by Tina | Mar 17, 2012 | Devotional
Well, today was a great, yet uneventful day in so many ways. I met with Sam, a Pastor who I went through curriculum and resources that would be helpful for him as he goes about and does some evangelizing in the areas in and around Gembu.
Dan, Jim, and Pete and Art worked on tearing out some toilets and sink and put in a new sink in the Life Line Center today and found the water so that they could hook it up and it would work!!
The Hungs ( a sweet missionary couple from Toronto, originally from China) came over for a lovely lunch and it was so fun to visit with them and the ministry they do here at the Seminary in Nigeria for their Conference.
Dorothy and I visited and she helped me process some things and we walked the rounds around the compound this morning to see who was here and what everyone was working on, etc.
The wonderful tailor finished our clothes already! He did a wonderful job on my dresses and Dan’s shirts. I also got the cutest split skirt made from one of the materials Dan got a shirt made out of.
We had a great supper, of course, Dorothy is the best hostess ever and all the food here is so good. They grow their own vegetables in their wonderful gardens I took some pictures of and the fruit is fresh. The meat is “free range”, the bread HOMEMADE, as well as the most heavenly sweet rolls that we had black current ones for dessert tonight, and will have caramel ones for breakfast before church tomorrow.
I think my current philosophy right now that I believe God is leading me to, although Dan and I haven’t seen each other long enough to talk about yet today is that even though I don’t feel a strong YES, which could be an emotional thing, I need to continue until God says No and closes the door if the strong YES isn’t felt yet. We are willing, yet feel highly under-qualified. But, as Dorothy told me today as well as some other friends, It’s all God, and we are His vessels. She and Art are amazed at what God has done through them here at GECHAAN, and everything He’s brought them through and shown them how He works when you’re willing to do what you can.
by Tina | Mar 16, 2012 | Devotional
We left at 7:00 this morning to drive to a VERY remote village to check children that have received meals in the past for their health and well-being and to deliver more meals for malnourished children. These meals for starving children were packaged by a church in South Dakota and the shipping was paid for by our church, Edinbook Church, as part of our Service Sunday project last year. We drove up, up, up, saw hills, lots of eucalyptus trees, cows, sheep, goats. We finally arrived at the village and met with village leaders as to why we were there. Of course we attracted quite a crowd as we were the only white people there and most of the children hadn’t seen many white people in the past. I sat next to the guy that was checking the children that had received food last time and then some additional children. About half way through, the tears started coming. I very casually dabbed with the bottom of my skirt. I tried to be inconspicuous.
These parents were pushing their crying children forward, eagerly wanting the best for their child. There were some kids playing with sticks, some had made toys with pieces of trash they had found. It seems that smiles and a little wave with an open hand are universal signs of love. I just wish I was a Dr. or with some medical knowledge. People asked me to check their children to see if they were sick, there was a very elderly gentleman who can not hear well and his stomach hurts all the time. I was sad to try to tell them that I didn’t know and couldn’t help them with that. One of the very little girls had pnuemonia and her mother was told she needed to go to the doctor, because we didn’t have medicine. Another girl had a scaliness all over her body, and a little boy had polio with crippled legs.
My mother’s heart was crushed and I wanted to gather them all and tell them it would be ok. I know that with God they have a better shot at being ok, but it is not going to be an easy life. No education, no resources, and corruption abounding because of the poverty. I looked at these little girls and wondered what their lives were going to be like.
by Tina | Mar 16, 2012 | Devotional
To show that I bear no ill will being falsely accused by Pete, to have him arrested by the Secret Service. When we were given the opportunity to hold a 1x7x10 foot facia board (heavy) thirty feet in the air standing on a ladder. I was gracious enough to hold the ladder so Pete could climb the ladder with the board.
by Tina | Mar 15, 2012 | Devotional
Well, yesterday morning was very exciting for Dorothy and I, we got to encourage a Muslim mom who had her baby on the way to the clinic. She brought the baby wrapped in a towel. In the afternoon we went to the clothing “store”, I picked out two patterns of beautiful cloth for dresses and two shirts for Dan, we also went to Dorothys fave food store to see what he had and drove past the “meat market”, also the vegetable and fruit stands. I also met with a Pastor who goes out and does evangelism and some children’s work, we talked about curriculum and ministry. The generators here have been and most of the time are a challenge to keep running. This is the case because they get a lot of use and there are few people that know how to fix them. A guy from Joss was supposed to be here on Monday, we still haven’t seen him, so hopefully he will show up and the generators will hold out.
Please pray that God makes things clear to us, if this is where we should be. We still haven’t felt a very firm “Yes”, yet. However, there are about 100 (I am not exaggerating) different aspects to this ministry. It is an amazing, multi-faceted place in the midst of such extreme poverty of both mind and spirit. Extreme poverty changes people. Lack of information amazes me! We went to 3 schools yesterday. We got to hand out awards for the HIV/Aids winners of the school competitions. The schools don’t have electricity and the “Library”, had about 100 books for pre-school through Senior High Age. Books are very rare and sometimes the teachers don’t show up to teach. I wish I could transport every American student to any of the schools here. They would be so grateful for the beautiful places we have to learn in in America.
I am keeping Pete and Jim out of trouble, this is a big job. They worked some more on sophets and facia and started putting zinc on the roof today. Dan has been following Art around and working on some assorted projects. This morning the tailor came to measure us so that he can make our clothing for us before we leave.
Well, off to bed! Love and miss you all!
by Tina | Mar 14, 2012 | Devotional
First of all it is such an honor and a privilege to be here and support the wonderful and much needed and much appreciated work of GECHAAN
This was a beautiful day in Gembu. The day was full of hard work, sunhine and smiles and all went well except for the incident. We had a nice dinner with Art and Dorothy and just tried to relax and share our thoughts on the day. Thank you all for your support.
Oh yes… the incident. Jim tried to get me arrested by the the Secret Service on their visit here to check on us. Even went down and told Dorothy she might have to post bail. Just you wait Jim McKinney, just you wait!
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