Where do we start for an amazing day? Gary’s session/devotion went very well – at least that’s what everyone said (guess who’s writing tonight?!!). Garrett, you have to come and be the tech guy – the sound goes out at least once in each session! Afterwards, we were whisked away to go to one of the two children’s homes we were to visit today. Gary certainly got his kid fix!
The first one was an hour bus ride from Sharon Gardens. No ordinary bus ride – you know what I mean if you have ever been in a third world country. Your travel gets interrupted by goats and cows on the road, no sense of any lanes and lack of pavement to travel on. The first shelter was dedicated just a year ago and has 65 children living there. Most of the children are orphans, but there are some who have lost a parent or the family is so poor that they have to give up their children just to survive. When you visit a home, the children greet you with streamers and flowers and make you feel really special. We should have a special class at church to train up our children to greet us this way when we come home from work! Getting back on track – the programs usually have songs, dancing, memory verse recital and a skit. At this first home, a young boy – probably about 10 years old gave his testimony of receiving Christ. When he was 4, his dad died of alcoholism, at 8 his mother committed suicide. He came to the home where he eventually accepted his loving Savior. “At last I have found someone who loves me and won’t leave me.” Who knew we needed Kleenex to visit a home! The next child brought on the challenge of all challenges: he recited 32 verses in 2.5 minutes. Amazing! Gary wanted to bring one boy home – I figured he was easily under 50 pounds and could fit in the luggage. Monte said no! Puppets were brought and candy distributed, not to mention the teaching of giving high-5’s to the delight of all the children.
Back “home” for lunch and then off to another home which was the first home founded by Sam Stephen’s grandfather. Besides the special features of the previous program, we had the opportunity to teach the children some songs in English. The kids did great at “May the Lord Bless You” which is an echo song and then there was “Head, Shoulder, Knees, and Toes.” Oh my, did they love that! Back to home base driving through rush hour in Salem. We never want to hear another complaint about rush hour traffic from any of you – nothing compares to this!
One question asked of the team during our travels was: “What has overwhelmed you already?” The responses were many and varied but here is what God is already doing in our hearts:
Monte: Spiritual battle before these people; how the base here at Sharon Gardens is an oasis in the midst of a decaying world.
Bob: the courageous nature of these 1500 pastors that are before us. The environments they are serving the Lord in and what it took for some of them to even get to the conference. One pastor is from Kashmir and it took him 4 days by train!
Gary: What God can do through a man (in this case Sam Stephens) who is willing to surrender his life to further God’s Kingdom.
A big highlight was the closing song for the conference tonight. As they continued to sing the song, you could tell the Holy Spirit was filling each person as the worship kept crescendoing, filling the auditorium with a magnificent sound. Here are the words to the chorus:
King Jesus goes before us
Let us sing Hosanna
Let us move forward quickly
Hosanna, victory is ours.
Pray for Monte as he is giving the devotional in the morning. He has a great word to these pastors who experience hardships, persecution and fatigue. Tomorrow we will be able to report on the village that Rolling Hills is adopting as we travel there later in the day.
We love you all – thanks for your prayers and devotion to us and the work of the Lord!
We’re off to bed.
Bob and Gary
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