Aug 9th Update - Acts Chapter 2

Okay, one of you emailed me last week to say it sounded like we were living the 2nd book of Acts. Yes, sometimes I feel the same way. This weekend was one of those times. Let me tell you the highlights - it would take too long to tell each story!

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First, thank you all for praying for our outreach to the kids on Saturday. It was amazing! We had planned for 75-100 kids as this was the first outreach, we did no advertising, etc. We asked those in the church to bring unchurched children from their neighborhoods. We specified that we didn't want to just repeat Sunday School for kids who already have it - we wanted children who had not heard the Gospel and whose parents did not attend church. So, we met at the orphanage at 10am and were going to walk to where we have church (about a mile away). When we met there were only about 40 kids (including our 24 from the orphanage), so only 16 from the community. I was disappointed, but philosophical about it. We began the walk and when we had just gone down the road a bit, Rogers said perhaps we should have the event at Wilta Inn which was closer. So we stopped there and were going in when a group of about 10 kids came together and joined us. I began explaining the "rules" for the time to the 50 or so kids and while talking to them, more kids kept coming. I could really draw this out, but to make the long story short, by the time we began the songs and Bible story, we had 190 children!!! WOW! Rogers estimates that about 1/2 of them were from unchurched homes from the responses of the kids. We played games, sang songs, had a Bible story and snack, then sent them home. We had to moved to a larger hall after starting because of the numbers. For those of you who have worked with me before, I ran it sort of like a Day Camp. The energy was amazing. God was definitely moving and many children heard the Gospel for the first time. Hallelujah! I have attached a picture which shows a little more than 1/2 of the kids who came. I have no idea what we will do next time - just finding a place to have the event is difficult. What happens if we double in size?
That brings me to the church this weekend. We had so many people coming in, we couldn't fit everyone in the room. By the time the sermon began (about 1 1/2 hours into the service) there were 119 in attendance...in a room that is 30'x30' or so. Rogers and I just look at each other and say, "what can you do?" We discussed putting a "no vacancy" sign outside :-). We had 56 in the children's service and 63 in the adult service. Then, at the end of church, Rogers asked if there was anyone who wanted to receive Jesus as Savior and 3 people walked to the front. Each one is a testimony in itself:

1. A young man who has been part of a legalistic cult here in Budaka. He came to the house to argue with Rogers about their doctrine. He has been at the house 3-4 times and Rogers has consistently shared the Scripture and refused to argue. Yesterday he was at church and said he wanted this Jesus that Rogers keeps talking about.
2. A woman (Phoebe) who came with Mama Jessica (the woman whose daughter was miraculously healed of the skin disease - more news about that in a paragraph or two). She said if this God can heal Jessica, she wants to know Him.
3. Brother John's (our water man who got saved 3 months ago) wife. We prayed with John on 2 or 3 occasions because she has been very bitter and abusive in her words to him about his salvation. Just last week we were praying for him and telling him when we pray, God will act. We just didn't know how soon. She and the children have mocked him and she has refused for any of the kids to come to church. He is a very quiet and humble man who rarely talks, but yesterday when she came forward to receive Christ, He was almost dancing in the aisle. His smile was a mile wide!! He kept saying to me (in very broken English), "That's my wife!! That's my wife!!

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"Isn't God amazing? Rogers spoke yesterday and was talking about prayer and that God answers. So, when John's wife came forward, we talked to them about the prayer only last week and that God had answered what seemed impossible at the time. 

Before I go further, the 2nd picture is one of our girls with their new dresses, made by one of the sisters at Evergreen Christian Center. This is only one of the outfits she has made for all the girls...and the boys' shorts and shirts are also coming soon. Thank you, Ann! The girls loved them. This is a picture of them on their way to church yesterday. They were so proud. The girls are, from left to right in the back row: Hellen and Brenda; middle row l to r: Natasha and Christine; front row l to r: Vanessa, Charity, Margret and Oliver. 

Another word about Jessica and her mom. We didn't know till yesterday some of the rest of the story: Turns out that one of the ladies in the apts that are attached to the hall where we have church is friends with Mama Jessica. Her name is Agnes. About 4 weeks ago, she told M. Jessica that she should bring Jessica to be prayed for by us. She had never been to church with us, was not a Christian (has since become one!), but she had heard us tell people during church that if they had a physical need we would pray with them after service. She had looked in the windows as we prayed for people and decided this was what Jessica needed. She knew that M. Jessica had taken Jessica to many witchdoctors and had charms put on her, incantations said over her. She had been to several "churches" in the area that proclaimed she would be healed (asking for money in order to pray for her), etc. M. Jessica and her husband have done these things as well as taking her to many doctors for 7 years since Jessica first contracted the disease. Nothing has helped, but they continued and decided they would try Agnes' suggestion to bring her to Cornerstone. The rest, as they say, is history. Now M. Jessica is bringing her friends to get saved. Agnes herself came and got saved 2 weeks ago. All of them are proclaiming that if our God can heal Jessica, they want to serve Him. So cool. Jessica and her mom are becoming evangelists. 

We realize that we need to begin a new believers class - there are so many! Ibrahaim, the muslim man who got saved last week, has been at EVERYTHING we do this week. He has had such an amazing conversion and just can't get enough of the Lord and His people. He was a great help on Saturday (went to town 2x to get more snacks and drinks when we ran out, helped with games, handed out cookies, etc.), came to the teachers' training yesterday and said he wants to come and help someone who will teach the kids, wanted to come to the ministers' training in the evening, came Wednesday night to church, came by the house a couple of times. So, we will begin meeting with all those who are recent converts for the first 1/2 hour of church each week to go through some of the basics of their Christian walk.

Now, in the midst of such wonderful things, you probably could guess that the enemy is throwing some wrenches into the works. Please keep praying - last night someone tried to break into our house at about 2 in the morning. It was frightening, but we are well secured with locks and bars on all the windows.
On Saturday morning, someone placed a dead chicken on the doorstep of our offices - this is a way to cast a spell on someone who you want harm to come to. Of course, no harm can come to us - the Lord is greater than all their spells. But, please pray as the enemy is bringing things against us...especially fear.
Sorry this got so long - wish I could tell you everything...but there are limits...

Now I will try to answer all you who wrote emails. I love you all. Thank you for your participation in the ministry to Budaka. God is doing great things! 

Please remember the challenge from a couple of weeks ago...a challenge from a sister who felt the Lord challenge each of you who are reading this to raise $1,000 so that Cornerstone can buy land and build buildings for the orphanage (to be able to take more kids) and the church. Please let me know what you are hearing about this. No one has responded so far - I'd love to hear what you are thinking.
Love you...and would love to hear from you!

Laurie