Africa, Day Nine

The overnight low was around 82 in the mud hut where we slept. Our hostess was so kind to provide the hut that we hated to sleep outside where it was a bone-chilling 74. Besides, between the bats and lizards one never knows who might get under the sheets with you.

Welcome to the bush! The bucket bath on the second day had lost all of its magic and intrigue. I gasped as I poured the cold water over my head and scrubbed fast to be done with it. We had gotten spoiled in the guest house and now were really roughing it. The morning started easy and caffeinated, as most mornings do. Pete, Bill, and Shelly went to the clinic about 8 while the rest of us cleaned up the area and prepared to go to villages.

Chuck, myself, and Cherry went to what I call two villages in the morning, but Cherry says it was all a part of one village. At each location we would stop and greet the chief and elders if they were present. Once the formal greetings were done we would bring out the roping dummy and our presentation would begin. Chuck begins with telling about raising cattle and why we use ropes. Their cattle here are tame and used to people. They do not have grass prairies fenced off to let them run free. He tells them our cattle are wild and must be roped to be able to doctor and care for them. He shows them how this would be done and transitions this to how are lives are like that cow. We run from Jesus though He only wants help and care for us. He mentions that I am there and I am a teacher to him and woujld like for them to hear me as well. When they discover that I am religious teacher they smile and look interested. I share the gospel with them and invite them to make the choice of faith in Jesus rather than doing more good than bad or sacrifices to attain Heaven. I express the truth: Jesus is the only way to forgiveness and Heaven. I pray for them and tell them I would gladly talk with any you would like to talk while Chuck lets them practice on roping.

There were many seeds planted this morning and I hope that water will soon come and harvest in the end. We all convened back at camp for lunch and discussed our day. We split again and went our separate ways continuing what we had done in the morning.

At the end of the day we had helped 39 people with teeth and shared the gospel with 3 villages. Not a bad day! We convened again for supper after taking turns with the bucket baths. Our supper was cooked by a local woman. We had a black-eyed pea, bean and rice mixture with a tomato sauce on top. It was very good and filling. While we finished eating a few guys from the night before came by to have more discussion with me about Biblical matters. We had a tea that thick and sweet and discussed several issues.

By 9:30 we were already under the mosquito nets for the night. The concert of snoring would commence and the audience would not be pleased!

Welcome to the bush!

Here is a peek into our day…

Make a Smilebox photobook