Monday Feb. 25, 6:47 AM

Mosquitos - 4

Reed - 6

(they brought me a mosquito net last night)

Yesterday was a good day. The loneliness is gone. I am making friends with the people. Talking with my translator and others. After breakfast we walked to the Mwera church which is up on the mountain. It was an hours walk along a dusty road. It was great to get some exercise and see a little of the countryside. Jacobo, a Masai who has become SDA ran up the mountain to catch up with us. He was wearing a shirt tie, and jacket, and it was pretty hot. As we walked I asked Jackson if this was the same churh that I visited last year as we were leaving Chome. He said that he thought it was the same one. Sure enough it was. It was so exciting to me. The people came singing and dancing down the hill to greet us. They were excited too. They have gotten the headers on the church but still no roof. I know that last year willie had said it had taken them 8 years to build the mud brick walls. They also have a cement floor now.

I preached on John `6:5-7 and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We prayed in small groups afterwards and then headed down the mountain. This time Willie's land rover was at the bottom of the hill the church is on and brought us down the mountain. On the way Jackson asked me about the price of the plane ticket here (I have told the story about how God provided for the ticket four times already, they really love that story). I was embarrassed to tell them. The pastors here make about 150 dollars a month. The day before Jackson had asked me about my salary. Again I was embarrased to tell him. I told him more than ten times his salary, I should have told him about 20 times. Yesterday Jackson also asked the price of the laptop. I am always embarrassed at these questions. I feel that if they realize how much I have, they will be offended that I have not helped them, or done more to help them.

During lunch I asked Jacobo how he became and Adventist. He said that one day he found a piece of paper with a bible verse on it. It convicted him and gave him a desire for a new life. Later he walked by an adventist church and heard some singing. The song was about our need of God. He was cut to the heart, went inside and surrendered his life to the Lord. That was in 1985.

We went to visit some people after lunch. I prayed with those who were housing the choir, and talked and prayed for a while with a carpenter named Meshach. Between the afternoon and evening program we also went to his house and talked with him. He wants prayers but also he wanted me to organize people in america who can lend him money so that he can buy power tools for his carpentry business.

Dr. Kisaka came yesterday afternoon, he is a tremendous encouragement. the people here respect him highly and love to listen to him. They really respond when he speaks. I spoke in the afternoon on stress, and Numbers 13-14, and how God honors our expectations. In the afternoon a boy was brought to me who sometimes has paralysis on the right side of his body. Also his mind is "not sharp". I talked with the boy's mother for a little while and then prayed for the boy. I kept having this feeling that the boys condition is medically diagnosable and treatable, but I have no idea. I wish there was something I could do. There is a great need for health work and education here. Since I have been here I have thought several times about pursuing a masters degree in public health.

In the evening I preached on Phil 4:6-7 and worry. We had a good meal with dr. Kisaka afterwards. I really like him. He is trying to come to america by March. 10 to go to a wedding of his grandson. He is trusting in God for the money for the plane ticket. Out of 2000 he only has 800 left to go. Pretty good for a man who makes about 250 a month. He loved the story of the deer and how god provided.

The loneliness was gone before Dr. Kisaka came, but now that he is here it is even better. I also was able to talk to Jade yesterday on the phone. It was so good to hear her voice as well as Faith's, I love them both.

This morning Jackson woke me up at 5:30. Dr. Kisaka was supposed to have a prayer service that began at 5:00. I dressed quickly and we went. Dr. Kisaka was speaking to a group of more than 20 about "repose in Jesus" (I think the idea is of resting or abiding in christ). By the end of the service at 6:30 there was probably 40 people there. Dr. Kisaka talked during the service but we also broke up twice into small groups and prayed. the people here seem to be so hungry for the message of casting their burdens upon the Lord through prayer.

Yesterday I realized how perfectly adapted for those living in the third world the sections of the sermon on the Mount about worry and trusting in God. It seems we can barely understand these passages in America. We don't often worry about how we will eat or how we will have clothes.

Heavenly Father,

I have spent a lot of time talking about you in these last few days. This morning I have a desire to talk with you. Lord I feel that many times when I pray in public, I am not really talking with You, but I am talking about You, talking so that others can hear. Lord I want a connection with You this morning that is deep and real. I want to communicate with You as a friend. I want to abide with You, walk in You, live this day in communion with You, seeking Your advice, seeking Your will, seeking You. Lord I pray for communion with You today. Maybe You could provide time that I could spend with You. But also I pray in the midst of everything that I could have a living connection with You.

Lord I am a bit tired and it is only monday. I need Your strength this week. Lord help me to pray without ceasing today. To have You "on the line" continually today. To talk with You about the happenings of the day.  Lord may I rest in You. May I come to You knowing that You will give me rest. Thank You Lord that our work is to simply rest in You. Thank You that we are to simply remain where You put us, in Christ.

Lord I pray for complete dependency. That I would realize I only have strength in Christ. I pray that I would not dare to speak, or go, or do anything unless I am doing it with Your strength. May I realize that what I do amounts to nothing. One moment with the Holy Spirit is more powerful than a million in my own strength. Thank you Lord. May I rest in You this morning. I love You. You love me so much more than I know. Praise Your name. Father I pray all of this in the name of Jesus, He is my intercessor, His blood paves the way for me to talk with You, praise His name. Amen.