"Don't stop me from seeing God!" she shouted from her place near the front row. After a few sentences it was obvious she was drunk. Banana beer consumption is very common in Rwanda. I stopped my sermon, knelt again and prayed for the ability to keep my focus on what God wanted me to say for Him.
The three meetings a day had been well attended and we were nearing the end of 2 1/2 weeks when this disturbance happened. A young man went over to sit beside the woman and keep her quiet. I prayed that she would fall asleep. Soon there was quiet. I thought maybe she had gone outside. I looked to where I had seen her last and she was asleep.
I remembered the drunks in meetings in Mexico. I recalled the drunk man who was paid to translate for me in Russia. Then I thought of the drunk who lunged at me in Russia while I was speaking. Some elders had restrained him before he got to me. I remembered the drunk soldiers who were trying to guard me in Muzo. There was a drunk soldier each night guarding at Nyanza university. Once in Burundi, a drunken soldier raised his rifle at me in the truck and stopped us from the front of the vehicle. We backed away and found lodging for the night.
Jesus recognized the soul cry of the demon possessed man brought to Him even though the man was shouting words for Satan.
I remember that Jesus has a special love for all sinners. I want that holy love. I like how it is described here:"This heaven-born love is not selfish and changeable. It is not a love dependent on human praise. The heart of him who drinks the blood of the Son of God overflows with a holy love for God and for those for whom Christ died. He does not love His fellow-creatures because they love and please Him, because they appreciate His merits and rightly estimate His value, but because they are Christ's purchased possession. {ST, October 11, 1899 par. 6}
God designs that everything possible shall be done to enable us to stand heart to heart, mind to mind, shoulder to shoulder.
At the end of the meeting, as I was shaking hands of people as they left, there she was demanding some attention for clinic needs. She struck me with her hand and shouted because I did not know her language.
I backed up and she came after me. Two young men stopped her and persuaded her to go sign up for clinic.
I pray for those who are damaging their brain cells and decreasing their abilities by intemperance.
So many in Rwanda are damaging their eyes by drinking Banana beer.
Follow the Lamb Seminars - Finding Jesus in the Sanctuary
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
200 miles over ice in an open sleigh to ask "What doest thou here, Elijah"
I am thankful JN Loughboro invited my grandfather and great grandfather to join the Advent movement. I have enjoyed the training in Adventist schools, in elementary, academy, college and university because my parents were committed to Christian education. They believed this way because of great grandfather and grandpa accepting the light and walking in it since the 1800's.
I am so thankful someone gave so we could have this light.
JN Loughboro was discouraged. His wife was tired of him being gone on evangelistic trips and wanted a nicer home and more money. She complained till he quit his evangelistic tent meetings. The pressures on John were too much. Family made him sad. God had called him to preach but he gave up.
This amazing story of God even having His prescious servant suffer and travel 200 miles through an ice storm in an open sleigh to get John back working is worth your time!
And to all who question Dr. Rose for coming and going at God's command, I say:"Mathew 10:37 " He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mathew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
ALSO it is written in the Spirit of Prophecy:
“No earthly ties must hold Him from His mission, or influence His conduct. He must stand free to do the will of God….The claims of God are paramount even to the ties of human relationship. No earthly attraction should turn our feet from the path He bids us walk.” DA 146.2
Chapter 17 —A Dangerous Crossing on Ice
It was midnight. Ellen White stood at the window, looking out into the darkness. She was hoping and praying that the rain would stop before it melted the snow.
The Whites had been holding meetings with a new company of Sabbathkeepers in Round Grove, Illinois. Now the meetings were over. The two preachers, Josiah Hart and Elon Everts, who had been giving Bible lectures there, had promised to take my grandparents on a trip to Waukon, Iowa. Preparations had been made to start the following day, but falling rain was fast melting the snow, making sleighing impossible.
“It looks as though we shall have to give up the trip,” James said. And why not? Why make a two-hundred-mile journey by open sleigh in midwinter? The reason was that Ellen had been shown in vision that the Adventists in Waukon needed help, and she must go to them as soon as possible.
About the time when the Review family moved from Rochester to Battle Creek, John Andrews’ father left his rocky farm in Maine and moved west. He wrote back to his friends, “Come and join us. Land is cheap, and there is plenty of timber. You can build homes for yourselves and get a new start in life, and you can carry the Sabbath truth to the people here who have never heard it.” Before
119
long there was quite an Adventist colony in Waukon.
Worn out with constant studying, writing, and preaching, John Andrews gladly accepted an offer to come to Waukon and clerk in his uncle's grocery. After his arrival he wrote for his friend John Loughborough to come. Loughborough was discouraged. For several years he had been preaching while trying to support himself and his wife on the slim offerings given him. This was his opportunity, he thought, to make a little money. He hurried to Waukon, bought a set of tools, and began earning regular wages as a carpenter.
That night in the Hart home Ellen White slept fitfully. She was thinking of how much these two young men were needed in God's work. If only their faith could hold out a little longer! Men of means were accepting the message and beginning to support the Review office. Soon they would be able to help the young preachers. These two workers must be brought back.
Before retiring that night, Mr. Hart asked, “Sister White, what about the trip to Waukon?”
“We shall go!” she answered.
“Yes,” he replied. “If the Lord works a miracle, we shall go.”
Many times during the night she stood at the window watching for the miracle to happen. About daybreak snow began to fall, and it continued all day. This was the miracle they were praying for. By late afternoon there was sufficient snow for sleighing, and the group decided to start.
We are not told where they stopped that first night or whether they stopped at all. The following evening they reached a family of Adventists in Green Vale and spent the night with them. The next morning the roads were blocked by heavy snowdrifts, and they were compelled
120
to wait several days. Even when they did start, they had to stop often and dig through deep drifts.
At last they were only a few miles from the Mississippi River. About four o'clock in the morning they heard the sound of rain on the roof of their hotel. At that time there was no bridge across the river. They would have to cross on the ice. And now rain was falling on that ice, making it soft and weak.
Before daybreak they were up and on their way, knowing that every hour of rainfall increased the danger of the crossing. The horses broke through the snow crust at almost every step. As they passed people on the way, Mr. Hart stopped and asked, “How about the river? Will the ice hold us up?” The responses gave little encouragement. “I wouldn't try it for all the money in the world,” said one. And another, “They say one team broke through the ice, and the driver nearly lost his life.”
The travelers reached the riverbank. Standing up in the sleigh, Mr. Hart asked, “Is it on to Iowa, or back to Illinois? We have come to the Red Sea. Shall we cross?”
Without hesitation, Mrs. White answered, “Go forward, trusting in Israel's God.”
Mr. Hart drove cautiously onto the ice, which was covered by a foot of water and melting snow. Everyone in the sleigh was praying.
The ice held!
As the sleigh ascended the opposite bank, a cheer went up from the men standing along the river's edge. They had expected every moment to see the team break through. Praises ascended to God from those in the sleigh. Had they taken such a risk on their own responsibility, they could not have claimed the protection of Heaven. But, going at God's bidding, they could trust Him to keep them safe.
121
On Friday they stopped at a hotel to rest over the Sabbath. In the evening when they gathered in the parlor to sing hymns, the hotel guests came in and nearly filled the room. Mr. Everts hung up his chart and gave a Bible study. As the party was leaving, the hotelkeeper said, “Stop again on your way home and hold another meeting with us.”
The weather turned bitterly cold. Riding in the open sleigh, the travelers watched the faces of their companions. Occasionally someone would exclaim, “I see a white spot on your cheek; you'd better rub it with snow.”
On the last day of the journey Ellen White wrote in a letter home: “Here we are, fourteen miles this side of Waukon. We are all quite well. Have had quite a tedious time thus far. Yesterday for miles there was no track. Our horses had to plow through snow, very deep, but on we came. . . .
“Oh, such fare as we have had on this journey! Last Monday we could get no decent food, and tasted not a morsel with the exception of a small apple from morn till night. We have most of the time kept very comfortable, but it is the bitterest cold weather we ever experienced.
“Last night we slept in an unfurnished chamber where there was an opening for the stovepipe, running through the top of the house, a large space, big enough for a couple of cats to jump out of.” The cold wind blew in through that large opening.
The company at Waukon were amazed to see their visitors. No one had thought it possible for anybody to make the journey from Illinois in such weather. John Loughborough was working on a store building when he heard Brother Everts call, “Come down, John! Brother and Sister White and Brother Hart are here to see you.” He
122
clambered down the ladder and stood beside the sleigh.
Looking at him, Mrs. White asked solemnly, “What doest thou here, Elijah?”
“I'm doing carpentry work with Brother Mead,” John Loughborough answered.
Mrs. White's voice was more solemn than before. “What doest thou here, Elijah?”
John dropped his head.
A third time Mrs. White said, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” There was nothing John could say.
On the night before Christmas all the Adventist families in Waukon met in the Andrews home. For a week meetings were held every night. The group studied the message to the Laodicean church, the last Christian church on earth before Jesus comes. They had thought that the rebuke it contained was intended only for the churches that had rejected the message of Jesus’ soon coming. But now they saw that they themselves also were “lukewarm,” that they were “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
They realized that many among them who had taught the truth very earnestly in times past were now forgetting to share their faith with neighbors. When talking with other Waukon settlers, they had much to say about their farms and the houses they were building. But they said little about the glorious new earth and the mansions Jesus was building for them over there.
Now they remembered the old times when they had been on fire for God. Many wept aloud. Jesus saw how sad they were and sent them a message of cheer. In one of the evening meetings, Ellen White was given a vision, during which she slowly and solemnly repeated the words, “Return unto Me, and I will return unto you. I will heal your backslidings and love you freely. Tear down the rubbish from the door of your hearts and open the door, and I will come in and sup with you and you with Me.” The words reminded the repentant group that God still loved them, and everyone felt encouraged.
Mary Loughborough stood up and said, “Brother and Sister White, I thought we had gotten where you could not find us; but I am glad you have come. I have sinned, and I have made my husband to sin. God forgive me! I clear away the rubbish. I open the door of my heart. Lord Jesus, come in!”
One of the men confessed that at times there had been so much farm work that he had used the sacred Sabbath hours for weekday toil. Another said he had cut down his offerings because he had wanted more money to invest in land. One after another the members made wrongs right and asked forgiveness for unkind things they had said and done.
Mrs. Loughborough stepped to her husband's side. “John,” she said, “I complained because you were away preaching so much of the time and I was left at home alone. Forgive me! Go back, trusting in God, and do His work.”
“I have laid down my hammer and driven the last nail,” her husband answered.
John Andrews also renewed his promise to return to the special work to which God had called him.
The meeting continued till midnight. At ten o'clock in the morning, the Adventists met for seven more hours without even stopping for lunch.
During the meetings one brother prayed especially for his son, who had denied any faith in the Bible. The father's prayer was answered. A short time afterward, as that
124
young man was traveling by steamer along the Mississippi, he was detained at a place called Rock Island. He went ashore. With nothing else to do, he began to think seriously. Was there really a God? How could he know? Then he heard a voice speaking in real words that he could hear with his ears, “Believe the Bible; it is the Word of God.” At once he answered aloud, “Yes, Lord, I will.”
Back at the ship he knelt in his cabin and gave his heart to God. After that he returned home and helped with the farming, at the same time giving Bible lectures and holding studies with his neighbors. Later he became a full-time minister. That young man was George I. Butler, who for many years was president of the General Conference.
When the Waukon company waved good-bye to their visitors from Illinois, tears were falling. Every one of them had pledged to make God first in all things. Never again would they allow the “cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches” to hide His face from them.
John Loughborough returned with the Whites, forsaking his carpentry work with its good wages and not knowing what lay before him. He was willing to go anywhere and do anything for Christ.
Starting with the others on the two-hundred-mile journey through storm and cold, he was thinking not of himself, but of Mary, his wife. Bravely she must now face the hardships of pioneer life without his companionship and help. During the remainder of the winter he spent much time visiting scattered believers. In a few months Mary joined him. For a time they traveled and worked with Elder and Mrs. White. During the summers Elder Loughborough would go out with a tent, conducting evangelistic meetings in new places.
John Andrews remained in Waukon until he had regained his health. Then he came back again into God's work. Never again did any difficulties cause either of these men to leave the gospel service.
As the sleigh sped homeward over the snow, Elder White said, “I feel many times repaid for facing the prairie winds and storms.” His companions drew their overcoats closer around them and tucked in their lap robes. Truly, God had blessed them. His love warmed their hearts.
This is from Ellen White stories
It is a special story for its impact on our family.
You have received this from: http://followthelambseminars.blogspot.com/ If you want to continue having direct email from this blog just follow the directions to the right on this blog spot and finish confirmation on your email site.
Dr. Rose
Thanks for giving to the Lord.
Thanks for praying for His evangelists doing he work He has commanded. Instead of criticizing them, hold them up in prayer. You can never imagine the struggles they face as Satan realizes his end is near and that he is loosing territory from every evangelistic effort.
I am so thankful someone gave so we could have this light.
JN Loughboro was discouraged. His wife was tired of him being gone on evangelistic trips and wanted a nicer home and more money. She complained till he quit his evangelistic tent meetings. The pressures on John were too much. Family made him sad. God had called him to preach but he gave up.
This amazing story of God even having His prescious servant suffer and travel 200 miles through an ice storm in an open sleigh to get John back working is worth your time!
And to all who question Dr. Rose for coming and going at God's command, I say:"Mathew 10:37 " He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mathew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
ALSO it is written in the Spirit of Prophecy:
“No earthly ties must hold Him from His mission, or influence His conduct. He must stand free to do the will of God….The claims of God are paramount even to the ties of human relationship. No earthly attraction should turn our feet from the path He bids us walk.” DA 146.2
Chapter 17 —A Dangerous Crossing on Ice
It was midnight. Ellen White stood at the window, looking out into the darkness. She was hoping and praying that the rain would stop before it melted the snow.
The Whites had been holding meetings with a new company of Sabbathkeepers in Round Grove, Illinois. Now the meetings were over. The two preachers, Josiah Hart and Elon Everts, who had been giving Bible lectures there, had promised to take my grandparents on a trip to Waukon, Iowa. Preparations had been made to start the following day, but falling rain was fast melting the snow, making sleighing impossible.
“It looks as though we shall have to give up the trip,” James said. And why not? Why make a two-hundred-mile journey by open sleigh in midwinter? The reason was that Ellen had been shown in vision that the Adventists in Waukon needed help, and she must go to them as soon as possible.
About the time when the Review family moved from Rochester to Battle Creek, John Andrews’ father left his rocky farm in Maine and moved west. He wrote back to his friends, “Come and join us. Land is cheap, and there is plenty of timber. You can build homes for yourselves and get a new start in life, and you can carry the Sabbath truth to the people here who have never heard it.” Before
119
long there was quite an Adventist colony in Waukon.
Worn out with constant studying, writing, and preaching, John Andrews gladly accepted an offer to come to Waukon and clerk in his uncle's grocery. After his arrival he wrote for his friend John Loughborough to come. Loughborough was discouraged. For several years he had been preaching while trying to support himself and his wife on the slim offerings given him. This was his opportunity, he thought, to make a little money. He hurried to Waukon, bought a set of tools, and began earning regular wages as a carpenter.
That night in the Hart home Ellen White slept fitfully. She was thinking of how much these two young men were needed in God's work. If only their faith could hold out a little longer! Men of means were accepting the message and beginning to support the Review office. Soon they would be able to help the young preachers. These two workers must be brought back.
Before retiring that night, Mr. Hart asked, “Sister White, what about the trip to Waukon?”
“We shall go!” she answered.
“Yes,” he replied. “If the Lord works a miracle, we shall go.”
Many times during the night she stood at the window watching for the miracle to happen. About daybreak snow began to fall, and it continued all day. This was the miracle they were praying for. By late afternoon there was sufficient snow for sleighing, and the group decided to start.
We are not told where they stopped that first night or whether they stopped at all. The following evening they reached a family of Adventists in Green Vale and spent the night with them. The next morning the roads were blocked by heavy snowdrifts, and they were compelled
120
to wait several days. Even when they did start, they had to stop often and dig through deep drifts.
At last they were only a few miles from the Mississippi River. About four o'clock in the morning they heard the sound of rain on the roof of their hotel. At that time there was no bridge across the river. They would have to cross on the ice. And now rain was falling on that ice, making it soft and weak.
Before daybreak they were up and on their way, knowing that every hour of rainfall increased the danger of the crossing. The horses broke through the snow crust at almost every step. As they passed people on the way, Mr. Hart stopped and asked, “How about the river? Will the ice hold us up?” The responses gave little encouragement. “I wouldn't try it for all the money in the world,” said one. And another, “They say one team broke through the ice, and the driver nearly lost his life.”
The travelers reached the riverbank. Standing up in the sleigh, Mr. Hart asked, “Is it on to Iowa, or back to Illinois? We have come to the Red Sea. Shall we cross?”
Without hesitation, Mrs. White answered, “Go forward, trusting in Israel's God.”
Mr. Hart drove cautiously onto the ice, which was covered by a foot of water and melting snow. Everyone in the sleigh was praying.
The ice held!
As the sleigh ascended the opposite bank, a cheer went up from the men standing along the river's edge. They had expected every moment to see the team break through. Praises ascended to God from those in the sleigh. Had they taken such a risk on their own responsibility, they could not have claimed the protection of Heaven. But, going at God's bidding, they could trust Him to keep them safe.
121
On Friday they stopped at a hotel to rest over the Sabbath. In the evening when they gathered in the parlor to sing hymns, the hotel guests came in and nearly filled the room. Mr. Everts hung up his chart and gave a Bible study. As the party was leaving, the hotelkeeper said, “Stop again on your way home and hold another meeting with us.”
The weather turned bitterly cold. Riding in the open sleigh, the travelers watched the faces of their companions. Occasionally someone would exclaim, “I see a white spot on your cheek; you'd better rub it with snow.”
On the last day of the journey Ellen White wrote in a letter home: “Here we are, fourteen miles this side of Waukon. We are all quite well. Have had quite a tedious time thus far. Yesterday for miles there was no track. Our horses had to plow through snow, very deep, but on we came. . . .
“Oh, such fare as we have had on this journey! Last Monday we could get no decent food, and tasted not a morsel with the exception of a small apple from morn till night. We have most of the time kept very comfortable, but it is the bitterest cold weather we ever experienced.
“Last night we slept in an unfurnished chamber where there was an opening for the stovepipe, running through the top of the house, a large space, big enough for a couple of cats to jump out of.” The cold wind blew in through that large opening.
The company at Waukon were amazed to see their visitors. No one had thought it possible for anybody to make the journey from Illinois in such weather. John Loughborough was working on a store building when he heard Brother Everts call, “Come down, John! Brother and Sister White and Brother Hart are here to see you.” He
122
clambered down the ladder and stood beside the sleigh.
Looking at him, Mrs. White asked solemnly, “What doest thou here, Elijah?”
“I'm doing carpentry work with Brother Mead,” John Loughborough answered.
Mrs. White's voice was more solemn than before. “What doest thou here, Elijah?”
John dropped his head.
A third time Mrs. White said, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” There was nothing John could say.
On the night before Christmas all the Adventist families in Waukon met in the Andrews home. For a week meetings were held every night. The group studied the message to the Laodicean church, the last Christian church on earth before Jesus comes. They had thought that the rebuke it contained was intended only for the churches that had rejected the message of Jesus’ soon coming. But now they saw that they themselves also were “lukewarm,” that they were “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
They realized that many among them who had taught the truth very earnestly in times past were now forgetting to share their faith with neighbors. When talking with other Waukon settlers, they had much to say about their farms and the houses they were building. But they said little about the glorious new earth and the mansions Jesus was building for them over there.
Now they remembered the old times when they had been on fire for God. Many wept aloud. Jesus saw how sad they were and sent them a message of cheer. In one of the evening meetings, Ellen White was given a vision, during which she slowly and solemnly repeated the words, “Return unto Me, and I will return unto you. I will heal your backslidings and love you freely. Tear down the rubbish from the door of your hearts and open the door, and I will come in and sup with you and you with Me.” The words reminded the repentant group that God still loved them, and everyone felt encouraged.
Mary Loughborough stood up and said, “Brother and Sister White, I thought we had gotten where you could not find us; but I am glad you have come. I have sinned, and I have made my husband to sin. God forgive me! I clear away the rubbish. I open the door of my heart. Lord Jesus, come in!”
One of the men confessed that at times there had been so much farm work that he had used the sacred Sabbath hours for weekday toil. Another said he had cut down his offerings because he had wanted more money to invest in land. One after another the members made wrongs right and asked forgiveness for unkind things they had said and done.
Mrs. Loughborough stepped to her husband's side. “John,” she said, “I complained because you were away preaching so much of the time and I was left at home alone. Forgive me! Go back, trusting in God, and do His work.”
“I have laid down my hammer and driven the last nail,” her husband answered.
John Andrews also renewed his promise to return to the special work to which God had called him.
The meeting continued till midnight. At ten o'clock in the morning, the Adventists met for seven more hours without even stopping for lunch.
During the meetings one brother prayed especially for his son, who had denied any faith in the Bible. The father's prayer was answered. A short time afterward, as that
124
young man was traveling by steamer along the Mississippi, he was detained at a place called Rock Island. He went ashore. With nothing else to do, he began to think seriously. Was there really a God? How could he know? Then he heard a voice speaking in real words that he could hear with his ears, “Believe the Bible; it is the Word of God.” At once he answered aloud, “Yes, Lord, I will.”
Back at the ship he knelt in his cabin and gave his heart to God. After that he returned home and helped with the farming, at the same time giving Bible lectures and holding studies with his neighbors. Later he became a full-time minister. That young man was George I. Butler, who for many years was president of the General Conference.
When the Waukon company waved good-bye to their visitors from Illinois, tears were falling. Every one of them had pledged to make God first in all things. Never again would they allow the “cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches” to hide His face from them.
John Loughborough returned with the Whites, forsaking his carpentry work with its good wages and not knowing what lay before him. He was willing to go anywhere and do anything for Christ.
Starting with the others on the two-hundred-mile journey through storm and cold, he was thinking not of himself, but of Mary, his wife. Bravely she must now face the hardships of pioneer life without his companionship and help. During the remainder of the winter he spent much time visiting scattered believers. In a few months Mary joined him. For a time they traveled and worked with Elder and Mrs. White. During the summers Elder Loughborough would go out with a tent, conducting evangelistic meetings in new places.
John Andrews remained in Waukon until he had regained his health. Then he came back again into God's work. Never again did any difficulties cause either of these men to leave the gospel service.
As the sleigh sped homeward over the snow, Elder White said, “I feel many times repaid for facing the prairie winds and storms.” His companions drew their overcoats closer around them and tucked in their lap robes. Truly, God had blessed them. His love warmed their hearts.
This is from Ellen White stories
It is a special story for its impact on our family.
You have received this from: http://followthelambseminars.blogspot.com/ If you want to continue having direct email from this blog just follow the directions to the right on this blog spot and finish confirmation on your email site.
Dr. Rose
Thanks for giving to the Lord.
Thanks for praying for His evangelists doing he work He has commanded. Instead of criticizing them, hold them up in prayer. You can never imagine the struggles they face as Satan realizes his end is near and that he is loosing territory from every evangelistic effort.
A gift Brought Sample and Logan Families Joy more than 140 years
There was a pioneer JN Loughborough, who set up a tent to hold meetings in the 1800's where my great grandfather and my grandfather William Veck Sample found the truth. That gift is still bringing us joy. Because of this God has multiplied their gift thousands of times. See the story to the right on its stand alone page under the BUTTON. If you posts to come to your email, just click on that button found at the right. (Be sure to complete the directions and you can have confirmation in your email.)
Friday, February 17, 2012
Nyanza University Southern Rwanda, Africa
RWANDA AFRICA SPECIAL NOTE
CLINIC WORK PREVENTS EVANGELISM SHUT DOWN
University students, villagers, and local builders came to Follow the Lamb Seminar program which provided 3 times a day. The head builder made a real nice frame for hanging the sanctuary curtains and provided that it be taken over at the end of 2.5 weeks to the next program site.
As I neared the end of the first week, there were 1,300 on the list to be seen in clinic. Going as fast as I could, plus doing 3 meetings a day lasting 2 hours counting set up and take down of my projector and computer, I could only see 30 a day. It seemed all wanted glasses. Soon I discovered the word had spread throughout the whole region that an American white doctor came to help them and was an eye specialist. The news of free glasses drew people from even 4 hours away. The purpose of my clinics to to pray with people after treating their medical needs and then try to lead them to know Jesus and invite them to my evangelistic meetings. Well, of course the the worldly person such a purpose is unheard of. They were scrambling, pushing and shouting. I smiled and spoke to all before clinic and tried to explain some health things. Whenever we had a pause in the frequent calling of "next patient", they would scold the translator for talking too much to me and wasting my time. On one such occasion, he told them we had a phone call. I explained to all of them that I would be shutting down and moving away because the phone call from the representative of the rector requested I be finished. That meant 1 day to do all those people. I knew what would happen after telling them this. We knelt and prayed. Then we had the next meeting and God had sent my friend Malgarita.
She had seen in a vision praying hands. She came to meeting expecting some spiritual blessings from God and found out we were closing things down. She suggested Maranatha Secondary school. I asked for special prayers with her and translator at the end of the meeting. As we prayed, I had peace God would do something big. I hurried back to the room be begin packing.
At the next meeting there was Malgarita with news of acceptance to hold the program at Maranatha and when could they expect me. The door was open.
As we began to make plans that way, Malgarita said she had prayed at home that I would be given a chance to continue on at the University for the interest was very good. She even called the rector in Kigali and gave a good report and urged that another week could make a positive spiritual difference on the campus.
As I went back to clinic, there was everything in uproar. The head elder and builder of school met me with many smiles and pleaded with me not to leave them. I told him, I was surprised for I had assumed someone was reporting that I must be finished and move on. He was surprised for he had set up hundreds of chairs for all coming to clinic and had bent over backwards to do all he could to bless God's medical evangelistic work. He even had a nice bed brought for exams, and it was made up nicely by himself. A white sheet I had taken from my bed was put at the window to keep people from peering in and he fixed it nice for me. He was on the list to be examined and wanted glasses to help him read his Bible. He said the people were angry at him and shouting at him for chasing me away. He said he was not the one chasing.
Even the rector and his wife came to visit. Then I was given special help over the university internet by a Loma Linda Specialist who is a professor at the University. I put pictures up and the professor was so kind as take time in the night after his busy day of work to answer me. I am so thankful to God. I would rush to clinic to present the Bible lesson and at times, did not know what I was going to present till I opened my mouth after praying to God. He delivered the lessons and I too was blessed.
Whole families were experiencing blindness. I was counseled about medications for malaria causing blindness. He warned against frequent use of chloroquine. Malaria is a big problem.
God promises that if we do medical work, it will make another blessing happen. The evangelism will not be stopped or eclipsed. I have just related a story that is a case in point.
DREAM GIVES BEST LODGING OPTION
Embarrased over the women's guest house being full of men and being expected to like the set up, I prayed and did not rest too well. I remained ready to move on. In the night God showed me what to do. It worked out well. You can see that story under "Highlights 2012"
REBUKING SIN BUT TEARS STREAMING FROM MY EYES
The last Sabbath for the divine service on February 11, God had me give strong rebukes to sin and tears were in my eyes as I went for the last sermon. I described and explained 24 abominations which have moved into the church and are soon to be against the church. The worst abomination is over forced Sunday observance. I expected the thousands to get up and flee but there was a great revival and many pledged for baptism and I pray that I will never deny my LORD.
"those whom God calls must be men of deep experience, tried and proved, men of sound judgment, men who will dare to reprove sin in the spirit of meekness, men who understand how to feed the flock. God knows the heart, and he knows whom to select.— Vol. 1, p. 209. {GW92 131.2}
I was shown the low state of God's people; that God had not departed from them; but that they had departed from God, and become lukewarm. They possess the theory of the truth, but lack its saving power. As we near the close of time, Satan comes down with great power knowing his time is short. Especially upon the remnant will his power be exercised. He will war against them, he will seek to divide and scatter them, that they may grow weak and be overthrown. The people of God should move understandingly; their efforts should be united. They should be of the same mind, of the same judgment; then their efforts will not be scattered, but will be of force, and tell in the upbuilding of the cause of present truth. Order must be observed, and there must be union in regard to order, or Satan will take advantage of them. {4bSG 45.2}
I was shown that the enemy would come in every way possible to dishearten the people of God, and perplex and trouble them, and that they should move understandingly and prepare themselves for the attacks of Satan. 1T
I saw that the enemy would come in every way possible to dishearten the people of God and perplex and trouble
them, and that they should move understandingly, and prepare themselves for the attacks of Satan. {1T 210.3}
NEXT STORIES:
Maranatha school
Nyanza village
Next PROJECT: Mindinau Philippines
CLINIC WORK PREVENTS EVANGELISM SHUT DOWN
University students, villagers, and local builders came to Follow the Lamb Seminar program which provided 3 times a day. The head builder made a real nice frame for hanging the sanctuary curtains and provided that it be taken over at the end of 2.5 weeks to the next program site.
As I neared the end of the first week, there were 1,300 on the list to be seen in clinic. Going as fast as I could, plus doing 3 meetings a day lasting 2 hours counting set up and take down of my projector and computer, I could only see 30 a day. It seemed all wanted glasses. Soon I discovered the word had spread throughout the whole region that an American white doctor came to help them and was an eye specialist. The news of free glasses drew people from even 4 hours away. The purpose of my clinics to to pray with people after treating their medical needs and then try to lead them to know Jesus and invite them to my evangelistic meetings. Well, of course the the worldly person such a purpose is unheard of. They were scrambling, pushing and shouting. I smiled and spoke to all before clinic and tried to explain some health things. Whenever we had a pause in the frequent calling of "next patient", they would scold the translator for talking too much to me and wasting my time. On one such occasion, he told them we had a phone call. I explained to all of them that I would be shutting down and moving away because the phone call from the representative of the rector requested I be finished. That meant 1 day to do all those people. I knew what would happen after telling them this. We knelt and prayed. Then we had the next meeting and God had sent my friend Malgarita.
She had seen in a vision praying hands. She came to meeting expecting some spiritual blessings from God and found out we were closing things down. She suggested Maranatha Secondary school. I asked for special prayers with her and translator at the end of the meeting. As we prayed, I had peace God would do something big. I hurried back to the room be begin packing.
At the next meeting there was Malgarita with news of acceptance to hold the program at Maranatha and when could they expect me. The door was open.
As we began to make plans that way, Malgarita said she had prayed at home that I would be given a chance to continue on at the University for the interest was very good. She even called the rector in Kigali and gave a good report and urged that another week could make a positive spiritual difference on the campus.
As I went back to clinic, there was everything in uproar. The head elder and builder of school met me with many smiles and pleaded with me not to leave them. I told him, I was surprised for I had assumed someone was reporting that I must be finished and move on. He was surprised for he had set up hundreds of chairs for all coming to clinic and had bent over backwards to do all he could to bless God's medical evangelistic work. He even had a nice bed brought for exams, and it was made up nicely by himself. A white sheet I had taken from my bed was put at the window to keep people from peering in and he fixed it nice for me. He was on the list to be examined and wanted glasses to help him read his Bible. He said the people were angry at him and shouting at him for chasing me away. He said he was not the one chasing.
Even the rector and his wife came to visit. Then I was given special help over the university internet by a Loma Linda Specialist who is a professor at the University. I put pictures up and the professor was so kind as take time in the night after his busy day of work to answer me. I am so thankful to God. I would rush to clinic to present the Bible lesson and at times, did not know what I was going to present till I opened my mouth after praying to God. He delivered the lessons and I too was blessed.
Whole families were experiencing blindness. I was counseled about medications for malaria causing blindness. He warned against frequent use of chloroquine. Malaria is a big problem.
God promises that if we do medical work, it will make another blessing happen. The evangelism will not be stopped or eclipsed. I have just related a story that is a case in point.
DREAM GIVES BEST LODGING OPTION
Embarrased over the women's guest house being full of men and being expected to like the set up, I prayed and did not rest too well. I remained ready to move on. In the night God showed me what to do. It worked out well. You can see that story under "Highlights 2012"
REBUKING SIN BUT TEARS STREAMING FROM MY EYES
The last Sabbath for the divine service on February 11, God had me give strong rebukes to sin and tears were in my eyes as I went for the last sermon. I described and explained 24 abominations which have moved into the church and are soon to be against the church. The worst abomination is over forced Sunday observance. I expected the thousands to get up and flee but there was a great revival and many pledged for baptism and I pray that I will never deny my LORD.
"those whom God calls must be men of deep experience, tried and proved, men of sound judgment, men who will dare to reprove sin in the spirit of meekness, men who understand how to feed the flock. God knows the heart, and he knows whom to select.— Vol. 1, p. 209. {GW92 131.2}
I was shown the low state of God's people; that God had not departed from them; but that they had departed from God, and become lukewarm. They possess the theory of the truth, but lack its saving power. As we near the close of time, Satan comes down with great power knowing his time is short. Especially upon the remnant will his power be exercised. He will war against them, he will seek to divide and scatter them, that they may grow weak and be overthrown. The people of God should move understandingly; their efforts should be united. They should be of the same mind, of the same judgment; then their efforts will not be scattered, but will be of force, and tell in the upbuilding of the cause of present truth. Order must be observed, and there must be union in regard to order, or Satan will take advantage of them. {4bSG 45.2}
I was shown that the enemy would come in every way possible to dishearten the people of God, and perplex and trouble them, and that they should move understandingly and prepare themselves for the attacks of Satan. 1T
I saw that the enemy would come in every way possible to dishearten the people of God and perplex and trouble
them, and that they should move understandingly, and prepare themselves for the attacks of Satan. {1T 210.3}
NEXT STORIES:
Maranatha school
Nyanza village
Next PROJECT: Mindinau Philippines
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Kenya Rift Valley surprise
Baptism surprise! Pastor gets taken under too
by Larose Sample McCluskey on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 12:20pm ·
Finished Naishi in Rift Valley this morning!
Greetings from friend's house in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa (Evening January 15) Will be doing God's next requirement in Rwanda. Thanks for your prayers.
REBAPTIZED PASTOR
The Naishi project in Rift Valley is done. Sabbath the church was full and the District Officer had a soldier drive me to the home where I had a room to put equipment there, then he took me to the river for the baptism. There were 16 on the list but the focus on preparing them did not get done and they would have come if they knew about it. There were only five ready and while the last of those 5 was being baptized she was so frightened that she pulled the pastor under. I caught in on film. The whole witnessing crowd was laughing like I have never heard at a baptism. It was too funny for the solemn meaning of burying sins and coming up in a new walk with Jesus The mother of the woman being baptized was holding the umbrella for me to shade me from the burning sun. She was laughing so hard about the pastor going under that I shut off the movie camera. After the pastor recovered his composure I suggested he ask if others watching wanted baptism too. There were 11 more who signed to be baptized in April. Some insisted it be done immediately. After examining and questioning, the pastor took two into the stream. The waterfalls right beside me on the rock prevented us from hearing his prayer but I noticed he had a big stick for the next one to hold onto. He kept taking her hand off his arm.
HEALED PATIENT IS BAPTIZED
I saw 300 patients. There were a thousand registered to be treated, the pastor informed me. Some of the cases were so challenging. I was disappointed that since the people had listened all day while waiting, they had no interest to come in the evening to hear my seminar. I was told it was because they are afraid in the night and they fear the Adventists. However, one woman named Margaret was prayed for as I finished her treatments. I felt impressed to invite her to be baptized like Jesus, by going under the water. She was very willing. Her life has been full of trouble and she was so ready to follow Jesus. I sent my translator to her home to study immediately and get her ready. She was baptized and received the Swahili Talking Bible MP3 player that Gary Fuller sent. Margaret was healed the next day after being seen in clinic. She was very excited about that.
THE MP3 PLAYERS HAD ARRIVED IN MY POST OFFICE BOX JUST IN THE RIGHT TIMING FOR ME TO GET THEM BEFORE GOING TO KENYA. I was amazed to find the package on my way to the airport. God made sure I found them before boarding my flight. What a blessing. They were so excited to get them. Many came begging for one. There were exactly 7 baptized and 7 MP3 players.
Each evening there were about 40 attending. We had a small electric line. It was barely enough power. The little light bulbs were not really strong enough for reading the Bible texts. On Sabbath about 400 attended. By the last Sabbath the prejudice was down and the local members came begging for DVDS that can be won at quiz time if people listened. We had language translations into Kikuiyu and Swahili. That is really difficult for me. My mind is moving along really fast but had to pause twice as long for translations. Many times I had to pray for help when one or the other translator decided to add in stuff. I lost my concentration on where I was going.
I learned as I left that there was also the Kisi language. No wonder they had no interest in coming. No one bothered to tell me. I was watching the children get up and run out and have a blank look so asked and discovered they knew only Kikuiyu.
SURPRISE FREE GAME PARK TOUR! I was very tired as I began the project and during my reading of Desire of Ages, found the strong words about taking time to rest. God told his disciples to come and rest awhile. I chose Wednesday. That first Wednesday was spent sleeping and trying to get well. Time zone difference made it 820AM at home when it was 720pm in Kenya. The second Wednesday, the pastor asked for the District officer’s permission to have his driver take us in the land rover to the local animal park. It is located just within visible distance but took about 1.5 hours to drive there over very rough dirt roads. The park requested so much money. (10,000 shillings) After calling the district officer who had provided free use of the vehicle and realizing I had been serving their people free, we had free access. It was so nice! We saw lions, buffalo, rhino, and so many zebras. The chimps and baboons were amazing. The driver was thrilled and said he planned to take his family there someday. We drove through as these animals roamed freely. It was a thrill to have them in the fields near the vehicle. We watched large white pelicans fishing in the lake and saw some opportunist smaller birds which looked like grebes waiting for a fish which the pelican might drop.
They had requested 10,000 shillings and God provided free access for us. The break away from the routine was therapeutic for me. The many challenges in Naishi are behind me now. I enjoyed watching the baptism.
After finishing last night, we packed up the sanctuary and awarded the baptized people with MP3 Bibles and this morning awaited transport out of Naishi. After leaving at 10AM, there was a man awaiting prayers for healing. He waited along the way at a hotel. He had heard of my prayers raising a dead person. His daughter works at the conference office and heard through a man James who had visited Naishi. So he requested I stop for prayers. Then I visited the hospital under construction at the Central Conf. office. Finally by 6pm, we arrived safely in friend Roberts home. I was able to get a bit of internet catch up. So thankful to God for answered prayers
a nslations. I age some delicious foods, enjoyed mangos, and mango juice. I was thankful for 4 wool blankets and wore a coat to bed and a nice fleece top.
Greetings from friend's house in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa (Evening January 15) Will be doing God's next requirement in Rwanda. Thanks for your prayers.
REBAPTIZED PASTOR
The Naishi project in Rift Valley is done. Sabbath the church was full and the District Officer had a soldier drive me to the home where I had a room to put equipment there, then he took me to the river for the baptism. There were 16 on the list but the focus on preparing them did not get done and they would have come if they knew about it. There were only five ready and while the last of those 5 was being baptized she was so frightened that she pulled the pastor under. I caught in on film. The whole witnessing crowd was laughing like I have never heard at a baptism. It was too funny for the solemn meaning of burying sins and coming up in a new walk with Jesus The mother of the woman being baptized was holding the umbrella for me to shade me from the burning sun. She was laughing so hard about the pastor going under that I shut off the movie camera. After the pastor recovered his composure I suggested he ask if others watching wanted baptism too. There were 11 more who signed to be baptized in April. Some insisted it be done immediately. After examining and questioning, the pastor took two into the stream. The waterfalls right beside me on the rock prevented us from hearing his prayer but I noticed he had a big stick for the next one to hold onto. He kept taking her hand off his arm.
HEALED PATIENT IS BAPTIZED
I saw 300 patients. There were a thousand registered to be treated, the pastor informed me. Some of the cases were so challenging. I was disappointed that since the people had listened all day while waiting, they had no interest to come in the evening to hear my seminar. I was told it was because they are afraid in the night and they fear the Adventists. However, one woman named Margaret was prayed for as I finished her treatments. I felt impressed to invite her to be baptized like Jesus, by going under the water. She was very willing. Her life has been full of trouble and she was so ready to follow Jesus. I sent my translator to her home to study immediately and get her ready. She was baptized and received the Swahili Talking Bible MP3 player that Gary Fuller sent. Margaret was healed the next day after being seen in clinic. She was very excited about that.
THE MP3 PLAYERS HAD ARRIVED IN MY POST OFFICE BOX JUST IN THE RIGHT TIMING FOR ME TO GET THEM BEFORE GOING TO KENYA. I was amazed to find the package on my way to the airport. God made sure I found them before boarding my flight. What a blessing. They were so excited to get them. Many came begging for one. There were exactly 7 baptized and 7 MP3 players.
Each evening there were about 40 attending. We had a small electric line. It was barely enough power. The little light bulbs were not really strong enough for reading the Bible texts. On Sabbath about 400 attended. By the last Sabbath the prejudice was down and the local members came begging for DVDS that can be won at quiz time if people listened. We had language translations into Kikuiyu and Swahili. That is really difficult for me. My mind is moving along really fast but had to pause twice as long for translations. Many times I had to pray for help when one or the other translator decided to add in stuff. I lost my concentration on where I was going.
I learned as I left that there was also the Kisi language. No wonder they had no interest in coming. No one bothered to tell me. I was watching the children get up and run out and have a blank look so asked and discovered they knew only Kikuiyu.
SURPRISE FREE GAME PARK TOUR! I was very tired as I began the project and during my reading of Desire of Ages, found the strong words about taking time to rest. God told his disciples to come and rest awhile. I chose Wednesday. That first Wednesday was spent sleeping and trying to get well. Time zone difference made it 820AM at home when it was 720pm in Kenya. The second Wednesday, the pastor asked for the District officer’s permission to have his driver take us in the land rover to the local animal park. It is located just within visible distance but took about 1.5 hours to drive there over very rough dirt roads. The park requested so much money. (10,000 shillings) After calling the district officer who had provided free use of the vehicle and realizing I had been serving their people free, we had free access. It was so nice! We saw lions, buffalo, rhino, and so many zebras. The chimps and baboons were amazing. The driver was thrilled and said he planned to take his family there someday. We drove through as these animals roamed freely. It was a thrill to have them in the fields near the vehicle. We watched large white pelicans fishing in the lake and saw some opportunist smaller birds which looked like grebes waiting for a fish which the pelican might drop.
They had requested 10,000 shillings and God provided free access for us. The break away from the routine was therapeutic for me. The many challenges in Naishi are behind me now. I enjoyed watching the baptism.
After finishing last night, we packed up the sanctuary and awarded the baptized people with MP3 Bibles and this morning awaited transport out of Naishi. After leaving at 10AM, there was a man awaiting prayers for healing. He waited along the way at a hotel. He had heard of my prayers raising a dead person. His daughter works at the conference office and heard through a man James who had visited Naishi. So he requested I stop for prayers. Then I visited the hospital under construction at the Central Conf. office. Finally by 6pm, we arrived safely in friend Roberts home. I was able to get a bit of internet catch up. So thankful to God for answered prayers
a nslations. I age some delicious foods, enjoyed mangos, and mango juice. I was thankful for 4 wool blankets and wore a coat to bed and a nice fleece top.
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