AFRICA TRIP, Day 9

Sunday, August 17, 2008

It was a wonderful Sabbath today! We spent most of the day with believers at a Massai church.

Praises:

• Being able to meet a bishop (overseeing pastor) of 400+ churches, who has a powerful testimony. He was persecuted among his people (the Massai), so much that he was severely beaten a number of times. The final time they beat him, they left him for dead. He survived, and then all of the men who had participated in his last beating were mysteriously killed (by being hit by cars, from food poisoning, etc). Once this happened, people in the Massai village began turning to Christ. Then, the bishop’s wife and children were all tragically killed by bees. Some Massai celebrated that fact, and even threw a party. No one attended their funerals. It was heartbreaking to hear all of those things happening to one man, still, it is amazing how God has protected him and used him powerfully.
  
• Being able to worship at the Massai service, with nearly 200 men, women and children. They praised God with their whole hearts (and awesome rhythm!), they prayed fervently to God on behalf of each other, and they danced shamelessly before the LORD. Amazing! They really honored us as their guests, especially after the service when they fed us a great meal, and sodas (which are a luxury here). I loved it, and I love them!
  
• The Massai market experience.
  

Lifting up:

• Joseph, the little boy from the Massai church who fell into a corn grinder and nearly lost his hand and arm. He is currently hospitalized, as they are performing a series of reconstructive surgeries on him.
  
• The Massai people who don’t know Jesus and continue to persecute people such as the bishop we met today. May God draw them to Himself.
  
• The team and staff at YWAM Arusha.