This is the first post regarding the fifth trip to the Village of Hope conducted by the Farragut church.
There are twenty-four souls setting out to conduct a medical clinic, work with educators, and share God’s word and love in West Africa. This trip has proven to be a life time experience for the travelers in the work that they do and the spiritual growth they experience. It is an example of taking the church outside the walls, outside our comfort zone, and into the lives of hundreds of people thousands of miles from here.
On this blog, many of us will write of our experiences and observations. We have found that this is a great way of keeping in touch with the folks back home and to hear from you as personal email and phone calls are so difficult.
We will be in a time zone four hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time. As you are eating breakfast, we’ll be eating lunch. While you’re asleep we will be waking up to the sound of the children’s morning chores and soon the sound of their 5:30AM devotional singing, which will morph into the calls of the tuxedo crows other birds as the sun rises.
This past Sunday, one of the teens shared the idea for a 24-7 prayer vigil. The purpose is to keep the people traveling and the people we serve front and center before our God every hour of every day while we are away. I was moved by the spirit and passion this teen presented. A sign-up sheet was made available. As soon as service was over, many people lined up to arrange their appointed time to pray for the mission. This was indeed encouragement to those who witness this. The sign-up sheet is now in the office.
We cherish the support we receive from our family and church. We work hard and endure much to be effective.
I can’t wait…
James
