volunteer group

What an amazing but busy week this has been for me. I hope that I will remember this week more for what we have done rather than the running around and lack of sleep that I have gotten. It has truly been worth it to see this team come in and get some hands on experience in the culture and sharing the gospel with those that they meet.

Let's tell briefly about the team. It's a team of Texans, so picture 2 cowboys and a sweet hearted young woman working together here in Mekhe. We have done prayer walking each morning and village visiting during the afternoons. During the prayer walks we also will get to meet others in the neighborhood and we take the opportunity to ask if we can pray for them and their family. Usually they say they respect our religion and bless us. Occasionally we'll hear a need the family has and we'll pray for God to provide.

This team has had incredible energy. I have enjoyed seeing them relate to others in the villages we visit, and their energy and enthusiasm has greatly benefited them in getting to spend time with others. They visited one village while I was away, and we all went to another village to talk and visit.

Then all day yesterday we visited a village not too far from Mekhe. I was very overwhelmed by the hospitalitity of the people, even though I was expecting it. They set up a table of honor for us to come and sit by. All the people of the village came dressed in some of their best clothes and listened as the team of volunteers said where they were from, a little about their family and their work, and that they were glad to be there.

After the time of sharing we got down and boogied! Some of the ladies of the village danced as 3 people played pots for drums. I'll look to find a video on youtube that can perhaps demonstate the dances. Everyone had a blast with this. Even an elderly woman got out and danced.

We then went to the school in the village and greeted the headmaster and a teacher who was there. They told the team of the school and what a typical day was like. And then we ate lunch, talked with the kids and some adults, spent the afternoon with the village chief and his wife and sister, drank hot tea, ate peanuts, and ended the day. I thought overall it was a wonderful day in the village.

During this time one of the team members shared the creation story with the village chief. This village chief does speak English, but he is a Muslim. And the intent with this friendship of village to volunteer group is to introduce the gospel to each one in the village. Please pray that God would be working through these volunteers to reach the people there. And pray that God will provide for this volunteer group resources and others who are interested in coming.