Today, Sunday, November 30, 2008, I attended the South Cleveland Church of God to support my daughter and two grand-daughters who sing in the choir there. While at the service I met Brother Robert and Sister Peggy McConnell - Missionary Evangelists for the Church of God. He gave me the following report on his recent trip to Zambia. I have taken some editorial privilege but the basic report is Brother McConnell's report.
Projects: 13
New Churches: 4
New building constructed: 1
Roofs near collapse - replaced: 2
New wells dug: 2 ( One, 50 meters deep and one 21 meters deep. A meter = 39 inches)
Brother McConnell preached 31 times in 3 weeks, until one night he was so exhausted that he collapsed in the pulpit. Let me quote directly, "Billions of bugs cross lake Bangaweulu and fill the bush structure we were under. 1/4 deep bugs on slab benches and pulpit. Clouds of bugs cover a few lights dangling overhead. Service canceled, two held next day. Many places we preached in darkness as the power would be cut off many nights. Water goes off every day, two weeks of fish and rice. Preached outdoor crusade five foot high platform, wind, dust and notes flying."
The demands on visiting evangelists are so great. While the people are very generous to give things to the visitors, i.e., live animals such as chickens and goats, there is more given than is received. He told of giving to a widow whose husband had died; ministering to a leader who came down with malaria and was taken to the hospital; another leader became ill and was in bed for two days; his interpreter also coming down with malaria; he told of one of his drivers (Namutabo) who was so full of the joy of life while drive at 140 kilometres per hour who fell sick and died in his sleep two days before Brother McConnell's departure.
He says, "I was so pleased with work on the new church at Samfya that I bragged to the pastor and church council. It made them so happy we shouted and praised the Lord all around it... ... ...Then a group of teens got up. A girl looked at me and said, 'Brother Robert, we have been waiting for you to come back for three years. We know that you love the book of Revelation, now we have something we want you to hear. Over 20 teens began to recite from memory the firs four chapters of the book of Revelation. I burst into tears and dropped to my knees. I know that my messages and the anointing of God was getting through and this was living proof." Can you imagine his joy!!!???
"I was bitten by mosquitos over a hundred times and I cannot take prevention tablets any more since almost losing my arms and life because of reaction to them and consequences over a year ago. It's been two weeks since the mosquitos worked me over and all that I've had was a bad case of sinus as a man coughed continuous next to me on the plane home."
He also told of passing through the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and being harassed by the border guards. This is very familiar to most missionaries in Africa. He had to pay an exhorbitant amount of money to be cleared to travel. He says, "I was angry and upbraided them for the dishonesty." That too, is a familiar emotion.
"We sweat and soaked the pillow and bed many nights. The car we rented had two blow-outs because the tires had two boots covering two previous holes as big as your thumb and should not have been permitted on the car at all. Remember, don't get caught shaving, or with soap on your head when the power goes off! It's not fun...and if it's night time and the lights also go off it's even worse. Eating by one candle is not so romantic either."
Yes, there is drama in this story - but telling it and reading it is far easier than experiencing it! God Bless the McConnell's and all missionary evangelists.
Projects: 13
New Churches: 4
New building constructed: 1
Roofs near collapse - replaced: 2
New wells dug: 2 ( One, 50 meters deep and one 21 meters deep. A meter = 39 inches)
Brother McConnell preached 31 times in 3 weeks, until one night he was so exhausted that he collapsed in the pulpit. Let me quote directly, "Billions of bugs cross lake Bangaweulu and fill the bush structure we were under. 1/4 deep bugs on slab benches and pulpit. Clouds of bugs cover a few lights dangling overhead. Service canceled, two held next day. Many places we preached in darkness as the power would be cut off many nights. Water goes off every day, two weeks of fish and rice. Preached outdoor crusade five foot high platform, wind, dust and notes flying."
The demands on visiting evangelists are so great. While the people are very generous to give things to the visitors, i.e., live animals such as chickens and goats, there is more given than is received. He told of giving to a widow whose husband had died; ministering to a leader who came down with malaria and was taken to the hospital; another leader became ill and was in bed for two days; his interpreter also coming down with malaria; he told of one of his drivers (Namutabo) who was so full of the joy of life while drive at 140 kilometres per hour who fell sick and died in his sleep two days before Brother McConnell's departure.
He says, "I was so pleased with work on the new church at Samfya that I bragged to the pastor and church council. It made them so happy we shouted and praised the Lord all around it... ... ...Then a group of teens got up. A girl looked at me and said, 'Brother Robert, we have been waiting for you to come back for three years. We know that you love the book of Revelation, now we have something we want you to hear. Over 20 teens began to recite from memory the firs four chapters of the book of Revelation. I burst into tears and dropped to my knees. I know that my messages and the anointing of God was getting through and this was living proof." Can you imagine his joy!!!???
"I was bitten by mosquitos over a hundred times and I cannot take prevention tablets any more since almost losing my arms and life because of reaction to them and consequences over a year ago. It's been two weeks since the mosquitos worked me over and all that I've had was a bad case of sinus as a man coughed continuous next to me on the plane home."
He also told of passing through the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and being harassed by the border guards. This is very familiar to most missionaries in Africa. He had to pay an exhorbitant amount of money to be cleared to travel. He says, "I was angry and upbraided them for the dishonesty." That too, is a familiar emotion.
"We sweat and soaked the pillow and bed many nights. The car we rented had two blow-outs because the tires had two boots covering two previous holes as big as your thumb and should not have been permitted on the car at all. Remember, don't get caught shaving, or with soap on your head when the power goes off! It's not fun...and if it's night time and the lights also go off it's even worse. Eating by one candle is not so romantic either."
Yes, there is drama in this story - but telling it and reading it is far easier than experiencing it! God Bless the McConnell's and all missionary evangelists.
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