AFRICA
In Africa I preached the Gospel in Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia. I saw the spiritual hunger of the people of Africa in these church and tent meetings. The music was joyful and moving as people clapped their hands and sang, and the women wore beautiful colorful outfits. These men and women were so hospitable as they invited us to their homes to eat.
I visited Nairobi, Kenya twice. On my first visit I went on a safari and met with the Maasai tribe. The Maasai are a semi-nomadic people in Kenya and Northern Tanzania. They have distinctive age-old customs and dress.
One outstanding custom is the stretching of their earlobes, into which they put ornamental objects. While in downtown Nairobi, a man in a business suit walked by me and his earlobes were stretched and hanging down loose with large holes in them. He would have come out of the remote area of his tribe and was then living and working in the city. It was a strange sight to me, a contrast of the old and new ways. Another custom is the shaving of their heads.
On my second visit to Nairobi, I preached in a large church and held four days of evangelistic meetings in the slums. Although there was poverty all around, those believers who came to the meetings were smiling, grateful to know the Lord Jesus Christ.
I was invited to Nigeria, where a three-day conference was set. The crowds came with such expectation and the Holy Spirit moved upon hearts. While in Nigeria, I went to Lagos, Ibadan and Josh. Soon after we left Josh, churches were attacked by angry mobs. We must continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in far away countries who have dedicated their lives to following Christ.
While in Rwanda, I preached at the Sunday morning Pentecost Service in a large tent church that holds approximately four thousand people. The pastor there is originally from Canada. Through his connection, I preached in four other churches..
I visited the Rwanda Genocide Memorial in remembrance of the eight hundred thousand people who were slaughtered in one hundred days of hatred. While in Rwanda, I observed deep healing throughout the land.
While in Africa I visited a number of orphanages. I talked with the children and I held the little ones in my arms.
One outstanding custom is the stretching of their earlobes, into which they put ornamental objects. While in downtown Nairobi, a man in a business suit walked by me and his earlobes were stretched and hanging down loose with large holes in them. He would have come out of the remote area of his tribe and was then living and working in the city. It was a strange sight to me, a contrast of the old and new ways. Another custom is the shaving of their heads.
On my second visit to Nairobi, I preached in a large church and held four days of evangelistic meetings in the slums. Although there was poverty all around, those believers who came to the meetings were smiling, grateful to know the Lord Jesus Christ.
I was invited to Nigeria, where a three-day conference was set. The crowds came with such expectation and the Holy Spirit moved upon hearts. While in Nigeria, I went to Lagos, Ibadan and Josh. Soon after we left Josh, churches were attacked by angry mobs. We must continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in far away countries who have dedicated their lives to following Christ.
While in Rwanda, I preached at the Sunday morning Pentecost Service in a large tent church that holds approximately four thousand people. The pastor there is originally from Canada. Through his connection, I preached in four other churches..
I visited the Rwanda Genocide Memorial in remembrance of the eight hundred thousand people who were slaughtered in one hundred days of hatred. While in Rwanda, I observed deep healing throughout the land.
While in Africa I visited a number of orphanages. I talked with the children and I held the little ones in my arms.
INDIA
I preached in several cities in India, including Madras (Chennai) and Bangalore.
When we arrived in Madras, Jack and I were met by a pastor and his wife, who welcomed us into their home. Their living quarters were on the second floor, while the ground floor housed an orphanage where they provided care for fourteen boys. Church services were held on the roof. We had wonderful fellowship there.
I preached in an open-air meeting. It was attended by a number of Moslems and Hindus, many of whom accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
The pastor drove us along bumpy dirt roads to a remote area. I preached in a church there. The women sat on one side of the dirt floor and the men sat on the other side. We had a wonderful Spirit-filled fellowship there. Many believers were persecuted for their faith in that area.
The pastor took us to preach in his father's church, attended by over five hundred people. It was the custom to remove shoes before entering the church, and again, the men and women sat on opposite sides. After the meeting, we gathered together at tables where food was served to us on a big banana leaf. We ate the delicious, spicy food with our fingers (as is also the custom in Africa). We so enjoyed meeting people from around the world, and tasting the many types of food.
I ministered in a church in Bangalore, and the pastor and congregation eagerly received the message of the Gospel. Canadians are well-received there.We thank God for their warm hearts and smiles.
As we walked the busy, noisy streets of India, we saw extreme poverty. Beggars lined the streets. Cows, with their horns painted and decorated, wandered about the streets freely, as they are worshiped. How thankful we felt to know the true and living God, Jesus Christ.
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