How can it be Monday again so soon?? What happened to the weekend?
David, Jacob and I spent Friday on a bus ride that would never end
to Toccoa to the Bible Drill Retreat. What an awesome place---it is a little like
heaven is going to be I think---the kids were GREAT and they had fun playing
games learning God's word. I had the greatest chaperones---except we
were all missing Tim, Trin and Noah----good attitudes, lots of fun and we survived
without movies!!
The rest of the blog I am going to copy David's summary of his
trip to Malawi. God is working over there is a mighty way.
Malawi Mission Trip – Recap
Sunday Sept 7 – Leave for Jacksonville at 6:30 am flight leaves at 11:30 for Detroit. Met a lady from Nahunta who was going to visit her daughter in mich. She had a Jesus button on her shirt. She asked us our names so she could pray for us and we told her. She said her husband and son was named Jack and David. Left there and flew to Detroit caught plane to Amsterdam. Then flew to Johannesburg over night. Arrived there at around 11:00 pm on Monday night.
Tuesday Sept 9th flew from Johannesburg to Blayntre Malawi. Arrived there around 6:30 and waited 3 hours for ride to come. Got checked in to motel around 11:30 pm.
Wednesday Sept 10th woke up and went to first pastor’s conference. It was great. 50 or so pastors and wives and maybe 75-100 other visitors. Jack, Ron and I all shared with them.
Started the crusade that afternoon and Jack delivered a great message about 150-200 decisions. Ron and I shared with the children and teenagers. Ron had 91 decisions and I had about 200 or so. Jerry arrived later that night and we met up with him at the motel.
Thursday Sept 11th went to the pastor’s conference and Jerry fired up the pastors with a great sermon and Ron did as well. Second night of crusade went well. Jerry preached and several hundred were saved. I talked to the youth again and made sure they understood the salvation message. Jerry told us about praying for a lady after the crusade that her milk had dried up and as he prayed you could see the milk start coming from the child’s lips … that was cool. He said he had never seen that before. God is awesome!
Friday Sept 12th last day of crusade and pastor’s conference in Blantrye. Went well and another 100 or so decisions at the crusade. I am amazed that God is always faithful to show up and convict people to come to him .. No matter where you are.
Saturday Sept 13th – Travel day – we flew from Blayntre to Lilongwe Malawi. This was a short 1-hour flight. We got there and checked into a nice motel. This is a much bigger city that Blayntre. We rested up and got ready for the week ahead.
Sunday Sept 14th – Church Dedication at Charles Chincku’s church. Jerry had helped them get the money to build this church and Charles and his wife are very proud of the way it turned out. Dedication service was really nice.
Monday Sept 15th – New pastors conference started – went well and Jack & Jerry spoke to the pastors. Crusade started that night beside the church. Jerry preached a great sermon and maybe 150 – 200 decisions. I had a chance from the stage to share the evangelism ball with the kids and almost everyone raised their hands and said that they gave their heart to Jesus. I am overwhelmed at the decisions maybe 250+. Back to get some sleep.
Tuesday Sept 16th – Pastors conference again and Jack, Ron and I shared with the men and it went well. We went to the market shopping that day. Really cool all the things they can make with their hands. Crusade went well another powerful Jerry Spencer sermon and 30-40 decisions made. I again shared with the kids and made sure they understood what we had talked about and through the translator confirmed what the decision was. I also had the chance to go and play, hangout with them in the afternoon. That was awesome !.
Wednesday Sept 17th – My sweet wife’s birthday. Pastor’s conference was a big hit. The men asked about maybe next time it lasting all day and not do a crusade maybe but one day. Jack, Ron and I gave a bible in the native language to three pastors that Charles said did not have one. The look on their faces were priceless .. Jumped up and down and ran around like they won the lottery. I will never forget that look. I take so much for granted. Crusade was good .. A lot of decisions again …. We went to town before the crusade and found a bible store and bought 50 new bibles to give to the other pastor’s that did not have one. We could not leave without doing that. Went back to motel for a short night.
Thursday morning our Wednesday night at 11:00 pm we left for the airport to catch a flight to Johannesburg. Waited almost all day then got on flight to Amsterdam at 11:00 that night to fly all night. Arrived there at 9:45 Friday morning and caught next flight to Memphis and arrived there at 7:00 local time. Got sick on this flight not a fun trip. Memphis to Jacksonville flight was short thank goodness and arrived at 10:50 pm. It was good to get home.
Summary of trip – We have a big world and a bigger God. I saw some amazing scenery from the tea fields in Malawi to the red dirt clay county side. The beautiful children in both places and friendly faces of the pastors and there wives. It was all a great big blessing and reminds me again just how blessed we are. I hope we never take for granted the nice building and luxuries that we have here BUT these people may have been poor in worldly things were rich in worship and closeness to the creator. God is so good and I am glad that I had a chance to visit with the people of Malawi. has started a children's ministry there as a result
Thank you so much for praying for our future. I know God has a plan for us.
After the ups and downs of last week--even though the people
made an offer on the other house--- I pray that
God will continue to show us that plan. Disappointment is not
going to steal my joy---I serve a mighty God.
Jeff Slaughter sang one of his VBS songs this weekend---I will follow
you Jesus because I believe in God's plan for me........
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