We are on day 18 of our time in Africa and up to this point we have discovered what it is really like to minister in Africa. We have had a couple of organized times of helping out at Jaco’s house doing repairs, but since then…Nothing! We finally had a ministry plan for today that would have started at 9am, but then it got pushed back until 12pm. We went and, of course, we were late…I don’t know the details, but we were told to come back tomorrow! I just have to laugh because THIS IS AFRICA (TIA)!!! No time tables, no schedules, and their is definitely no such thing as being late! It’s a life of being flexible with no expectations. We also had been told this morning that we would be going to a clinic to pray for the patients, but then we found out that the clinic has no patients right now! That doesn’t mean there are no sick people, it just means that no one can get to the clinic or that they believe the clinic will not be able to help. With all of the down time that we have had, I have had so much more time to spend with God…it has been amazing!
Last night we did have a church service. Dinner took longer to prepare than usual because Jaco got fish for us and preparation was time consuming, but well worth the wait! So Good! The service finally started around 8-8:30ish which is the time that we have been going to bed! We were all exhausted! Despite the urge to nod off to sleep, the service was amazing. We didn’t understand a lot because everything was not being translated. But they sang beautiful songs, the children shared some songs and dances, then the women did the same. They had a time of sharing praise and thanksgiving to God for what He has done this past week. Many stood to share! Then Tim shared the message. It was good. He had two translators! One to translate from English to Portuguese and another to translate from Portuguese into whatever African language they speak. It all took about two hours…babies, kids and adults were all still there to the end. Somewhere in the middle of the service I realized how special this was. Everyone separated into their sections of seating; the low light of the lanterns; and the Spirit of God moving through all of us with the joy of the Lord. It was a night to remember…we get to do it again tonight!
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14
