March 8

Today brought a host of changes. David Smith departed this afternoon for the USA.  Despite a down computer system at the airport, he managed to finally get his bags checked and begin the 24+ hour journey back to Boston.  I didn't get to be with him since I was teaching all day out at Masaka. From the reports I got, he had a nice day snagging some great photos around the city and finally picking up his altered shirt. As I write this, he should be in Addis Ababba waiting on his flight back to Washington with a fueling stop in Rome.
  The day at Masaka, as always, was crammed packed.  Teaching the New Testament over a 1 month period sounds like a long time, but with the translation it seems you are always cramming in everything you can.  Today was James and Jude.  I (Neal) taught James from 8:30 to 4 and Frank picked up there with Jude and finished at 5:30.  As has become the norm, there were some great moments of insights for the Rwandan pastors. For instance, we only got through the first two chapters of James by the time we stopped for lunch at 1:30 PM.  They really took to the spiritual truths of growing through trials, how we are to respond to God's Word, and James idea of justification by faith in contrast to Paul's.  It was a rewarding time.
   Preparation for our closing day on Friday are well under way.  We have purchased 55 25kg bags of rice to give out, bought each of them a new bible, secured enough Rwanda Franks to give them money to buy a bag of beans in their how villages, and finalize arrangements to bind up all their handouts into a booklet they can keep, complete with a harmony of the Gospels.  We are also arranging transportation for them back home.
    Pray for them.  They are eager students but are physically fading as a result of the long days, long weeks, sleeping conditions and the heat.  Sometimes they spirit is willing but the flesh is sleepy!  Also pray for the translation.  We have had several different translators over the weeks (Theophile can't be in two places at once) and some make things go better than others.
   Tomorrow is 1 and 2 Peter taught by Neal.  Thursday is 1,2,and 3 John taught by Frank and then Friday we finish with a bang in Revelation supposedly taught by Neal. So as you can see, prayer is definitely needed.
   Thanks for following along.  Seeing the volume of people who have checked out the blog is encouraging!