“Dig Down Deep and Give Your Best to God”

(See #6 below to understand the title to today’s post.)

Some highlights of the past few days:

(1) Last night, a black necked spitting cobra was killed five feet from our front gate.  I was out at a meeting until almost midnight and Kelly told me the news when I got home.  Sossa was leaving work last night around 8p as he has done since we hired him over six years ago.  He locked the gate, turned around and although he didn’t see or hear anything, he sensed evil in his spirit.  He stopped dead in his tracks and started looking around when the snake slithered across the ground in front of him.  He ran back in to get a flashlight from Kelly then spotted the snake curled up next to the wall just a few feet from the gate.  He had also grabbed his machete and took a swing but still the snake scampered away and hid under a cinder block.  He tossed a small stone at the brick and the snake shot out quickly, but Sossa’s reaction was quick and he killed it with the next whack of the machete.  Last year, one of our dogs had bravely fought off one of these cobras and lost her life protecting us.  

(2) I was gone all evening yesterday to the village of Tchatehoue (cha-tay-way).  At our last month’s leadership meeting, the Aja leaders decided they want to target each one of the villages where we have congregations with an evangelistic outreach.  One of the men in our churches has a small business where he shows DVDs for entertainment purposes in his village (he has a small generator when there is no power).  Once a month, he transports his equipment from village to villages and the JESUS Film is used to proclaim the life of Christ in an open-air setting.  I joined them in fasting throughout the day and later joined the leaders for a time of prayer just prior to the showing of the film.  Over 100 people hovered around a small TV watching the life of Christ.  A number of young people expressed interest in learning more.  We know the others, while not making any commitments to Jesus, had the Seed planted in their hearts.  While at the meeting, one of our leaders had invited a non-Christian friend to come and view the film.  He is newly married.  His wife’s father had given his blessing and permission for their union.  Apparently mother-in-law feels cheated and demanded the woman return to her home.  This young man is torn because his wife has temporarily left him because she doesn’t want to disrespect her mother.  The two parents are apparently in a heated fight over it.  Can anyone say “leave and cleave”? Pray for Anisay (ah-nee-say) and all the other parties involved.  Anisay is desperately feeling torn and also helpless because the problem is between his wife’s parents.  He is open to God’s promise of hope and was supposed to come to their church today.  

(3) Margaret Thompson returned to the States a couple of days ago.  A veterinarian by trade, Margaret is a missional believer with a heart for the nations.  She eagerly desires to use her skills and abilities to help people in caring for their animals.  Margaret was very helpful in educating us all about the most common diseases she saw.  Sometimes I just see them as pathetic looking pigs or scrawny goats.  Margaret’s knowledge helped a lot of us understand the various diseases or nutritional deficiencies plaguing them.  She was a blessing to have in our home (she always volunteered to do the dishes!) and was a real trooper with some of the inconveniences of life in West Africa.  In the 9 days she was here, she only had 2 real showers (our water’s been off more often than ever lately!)  She never complained.  She was great with the kids.  

(4) Care packages arrived this week from dear RHCC friends like Jody Allison and Jan Waller (thanks a million!!)   We also received in the same week some fun stuff from Kelly’s sister, her mother and my Mom.  Blessings to all of you!!

(5) Had two different conversations this week involving Christians involved in sexual immorality.  It is very difficult to see the affects of Satan….some rise up and defend their actions in smugness and pride; others run and hide in shame.  Some feel they deserve to gratify their flesh because they are suffering in a difficult marriage.  Others play with fire because they are young and careless.  Fatigue often fosters an environment where the enemy can make self-satisfaction seem justified.  Lord, have mercy on all of us.

(6) I have written before about some of the funniest things I’ve seen in church in Africa.  Today ranks up there among the best.  The worship leader declared to the congregation it was time for the weekly offering.  Out here in rural Benin, ladies don’t carry purses to church.  They will mostly like keep their small change tied up in a part of their skirt wrapped around their waist.  When it’s time to get out the money, they’ll untie that one section and pull out their coins.  Occasionally I have even seen a woman reach down to pull her tithe out of her bra.  Men traditionally carry their coins in their pocket.  Once in a while a man may pull out some paper money from a wallet.  As we stood up for the offering today, I couldn’t help but notice one of our senior adults standing next to the guy next to me.  This elderly man had unzipped and completely dropped his pants to the ground!  Obviously the only one culturally shocked by this “brief” exposure, I couldn’t help but stare as he reached into his briefs and pulled out this wadded up, worn currency.  I know every offering is sweet to the Lord, BUT…  

I am not mocking the man’s generosity (paper is worth a lot more) but simply thought we could have a little fun with the cultural differences between our Aja brothers and us Americans.  In light of this humorous scene at church, what would you have titled this post (see above)?  Make a comment and leave me your suggestions.  

-Randy