Thursday Feb. 28, 2:33 PM

Mosquitoes - 4

Reed - 10

I wish I had time to write... I am afraid I am going to forget the thoughts and events of the day. I think the group from Chome is here.

6:38 PM

I waited a while for the group and then went with Jackson to meet Pastor Crich Kinyongo (from Chome) who had come ahead of the Chome bus on his new motorcycle (I think that somehow Richard Bendall provided it for him). I was so excited because not only did I see Pr. Crich but there was also George from Chome with him. It was a huge encouragement to meet. We all hugged and George and I held hands as we walked back toward the crusade sight. I was thrilled to hear that George and Pr. Crich had met several times for prayer with Ronnie and Frankie. As George said this tears filled my eyes as I thought about the times of prayer that we, along with Pr. Charles Mndambi had shared last year. George also told me that last year after I left he and Charles had gone to a forest on the mountain and prayed for a entire night especially for me. All that I can say is God is good.

Before the Americans arrived Pastor Crich and Pastor Reuben talked to me about the needs of the adventist primary school in Same. It is a boarding elementary school with 230 students. The school is ranked number 1 in the area but desperately needs classrooms, and housing for the students. I agreed that I would go and visit it tomorrow. I am hoping that my churches back in the U.S. can help support this school.

I was encouraged to see the rest of the group. They stayed for only about half an hour because they were late coming and had to go to Arusha. It was good to talk to them. I told them about Tajihili, praise the Lord, people donated and I now have enough to give to Tajihili for all four years of his school. God is good.

It was good to see the Americans, but I have not felt lonely since Sabbath or Sunday. I have made some very good friends here in Mwembe. I love these people. I love the people of Mwerera, I love the people of Chome, especially George. I remember the first time I met George in Chome last year. There was so much love and kindness in his eyes that we seemed to bond instantly.

After the group left, we had the afternoon meeting (with no PA system). I was hoping the group from America would stay for the afternoon meeting. I was especially hoping that Frankie would share his testimony during the message time. I knew that it would be a blessing to the people here and very well received. I was also hoping to get out of preaching myself. I was not looking forward to the afternoon meeting. I did not know what I was going to preach on. Also last night Pr. Reuben and Jackson have asked me to make an appeal for baptism at all of the remaining meetings. I always feel awkward when making appeals. I do not know what to say. I feel like during the appeal I must keep giving the invitation though to give people time to come forward. Last night after the sermon on judgment I made and appeal for people to stand to be covered by the blood of Jesus, and then I made an appeal for those who wish to be baptized to come forward. I knew that there were already seven who had decided for baptism so I asked them to come forward as well. Four people total came forward. Afterwards I felt discouraged. But I resolved that this was not about me and that the battle was not over. I resolved that we must keep praying and keep appealing.

So this afternoon I was to make an appeal. But I had doubts. There are usually about half as many people in the afternoon as the evening (in the evening we have about 80 or so). Most of those in the afternoon are Adventists. It is also in the broad daylight so coming forward is much more conspicuous. The village is 75% Muslim (mostly nominal), but the imams discourage people from becoming Christian, and seem to have a grip upon the people. Jackson said this one of the reasons that more people come at night, because they cannot be seen. As I was sitting up front waiting for the choir to finish, the Lord brought the parable of the banquet to mind. After the health talk on the biblical diet I preached on this parable from Luke 14. I also used the section in Luke 14 about counting the cost. I emphasized the part about those who said no because of excuses as well as how what we gain from following Jesus is worth the cost. At the end I made an appeal. Seven people came forward (including two new decisions), not because of the sermon, but because of the holy Spirit. As I was making the appeal, Jacobo went over to a young man and began talking with him. Eventually the young man came forward. I later found out that he was a fellow Masai.

I praise the Lord for Jacobo, everyday he comes to Mwerera, sometimes going earlier than us and walking so that he can visit people. He is always handing out tracks. He is hungry for souls. He does not have much in earth, but he will be one of the richest people I know in heaven.

It is already past seven when the evening meeting starts and The power has still not come back on. After the afternoon meeting Jackson and I prayed. I confess I prayed for the "Lord's will to be done", because I wouldn't mind if we didn't have an evening meeting. I pray for forgiveness. I pray that I would be like Jacobo, always hungry for souls, even at the expense of myself. Lord send power so that I may preach Your word tonight. Rebuke Satan. Lord I only have a limited number of opportunities to preach here. Please send power Lord so that we can have the meeting, in Jesus name. Amen.

9:22 PM

Mosquitoes - 4

Reed - 11

I went out with my computer to the meeting site. I suggested to Jackson that we set up everything in case the power turned on. Elijah said that he didn't think we should because he didn't think the power would come on in time for us to have a meeting.

Sylvester was sitting on some of the benches and told Jackson he wanted to see me. I went over and we began talking. I brought up the subject about his son once again. He began telling us about the problems with his wife. She will not even eat at the same table with him, she is so angry with him. Last week Jackson had gone to see Sylvester and his wife was there, she said to Jackson that if he wanted to see her he had to come back when Sylvester was not there. I said that I wished to go see her. I want to appeal to her to forgive Sylvester. She has already lost a son, why should she lose her husband also? We made the arrangement when we would go to see her and prayed together.

Afterwards an old man who was sitting near by began to talk. He said he loved coming to the meetings and hearing the messages. He said that he wanted to follow them. I asked him if he would like to be baptized and he said that he would. Theresa one of the members of the Sangu choir began to explain that during the appeal that afternoon the mze (old man) had begun to come forward but he was not seated on the benches and was a long way away. She had tried to encourage him, but before he got to the front he became discouraged and stopped. We talked with him a little more about this and set up a time when we could talk to him after the prayer time in the morning at 5:00 (he said he wanted to talk to us when he could see our faces).

After the mzie left Sylvester mentioned how much he had enjoyed the meetings. For the next half hour or so, Sylvester, Jackson, Theresa, and another young man named Shabani, continued to sit on the benches under the majesty of the stars and talk. We talked about many things, praising God throughout our conversation. I mentioned that I thought it was God's plan for the power to be out, because otherwise I probably would not have been able to talk with Sylvester about his wife or the old man about baptism.

I really enjoyed lingering with them under the stars. I have really bonded with the people here. All my desires to "get through" the week are gone. The friendship of the people has given me a second wind. Love is energizing. I feel very content here. If Jade and Faith were here I would love to stay. But I miss them a lot. After we prayed we began to head our separate ways when Shabani who had been completely silent until then began to talk with Jackson and myself. He asked for prayer. He is an orphan who has not finished school. I think he has completed the equivalent of the 5th or 6th grade. He is 18 and living with Elijah's brother. He is also having financial trouble. I prayed for Him, asking God to provide so that he could finish school.

This morning we went to Mwerera early so that those who wanted to could go to the Thursday market in Mwembe. I had awoken early this morning thinking about what I would preach on in Mwerera. I preached on 1 Cor. 1:26-31 and 2 Cor. 12:7-10 and the greatness of weakness. The people responded well. After we got back to Mwembe I recorded the Sangu choir. It took about 3 hours or so. They have beautiful voices. I hope that the recording is a useful tool for their witness here (the Muslims love to hear the choirs) and that it will be a blessing that I can share with people back in the states.