle came, I prayed that prayer of wanting that huge, massive faith, and thinking about and wondering about all the ‘implications’ that could come with praying and receiving such a faith.
On Thursday, the next day, I was responding to, and writing emails in the evening. I don’t even turn our computer on nearly every day, so when I do, often there’s lots of stuff to tend to, and it ends up getting late. Isaac had gone to bed before me, and so when I finally finished my stuff at about 11:30, I was going to feed Belle, and hit it as well.
I got her wrapped in the cloth again, and I started to feed her. All of a sudden she died, right there in my hand!! I just stared at her. After some time I started to try and make her move - I held her up, moved her legs, her head, but nothing. She was as limp as a rag doll. After about three or four minutes, her little mouth opened and her tongue came out. Her eyes where still open, so I closed them. This was not good, how would I tell Colton… yes, he didn’t appreciate everything about her, but he wanted to see her grow and thrive.
All of a sudden, this strong feeling came over me and I laid my right hand on the tiny thing that I was still holding in my left hand, and I prayed; “Jesus, in Your name I ask You to raise this cat from the dead.” I removed my hand to look. Nothing. I repeated the same thing and looked again. Nothing.
At this point, two things rushed into my mind. One - Jesus said in Mt 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” And two, the Holy Spirit lives in me, and as such, I have the power and authority to raise this cat from the dead in the name of Jesus Christ.
I laid hands on it again and said; “ In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to live.” I looked, nothing. I repeated the above. Nothing. I repeated it a few more times, to no avail. There was a little puddle on the floor, indicating that her bladder had relaxed. Well, I tried. But then the thought of putting the kitten in the big box that had been it’s home since Monday, and placing her outside and having to show Colton in the morning that she died didn’t appeal to me at all. This compelled me to start again.
And nothing happened after numerous times. I thought, “okay, that’s it, I tried and it didn’t work.” But right on the heels of that was this powerful thought; “persevere.”
And so I persevered. I kept repeating, “ In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to live.” And I’d look, expectantly. And repeat; and look; and repeat... By now a fair amount of time had passed - probably close to 10 minutes, but I continued.
All of a sudden, little Belle began to move!!! I could hardly believe it!!! I started praising the Lord as Belle came to life more and more. I was whooping it up, loudly, very conscious of the possibility of Juvinal, our guard coming to look in the window ensuring that all was well, but I didn’t care if he saw me having a party with the cat in my hands, praising and worshipping Jesus.
At one point I figured I’d go and tell Isaac what happened. With Belle in hand, I went to our bedroom and exclaimed, “ honey, wake up, Jesus just rose Belle from the dead!!”
Isaac, squinting, rolled over to face me and half propping himself up, he said; “oh man, why didn’t you just leave her dead?” and lay back down.
I said, “honey, Jesus just performed a miracle in my hands - he raised this cat back to life.” Needless to say, he wasn’t going to join the praise party, so I went back to the living room and continued on my own.
Little Belle was fine. I set her down, and she walked/pulled herself along as she had done before.
I was pumped beyond words! I saw, with my own eyes, the resurrecting power of Jesus Christ!!! My faith was soaring to new heights.
I excitedly related the previous evenings’ happenings to Isaac and Colton in the morning.
Colton told some of his friends at school, and they had started a debate. Some said, yes it was possible for Jesus to raise the dead, but not a cat; a dog maybe, but never a cat!! : )
Well, after supper that day, Colton was playing guitar on the couch, and I’m sitting beside him on the same chair where I always sat to feed Belle - the chair where Jesus performed the miracle the previous night. I’m feeding her, and all of a sudden, just like the night before, she died. I watched as the life drained out of her; Colton noticed something was going on, and he asked me if Belle was dead. He slid closer to me, and we just looked at her.
Of course, after what happened the night before the thought occurred to me, but there was no compulsion in me to pray over her this time. I just continued holding her, thinking of how much this kitten had come to mean to me, how the Lord had used her to increase my faith in Him. I sat there for about 45 minutes, reflecting on the last 5 days. Finally I handed her to Isaac, and I went and cried on our bed.
I’m talking to Jesus about my desire to see Him raise particularly non- Christians from the dead so that they can have an encounter with Him, and be spared living in hell for all eternity.
Two thoughts - 1. never dismiss God’s sovereignty in using anyone/anything, in teaching, molding, shaping His children, no matter how unlikely. 2. Like Colton’s classmates, do we doubt that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, and that he still does radical miracles?
Monday, April 5, 2010
Another Peek Into Our Lives
Some very long over due updates…
Sabe Village… that awful, wonderful place.
Part of our hearts are here - how can they not be when we’ve seen them so vulnerable, desperate, destitute!?
Life is back to “normal” here; the flood waters have long receded, and it’s back to survival mode. Some hire themselves out for whatever they can find for what ever amount of time, just to fill their tummies; others are back to prostitution, still others are thieving again.
It’s a hard place; the hopelessness, despair… the empty look in some of the eyes…
It’s a wonderful place… the resiliency of children and their delight in the tiniest of things, their sheer delight in a little ‘extra”, their inquisitive looks at these muzungus and the enthrallment of the white skin that they touch very gingerly, as if they might wipe it off if they touch it too hard.
Thank you so much for all you who have and are praying; please don’t stop. And thank you so much to everyone of you who put wings on your prayers and physically made an immediate difference in the lives of these people by responding to previous blogs asking you to consider making donations. May God richly bless you.
On that note, we just want to again say a very sincere thank you to every one of you that support us with your prayers and with finances. Without your help, without your response to God’s prompting to support us, we would not be here. You are in our regular prayers as we partner to advance the kingdom of God.
I was helping at Pastor Ray and MaryAnne’s school for one week. MaryAnne is in Canada for about one month to visit their two grown daughters and their families, so I had the opportunity to get to know the Nyakabaga kids much better. The school is at Pastor Ray’s house, and they have 16 kids ranging in age from 3 - 10, all refugees from the Congo. They are able to understand some English and they have an interpreter. This was a huge blessing to be able to teach these kids; you see the vibrant faith and their deep love for Jesus they have when we go to Nyakabaga, and so to get to know them more was wonderful.
Yesterday when we went (after not having gone for some time), I was told by one of the older teens that I am “mama Florence.” Her name is Florence, and in this culture the mom and dad are called by their firstborn childs’ name. In other words, Isaac is papa Colton, I’m mama Colton.
We love this place dearly; Pastor Rueben asked Isaac and myself to preach here in a few weeks, so please pray for us that the Lord will give us a fresh Word for them.
Pastor Dave and Lynn came out from Canada last week Tuesday, and are staying with us. They leave on Sunday. It’s been great having them; they are a blessing.
Isaac is continuing to work with Gentile. This young man is very likable and pleasant, but really lacks a desire to work.
Colton wrote 10 exams a few weeks ago - there is no such thing as exempting anything here. His report card was phenomenal - his highest mark was 98%. So now we are in the middle of a two week Easter break - no school, hooray!
I was at a women’s conference in Gitega a few weeks ago. What an experience - the only muzungu among hundreds of women; funny thing is, I don’t think I’m nearly as much aware of this than what it seems the African’s are. To me it’s just skin color, to them it seems so often to mean that I’m better, or more important some how. They tried to wait on me almost hand and foot, and I very, very humbly accepted a fair bit, but at one point I just said, “You know, I don’t want to be rude or ungrateful or anything culturally inappropriate, but I can’t accept that.” I think they understood where I was coming from. My desire is to be one of them, and to be elevated like that is not right. Please understand, they want to do nothing but bless me, they have only good intentions. Call me a wannabe African!! : )
We love you, our praying family and friends. Walk, breathe, be, live in the finished work of the Cross, that ultimate sacrifice we just celebrated yesterday. May it govern your life.
Papa Colton, Mama Colton and Colton
Sabe Village… that awful, wonderful place.
Part of our hearts are here - how can they not be when we’ve seen them so vulnerable, desperate, destitute!?
Life is back to “normal” here; the flood waters have long receded, and it’s back to survival mode. Some hire themselves out for whatever they can find for what ever amount of time, just to fill their tummies; others are back to prostitution, still others are thieving again.
It’s a hard place; the hopelessness, despair… the empty look in some of the eyes…
It’s a wonderful place… the resiliency of children and their delight in the tiniest of things, their sheer delight in a little ‘extra”, their inquisitive looks at these muzungus and the enthrallment of the white skin that they touch very gingerly, as if they might wipe it off if they touch it too hard.
Thank you so much for all you who have and are praying; please don’t stop. And thank you so much to everyone of you who put wings on your prayers and physically made an immediate difference in the lives of these people by responding to previous blogs asking you to consider making donations. May God richly bless you.
On that note, we just want to again say a very sincere thank you to every one of you that support us with your prayers and with finances. Without your help, without your response to God’s prompting to support us, we would not be here. You are in our regular prayers as we partner to advance the kingdom of God.
I was helping at Pastor Ray and MaryAnne’s school for one week. MaryAnne is in Canada for about one month to visit their two grown daughters and their families, so I had the opportunity to get to know the Nyakabaga kids much better. The school is at Pastor Ray’s house, and they have 16 kids ranging in age from 3 - 10, all refugees from the Congo. They are able to understand some English and they have an interpreter. This was a huge blessing to be able to teach these kids; you see the vibrant faith and their deep love for Jesus they have when we go to Nyakabaga, and so to get to know them more was wonderful.
Yesterday when we went (after not having gone for some time), I was told by one of the older teens that I am “mama Florence.” Her name is Florence, and in this culture the mom and dad are called by their firstborn childs’ name. In other words, Isaac is papa Colton, I’m mama Colton.
We love this place dearly; Pastor Rueben asked Isaac and myself to preach here in a few weeks, so please pray for us that the Lord will give us a fresh Word for them.
Pastor Dave and Lynn came out from Canada last week Tuesday, and are staying with us. They leave on Sunday. It’s been great having them; they are a blessing.
Isaac is continuing to work with Gentile. This young man is very likable and pleasant, but really lacks a desire to work.
Colton wrote 10 exams a few weeks ago - there is no such thing as exempting anything here. His report card was phenomenal - his highest mark was 98%. So now we are in the middle of a two week Easter break - no school, hooray!
I was at a women’s conference in Gitega a few weeks ago. What an experience - the only muzungu among hundreds of women; funny thing is, I don’t think I’m nearly as much aware of this than what it seems the African’s are. To me it’s just skin color, to them it seems so often to mean that I’m better, or more important some how. They tried to wait on me almost hand and foot, and I very, very humbly accepted a fair bit, but at one point I just said, “You know, I don’t want to be rude or ungrateful or anything culturally inappropriate, but I can’t accept that.” I think they understood where I was coming from. My desire is to be one of them, and to be elevated like that is not right. Please understand, they want to do nothing but bless me, they have only good intentions. Call me a wannabe African!! : )
We love you, our praying family and friends. Walk, breathe, be, live in the finished work of the Cross, that ultimate sacrifice we just celebrated yesterday. May it govern your life.
Papa Colton, Mama Colton and Colton
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