A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A JET-LAGGED MISSIONARY

It's my turn to blog in this week-long blogging report from 'Cup missionaries.
We arrived in USA Friday evening from Africa – a long, long, long trip.

Sunday, May 28, 2006

12:30 AM Wake up thinking it’s time to get up

1:45 AM Wake up thinking it’s time to get up

3:10 AM Wake up thinking it’s time to get up

4:30 AM Give in and get up

5:30 AM Enjoy a breakfast of good old American Rice Krispies and fresh raspberries

7:00 AM Think about going to the 8:00 service at HPC and then remember we went to the Saturday service last night

8:00 AM Go to the office and catch up on emails (227), sort 4 months of junk mail, watch a Gaither Homecoming video—finally some “real” music—and then remember how moved I was by the music of radical youth called "Delirious" in Rwanda. I am old but God’s anointing can still get me even if it is young “whipper-snappers “ singing

12:00 PM Meet son Dan and his family and nephew Todd and his girlfriend at TJ Ribs (awesome) for lunch.

12:30 PM Take picture of plate of baby-back ribs to email to Ben to rub it in

2:00 PM Sit back and look at my beautiful family and thank God for them and for wonderful America. Relive parts of Saturday night’s service at HPC

3:00 PM Stop at CompUSA to see about replacing my camera I gave away in Swaziland

3:30 PM Think about going back to bed (It’s 10:30 by my body clock which is still on Africa time.)

4:30 PM Think again about going to bed

6:00 PM Sleep on the couch for an hour

7:30 PM Think again about going to bed

8:00 to 9:00 PM listen to good gospel music and thank God again for letting us be missionaries surrounded by co-workers who are like-minded family and friends

9:00 PM Do it. Go to bed

9:02 PM Go to sleep thanking God for the awesome life He is giving Jean and me

Be sure to read Monday's "A Day in the Life of a Children's Cup Missionary" blog by Pat: www.patrickconti.blogspot.com

ONE AT A TIME

Just a few hours after we landed in America, Jean and I were once again immersed in the anointed praise and worship and preaching of Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge.

Awesome.

Guest speaker, Matt Fry of Raleigh, NC, challenged us to win the lost--one at a time. It minstered to us. A few hours earlier we were in Africa facing the massive challenge of hundreds of thousands of AIDS orphans and vulnerable children. I confess it pushes every thing in us right up to the edge, as the children we couldn't reach die.

When Pastor Matt said "One at a time," the faces of Tinotenda, Isabel, Jackolyn, Pepe, Treasure and thousands of others we have rescued, flashed in my mind.

They are worth all that it has cost.

Thanks, Pastor Matt, for speaking into our spirits.

AFRICAN CHILDREN'S CHOIR

Watoto is an African children's choir. I have their recordings and even the memory of their sound and story gives me chill-bumps right now.

If they are ever in your area don't miss hearing them!

In Rwanda at the Hope:Rwanda meetings I got to know Missionary Gary Skinner whose vision launched the choir and established a great orphanage in Uganda.

This Fall Missionary Skinner is calling together a meeting of missionaries who work with AIDS orphans to find ways to motivate the local African churches to get more involved in solving the AIDS/HIV pandemic.

Ben and I will be participating in that conference.

I trust this man and his ministry. Help him if you get a chance to.

I’D LIKE TO BELIEVE

I’d like to believe the heathen would know
If I didn’t go.
I’d like to believe that they would learn to pray
Even if I’d stay.
I’d like to believe that God’s Holy Word
Would somehow be heard,
And I could stay in America
But I can’t.

I’ve searched through God’s Word and have to say
I found just one way.
I’ve searched my own heart and find these words there
I’ll go anywhere!

MOZAMBIQUE CHURCH GROUNDBREAKING

It was a day of great excitement.

The groundbreaking for the new Healing Place Church and Mercy Center for orphans in Mozambique was a major neighorhood event.

Monday this week Pastor Mark Stermer, Lee Domingue, and Joe Martin from Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge were with us for this event.

One count had the crowd at over 650 people--all anxious for the church to be built. It is the only evangelical church for the 7,000 people in the resettlement neighorhood which is expected to grow to 10,000 people--all needing Jesus.

Jackolyn--the lady whom God healed of a black mamba snake bite while she was helping clear the land for the church--helped do the cooking for the celeration. Her face beamed as she told again of how God--the very God that the people can meet in this church--healed her after the doctors said she would surely die.

What a way to launch a church!

EMERGENCY BABY DELIVERY

Our daughter Susan and "Sister Teresa" Rehmeyer (a registered nurse and 'Cup missionary) were called upon by a neighbor in an emergency situation to deliver a baby. The lady lives right by Daran and Teresa Reymeyer here in Mbabane, Swaziland.

...A bit scary because of body fluids and HIV/AIDS infections, but Sister Teresa was prepared with rubber gloves and coached Susan on infection avoidance techiques.

Mother and baby are fine.

Pray for them as we use this connection to this family to bring Jesus into their lives. We want this child to grow up knowing Jesus.

RWANDA--A HEALING PLACE

The three nights of Joyce Meyer stadium meetings in Kigali, Rwanda were an excellent combination of timing, appropriateness, annointing and audience reception.

Many times in the meetings the tens of thousands of Rwandans in the audience exploded into praise and commitment to God.

Rwanda is a country where racial hatred forced a million people over the edge and into the abyss of genocide. Those that survived have stepped way back from the edge of the abyss and are looking to God for healing.

I've never seen a more vivid scene where a nation made a hurting place a forgiving place and God turned it into a healing place!

One of the most outstanding events Jean and I have ever been part of.