Africa 2014 Team

Friday, June 27, 2014

June 26 - The Walls Are Up!

All the walls are up and concrete was poured for the stage today. They are working on completing the columns. Arches are being constructed over the top of the windows.

Thursday night we showed the movie Magdelina in Swahili inside the church under the stars. About 300 people were there. The gospel was clearly preached and many gave their lives to Christ. This all happened before the church was even finished.

One more day!

We love you guys,

Brian

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

After a crowd of on lookers gathered I was asked to speak with them again. We gave the crowd tracts as we left.

Everyone is still doing well., except for some of the allergies and sinus issues.

The woman's conference was a blessing and about 70 Congolese ladies attended. When the invitation was given about seven ladies came forward and gave their lives to Christ.

Thank you again for your prayers.

[Note: the team is tired and nearing the end of their stay. Please continue to pray for the well being, that they may endure the final days of their trip.]


Saturday, June 21, 2014

June 21 - We lost two more workers today to malaria

The fourth wall of the church foundation is going up, it includes an inside storage room and office.

We lost two more workers today to malaria - a man and woman. The man planned on beginning his medication and continue working, however We had to tell the foreman to send him home to rest. Eliah, who we lost on Tuesday, has returned to work - thank you for your prayers. These are very desperate situations.

Part of the team did some home visits this afternoon. One man we prayed for has tuberculosis. A young boy named Peter has some kind of seizures.

I shared with a witch doctor selling medicine down the street from the hotel today. He claims to be a Christian just trying to help people. It is obvious by the chicken feathers, dead animals, and demonic statues there is more than natural medicines involved in what he is selling.

Please leave your comments they are encouraging to the team.

Blessings to all,

Brian

Thursday, June 19, 2014

June 19 - People watch the work every day through the fence

Three sides of the church are up about three feet high. Everyone is excited to see it taking shape. A frequent scene is Congolese and Americans lined up and passing bricks down the line to move where needed, or carrying buckets of dirt on their heads used to level the floor.
We have literally moved tons of dirt.

to see the "mazumgus" (white people) working with Africans.

Glory to God!

June 19 - The First Bricks Were Laid

It is so exciting.......

After eight days of working on the footings and installing a septic tank, the first of many bricks were laid! By the end of the day one side of the church is three feet high.

Today, Andy ate a gecko and a big ugly brown beetle that we picket up on the construction site. I decided that the team needed more meat to eat. We sprang for another goat today and we BBQ'd it tonight. Everyone ate well and they will work it off tomorrow - I will make sure of that!

Thank you Jesus we don't have to eat lizards and bugs!

In Him,

Brian

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

June 18 - We Return Dirty Everyday

Tuesday - We lost one of our best workers today to malaria. He was tested and the results were positive. He received medications so he may be back to work next week - he needs the work badly. He worked while sick and he lasted until he just could not work any longer. Pray for Eliah.

We came back to the hotel compound dirty everyday. We shower with cold water out of buckets. The hotel is walled and gated, but people can see over the upper half of the gate so they stop and stare. We feel like zoo animals, kind of a novelty around here. The children like it because they yell over the gate hoping for a treat. But, we know that God is good so we give Him thanks!

Someone tried to break into Pastor Ibrahim's house last night and they tried to enter two other homes belonging to workers. Spiritual opposition for sure! People believe that witchcraft will keep you asleep while someone robs you. We are hiring a security guard for the Pastors house while work is going on. With us here he is a target.


Church went well on Sunday. The team was worn out as the ministered to all the kids. The outreach was a lot of fun with much Congolease singing and dancing. We all dressed in the robes in the picture. There was a large group of people who attended. About nine young men came forward at the invitation to repent and abide in Christ.

Thank you all again for your prayers.

Brian

Saturday, June 14, 2014

June 14 - Everyone is Working Hard and a Muslim Believes

Construction on the church is progressing. We moved dirt for the grading while everyone was and piling rocks for the footings.


Communication here is difficult with Internet service being intermittent. Friday Paul, Rita, and Shannon made it to Burundi boarder okay. They are on their own from there. [Editors note the following note was received at 6:21 AM on June 14 regarding the group that left on Friday: Just wanted to keep you in the loop, no worries, all is good but the team had some travel issues. Rita called, said they are in London right now (6am) and the flight they were assigned to doesn't exist. Looks like they are going to spend the night there and leave tomorrow. They are with Dan (friend from Kajabe) so all is good.  They also had the same issues with their flight leaving to Nairobi, they had to travel via Rwanda.  Love how our God works, they have a connection (Dan) in London, God got them safely to Nairobi, so they are in London for a reason.]

We showed the Jesus movie for the kids tonight (Friday) for a couple of hundred people. Then on Saturday our progress on the church got us almost halfway finished with the footings. More moving of rocks, tying rebar, and missing cement. 

Pray specifically for Sara P, she tripped and smashed her hand. It does not appear to be serious, Jamie is treating her. Sara wanted to let her mom know that she should not worry, she says she is okay.

Pray for church tomorrow, Sunday, and the evangelism outreach in the afternoon. Everyone is okay - but everyone is working hard. One of the masons who said he is Muslim wanted one of the girls for a wife. He was told we did not bring wives, but Jesus. A woman from the church shared the Gospel with him and he became a believer! Pray for Abdu.