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The construction team of five from Washington State worked like a group twice their size and the results were amazing.   For example …

Task:  The plan was to put up tabernacles at sites in the greater Luanda area and before arriving it was thought that 3 days on one structure was reasonable.

Result:  In one day the team had a tabernacle fully put together, bolted down and the roof on.

Task:  It was agreed beforehand that two tabernacles would be completed for sure and they would try for a third.

Result:  The third tabernacle was finished completely with two working days to spare, which enabled the building of a fourth about 6 hours east of Luanda.

The group was led by our former senior pastors, Jimmy and Nadine Burnett, and they surprised us and blessed the Angolan church at seemingly every turn.  Ministry highlights of the trip included:

• Meeting the more the 70 pastors enrolled in the first-ever session of post-secondary theological education for the Assemblies of God in Angola.
• Joining a 6 week old church plant for a tremendous service under tarps and tin to protect from the hot Angolan sun.
• Inviting the neighborhood to come a see an evangelistic film on Saturday night at the same church plant location.   The people gathered, darkness fell, the generator turned on … and the film did not work.  The picture was there but no sound came out.  The pastor reassured the team and the people that this was no surprise to God and then he started to sing.  What followed was an anointed, impromptu church service in which six young men gave their lives to  Christ for the first time.  What appeared to be an anticlimactic outreach effort ended with the angels rejoicing in Heaven!
• Traveling 4 hours north to the coastal town of Ambriz on roads with mud to the wheel wells to put up a tabernacle for the local church.
• Seeing an answer to prayer in the form of the fourth and final (miracle) tabernacle.  The pastor of a church in Malange, to the east of Luanda, had told his congregation on Sunday to trust God that He would supply the means to build a new structure since their current building was condemned by the government due to its location.  On Monday the pastor received a call that his church had been selected as one of the tabernacle building sites.  The materials were delivered on Wednesday, the footings poured by the vehicles headlights on Thursday and on Friday, just before the torrential rains fell, the last tin roofing sheet was screwed down.

The team flew home to Washington with lots of pictures, even more memories, good sunburns, some memorabilia and a few blisters.  Most of all they have engraved in the minds and hearts the work that God is doing in Angola and the part that they were able to play.  Even when the film would not work, God’s purpose was fulfilled and His love for this people was poured out.  Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (John 10:10).  He is willing that none should perish (John 3:16).  All must hear that Jesus saves (Rom. 10:13-15).  We join with our Angolan brothers and sisters in offering sincere thanks to this team, their families and those who supported them through finances and prayer.  To God be the glory!

I looked up the definition of “blog” and this is what I found:  A site on which an individual … records opinions, information, etc. on a regular basis.  I was afraid of that, for this blogger is clearly falling short of the “on a regular basis” part.  There are a few good excuses I might come up with for the large time-gap between entries, but for now it may be best just to plug on.  So here it goes; something simple to get back on track …

Two small, seemingly unrelated occurrences in the last two days have combined in an unusual way to make me think of Easter:

The first happened yesterday afternoon in downtown Luanda.  I was walking to my car after spending some time with two pastors when a lady who was staggering her way down the sidewalk thrust her drunken face close to mine and shouted “IT’S SICKNESS!”  Her point made, she tightly clutched her beer bottle and stumbled on by.

The second was this afternoon when our water pressure again dropped so low that it hardly trickled out of the faucet.  Our water has been so dirty in recent weeks that the bathtub fills brown, washed hair still feels gritty and the external water filter needs cleaning every day or two.  There was nothing to do but clean the filter so I shut off the water main to the house, removed the plastic cylinder and put a hose through the middle to blow out the slime and grime.

It was when I was hosing off the pond-like scum that my mind connected the two separate events.  One, sickness dominates our world.  In a drunken haze and not knowing what she was saying or doing that woman got it right.  Sickness – taking the form of abuse or language or perversion or greed or anger or dishonesty or so much more – is present at every level of society, around the globe and in every community.  The sickness has as its root, sin.  In Romans we read that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23) and again in 1 John that “if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1:8).

Two, like our clogged-up, slime-covered water filter we all need to be made clean, and that can only happen from the inside out.  I sprayed the outside of the filter with water and managed only to remove a bit of the muck, but when the pressurized water shot outward from the inside it was truly cleaned.  Jesus rightfully chastised the Pharisees (Luke 11:39-41) for only wanting to look clean on the outside instead of truly being clean on the inside.

How about you and I this Easter season?  What does our “filter” within look like?  Is it dirty and full of crud?  If so then take the time to stop, shut down the surrounding distractions, confess the “sickness” and let God make you clean as only He is able.

It’s Easter.  Celebrate.  Jesus is alive.  Sin need not hold you captive even one more day.  His victory is complete and He alone holds all power over death and the grave (Rev. 1:18).  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).  Happy Resurrection Day!

On Tuesday night of this week a work team arrived in Lome from Kalispell, Montana.  They came to tackle some needed maintenance and improvement projects on the campus of the West Africa Advanced School of Theology.  Ninety pastors/students will be coming to study in about three weeks and this team has two weeks to get done what they can.  They have great attitudes, work hard and are on-fire on the job.  We so respect and appreciate the efforts of each one in this group as they give of their time, talents and resources in order that the Biblical-training that occurs here can continue …  and that the impact of that training will only increase throughout West and Central Africa.  Thanks, Team!

Our passports have finally made their way back into our hands!

More than six months ago we started the routine steps of the renewal process for our one-year residency visas.  We did not anticipate any problems and had allowed time for the unforeseen.  Well, the unforeseen was much larger than ever envisioned.  Multiple variables contributed to the delay and in these months we have missed flights, made countless phone calls, waited for days on end at the immigration office, made and scratched lots of plans, consulted with the US Embassy, been stranded out of country without passports and enlisted the help of anyone we could think of.  Nothing seemed to work.

The story has plenty of little details, but the bottom line is that the Lord directed the steps of our colleagues to the right people and slowly they started to trickle out of the visa office.  When we finally held all five passports in our hands – with valid visas in each one – it was with a little bit of disbelief.  We were not sure were ever going to see them again, but like old friends come back for the first time in a long time we were so glad when we did.  Our plane tickets have been changed for the last time and soon will be heading back.  Togo, West Africa, has been a gracious and generous host to us during these months and we will pray for the work and people here as we return to Angola.

Do you like to go the beach? I know it is a strange question to ask in the middle of winter, however since we live not far from the Equator and within sight of the ocean it is something we think about. Our family likes going to the beach and from time to time we load up on towels, umbrellas, sunscreen and sand toys and head out for some fun. Our kids are not yet inclined to do much swimming in the ocean’s waves, but they love to play in the sand.

On our most recent outing the play-construction project of choice was a big hole dug in the sand with a channel leading to the water. The idea was that when the waves came in water would run up the channel and into the hole, creating a warm water pool to play in. Can you see their anticipation when the first wave came in to fill up their pool? Can you imagine their disappointment when that water rushed up the trough, filled the hole, collapsed the side walls and washed the sand back into the ocean? Our children’s planning and work were reduced to nothing by just a few waves.

Does life ever hold a similar theme for you? Plan, work, dream and sweat to build something only to see it washed away by the waves of life. It happens in families. Children go astray. Jobs are lost and careers must be changed. Friendships sour. The future seems to be full of nothing but unfulfilled dreams.  The weight of life can seem to be too much to bear.

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.¹” I learned a song this fall from a group of pastors from West Africa. These pastors – who have lived through wars, been persecuted by neighbors in the name of religion, confronted the pure evil of witchcraft and voodoo, and yet all the while preached the Word of Truth with conviction and power – sang these words over and over: “You are the pillar that holds my life, Master Jesus. You are the pillar that holds my life. You are the Most High God. You are the Most High God.” The waves of life have threatened many times to crash in on them, yet their faith has not washed away like the sand of my children’s beach construction project.

Our God does not shift or change from day to day, nor age to age². The joy of the Lord is our strength³ and not one of His promises fail to come to pass⁴. I think that you, also, would have been caught up in the joy with which these pastors sang. The tune was new to me and the simple truth a great reminder – God truly is the pillar that holds my life. He is in control and I will rejoice in Him. How about you?

¹ I Cor. 15:57; ² I Samuel 15:29; ³ Nehemiah 8:10; ⁴ Numbers 23:19

I am impressed by the character and commitment of the men and women I am taking classes with in West Africa.  There are more than one hundred students on the campus at the moment and it is difficult to get to know them all.  However, when opportunity allows and I am able to spend time with a pastor from Ghana or a pastor from Cameroon or different one from the Democratic Republic of Congo, I become all the more convinced that I am speaking with men and women who are the true hope of Africa. 

This morning I met Martin.  He is Burkinabé (from Burkina Faso) and serves as a missionary to Chad, Africa.  He speaks French, English, a small bit of Arabic and probably a dialect or two.  His primary ministry task is teaching current and future pastors in the capital city of N’djamena.  For 3 ½ years he has invested in training Chad’s spiritual leaders and his gentle, sincere, humble demeanor suggests to me that his life and service are having an impact on those who teaches.

We spent a few pleasant moments visiting together and when we continued on our respective ways I was once again encouraged.  The history of modern missions leans heavily to the western, white world; Hudson Taylor, Adoniram Judson, William Cary, Cameron Townsend, Eric Lidell, Amy Carmichael, Gladys Aylward and a host of other outstanding missionaries all fall into this category.  Martin does not, yet he and others like him are courageously and faithfully proclaiming the Truth of the gospel wherever God leads them.

There is a common misconception that in order to be called and used as a missionary you must come from a background that is “just so”.  Not true.  Jesus’ call to “go and make disciples of all nations” extends to all believers; no exceptions.  I am proud of my African brothers and sisters who, like Martin and his family, have answered the call of God to bring hope and life to every corner of this great continent.

I received a note via e-mail reminding me that October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  I remember very well the kind words, cards and gifts that were directed to us in our years of pastoring and those special expressions were always anencouragement.

Danita and I are no longer serving as pastors, but we serve many pastors.  Over the last couple of months we have become aware of a number of tragic situations involving pastors in Central and Western Africa:

• A presbyter (overseeing pastor) in southern Angola was involved in a car accident.  He went to the hospital with chest pains and was released when no cause was discovered.  Still in pain the next day he returned to the hospital and was again sent home without treatment.  The pastor died the following morning.
• In northern Togo a pastor was hit by a vehicle and left unattended by the side of the road.  When he was finally picked up and taken to the hospital they were unable to help him.  The pastor died that night, leaving behind his wife and newborn baby daughter, Anne.
• An Assemblies of God missionary and pastor in the Democratic Republic of Congo died suddenly while in South Africa for a visit.  His large church has planted more than 60 churches in the D.R.C. and is responsible for hundreds of leaders trained and thousands of lives transformed.
• In Burkina Faso a young pastor had just been presented to the leadership for ministry service.  On the way home with his wife he stopped by a roadside market to buy fruit.  He crossed the road, was hit by a motorcycle and was killed instantly.
• In southern Togo a church congregation was attacked during a prayer service.  The pastor and people were beaten by practitioners of witchcraft, who said the church’s prayers were disturbing their ceremony.

This is not an exhaustive list of incidents; only a sampling.  They occurred from two months ago to just last week.  Wives, children and congregations have been left to grieve and go on.  The pastors of Africa need our prayers.

As you honor and recognize your own pastor this month will you also pray for pastors and their families in Africa?  Some are grieving loss; others are facing physical and spiritual challenges; all need our prayers.  God’s grace is sufficient for every situation so let us join together to lift our African brothers and sisters before His throne.  Eternity will tell the impact of our prayers.

Many of the daily considerations of a missionary have at least some connection to culture.  For instance, when told the product will be ready tomorrow does that mean a literal tomorrow or an eventual tomorrow?  My home culture and my host culture see the use of “tomorrow” as having different meanings.  This is only one example out of hundreds; others have to do with food, greetings, language, protocol, topics of conversation and a whole lot more.  At times the mixing of cultures provides challenges that are difficult, but there are other times when a good sense of humor and healthy laugh helps to easily bridge the cultural gap.

Yesterday afternoon provided us one of these fun moments.  This was no planned activity, no ministry involvement and no gospel proclamation.  It was just a fun, unexpected moment that brought smiles and laughter for everyone.

Our children have made friends with several of the kids in the area and yesterday they were playing together outside.  One of our daughters came in after a while, all hot and sweaty, and asked if they could do something different.  Even though leaves are changing color and temperatures are dropping back in our home state, where we are now is heading into the heat of summer and the kids wanted to cool down.  What else could we do but pull our a special bag that had been brought to us so that our girls could introduce their friends to an American summer tradition - water balloons!  Oh, the laughter that ensued as the five kids worked in two languages to toss, catch, and break as many water balloons as they could!  They had such fun drenching each other and getting drenched.  No cultural barriers in that event. 

If that was not fun enough, it got even better.  Several African pastors noticed what was happening in front of our home and two of them came walking by.  They stopped, laughed at what they were seeing and took pictures with their cell phones.  They must have wondered kind of crazy activity the Americans were up to.  Both of them were dressed in slacks and dress shirts but I asked them if they wanted to give it a try.  I did not think they would do it but they excitedly agreed, put their computers, papers and phones aside and picked up a balloon.  I showed them the finer points of tossing and catching and then counted one-two-three-toss! 

You who are experienced water balloon catchers know that to catch the balloon without getting wet you must cup your hands in front of you and gently cushion it as it lands.  Never flinch, never squeeze and never, never catch the balloon above your head!  As pastor number one tossed the balloon into the air, pastor number two flinched and held his hands up high.  When the balloon hit his hands he squeezed and it exploded, soaking him from the cuffs of his long-sleeved dress shirt to the crease of his nicely pressed trousers. 

The pastor stood rather disbelievingly as water dripped from fingers and clothes while the rest of us roared with laughter.  It was too funny! 

Cultural differences can sometimes cause sticky situations, but not this time.  When an American water balloon toss crossed cultures and met with these African pastors it was nothing but FUN!