Results

Last week we had an amazing service. I did a healing meeting just outside the city with one of our young pastors. We had 150 people praying and fasting for the meeting and the results showed the power of prayer! In the service we had many miracles, unfortunately, many were embarrassed to testify because, as the interpreter put it, many women were healed of womanly problems that ought not to be mentioned in public.

However, there were miracles that were okay to testify about. For after the service we prayed over oil and sent it out into the community believing God’s healing power would continue by faith. We received a few reports this week of what happened, including: a young child who had measles was massaged with the oil and as the oil was massaged in to his skin the measles rubbed off like they were put on with a marker! A young lady had a cancer spot on her face and she massaged the oil into her face and watched in the mirror as the cancer spot rubbed off like it was a piece of dirt! One baby boy had been running a deadly fever for 8 days and when the oil was rubbed on his forehead the fever broke immediately! There was also report of a local crippled boy who’s parents sent a neighbor for some oil. They are of another religion and did not dare show themselves publicly trusting in Jesus. However, when they received the oil they massages the oil into their sons legs and he instantly rose to his feet and started walking! Now the parents are going public professing that Jesus healed their son and all the community knows very well that their son had been crippled. Pray for them as this is a dangerous time for non-christians to make public statements like this, but the family is so thankful to Jesus that they just can’t hold it in! Do you remember the last time you felt so good about Jesus you just couldn’t keep him to yourself? We are humbled and grateful God is using us and keeping the promises of his word!

Services

As most of you know, I have a lot on my mind right now, and I admit, it is hindering my blog posting. This morning I felt it only right to take a few minutes and just update you on the events of the last week and I will talk about my distraction a little later in the future.

Monday I had a healing meeting in a small church. The congregation is normally about 30-40 people based on my previous visits. On Monday though, we had a street meeting and over 150 people came! The negative side to large crowds in street meetings is that they are hard to control and the meetings tend to go LONG. I think I was given the pulpit about 10PM. Despite the delays we had a good service. There were about 15 miracles and, by faith, I am sure there were others who noted their blessings after they arrived home.

Last night, Thursday, I had another healing meeting. This was about a ten minute walk from the first meeting, but the church here was much larger. This is the church of our former Assistant General Superintendent who passed away this summer. The new pastor (the son of the former pastor) decided to cancel his Thursday night Bible Study and instead have healing meetings every week. The last bible study that he had, there were about 10 people in attendance. The next week, during the first healing meeting, there were 400 in attendance! Last night I am sure we crossed the 500 mark as there were 400 chairs, 10 benches and a carpet for people to sit on and there were still some standing at the back. We had another powerful night in the Holy Ghost and many were healed of diseases as God did his work.

So, please know, although the posts are slow in coming, the work is going forward!

A New Adventure

Over the past two weeks we’ve had a replacement driver. Our regular guy is on vacation right now. His replacement is nice. He’s not used to our schedule or where we go like the old driver, but he is very capable and is doing a fine job. However, last week I was in need of some funds for the Bible School so I sent the school guard and the new driver to get a cheque cashed for me. You’d have to know these two men to understand the comedy of what I am about to write. Both of these men are among the kindest I have ever met in this country. They are always smiling, very sweet and friendly to EVERYONE. Well, when they were on the way to the bank a policeman pulled them over. Four armed police officers then searched my car because they felt that the two men inside “looked like terrorists”! I am sure it was a moment of great intensity for these men as who knows what a police officer here might trump up in order to try to get a bribe, but I couldn’t help but laugh when they got back. These are the two men LEAST likely to be involved in those types of activities and, they look nothing like terrorists! They look like two old friends laughing and smiling at the world. I guess, during the month of fasting that we are in, the police must have thought something was wrong that two people could be so happy. Anyway, even though we are familiar with the country now, it is still an adventure serving as missionaries here.

First Week As “The Boss”

It was the ebb and flow, the high and low. This was a week full of the evidence of the good and bad of being in “the big chair”. To start the week I had to deal with a situation that involved the physical removal of a student from campus. It was a tough introduction to my new role. However, today the week ended with the perks of being the boss. One of the students, looking to impress the head man, made me a banana milkshake then gave me a massage. It was great! Most of the week was full of the mundane, but I am hoping for more days like Friday. It was much better then Monday.

Nothing Much To Say

Well, it has been a few days since I got around to posting on the blog. Just wanted to say that I am alive and well, just nothing much has been happening. I have been spending most of my week doing the mundane things needed to run/open a Bible School. Preparing class notes, cleaning the office, organizing receipts, writing student reports, interviewing new students… really nothing all that exciting. Necessary, but nothing to write home about. In fact, that is why I haven’t written home about it!

Sunday Service

We had a great service this morning in a village area of the city. I can say a lot about it but need some time to gather my thoughts better. One thing that did strike me is the fact that we surely do this work for the spiritual blessing and not the carnal. We received an offering this morning for preaching, in fact, we received the entire morning offering. This is an amazing thing to start with as we usually don’t get an offering and don’t expect one. However, when offered we accept offerings as it is a blessing to the congregation to give to the “man of God”. Anyway, after the meeting we went and bought a few things. With our offering, remember this was the entire offering, we were able to buy a loaf of bread and a package of toilet paper. I’ve talked to many locals and foreigners who think that missionaries are getting rich, but I can tell you that is not the case where we are serving.

Another Meeting

Last night was a hard night in some ways. We had another service, but this one was in memory of the many Christians who had been murdered or made homeless by recent violence in a near-by village. We had a good meeting and the people gave a good offering and prayed much for those in need. Afterwards I had to start dealing with my first real problem as vice-principal of the Bible College. Then I got home and received notice that Sis Willoughby had passed away. In the matter of the persecuted Christians I told the church we could be a strength to those in need and that they could find comfort in our faith. The same is true for the Willoughby’s and the church in Singapore. Our prayers can offer a strength and comfort at this time of need so let’s lift them up together.

New Life Opening

Yesterday was a busy day, but perhaps the most exciting part was the official opening service for our Bible School, New Life Theological Seminary. It was a great honor for me to “cut the ribbon”. At the start of events here they always have a ribbon across a doorway or held by two people. The guest of honor then cuts the ribbon to open the event. As the new Vice Principal this was my duty yesterday. After a short speech from yours truly we then had a feast of spiced rice and chicken. It was a great way to start the year, of course food is a great way to start anything!

Rain

This is sort of mundane but it has been raining everyday this week. Not constantly, just on and off. This morning however, I saw something that, as the locals would say, “I’ve never seen like that before”. I was driving to school this morning and took one of the main roads which is 8 lanes wide. Of the 4 lanes on our side of the road we were in the lane furtherest to the right. Our side of the road was dry and the sun was out. 3 lanes to our left the road was soaked and rain was pouring down. It was weird but kind of neat to see.

DR Appointment

Last night we took Zander to a local doctor. There is nothing wrong, we just wanted to meet the man who may be our son’s Dr and find out what vaccinations he would suggest to us as “strangers in a strange land.” The appointment went well, Zander is healthy and growing. In fact, Zander tipped the scales at over 13 pounds. Just thought everyone would want to know our little boy is getting a little less little everyday.