kingdom travelin'

June 21, 2013 · 10:47

good neighbor

My neighbor in Bp is a retired fellow in his sixties. As I returned to the flat a while ago, he was out on his balcony and saw me coming up the street.

Nearing the top of the four floors of stairs, I heard his door unlatch.

We greeted one another, told him where I’d been and complained about the heat here in the Jewel on the Danube (its 94!) …thankfully I had little to complain about regarding weather on this trip to the bottom of Africa. I asked how he and his wife are and that was about it. I hauled my shrinkwrapped backpack inside.

Then, while I was checking this and that in the flat and there was a knock on my door, there stood my neighbor, with a bottle of bubbly mineral water. That’s a good neighbor. That’s a blessing.

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Filed under experience, things Central European, travel notes

June 20, 2013 · 01:42

waiting

Ships in Mossel Bay wait to have their cargo unloaded. I thought about how long the crews on these ships have been at sea. As they wait, I wonder how patient or impatient the souls abroad these tankers are.

Then I thought of a discussion Sweet Anna and I had about the difference between waiting and waiting patiently on the Lord. What are we waiting for in our lives, and how patiently are we waiting for it?

why is @revtomtravels in Mossel Bay ?

If you have followed the posts of the last week, you have seen some landscapes of great beauty. But why am I here in Mossel Bay, South Africa?

I arrived last Thursday in a jet-lagged and beleaguered state after three crazy travel days from the US via the Heartland (included 18 hours in Budapest). The next day we were out to see a bit of the work that is going on to serve the poor by teaching them to help themselves.

This journey began at a prison where my colleague Josh works with local leaders of the facility that houses young men from 15-24 years old. This facility teaches some of the young men gardening skills and provides for a community garden.

In partnership with Josh, they grow seed into seedlings that then help the poor he works with in the townships.

Josh and Abby brought me along as they picked up seedlings to deliver to the gardeners.

A few days later, Josh and I headed out to the townships to visit his many, many gardening friends…

Josh has been building relationships and has developed a reputation as a man who wishes to bring real help to the people. He distributed seedlings for immediate planting and taught about spraying for insects that are damaging plants in the gardens.

The activity around the back of his pickup caused would-be gardeners to ask for help. He then set up a time to teach some new gardeners his system and provide them with seedlings after they have prepared their soil. They left with appointment slips for this Saturday morning!

Learn more about Growing Hope at www.ceokids.org

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Filed under photos along the way, spiritual questions/musings/wonderings

June 19, 2013 · 11:19

forgiveness in a clinic

This morning I joined my colleague Josh for his weekly visit to the local HIV clinic. He has been serving there for quite a while now and he goes there weekly to offer spiritual counsel and Bible study to the people there. He has a huge heart for these people and they know it.

As soon as we arrived a member of the staff grabbed him and asked him into an office to offer comfort to a woman who was in tears. She was being treated badly by her employer and the nurse handed this task right to Josh. He spoke with her to comfort her, assuring her of God’s love for her, her value as a person and that she did not have to suffer abuse from anyone. He then talked to her about forgiveness. As, I think about this, it was so important.

Way too many people are hauling around bitterness in their lives (which affects SO MUCH of their life) because of unforgiveness they have for someone else. I was really glad Josh had the understanding to remind her of God’s love, her value to Him and her need (for her own sake) to forgive.

Make us wonder who we need to forgive, huh?

FYI: HIV is a huge problem in this country. But there is now readily available treatment for all the people. The staff in the clinic that I observed were professional and courteous, the facility was in good shape. I was glad to observe these things. I am glad my colleague is serving there on a weekly basis to bring the Gospel to life in this corner of this city.

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Image

Why we’re here: to serve

morning walk in Mossel Bay

For reasons of health in body and soul, I try to have a brisk walk at least 20 minutes every other day. Getting out in the morning during my visit here in Mossel Bay is a blessing as the beauty draws me to reflect on the beauty of God and also His immensity. Clearly these walks get slowed down by my camera taking in the landscape, it just jumps into my hand… here are this morning’s entries…