Turning up the heat

Every morning we hear reports of more bombings. Tomorrow we head into the bush, and will not have internet for three days. I will try to write again when we get back, but no news is good news.

This morning, the quote of the day was from Des, our 83 yr old retired doctor. "Cornflakes and camel meat for breakfast. It seems like the collision of two worlds very far apart."

In our time preparing and packing, we are hearing the stories of many people. Like Ben, a man who lived in the slums in another city, whose creative mind took a discarded soup bone and made beautiful jewelry. He now runs programs to teach other disadvantaged people how to “make jobs when others say there are no jobs.” Or the woman who sleeps outside because her husband beats her, but regularly comes to our compound for food and compassion. Or the guy who makes knives and sells them on the street, and who recognized Bob from years ago.

Please don’t forget the people here amidst the news of war. Please keep praying. Some are saying the rains are over, they will not be back for a year or more. So please keep praying for peace, health, and joy for this region. And pray for us as we head into the bush. It’s hot hot hot here (37 degrees) and we may not have much shade, so pray we would adjust and work together well to provide the best care we can. E, J, and I are grateful for each other, and our whole team is “quite an interesting group,” as KB says. The prayers Awaken have sent are so fitting every time, which is such a blessing. Today’s was about choosing to focus on the good news, not the bad. The good news is that God is here, He is with us, and we are blessed in incredible ways. God is good, even in the midst of the chaos and tragedy of the world. There is hope.