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!!