DEAREST FRIENDS,
A TINY ROOM
The little room was so small and so packed with children. The doorways and the windows were packed with people. They used every inch of space. It was amazing.
At the end of the story, the little room filled with the children’s voices, asking Jesus to free them, to be their King, to be their Savior. Awesome!
One little boy came outside on the porch. I was cooling off after the story while others were doing their testimonies. He held onto my skirt and smiled. His name is Prince and he became a child of the King today. Hold all these little ones in your prayers.
OUTSIDE… IN THE SUN
We had the best second show. Yes, it was outside, in the full sun, but the second crowd was amazing. We had over 500 children from the school and many from the community joined us.
They were quiet and attentive and very responsive. It seemed that the heat was not even a problem. In this world, my favourite sound will always be children’s voice raised to God. Each program, we see the Holy Spirit poured out. I love what our Father is doing!
FAR FROM HOME
While I have been in Liberia, my granddaughter Evangeline spent 3 days in the hospital with respiratory problems. She is doing well now, but it seems I am always an ocean or a continent away when my family and friends need me. I am not there to hold Evangeline. I miss everyone’s special days… birthdays and anniversaries.
It falls to my friends at home to take care of my home. A limb hit my house this week and pulled the power box off the wall. My neighbors Joel and Linda and Will arranged to have it fixed. They are checking on all the details. Things always break when I am an ocean or a continent away. I am so grateful.
Some people in my church family that I hold very close to my heart are having a very hard time this week. They are trying to gain custody of 3 precious children and need encouragement. Again, at these times, as usual, I am an ocean or a continent away.
This morning, I was thinking about these dear ones and the many problems that they are dealing with. I was grieving that I am not there to help even though I know with all my heart, I am exactly where I am supposed to be.
I wish that I could be in 2 places at once, but I can through prayer. My devotions this morning wonderfully reminded me of the power of prayer. I was encouraged to pray first and pray most. The love and comfort and thankfulness I want to give, I can.
As you pray for us and many others today, hold to these sweet words in scripture.
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about His mysterious plan concerning Christ.” Col. 4:2-3
It is possible that some of you are reading these emails with a tender heart, but you have never trusted in Jesus to rescue you. Please go to the website at www.theagapepuppets.org and click on the Who Is Jesus? icon. Let me know what you think. Thank you for reading! Thank you for praying!
IT’S DIFFERENT HERE
1 Sometimes people tell you that they are cooking wild meat. It is best not to ask for more details.
2 The empty water bottles that we throw away are a treasure to the children. They always ask for them.
3 Too many children wonder what they look like. They see our open van doors and see their reflection in the glass and are fascinated.
4 Albino children in many nations in Africa are viewed as powerful medicine. Superstition rules!
5 We passed 4 houses road. We also drove down Atlantic Street right beside the Atlantic Ocean. The road that was before that one had already fallen into the sea, along with all the businesses and houses that once were there.
6 If you want a cheap taxi, you get a penpen. This means you hire a motorcycle.
PRAYER REQUESTS
All of us, including our Liberian friends, request that you pray for the children and pray for us. We are all tired, but happy, and want to finish well. Each child, no matter at what point in the trip they see us, deserves our best effort. Pray for strength. Ask the Father to make us a constant blessing.
In Jesus,
Linda for Sam, Silvana, and David.