This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
It should not be a challenge to preach, I do it every weekend. But this weekend Satan has been playing tricks with my mind. I started to think that I have nothing to offer these people and why would they listen to a white guy from the U.S. I stayed up late last night preparing for the message today and was woken up early thinking about the message. While I was taking a shower, the Lord spoke to me this verse: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." That was the answer, not to depend on myself but to trust in the Lord.
Church started at 9am so we left at 9:15...seriously. When got to church the place was all ready charged up in worship and prayer. There were 400 people in the sancuary with an other 100 in the overflow. Eventhough all the worship was in french, I was able to really enjoy the worship and God continued to prepare me to speak. I spoke on Romans 12:1-2 with the focus on God's will for our lives. Camille is an incredible translator and we had good flow together. Camille led the response and several people make first time commiments to Jesus and a lot more recommitted their lives to Jesus! Great stuff!
A women gave a moving tetimony of deliverance. She was in the airplace that crashed here in Goma a couple weeks ago with her three daughters. She pushed her kids out a window because they were trapped. When the older daughter (not more than 12) saw her mom still in the plane, she went back in the plane to help her mom. The mom ended up with burns to her lower back but generally okay.
Camille and Esther do not cook on Sundays so they took us to a nice restraurt on Lake Kivu. It was a very relaxing time and made me want to take a nap.
No nap because we were off to the orphanage. We have brought a huge sack of shoes to take to the kids, also a tether ball, soccor ball and a pile of bananas that we bought on the side of the road for $5. We met under some shelter with the kids and got to hear a couple of their stories. To say the least, they were very heart braking. One boy had to flee his home by the direction of his parents as they were being attacked, he was 6 at the time. He lived on the streets with other kids stealing to get by. He was brought to the orphanage where he has food, shelter and is getting an education, he is now 13. We were able to out fit most kids with shoes, but we did not have some bigger sizes. Many children were doing a "happy dance" when they got their shoes. Patrick hooked up the tether ball and we tossed them the soccor ball, more "happy dancing".
Tonight we had nice time sitting outside talking about God and drinking tea. We called church and got to hear the combined voices from home, very moving.
Tomorrows plan: UN, Heal Africa, preparing for refugee camp feeding.
Thank you for you continued prayers.
I miss my family...
Grace and Peace,
Michael.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Michael and Patrick
I am overwhelmed with how God is using the both of you. It is so exciting and reasuring to know that our God is so awesome. I am excited each day to read what you are doing and how God is moving through you. I miss you both very much and I am praying for you. Much Love, Connie
it was so awesome to hear your voices at church! we were all comparing goosebumps on our arms in the back as you two spoke! to know just how much the Lord is using the two of you as you are there is just simply amazing! we miss you both very much and can not wait for your homecoming and to hear more stories! i love ya both!! -Jess
Post a Comment