The Creator and His creation

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last Friday was the first day of SCUBA, our Super Cool Undersea Bible Adventure for children. Forty-five minutes before the program was to begin the skies opened and we had two inches of rainfall in an hour. Sometimes you have to kind of wonder about why things happen the way they do. Then again, the program is called SCUBA. Three fourths of the children who eventually made it to the meeting were drenched. It looked like they had virtually swam to church. The attendance wasn't fantastic but the children had a great time and are looking forward to this Friday afternoon's program. Hopefully we will have a break in the weather. Please pray for this ongoing program for the next four weeks.

On Sunday the children discussed the "Beginning of Sin." The little ones had some rather interesting questions concerning the first sin. Did God know Adam and Eve were going to sin? Why did he make them if He knew they were going to blow it? These are the same questions that little ones have around the world. Most big people have the same questions. Sherry explained that God gave man the ability to choose. Those who choose to obey and come to Christ choose an eternity with the Father in heaven. Those who choose their own way choose death and eternal separation from God. Please pray for our children that they will make the right choices as they are being taught what the Bible says.

As mentioned earlier, the rains are here in full force. This brings a number of problems for the population. The roads are nasty and when people are walking to church they must decide if they are going to take a chance on getting drenched or simply staying home and remaining out of the weather. Houses in township areas are washed away every year and are being rebuilt with the same mud brick that washed away in the first place. Last week we were informed that there are several cases of cholera in our little town. One maternity clinic has been converted over completely into a cholera centre. People have been told not to shake hands (a complete breakdown of African culture) and not to attend funeral gatherings until further notice. A few years ago churches were forbidden from meeting because the outbreak was so severe. We have been informing people in the community and in the rural churches to be careful about their personal hygiene. The confirmation that cholera has, in fact, been discovered in our town is a very serious situation. Please pray for the people here as they come to terms with this life-threatening disease that has no cure. All the people can do is take the appropriate precautions and if they feel ill, rush immediately to the specific clinic for rehydration fluids and medical oversight.

This evening I will continue with the small group Bible study on Creation to Christ. Last week we discussed the creation of spirit beings (angels, demons etc.). I explained that God is the creator of all these beings and is therefore more powerful than they are. Most people here are petrified of the witch doctor and the threat of demon possession. When I explained that I had personally faced off a witch doctor in 1986 and was not afraid of these filthy people, members of the small group laughed nervously because they would not do that. Superstition and fear is taught from their earliest memory. Even church leaders get caught up in this foolishness. Pray for this Wednesday night group as we continue talking about the Creator and His creation.

Thank you for remembering us in your prayers as we remain...

In His Service,
Patrick & Sherry