Today proved nothing short of God showing His Shekinah glory throughout the land of Bamacounda and its neighbors. As I prayed tonight for the words to share, God revealed Himself to me in a song, and I heard the words of “City on Our Knees” by Toby Mac playing in my head. What a perfect reflection of our time today- the revelation of His answers to time on our knees. By nothing short of His power, my iPod immediately displayed this song ready for “play” when I turned it on. Apparently, God works through Apple electronics! I am sure that many of you have heard this song, but today I want you to hear its words and their significance through the eyes of our team. Please reflect on them as your hear about our day, and be open to allow them to fall on your hearts as God intends.
“If you’ve gotta start somewhere why not here? If you’ve gotta start sometime why not now? If we’ve gotta start somewhere, I say here. If we’ve gotta start sometime, I say now. Through the fog there is hope in the distance, from cathedrals to third world missions, love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave. Tonight’s the night, for the sinners and the saints. Two worlds collide in a beautiful display. It’s all love tonight when we step across the line. We could sail across the sea to a city with one King, a city on our knees. Tonight could last forever. We are one choice from together. You and me. Family, we are family.”
God gifted us today with both revelation of much answered prayer as well as the revelation on our hearts to stay on bended knee in fervent prayer! As “Pastor Ray” (AKA Dr. Ray) reminded us this evening, one of the devil’s favorite tactics is rocking us, as servants of the Lord, to sleep. Today, although we certainly have enjoyed a multitude of reasons to offer our Lord praise and admiration, we are served with the reminder that these miracles are indication for us to pray even harder, and not fall asleep to the ongoing battle against his principalities and powers.
There are so many examples of these answered prayers, and even though I know you love us, reading 5 pages of blog in one day may be a little much, so I will try to keep it to 4 (smiling). I will hit the highlights and trust that more pictures and stories from family and loved ones will fulfill you upon our return.
First, God blessed so many people with the eyeglass ministry that you all worked so hard to organize! I wish you could have seen the looks on each of their faces as the team matched the patient to a pair that worked showed them God’s creation in new light. The sparkle within their eyes and smiles on their faces were priceless!
Secondly, God provided a chalkboard for the prayer team, also a direct answer to prayer. Little did we know that He would supply one more than 4 feet by 8 feet to offer a beautiful chalk display of the greatest gift ever offered- the gift of Jesus Christ, and the path by which to receive it!
Thirdly, God allowed us to see Anastasia and her mama today. She is so beautiful! As a reminder, Anastasia was seen in the clinic last year as an infant with blinding congenital cataracts. She was the last patient of the evening the night we first met her, and we prayed over her BELIEVING, not just hoping, that God would restore sight for Anastasia. Through provisions only our Lord could orchestrate, she received corrective surgery, and has regained some sight in her left eye. In April, she was not talking or very mobile, yet today, she walked without assistance, babbled and talked, and has the widest repertoire of funny faces you have ever seen! God is actively providing for the request that we laid at His feet. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, God Almighty!
Fourthly, God allowed us to share some intimate time with the parents of Fatou, the infant that went to be with the Lord on the first day of our clinic last year. It is difficult to express the intense grief the team experienced with and for Fatou’s family over the past year, and many prayers have been uttered desperately that through her death, the family may experience mercy that can only be offered through Jesus Christ, and eventually come to a personal relationship with Him. There are countless ways that God has answered those prayers, each way individually spectacular! Approaching the family today, our first indication of the hope of God in their lives was Tienne’s burgeoning belly growing with new life! Though there is still much pain and sorrow present in her eyes, this new life represents hope of a new life in Jesus for their family. Cindy was able to present the family with the article which reflected the immensity of prayer for their family, and we prayed over them again with a BELIEF that God will continue to work miracles in their lives, through the painful yet beautiful memory of their daughter, Fatou, resting in the arms of our Savior.
Finally, clinic, in general, today offered so many other examples of answered prayer. Crowd control and ticketing was smooth, and patient care flowed in and out of the dental offices, medical offices, and pharmacy with God’s provisioning hand. Although we do not have accurate counts to share with you, just know that God offered us so many reasons to be in Bamacounda today, the numbers really don’t matter all that much! We had a wonderful visit from Dr. Kante; he is always so kind and sincerely appreciates the aid that we provide his community. Remember that Dr. Kante is one of only four physicians in Sedhiou, serving a population of several hundred thousand people!
On a lighter note…many of you will be pleased to note that last night, after the gecko chaos, we were, in fact, able to get some rest. This morning, Gary once again came to the rescue and “got” the gecko, if you know what I mean. (Certainly not without some additional “whisper screams” from Cindy! Jane, we sure can’t let Gary off easy around here! Mark- I have a priceless picture, but I promised her it would never see the light of the blog, and many people, including Mr. Mendy and others are asking Cindy where you are. You must have made quite an impression!) Additionally, the “great escape” was necessary at the hotel this morning as Curtis and Sara broke their key off in the door to Mama Janie and Heather’s adjoining room last night! Since the doors to the hotel lock with the key from the inside, they were trapped! As the team attempted to ask for help, the night watchmen replies in his broken English, “No problem, big window, they get out!” And that they did! Thankfully, the lock was fixed while we were gone today, and I assume they entered their room tonight the traditional way. As for the escapades of monkey the pillow, he really played it low key today. There was a brief moment of concern, as many of the nationals like monkey meat as a delicacy. We decided, however, that he was never really in any danger. I share with you these giggles, because I want you to know there is a “lighter side” to our journey, and we find God in the funny happenings too.
As you know, the stories that I have shared with you are the very evident works of the glorious God we serve. Tonight, through this song, it is as if He is saying- “If we’ve gotta start somewhere, why not here? If we’ve gotta start sometime, why not now?” Bamacounda is our city, and on our knees is where we need to be. YOU AND ME! God, it just had to be You…
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
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