All God's Children and Pray for Water

Today as the children studied Bonnie did not have a science lesson but taught from Acts 10 about Peter and Cornelius. After telling the story, beginning with Cornelius vision to send for Peter through Peter's realization that loves all, the children acted out the story. They were very good actors and enjoyed you. The children made puppets from paper plates and yarn many choosing blond hair! In the afternoon session what a time they had fingerpainting! They were amazed how the paint could be spread and designs made on fish cut outs. The children were very creative. Earlier we had studied the aquatic biome. As the fish dried in the sun, the courtyard resembled an ocean with brightly colored fish.

At the night devotion, Bonnie from John 3:161-17, 1 John 4:10. Once again she spoke of God's great love through Jesus Christ for the salvation of all mankind and the mandate for believers to love one another. Using three ethnic dolls from the Doll Ministry, Berea First Baptist, Greenville, SC, who had on beaded necklaces where the colors represented the plan of salvation. After sharing with the children, each child was presented with a doll of his/her own as a gift from the Christian brothers and sisters of Berea.

Meanwhile back at the farm, the trials and tribulations of the well continues. The good news is that the water tank was set, the lines dug, the pipes ready, and water was pumped. When the water flowed, everyone was so excited! Mpeli, Floyd, and Greg splashed in the water. Everyone was celebrating. Then, as quickly as the water gushed out to the pipe, it stopped. The power control box for the pump shorted out and everything stopped. The new control box had to be sent to Dar Es Salaam for repair or replacement. Pray that this will be completed and the box returned by Saturday. The engineer, Mr. Ernest Mziray, determined that there was too much mud in the water well. Greg agreed with him and it will be cleaned out on Saturday morning using compressed air. I know--this sounds strange to me but all the experts (Mr. Mziray and Greg say this is the way to go). The pump was not harmed. So now we wait until Monday to begin again getting water to Kidete village. We will arrive early on Monday and we pray that by noon we will be splashing again in the cool, clean water of the Kidete/DBL Farm Well. Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12-13,18: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm...With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit" What seems like the constant obstacles are really greater opportunities for seeing the hand of God at work. The need for a clean, consistent source of water for the people of Kidete is a part of the transforming work of the Gospel. Not only will the people of Kidete obtain drinking water but also experience the Living Water, Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote,"Pray at all times..." We pray to remember that our struggle or adversary is not people but evil that seeks to rob others of the necessities for truly living a fulfilled life.

Tomorrow we head to Mbeya and Tukuyu to visit Neema and Mpeli's parents, Floyd will lead a conference, and worship in Mbeya before returning home in Iringa on Sunday. Pray for us as we travel and share with our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. As we live out the truth of the Gospel for all people.