miserable

Saturday afternoon we took the Metro downtown as usual to attend the ch*ch service. It is always crowded but even more so now in the heat. I wore a long-sleeve shirt and high heels because the walk from the train to ch*ch is very short. Afterward, we shoved our way through the mobs to get back on the Metro to head home. Halfway home, the train started to slow way down and came to a screeching halt. The guy came over the loud speaker and informed us that the electricity that powers the train had been cut and everyone should get off and take a bus or walk. The buses were beyond crowded and every taxi was full and/or racing to get home for the evening meal. We had at least 1/2 hour to walk home but didn't have much choice. The sun was blazing hot and the sweat drenching us. My high heels began to give me serious blisters on my feet and I knew there was no way I could make it home. Darrell was desperately trying to flag a taxi but they all went whizzing by. Finally, a dear old man stopped and took me the rest of the way home. I was never so thankful for a ride! Just one of those miserable experiences that you're so happy you can talk about in the past! That evening we thought we'd take a ride out to see an area of town we hadn't seen before. Wouldn't you know, our car was as dead as could be when we went to get in it. We waited until the next day and a guy came and helped Darrell go buy a new battery. Good thing that happened before the Ramadan holiday because everything is now closed for the rest of the week.

Ramadan is over!

This is the last night of Ramadan and I will be so happy when life gets back to normal. Nothing works like it's supposed to during this month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. People sleep most of the day (or sit in a cool place and try not to move too much)and eat and party into the wee hours of the morning. Most nights we go to sleep to the sound of drums & loud music all around us. Everything is backwards and upside down. The stores are jammed with crowds of people buying an overabundance of food. Everyone is on nerve's edge and a brawl will break out at the smallest disagreement. The bad breath is what really gets me; I was told that people are proud to have bad breath because it tells everyone around that they're fasting. Yuck! The driving is treacherous. One takes his life into his hands going out during this month. Everyone is in a hurry to get to where they're going & the patience level is very low. For us that are not participating in the fast, we take advantage of the hour when everyone is eating and venture out to do our shopping then. The stores are completely empty and we have the isles to ourselves. There have been workers coming to the Family Place to "work" everyday but their energy level is sadly lacking and we're getting about 2 hours of work out of their 8 hour day I'm afraid. They choose to work only in the shady spots which I can't totally blame them for; after all it is 100+ degrees in the sun and no water allowed. I love it when they try and convince me that this is the best month of the year and they hate to see it end. They could sure fool me with their pained faces and lethargic shuffle. Doesn't look like a lot of fun to me! Well, it's over for another year & I for one couldn't be happier. I'm also so happy that it is not my suffering or giving up things that gains me access into heaven!

A grueling day

We were asked if we'd be willing to drive to a city about 3 hours south of us with a group of people to hold a service for some very beleaguered believers. Although we were tired and looking forward to a day off, we felt we couldn't turn them down and wanted to find out about the condition of the ch*ch in the south. Evidently since the revolution there has been great fear on the part of the believers all over the country because there is no police protection anymore and general chaos exists. We heard that there used to be 30 that met together in this city. We arrived at 10AM thinking that we were barely making the service and realized that we got there just as the French service was starting. With worshipers from all over West Africa, the singing was electrifying and a great spirit was felt in that place. The Rwandan pastor gave a wonderful message and 2 1/2 hours later the service ended. The Arabic service was to start immediately afterward. After waiting for more than 30 minutes, one couple showed up and we waited some more. Finally it was obvious that no one else was coming so we went ahead and sang 4 songs and heard a message by one of the men who came with us. There was a worker couple who received us very graciously and invited us to their home afterward, along with the one couple who had attended the service. It is Ramadan and there are no restaurants open in the day and difficult to find anything to eat. We were very happy to have sandwiches at their house before we got on our way. True to form, we had planned on having another service in a different city on our way north. When we called the people to tell them we were coming, they said it didn't suit them that day! It had already been arranged ahead of time but again, fear won over and there were evidently people at the house or something and we couldn't go. I was just as happy because by then it was getting late and we were exhausted. 600 kilometers and 12 hours after we left the house, we arrived home. All I could think is that Jesus would have done all of that for the one couple. We saw once again the fierce battle for the souls of men. It is really an uphill battle in this country. With all the prayer that is going up, we should be seeing a breakthrough soon!!

A familiar song sung in a different way

I won't even try to catch you up on our life; i'll just dive in where we are today and take you from here. Saturday is our day to go to ch*ch here. It's always an uplifting experience as we witness brother Moh'd and Ahmad and Hussein leading the worship and preaching the word. There are stories every week of dramatic conversions. This week we were introduced to 2 handsome young men who had been Satan worshipers just a month ago and Saturday went forward to take communion with their new brothers & sisters. In all of the ch*chs I've been in in the M.E. they always sing the song "I have decided to follow Jesus" like somewhat of a funeral dirge during baptismal services. On Saturday, the congregation broke out in this song with drums & keyboard & dancing and great joy. They meant every word of it; they live it daily and have paid dearly to follow Jesus. It was an incredible experience to watch and listen as they sang "if they lead me, even to death, still I will follow. No turning back". I especially love it when they ask those who have been persecuted for their faith during the week to stand up and everyone claps for them. I guess it does say "Blessed are those who are persecuted for my sake..." I am humbled to be part of this family of believers.