Unless You Change and Become Like Little Children

 

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3, NIV)

What is it about children that Jesus was commending? Is it their curiosity? Is it their honesty? Is it their excitement? Is it their willingness to get involved? When I was an elementary school teacher, my students didn't allow me to hide behind a mask. They saw right through the professional face I tried to wear. When I was upset and tried to appear calm and in control of a situation, one of my students would pipe up and say, "You're really mad, aren't you?" Or if I had learned some bad news, and was trying to hide my tears, a student would say, "What has made you so sad?" My students helped teach me how to be genuine. Jesus said when he met Nathaniel, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1:47, NIV)

Neil has enjoyed a new openness from the people on this site visit. It is the 4th year that Francis has been Neil's interpreter, and the people have come to love Francis and accept his leadership. The children have been especially responsive in the meetings. I shared a video clip of Neil dancing with the children and the worship leader in the email intro to the last post. I wasn't able to load the video into the blog, but it worked to forward Francis' email. Neil said it was a boogie woogie service, meaning they were dancing as they worshiped. Neil said he's not going to be sitting with the white boys in heaven, for sure! There were many children and teenagers in the morning meeting. Neil asked who would like to give their lives to Jesus, and about 50 hands shot up into the air. So after praying with them to receive Jesus' free gift of full forgiveness of sins and dedicate their lives to following Jesus, Neil prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit who will help them and guide them and teach them how to be like Jesus. Well, the Holy Spirit fell on those young people. Some people were falling over on the dirt floor of the church. Most of the crowd was under 10 years old with about a dozen teen agers and about a dozen adults. A few of the teens were mocking the others, but the rest of them joined into what Jesus was doing with the meeting. 

Then they all went back to singing and dancing as dust filled the air from the dirt floor. They paused long enough to pray for the sick. Neil said there was time for testimonies from the morning meeting in the evening service. Neil went to bed Monday with the laughter and conversations continuing into the night. It is a good thing that Neil can sleep anywhere and commotion never bothers him.

Before leaving Sengera, Neil visited Josiah's compound. Josiah is the headmaster of a school and has invited Neil to visit him and his family each time Neil is in Sengera. But Josiah has been having nose bleeds for a week and has been to the hospital. He was just on his way for a follow-up check at the clinic as Neil arrived. But Neil and Francis got a chance to pray for Josiah before he left. Please also pray for Josiah's healing. Neil said it was such a God connect, being able to see his dear friend again. That family loves Neil so much!

As Neil has been visiting churches he has visited our ROCK children and caregivers in their homes when possible. He has noticed that some of them need new roofs, so I was able to send the pastors funds to buy the metal sheets for 4 of them. The caregivers were so happy, they didn't want to let Neil leave. 

Neil said the spices he brought for gifts are getting handed around the table more frequently. One fellow started a new dish by cutting up avocados, onions, and tomatoes on top of his potatoes. Then Neil tried it. Now it has become a common addition to meals. They have also been served fresh pineapple. Neil and Francis have been making excellent progress on the interviews in the various churches. There are also many new applications. Neil said he has made some people sad, because he knows we will not have enough sponsors for all the children they are bringing to him. He is trying to determine which are the most needy, and he will still have too many new applications. 

At Hellen's house his clothes were washed before Neil and Francis set out for Kuria, a village along the Tanzania border. Neil has been there before. The pastor's name is Chacha, so you would expect lively worship again. Some leaders went along to fill out their ministry team. Just as they were arriving the transmission on the van began slipping, and it gave out completely as they pulled up by Chacha's house. Neil wrote, "Where is Scott V. when I need him?" In our estimation, Scott has the best transmission shop in all of west central Minnesota: Hoffman Transmission in Brooten. It was through the failing transmission on one of our previous cars that we met Scott, and he ended up inviting us to his house to lead Bible studies for 10 years. If he wasn't such an excellent transmission mechanic, he might have time to join Neil on some of these adventures. 

Cosmas the founder of Riverside Ministries, and owner of the van, is a mechanic who supports his family and his church with his mechanic work and by teaching mechanics. We were really happy to hear that Cosmas was going to ride a bus through the night and be with them Thursday morning. But word came this afternoon that no gas was available in Nairobi, so Cosmas would be unable to make the trip. Please pray that God will provide a way for Neil and the ministry team to continue their trip of visiting the churches, and that Neil will be able to return to Nairobi in a few days.

Love,
Ruth