We have just reached the half way point of our journey and honestly I'm still not sure how to put into words what we are experiencing. Today was our last day in the mountain village and it is hard to describe all that I'm feeling. The day began with our biggest crowd yet. The church yard was filled with people as we drove up and there were thousands of people in line. We were actually worried what might happen when we ran out of nets at the end of the day. Yet it worked out with few problems.
I began my day as I usually do by greeting the children and shaking their hands. Their smiles, laughter and joy is contagious. My interaction with them each day is a highlight for me. After that we got organized for the day and began our work. I usually spend a lot of time unpacking and handing out the mosquito nets. I did this for the first hour and most of the afternoon.
In the morning, after we got set up, I went out with some of our team members in pairs and we began praying with people who wanted prayer. I find this to be the most difficult part of our work. There is so much pain and suffering, it is easy to become overwhelmed. But it is also some of our most rewarding work because we get to interact so closely with the people. Today, was no different and I experienced great highs and some low lows. We prayed with an elderly man who wanted to confess his sinful ways and begin a relationship with Jesus. That was incredible. We prayed for children who wanted healing and wanted to grow their faith. We prayed for a muslim woman who wanted healing but could not follow Jesus because that would me going against her husband, yet she knew that both her and her child needed the prayers in the name of Jesus. We prayed for a young boy suffering from Malaria (that one brought me to tears). We also prayed for people with so many ailments that included Malaria, Typhoid, fever, throat, back, heart, stomach, head and ever other pain imaginable. This all took place in just a little over an hour of time. Praying is definitely the hard work.
As I prepare to go to the next village, here is what sticks out to me the most. First is a boy named Joseph who I met on the first day. We had a connection from our first meeting and he was always following me. He loved it when I took his pictures (like all the kids because they love to see themselves on the screen) and wanted a soccer ball. He was there when I left in the afternoon and when I arrived each morning. He brought me joy and laughter and in the end he got that ball. The second thing I will remember is that even though we come from vastly differnet worlds, as parents we still want the same things. Parents want their children to be healthy, grow up to be strong, to avoid suffering, to have a strong faith, and want them to have a strong family environment which includes a mom and dad. Though the specific needs may differ, the root desires are the same. The final thing I take with me is the reality of how little I am in control and how much I need Jesus. Without him all of this would be hopeless.
I have been so blessed to experience this trip and I ask that you all keep praying for us because I know we need it. In Christ Jesus.
Rick Lowe
I began my day as I usually do by greeting the children and shaking their hands. Their smiles, laughter and joy is contagious. My interaction with them each day is a highlight for me. After that we got organized for the day and began our work. I usually spend a lot of time unpacking and handing out the mosquito nets. I did this for the first hour and most of the afternoon.
In the morning, after we got set up, I went out with some of our team members in pairs and we began praying with people who wanted prayer. I find this to be the most difficult part of our work. There is so much pain and suffering, it is easy to become overwhelmed. But it is also some of our most rewarding work because we get to interact so closely with the people. Today, was no different and I experienced great highs and some low lows. We prayed with an elderly man who wanted to confess his sinful ways and begin a relationship with Jesus. That was incredible. We prayed for children who wanted healing and wanted to grow their faith. We prayed for a muslim woman who wanted healing but could not follow Jesus because that would me going against her husband, yet she knew that both her and her child needed the prayers in the name of Jesus. We prayed for a young boy suffering from Malaria (that one brought me to tears). We also prayed for people with so many ailments that included Malaria, Typhoid, fever, throat, back, heart, stomach, head and ever other pain imaginable. This all took place in just a little over an hour of time. Praying is definitely the hard work.
As I prepare to go to the next village, here is what sticks out to me the most. First is a boy named Joseph who I met on the first day. We had a connection from our first meeting and he was always following me. He loved it when I took his pictures (like all the kids because they love to see themselves on the screen) and wanted a soccer ball. He was there when I left in the afternoon and when I arrived each morning. He brought me joy and laughter and in the end he got that ball. The second thing I will remember is that even though we come from vastly differnet worlds, as parents we still want the same things. Parents want their children to be healthy, grow up to be strong, to avoid suffering, to have a strong faith, and want them to have a strong family environment which includes a mom and dad. Though the specific needs may differ, the root desires are the same. The final thing I take with me is the reality of how little I am in control and how much I need Jesus. Without him all of this would be hopeless.
I have been so blessed to experience this trip and I ask that you all keep praying for us because I know we need it. In Christ Jesus.
Rick Lowe
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