On
yesterday morning’s walk I saw about fifteen ostriges, two donkeys, two
antelope, seven giraffe, a flock of those beautiful white birds you
always see flying in pictures of Africa, and a mama warthog with her
two babies. The giraffe stared at me strangely and then followed me for
a ways.
I
started speaking in tongues recently. I’m not really sure what I’m
doing, but each day my life is more free and complete than the day before. I have been encouraged very much by some of the greatest people I’ve met in my life to
live in the spirit. I’m trying first of all to discover what that
means and then trying to implement it in my life.
Speaking in tongues does something to the spirit man that the physical man most
often does not understand. We’ve been studying what it means to be living in the
spirit, specifically speaking in tongues, this week. It’s a new way of
life for all of us, but it’s worth it. It’s not really harder. If
anything it’s more liberating. As a result my faith has become more
contagious and I am sensing a new urgency to see God’s kingdom come on
earth as it is in heaven.
Every
weekday Molly and I travel to one of the six care points to play/teach
the children. The first couple of days they looked pathetic. They would
sit and stare. No laughs, no smiles, no playing, not even any
interaction! We figured it might be that the children were hot and
starving – something not unlikely for this location. We held them,
tickled them, smiled at them, brought them apples and juice, and after
three days saw some interaction.
Yesterday
when we drove up one of the two-year-old boys ran, as best a
two-year-old can, toward me. He wasn’t smiling or laughing, he just
knew I’d hold him. Pastor Gift filled Molly’s absence and helped me
teach and play games with them. The help was greatly needed as I don’t
know very well how to interact with children, much less guide them in
interacting with each other.
Today
I was alone so I mimicked as best I could the previous day. The
children laughed and ran around playing hide and go seek, they were for
the most part disciplined, and they held my hands and called me
Malundi, I think (or whatever is the Swazi name for uncle). I love
those kids and look forward to spending more time with them.
I
was also allowed the privilege of leading a man to the Lord the other
day. I’m not sure how seriously he took his decision, but it sounded
like he understood it all and wanted it. I’ll be getting back together
with him soon.