James took us around to Port Victoria and a little beyond to a public resort. We are sitting on a beach, listening to the waves a yard away, watching boats, and viewing Ugandan Islands across the bay. The governor is due for a banquet 50 yards down the beach. The security forces are here. It is a nice wind coming from the lake.
Last night the message was well received. 2 people gave their lives to Jesus, and a woman came up for prayer to be rid of epilepsy. Then when the rain began, the electricity failed. The song, "It's Beginning to Rain," came to mind, but with a different meaning than the original intent. It was raining when we went back to the hotel after the teaching last night. I slept well. No mosquitoes.
Neil and Francis are ministering just across the bay to the north of MauMau Market. During the day, people in last year's picture above are in the pavilion's shelter. A few months ago, as they were completing a dam downstream on the Nile River, the city of MauMau Market was flooded, and the main area of their downtown was washed away. Neil said that Lake Victoria is about 6 feet deeper than last year.
About 100 people came to the service held in the pavilion, with another 100 gathered around in the shops. It was "no holds barred" worship. In Kenya, worship is not complete without dancing. Two on the worship team could really move out, reminding Neil of the wrestlers we saw in Mongolia. How wonderful to watch worshipers putting all their strength into wrestling with the demon forces trying to keep people from enjoying the presence of God. A prophecy Neil received recently about being "unleashed" is being fulfilled. Whee!
What has Ruth been doing today? She completed the Thielke taxes and brought them to their accountant in Alexandria. Then she met friends, Jean, Meredith, and Paige. They had just come from Jean's apartment, where she is leading a weekly study on "Live Not By Lies," which is well-attended with lively discussions. It seems one lie I need to overcome is that tax season must be approached with a great deal of stress and fear. I might even learn to enjoy it if I compared compiling the documents to writing a retrospective diary of the previous year's income and expenditures. Ben Franklin said, "In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes." However, my mother's first cousin, Tim Rosten, told us that when a farmer gets to pay taxes, he had a very successful year! What an uplifting perspective.
Prayer:
- Father, we agree with the woman who asked prayer for her body to be rid of epilepsy. We thank you that your Holy Spirit's power can do that for her.
- Lord, we pray for those whose homes, businesses, and roads are flooded in the Nairobi slums. May the plugged drainage be fixed. Also, may the people be protected from diseases caused by polluted water and from malaria transmitted by mosquitoes.
- May the transmission on Francis and Neil's vehicle be strong enough for them to continue their journey next week.
- We thank you, Jesus, for being obedient in living a sinless life and dying on the cross for our sins. Be with your people around the world who celebrate your resurrection from the dead this Easter Sunday!
Love,
Ruth