By a worker in Africa
This month I’ve been telling the Joseph story in three parts to a group of handicapped men. Last week a religious teacher that I had met before walked by while I told the story. He was Friendly, but obviously not in agreement with my sharing. I saw him whisper something to one of the blind fellows that had showed unusual interest.
When I arrived this morning to finish the story it felt like a wet blanket was over everyone, Continue reading
From a worker in Central Asia
Every year, starting about a week before New Year’s, various families and groups of friends set off fireworks, culminating in a grand display all over the city at midnight on New Year’s Eve. I’m not sure where the people get the money to personally buy such impressive fireworks, and I’m certain it is quite dangerous, yet it’s more impressive than anything I’ve seen in the US. Fireworks aren’t sent up in only one location, but rather from thousands of yards all over the city. Then, in the wee hours of the morning, the family (including the youngest children), sits down to a feast. Continue reading
From Jonathan, a worker in Africa
“Sadly, I have attended funerals of three students—very emotionally draining. One in particular, Monamu’s, was heart-breaking, as he literally died from an infection! He died on a dirty bed in a dirty hospital corridor. I traveled hours by public transport to his funeral. Continue reading
By a worker in Spain
We have been going through the Old Testament in our children’s clubs. Through many of these lessons God has taught me lessons in my own life as well. A lesson we taught recently was the Bible story of Elijah and the widow. Elijah didn’t provide the widow with 100 more bowls of flour and 100 more jars of oil, he provided one bowl and one jar that never ran out―for three years. God miraculously provided for each daily need. As the widow needed to learn to depend on God, day by day, for her daily sustenance, God has been teaching me to trust in His provision, day by day. Continue reading
From a worker in Africa
After his baptism S told me, “When I put my head under the water, I heard something like ‘wooooo’, and when my head was lifted my head out of the water, I heard the sound of many hands clapping. It scared me, because you were the only one that clapped as I came out of the water.” Continue reading
From a friend in the Middle East
“He waters the land from His upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of His work.” Psalm 104:13.
Rain is a wonderful thing. We have been waiting for it for months. The clouds have been growing and soaring by barrenly for weeks. Today, they were gathering, grey and suggestive, and the smell of rain in the air made my students crazy. Here, rain smells like dust: rainstorms stir up dust from the earth, and bring down all the dust suspended in the air, and so we smelled it and thought, “Rain!”. I suppose wet dust smells different from dry dust. Continue reading
From a teacher in the Middle East
Life is busy, and God is good. The weeks are hurtling by at their usual rate. Students are learning—including myself. Yes, I’m a student again, studying Arabic three days a week. Sometimes it feels like a little too much, but it’s encouraging to be able to say what I want to more clearly. Continue reading
From a worker in Asia
I had an interesting experience this week. I went out to get vegetables and was greeted by the sight of about forty men sitting and standing around a dead body. This was quite unexpected. Usually the sound of women wailing alerts us long before anyone gathers for a wake, but we had not heard anything. Rather awkwardly, I managed to exit the building and returned some time later with my produce. Continue reading
From a short-term worker in Asia
Some of my friends here have a school for street children that they began several years ago. I’ve been visiting it this past week. The streets that lead to the school building are lined with trash matted to the dirt. Women call out greetings to my friends; they’ve known them for years. Turbaned men steer bikes over the rocky road. I walk into the schoolroom, increasingly aware of the issues that the children face. Continue reading
By Karli, a WEC Trekker at Betel UK
With officially one week into the trip I still feel as though I just got here, but also as if I have lived here forever. Hopping in the car as a passenger on the left hand side is no longer foreign, and I have quickly adjusted to drinking tea at least 3 times a day (no complaints there). Continue reading
