The Past Several Days......

I can think all of you enough for your prayers and support. I am extremely grateful for your prayers and money and for all the life that was spoken into me before I left. It truly has been an experience the past week and I have not been able to blog. So here is my week in capsule form. The past several days I have:

• seen Big Ben, Parliament, London Bridge
• Eaten at "The Albert"
• seen monkeys, baboons, zebras and ostriches
• Eaten at a place called the Simba Hotel (they generally use the word hotel and restaurant as the same word) where I was served deep fried chicken served with several hairs and that was too hard to chew
• slept at a hotel called "Babylon"
• ridden in a bus that arrived 6 hrs late and that broke down (45 minutes into the journey) for 6 hrs. We were told the possibility was very high that we would have to sleep in the bus in a small village that was in the middle of no where.
  
• ridden on the worst dirt road ever in the back of a bus. After the ride my lungs were sandboxes from all the dirt I breathed in, my insides were mush, my spine probably looked like your average tree branch, and I was convinced that I would never be able to have kids again due to all the bouncing
• taken a bucket bath
• eaten amazing fresh African fruit (Pineapples, Mangos, Oranges, Lichis, Bananas, finger bananas and then Avocado and Cucumber)
• experienced Africa Chai Tea!!! :)
• ridden in an STL vehicle
• been to several 6 hr African church services (i will blog about the first one in the next few days)
• seen 6 ft tall anthills
• seen Mt. Kilimanjaro
• traveled with Msunga (General Secretary of the Christ's Ambassadors of the Tanzanian Assemblies of God), Puta-Puta (Assisstant CA Director of the TAG), and Mkomba (National CA Director of the TAG)
• seen the Indian Ocean
• sat in the "hotseat" (since the Muslim population is so high, anytime you eat pork you are in the "hotseat")

I will blog some more cultural stuff later and post pics when I get a chance. Thanks for thinking of me and praying for me. God has been faithful and is going to do good things this year! Check back in the next few days for more blogs. Love you and dont be a stranger......

it's just fitting as i get ready to head to the airport to post this. it is my creed. it is your creed.

Disciple's Creed

I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me - my banner will be clear!

(Written by a young African pastor
and tacked on the wall of his house.)

5 days

Well right about now I am feeling that certain nervousness/anxiousness/excitement as the countdown 'til I leave reaches 5 days. In my mind I am going to Haiti since I don't know what to expect and that is the only thing I can relate it to. I still need close to $7000 or about $700 monthly. Thank you for visiting my site and for the interest and support you have shown me. I will post on this site about once a week, I suppose, so check in as often as you like. I am jealous for your prayers and grateful for your support.

Until all know,
Paul