February 22, 2011

This Word From the Mid-Wives Training near Kinigi

We had a great day today. Lisa was in her element. We had 10 midwives and 1 social worker. The women were receptive and excited to do the training.  Lisa went over childbirth basics and steps to prevent bleeding and infection.  There was alot of learning and laughter.  At one point it rained and hailed violently and water was coming down the wall and collecting in a big puddle on the floor,  but Lisa never skipped a beat. :) one day down, three to go! Please pray that they will practice and teach other midwives in their villages.  

From the Pastors Training
We had a good day today.  All the Pastors were back after some of them went home for Monday to participate in the national elections. Due to the elections, we only had a half-day yesterday, even though we taught to 6:30 PM and finished in the dark.  Tom Dagley finished up Acts by 11:30 AM (we started at 8:30) and I launched into Romans.  By 5 PM we had made it to Romans 5:11 and we called it a day.  It seems they are picking up the fundamentals of salvation theology as they are even asking how they can correct their prior teaching to their churches. 
Our translator has been a young Pastor named Allen.  He pastors a church in a neighboring community and is filling in for Theophile as he is with the Mid-wife excursion.  We went to Allen home today after teaching and met his family.  They live in a very small home made out of mud block.  It didn't have any windows or running water or toilet facilities, but it did have a a few electrical lights and outlets.  His parents who are ill, along with his younger sister and brother live with him, his wife and two children.  It is a busy home.  He has a serving heart and it has been nice to work with him.  We are clearly building relationships, which is a real blessing.

It is a real challenge communicating complex theology across a language barrier, especially when the translators grasp of English is less then complete. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to provide clarity.

One little tidbit.  The pastors were delighted today when we bought them a soccer ball to use when class is over.  It is nice to see folks delight in simple pleasures.