This month my team has been doing church planting. We would go to an area where there was no church or to an area where the pastor wanted to spread news of his church. In each area we would share our story and tell them that Jesus wanted to have a personal relationship with him. In Africa many people go to church but do not have a relationship with Jesus.
We stated off in a village that had church years ago but it fell apart. We split into 2 teams of 3 people each and went into the village and did a short message. We shared our story, why you should go to church, encouragement that even though you have accepted Jesus the devil will still come after you, and why you need to read your bible. We also did prayers for healing. I heard and saw many healings in the villages. Healing from back pain, sickness, and many other pains that they were healed from that they had for weeks or even years.
We did this from Tuesday till Friday. On Friday we needed to drive to an area of town that was further back. We splint into teams of 2 so there were 3 teams on that day. After we finished our fist house we walked through a dry field to our next location. Where I was there I saw an older woman with a Bible, but she only had part of Exodus and up to Mathew 15. It was then that I realized that she needed a new bible. I was amazed that she took such good care of her old bible, even though she was missing most of the New Testament.
So the next day we went to get a Bible for the pastor and for the woman who’s Bible was torn. Bibles are not cheap for the people who live here, they are 4500 Kwacha (1 USD = 550 kwacha so about $8.5). Many people asked for them when we were in the village but we did not have any to give to them.
We went to an orphanage on Saturday, it was very different than what I was use to. It was very open with no walls, and the normal kids were mixed in with the orphans. We played games, and I preached on David and Goliath. I told them that like David they can overcome anything with God on their side.
On Sunday we went to the village to have their First church service. When we got there there was about 70 people (Mostly kids). There was a funeral that day so most of the village was there. We sang some songs, told them about Jesus, and encouraged them in their faith. We also told them about giving 10% back to God. At the end we gave a bible to one of the leaders there, but the woman who’s bible was torn. So Harvey (our contact) asked me what we should do. I told him that we should give the bible to the pastor. He asked me again what we should do. I told him come back next week and see if she is there. Then he asked me if she is not there? I told him that we could bring it to her home.
So I waited a week, and went back to the village. Harvey told me that the entire village was talking about just 1 Bible. We arrived late because we had to drop off other people at different churches. They were in a building this time that the school uses (or an orphanage not 100% sure) We came just in time to preach the message and I did David and Goliath because it was a good second message for people to hear. At the end of the message the pastor asked if the woman with the torn Bible was there. I looked around the room and I saw a hand go up. I was so happy that I could hand her a new bible. She was so excited as well to get one.
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