Greetings from Africa! 01 Apr. 2004
Today is April 1st, so I hope no one is disappointed
that I am not going to write a bunch of bogus "news" and then announce: "April
Fools!" The REAL news is that good things are continuing to happen here. Many
people to whom Erton has ministered in the past have managed to get word to him
that they have become sheep without a shepherd and want him back. So, a small
group of them came here on Sunday and we started having church in our garage. It
was VERY good, and many more are expected this Sunday. I strongly suspect that
the need will rapidly increase to the point that he moves the services to the
area (called "Sunrise Park") where these people live. There is a member of the
City Council who is also a strong Christian lady, and she has space that (I
think) will be offered to him when he needs it.
On Monday Erton and Russell went to Sunrise and met with this City Councilor at the daycare center/school where she and other ladies work as volunteers, caring for about 50 children (see attached pictures). They learned of a project to build a center near there for orphans, especially orphans due to AIDS, and most especially AIDS orphans with AIDS (there are many of them). They are very excited at the prospect of helping launch this project and making it bear abundant fruit. Please pray for God's will and provision.
On Monday night there was a meeting of the program committee (which I was asked to join) for the Rustenburg venue of the "Transformation Africa" project. The central event at all of the venues, all across Africa (picture many hundreds of "Promise Keepers" events all happening at once), is the "Africa Prayer", which occurs everywhere at exactly the same time. The prayer is written out in 10 parts, and is read by 10 different people at each venue (in whatever language; in Rustenburg it will be one of three: English, Afrikaans or Tswana [the program will have the entire prayer in all three languages so everyone can follow along {my suggestion}]). I was surprised and honored to be asked to read the fifth part of the prayer at the stadium in Rustenburg. The event is held on May 2nd, so please pray for God to really move in transforming Africa. The Africa Prayer will be read starting at 3:00pm here, which will be 8:00am there. So as you all are getting ready for church please remember and pray for Africa!
I went out to stay with Pastor Edward again on Tuesday night, returning this afternoon. We completed "Phase I" in preparation for the launch of his "Vision Africa!" program, and I trained him in PowerPoint so he can carry the torch further without having to have me around. He is quite excited, and I feel good about doing what I am supposed to do, which is help African ministers do what they need to do (not do it for them). He has long had a dream of coming to America (interestingly, almost all black African ministers have that dream) and has become convinced that God will provide the money for him to come with me when next I come back to Kansas City. If he's right, you all will have the chance to meet him.
Earlier this evening I taught session #2 of the "Fresh Bread" course, and we will resume again in two weeks. Next Thursday night there will be a Passover dinner at the church, in the same room I use.
Blessings to all of you from all of us!
Love from Africa,
Lary
