Today was another good day of worship alongside the Baileys. We worshipped with the Christians from the church at Kaiteme (ky-uh-TIM-ay). This was one of the first churches Greg planted when they were here almost 10 years ago! And they are bigger and stronger in their faith than they were back then (despite many years of turmoil, persecution, sin, and challenges). Encouraging!! (I think Kelly snapped some pictures, but it'll be tomorrow before I can post them)
After worship, Kelly and Melanie spent some time encouraging Josephine, a woman in the Kaiteme church who is suffering due to the forced separation from her husband and children. They took her some gifts to encourage her in her faith.
Today, Sunday, July 23rd is also the one year anniversary of the death of Lokadi (lo-kah-DEE), Ega's wife....and Lael's birthmother. Ega spoke some about it at church, and then Greg and I spent a couple of hours with him this evening in his home. To honor the memory of Lokadi, we gave a bag of rice to Ega and some money for him and the kids. We sat with Ega, shared a meal and a Coke (once again amazed by his generosity...on a day when he shouldn't have to be spending money on us), and then we talked at length about that day one year ago. Tears still fill his eyes, and ours, too. The loss is still real and evident in the faces of the children left behind (11 years old, 8, and 4) But it was also a time Ega wanted to talk about the joy of knowing she was in the arms of her God because she was a believer in Jesus Christ! She is in Christ! He talked about how so many people challenged him in the days following her death to leave God and to abandon his faith. Not only did he not listen to their worldly counsel, he also persevered and planted a new congregation of believers back in November! His faith is a testimony to so many of us who watch him day after day. But his pain is as real as anyone who has lost a spouse. Pray for him and the kids, Giselle (jee-ZELL), Mawu-we (MA-oo-way), Azari (ah-zah-REE).
Tonight is the last night for the Baileys to be in our home. Kelly and Tori will drive them to Cotonou tomorrow where they will fly out late in the evening. We simply can't express our thanks to our God for such a rich couple of weeks with our dear friends. What a grand reunion we have had....lots of fun, conversation, healing, and very little rest!! (too many late night talks and early risin' kiddos!!) We'll have some final Bailey pictures over the next day or two.
Blessings!
-Randy
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