Monday, June 2, 2008

First of all...Thank you all so much for leaving comments! I know you had to make one of these blogs to do it. It is so good to hear from people we know!!! Please keep writing!!
It's been a long day. We drove to the village we went to today. You can't even imagine the poverty we saw. There aren't words to accurately describe it. I just want to take these children home with me. They are amazed by us "muzungu's". When we touch their hands they get so happy. Their toys today: no condoms, too far away from the boma (city). One little girl had a corn cob with a little scrap of cloth tied around it, i think it was a doll. Another little girl (around 3) had a wrap around her like the women use to carry a baby, except this girl carried around a large rock! One little boy had a ball made from trash rolled up and wrapped with long pieces of grass. That's all the toys I saw today. We went hut to hut today and shared the gospel and invited them to the bible study and the bore hole (well). It is a lot harder than you would think. We'll probably get comfortably with it by the time we have to leave. We taught lessons from the Old Testament today. Bryan did so well. You would be proud of him. One person prayed to receive Christ today. About 70 came to the bible study, usually there are about 10. One lady asked us what one should do if they have demons inside telling them not to accept Christ, because you cannot serve 2 masters. Someone asked if Jesus was God or God's Son. When I was telling the story of the Israelites becoming slaves in Africa (Egypt) and how the Egyptians made them make their bricks and work their fields, it hit me. This is just like bible times! The well with women drawing water was right there. I could see a women separating the wheat from the chaff. They make their own bricks and grow their own food. They should really be able to grasp the bible better than Americans. They have no hope in this life of anything getting any better. The road to get here is so bad no one comes here. When military soldiers or officials do something wrong they get sent here for their post. So chances of things changing for them in this life are probably ZERO. But they can know peace. They can have forgiveness and spend eternity in heaven where there will be no more poverty, no more pain. That is what we are praying for.
On the lighter side... we ate African tonight. No termites though. We had nshema(corn pounded out and made into a thick paste) and relish (greens, onions and tomatoes fried in oil). You ball the nshema up in your hand and put your thumb into it to make like a spoon and then you dip it into the community bowl of relish. The relish was good, but they don't eat much of that. The nshema smelled like feet! Lets just say we are going to bed a little hungry tonight. Thank goodness we brought cereal bars and jerky!!
Last night Melissa and I stayed up laughing about our visit with the chief yesterday. We went to his home after church to meet with him. We waited a while until he was ready to see us. We were to bow, clap twice, and say something that translates, "Mr. Greater Than I." We met with him in an open hut that had a banner hanging in it that said "something Palace". We gave him a gift of American soap and beans. He was very kind. We we left we were supposed to bow and bob up and down clapping our hands and were instructed to never turn our back to him. After it became late we realized how humorous the whole thing was!!!

Please continue to pray for us. We go to another village tomorrow. We got permission from the police chief to show the Jesus Film on Saturday.

I miss my family sooooo much. I wish you were all here with me. Nothing is as good with out you! Hugs and kisses!!!!

6 comments:

Tiffy's World said...

Dana, wow! That is about the only word I can say. How I wish my eyes could see what your seeing right now. While your packing up the kids for yourself and Ken, please bring home a couple for me. I can only imagine . . . .
Bryan- we're so proud of you!

I am praying for both of you,,,continue to press forward! Love ya'll,

Ken Whitton said...

I really believe that what you are learning, you can practice here at home. #1 Be grateful and a good steward of all that God has entrusted us with. #2 That whole "He who is greater than I" clapping and bobbing thing will be instituted in your daily regiment as soon as you return.
:)! Bryan, I am so excited about all that God is teaching you! You are going to be a very bold and confident communicator of the Gospel because you have seen the Lord move and have found Him faithful. I pray for you guys all day long! I love you both!

tim gay said...

Hey Dana! Thanks for keeping us up-to -date on what is going on. We've got you guys on our church prayer list and remember you daily as we pray.

God bless,
tim

Jules said...

How Amazing God is! It sounds like you and Bryan are having an incredible life changing experience. It also sounds like Africa has a great diet plan too! Things are going well here, it's hard trying to keep Ken in line while you are gone but somebodies got to do it! LOL I have been praying for you both since the day you left every day when you come to mind. The awesome thing is I don't know where you are or what you are doing at that particular time but God does! Miss you both can't wait to here about your next adventure...Love ya'll Jules

Robbie&Jamie said...

D & B, I'll chime in for our family tonight. Jamie went to foreign territory this evening, herself: Lucedale, MS. She'll probably be strolling in here any minute. I'll be teaching her about the clapping & bowing as soon as she walks through the door, facing me, of course. Anyway, we are so proud of you guys and are excited to see your blog each day. This is
a first for us, as we are quite
"dumb" when it comes to computers.
Brian, we are proud of you. You are growing into such fine young man and I know your parents are very proud. It really twists me up
inside to hear about the poverty there. The boys and I just had Papa John's and spent $121.00 at Walmart without thinking about it.
How abundantly blessed we truly are, yet we daily take for granted that there are those who are liter-
ally starving and doing without basic needs. You're literally walking in a place that most will never see. Wow! How can you ever be the same again? Why would you want to? We love you guys, and pray
for your family a lot. May GOD richly bless you so that you may help others with what HE provides; it's obvious that all of you are willing to do so. We are truly blessed to have you as friends. Stay on the path that your on. We look forward to your update tomorrow. Until then, we're out!
RLB

Jim Chinners said...

Wow! what life experinces you are gaining! Bryan I am so excited about what you are learning and I am looking forward what you will share with us in class.

To hear that those are coming to Christ - what a blessing.

Aaron said hello and that he is praying for you! He is praying that you are able to share God's word.

Blake E said he was praying for you and that he hopes that you are instrumental in changing lives in Africa. He also stated that he is praying for you and your mom's safety and happiness.

Love Ya'll