Blazing Sun, River Boat, Salvations, Rain – All Wonderful in the Kingdom

Today was amazing! It is exciting to be in the Kingdom and do what The Lord is calling you to do! First, Pastor Bill, Troy, and our local team went on a 3 hour bumpy road car trip…to arrive at a village along the river. Then, with the sun blazing, we got into a 15 foot wooden boat with a small Diesel engine and headed upriver, switching boats once along the way, and finally arrived at the village we were headed to. When we arrived, Troy noticed 4 young men playing pretty intense volleyball in the field by the river, a beautiful and surprising sight. Troy joined them. Thankfully, he remembered how to play and his team won. It started to rain and as we gathered under the tree, Troy invited them all to come over to the church to hear Pastor Bill play the guitar and sing. We all walked over to the church and the service began.

Pastor Bill sand a song over all the people that came, preached the Gospel, and 38 of those present received The Lord! We were able to pray for several people and talk more with the volleyball players before leaving when the rain lightened up. Our team of 13 (including our driver, boatsman, 2 local pastors, a couple translators/pastors, etc) piled back into the boat to endure/enjoy the wet and rainy boat trip back to the car. We were laughing and joking most of the way about the weather and about Troy’s hat that had blown off his head on the way up…no sympathy from the steersman who continued plowing on ahead without looking back :) Of course, don’t forget that we were off to the 3 hour plus return ride in the dark and rain.

It was one of those days that was very uncomfortable, but very, very rewarding and fills your heart up with joy! Our God is so good and we are so blessed!

Please keep praying for Pastor Bill, Troy, and our local team for the rest of our time here. Tomorrow, we are headed to visit our friends who are lepers, as well as go to a new leper community. Thursday, we are having a pastors and leaders conference. Friday, we are planning to go out to some villages to minister. We will also be spending more time with our beautiful children at the Frontline Children’s Home.