Greetings from Africa! April 17, 2004
It has been a very busy week, so much so that I completely forgot that I had not sent out this email - and certainly not early in the week, as I should. Sorry! One source of busy-ness was learning how to do video editing on the computer, and in fact producing my first - well - production. It is only 11 minutes long, but when you begin the project looking in the book to see how to get the stuff into the computer, with no idea what to do next, those 11 minutes took some time to make! The disc should arrive at church 'soon' (well before Jesus returns, I think), so many of you will have an opportunity to see it then. I will suggest to the church that they share it (or copies of it) with other interested parties. I am actually rather proud of it as a first effort. I permitted myself to have some fun, too, as those of you who see it will discover.
I spent Monday afternoon with an American missionary who has been in Rustenburg for 10 years (with his wife and kids). What they have accomplished is quite wonderful, and I am actually rather sorry that they are returning to the States pretty soon. I also confess to going through a bit of a depression at the comparative magnitude of the work they are involved in (BIG) compared to my neonatal activities. The timing worked out well, humility-wise, because one of his activities (of several) is to direct the media center at a local bible college, which he took me to visit. This, on the very day I completed my mini-video editing project. That is what I call being on a short leash. Another major project is called 'The Light-house Children's Shelter', where up to 20 orphans are cared for until adoptions can be arranged (see picture of Korean missionaries walking two of the babies on the grounds - which are very beautiful).
Good Friday turned out to be very interesting. Pastor Fred had a particular agenda in mind for the day, but that is not what ended up happening. There was the planned service in the morning, and I preached as scheduled (see attached pictures). However, one of his elders had actually rented the hall we met in, and was - as far as Fred understood - going to have his marriage blessed after the second service in the afternoon. The actual plan, it turned out, was for a full-scale, bridesmaids-with-gowns, decorate-the-hall, sit-down-meal WEDDING. To have derailed THAT could have potentially started a war, so, we had the wedding. Therefore, I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time talking to Fred, and learned a lot about what his ministry looks like from his eyes. Please pray for him!
I have been in contact with a pastor in Namibia I met two years ago, and am planning on going there for about two weeks in late May. He is planning for me to do a LOT, renting halls in hotels and the whole nine yards. I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into, but that IS why I came here, so, whatever it is, God will be there, too, so it will all work out. I'm looking forward to seeing Namibia, reputed to be one of the most inhospitable yet beautiful places on earth. It is big (like Texas) and has fewer than two million people in the whole country. My camera should be very busy.
I am very much looking forward to giving the inner healing seminar tomorrow, except for the fact that I have a sore throat. It has been getting worse for several days, so I hope (and pray!) that the trend reverses during the night tonight. I met with the healing team of the Methodist church on Thursday to review the seminar with them, right before teaching the Fresh Bread course, so I spent about three straight hours talking yesterday - which didn't help. I really do like those people and look forward to working with them in the future.
It is about time to take my throat to bed for a rest before abusing it tomorrow. Next week I'll let you know how it went!
Love from Africa
Lary