What a Week We Had

It is hard to believe that we finished up our 4th week in the bush on Friday, and what a week it was. Overall we had a very good week, but it definitely had its challenges. Our biggest obstacle was the overall dirtiness of this village. Apparently the people aren't too concerned about cleanliness as a whole, so trash lines the paths and dirt. We think that was the reason we struggled so much with bugs this time. Poor Lisa took a beating, and to look at her legs you might think she suffered from a small case of the chicken box. It was bad. There seemed to be no relief from them both outside as well as in Lisa's tent. She was a trooper though and stuck out the week with her head held high. I am proud of her. 

Other than the bugs, we had a good time with our kids. It was a much smaller group this time, so we were able to interact on a more personal level. The kids spoke English well, so that made it nice for me. I didn't feel so distant from all that was going on. It was the first time that some of our team taught, so that was fun to see them teach some. Our team was all together in a house for the first time this week too, so it was good to have some more interaction with them. We all came back to Monrovia this week, so we will have time together to go through a Bible study and then to plan our follow up strategy for each village. I am so excited about this next phase even if we will only get to experience it for a week. Not only do we get to see kids grasp a hold of what Jesus did for them on the cross and give their lives and hearts to Him, but now we get to help encourage them and watch them grow in their new, exciting relationship with Christ! What a privilege for sure.

We have some good photos to post, so I promise they are coming soon. We are here in Monrovia for the week, so hopefully tomorrow we will get some good ones put up. Thank you all for praying. God is doing good stuff here. He is advancing His kingdom! Please pray that we would be able to set up a good plan to head back into these villages, so we can help equip them for a live filled with Christ. As part of our past illustrations in VBS, we would create a door post for the story of the passover, and then as we would explain it, we would smear red paint on it to illustrate the blood that was required for the angel of the Lord to pass over the house. We leave it to the side until the next day when we come to the cross. We then take that very door frame and turn it into the cross to show them that Jesus' blood was required for us to have eternity with God. We pass out paper and allow them to write sins down on it to come and "nail" to the cross. It is always a highlight of the week because right after this we present the Gospel to them and allow them to choose whether or not they want to invite Jesus in to their hearts. It is truly an amazing thing that was done for us on the cross. Here are the words to a song that talks about the awesomeness and power of what Jesus did on the cross. We have so much to be thankful for. 

"The Power of the Cross"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend  

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow. 

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry. 

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost! 
We stand forgiven at the cross.