The Big City

Today began at 8:30 a.m. as we slept in a little to try and recover from the long trip and jet lag.  We got up, got ready and went to have breakfast with our missionaries, Mike & Heather McAfee, and their children.

After breakfast, we met with one of our translators, Oliver.  We spent some time asking questions, being oriented to the culture, and rehearsing our story telling skills.  It is amazing the things that you can learn just by listening and observing the culture around you.  Oliver stayed and joined us for lunch today before going out.  Oliver walked many miles to meet us today so that he could help us share the story of the gospel.  In return, he received VERY little from us.  I am thankful for his heart to build the kingdom of God, in spite of the sacrifices and discomforts.

(L to R) Eric, Brent Nunley, Oliver, David Clayton, and me
while we were out story telling in the city.

After lunch, we went to meet up with the other translator and split up into two different groups.  We began walking door to door in the city, looking for people to share the Creation to Christ story with.  It wasn't difficult, trust me!  Myself and David Clayton went with Oliver as we walked the back streets and alleys.  We first stopped and talked to a street cart business owner who allowed us to share with him, but didn't know if he'd goto heaven or not.  He wants to hear and learn more about these stories.  Next, we stopped by a house where the mom and grandmother were out in the courtyard and gladly welcomed us into their space.  I was amazed at the reception we got from all of these people!  We were treated like royalty because we came bearing the message of the KING...Jesus.  Amazing how different things are in the United States.  :(   Lastly, we stopped to talk to several teenage boys and got to share with them.  They were already believers and had no problem letting us know about it.  As we shared, people were gathering around and hanging out of windows to hear what we had to say.  Lots of seed was sown.

While we are here, we are prayer walking, but also trying to story and gather prospects for the missionaries to follow-up on after we are gone to begin a small group and eventually a church in that area.  We are getting a good start!

After arriving back home at the mission house, we washed up and met with Bamba, a former muslim who is now a follower of Jesus.  Bamba leads a small group in the city and is challenged with not having a location  to meet in.  Many times, they meet out under a tree by the road, which is very dangerous due to traffic, pedestrians, etc.  Please help us pray for God to open a door for this church to meet in a public place.  Bamba ate dinner with us tonight and we had some great conversation about the spiritual darkness, etc. in this area.  We'll be joining Bamba for evangelism through story telling in his area on Saturday.  Afterwards, we took Bamba home and got to see where he lives.  My heart just broke for this dear brother in Christ.

Today has certainly made me appreciate more of what I have and caused me to stop again and give God thanks.  As I walked and saw the multitudes of people, my heart broke within for the lostness, brokenness, and condition of the people.  They were in every sense of the word, "scattered sheep without a shepherd." I hope I never look at people again in the same way.  Time is so short and people are truly hurting everywhere, even in America.

Now, we're wrapping up showers and getting ready for a good night's sleep.  We'll be up at 7 a.m., breakfast with our missionaries and out to the BIG city that anxiously awaits for people to tell them about the love of Christ.

You can follow our photos at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151304018887448.517483.728762447&type=1&l=1f1d01fbdb

Thanks again for all of your prayers and support during this trip!  Please pray for boldness, clarity, and favor with all the people as we go out to story and share Christ with the multitudes tomorrow.

Pastor DeWayne