testimony

It was as sweet a moment as I had thought it would be.

Belony and Pehpay walked in a few minutes late, holding hands, and everyone could see that Pehpay had worked hard to look as nice as possible. His pants must have been 3 sizes too big, but a belt bunched and held them up, and they had been carefully pressed, as had his faded shirt.

They walked hand in hand down the aisle, both of them beaming, and all the guys got quiet.

"This is him!" Belony said joyfully, and everyone knew we were standing on holy ground. Not because of anything special about the grinning old man before them, but because of what Christ had done in his life. Pehpay never went to school. "Not a day" he told me, and has spent his entire existence here in the little muddy community of Sakenville.

And yet it was with rapture that this most educated group of brothers and sisters listened, all sitting forward on our pews to catch every word.

"I was all but dead..." Pehpay began, and slowly and boldly shared his story with the pastors, evangelists, missionaries and teachers around him. He showed them how big his stomach was, talked about what dying had been like, talked about living his life in darkness.

"But God met me, and then He healed me, and I will love Him forever, no doubt. I will love Him forever" he swore with a child-like faith, clear eyes, and a huge, almost toothless grin.

"God preserved my life, but you know, I am still going to die one of these days. But because of what Belony told me about Jesus, I will have eternal life now! So, it is all ok. I will love Him forever!" he said again, and then Belony led his "little brother", back down the aisle to a beautiful chorus of applause...not for Pehpay, for he had done nothing. And not for Belony, because his hand had done no miracle, his sacrifice had saved no one from their sins.

No, once again the chapel was filled with beautiful applause of praise, praise for a God who continues to surprise His children by His great love, His great power, and by His great mercy. I'm so thankful we have all of eternity to applaud who He is...with Pehpay.

It is the season of the mango, and the trees are heavy with them. If you pick them, they never ripen, rotting where you place them. But if you wait until they fall, they are perfect...sweet, warm from the sun, dripping with vitamins and nutrients. Matt would say, "That could preach."

These days they are falling by the dozens, much to the delight of everyone, blessed for once with truly free food. All the kiddos (and several of the students :) have orange around their mouths continually, and Lily is quiet happy to join them.

The revival services have been going really well, with two or three people committing or re-committing their lives to Christ each evening. Matt's played bass and few evenings, and Lily and I go until she can't keep her eyes open. Sunday evening there is a large final service. Please pray that the Lord will continue to move...