Archive for July 25th, 2007
I had gotten up at 3 am Sunday morning to prepare a Sunday lesson for the children at our church. Just the night before, the Sunday School teacher had frantically telephoned to inform me that she was sick with typhoid and could not teach the class. By flashlight I studied that night, expecting God to show me exactly what message to share. I arrived at church the following morning fully prepared to teach, but God had other plans for me; another teacher had also prepared the lesson! So I gave him the honor of sharing with the boys and girls.
Later that day, at home, I was able to share the message the Holy Spirit had given me. In our front yard I told the story of the love of God. One of my visual aids was a whipping stick—the children here know what that means! In African society the stick is used to beat the children who dishonor their elders, or disobey their parents. The stick symbolizes punishment.
I communicated with the children how Jesus was beaten—not for His sin but for ours. Jesus was punished for OUR disrespect, OUR cheating, OUR fighting! The following day after school, seven year old Gary, Jr. walked up to me with a grin on his face and a gleam in his eyes.”Auntie Ruth, I remember the stick!”
July 25th, 2007
At four o’clock in the morning our family begins waking up. Each one in turn takes a bucket bath and dresses into their school uniforms. By seven o’clock they have left for school in a taxi. The very first morning that I slept in our new home, I was awakened at six in the morning by the gonging of the neighborhood church bell. The next thing I heard was a rooster crowing “cock-a-doodle-doo”, then the chirping of birds with their high pitched voices.
“What a perfect alarm clock” I thought as dawn began shyly creeping its ways into the African sky. Suddenly, the entire heavens seemed to burst with praises and melody as the church was filled with the orchestra of drums, sassas, singing and harmony. The scenario reminded me of my childhood days in Cote d”Ivoire, West Africa on Christmas Day. “What a great way to start off the day,” I mused, “just praising Jesus!”
July 25th, 2007
St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church; Gary and I have both been warmly accepted by our new church family. One Sunday our Liberian brothers and sisters waved banners in the church proclaiming, “Welcome Brother Gary and Sis Ruth! “Up front they crowned each of us with an African robe, sliding them over our American clothes! They beat their drums, clapped, and snapped our pictures. Then they asked us for our responses. Gary expressed his gratefulness in words, while I responded with an African dance. Everyone cheered.” Now you and Gary are truly African!” the elders declared.
Our new church has many ministries. While preaching the Word of God is of utmost importance, the church also has a ministry to the deaf and dumb. This group of people are highly intelligent and very diligent workers. There is also the outreach ministry led by Enoch Glaybo, who travels to different teaching points around the country of Liberia helping new believers start churches. This Sunday Gary and Enoch had the privilege of participating ” in the small teaching point at Kakata. Enoch preached while Gary gave his testimony. It was a very rewarding opportunity for Gary.
The church has other ministries besides–a small clinic, a school, and a tailor shop where outfits are custom fitted and sewn. I hope to have several Liberian dresses make for myself, as they are a lot cooler than my American clothes! Our new church has very godly preachers and teachers, who love the Lord and make it their goal to preach the Truth. We also have a very lively choir who love to sing and dance! Oh how I enjoy worshipping with my new church family!
July 25th, 2007
It is awesome to HEAR evidence of God’s Spirit moving over the land of Liberia. Music about Jesus booms in the streets, marketplaces, and in neighborhoods; from CDs playing in taxi cabs to radios in the hands of young people, to daily church gatherings (morning, noon, and night.) No one seems ashamed to loudly play music about Jesus Christ. What a blessing these dear Liberians are to me.
It is also awesome to SEE evidence of God’s Spirit moving over the land of Liberia. Young people are responding to the love of Jesus Christ. Yesterday in Sunday School, five to six teenagers committed themselves to follow Christ and allow Jesus to be their “boss man”. Three of those boys were from our new home. After church these same three boys, plus one more, gathered on our front porch to hear more stories of Jesus’ love. The new boy who is age 26, asked me if I would please share more with him every day, for two hours a day. Wow! How hungry these Liberian young people are for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Even highly educated men and women in Liberia are hungry to know God in a personal way. The other day while using my computer at the Royal Hotel, God gave me the opportunity of sharing Jesus with a former government official who is a Sunni Muslim. Later, when Gary and Enoch came to pick me up, they too shared Jesus with this highly educated man. Our conversation ended with the Holy Spirit prompting him to give us his email address and phone number so that he could hear more about Christ
PLEASE PRAY..
July 25th, 2007
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