Ebel-Abanga continued....

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” -2 Cor. 9:6-7

God continues to amaze me more and more as I learn to obey and trust in Him.  This past Friday I was called up to be asked if I would return to village of Ebel-Abanga to continue the work on the church building project.  At first I agreed without hesitation, but as time drew closer, I wondered if I should’ve stayed back to help take care of some Interns and a team for the weekend.  But I felt this necessity to go and continue my relationship with the people of Ebel-Abanga and help with the church project. 

So Friday afternoon me and three other local Christian believers took a bush-taxi and arrived around 5:30pm at the village.  God taught me many things this past weekend, and one them is the ACTUAL practice of “praying without ceasing.”  The four of us at the village prayed and prayed until tiredness would take over.  The four of us shared two little beds without mattresses, so we all got REAL ‘close’ to one another this weekend.  Saturday morning arrived and once again the first thing we did before anything, was to pray. 

Saturday felt like one of the longest days of my life, as there were only four of us working on finishing pouring the foundation and laying the brick walls of the church.  But by God’s grace and His strength, we finished the rest of the cement from the last workday and were able to complete the foundation as well as continue a large portion of laying the brick walls. 

Around 5:30pm, we were still working on the brick walls, the pastor (Moiz) asked me to preach the following morning.  He said that it is there custom to allow the visitor to preach on Sunday.  I remembered right at that moment that a few weeks earlier I was asked to preach, and I refused because I was nervous and I didn’t have anything prepared.  But later I felt bad that I had refused and told the Lord that I would agree to preach if another opportunity presented itself.  Ha ha ha, God has his ways!  So I agreed to preach on Sunday morning even though I had not a clue what to speak on. 

Trust me, it was a struggle to understand what the Lord wanted me to speak about on Sunday as I ate one of the best Gabonese meals I’ve ever had.  It wasn’t until late that night did I feel at peace at what He wanted me to share with the believers at Ebel.  Sunday morning came quick and we all had a great time during the church service with a pot-luck lunch afterwards. 

Now for our departure back to Libreville, we had a difficult time catching a vehicle.  There were even empty cars that refused to take us back, so we had to wait quite some time before finally a loaded down pickup truck full of people agreed to take us along.  Then the most amazing thing happened; about half way through our trip back, the four of us had the opportunity to lead one of the men in the back of that truck to know the Lord.  This man who had been smoking and drinking amongst us, God used to start a conversation about how God doesn’t want us to destroy out bodies because our bodies don’t belong to us, but to Him.  Today there is one more person added to the His Book of Life. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 remains true in my life as a reminder that when I am faithful to give, obey, offer, and be willing to serve Him and help the needy, that His blessings are bountiful. What if me and the three other men did not go to Ebel-Abanga this weekend, would others continue to work on the church?  Would I have been able to have an opportunity to preach before I left?  Would this man have been saved if another taxi had picked us up to take us back to Libreville?  I don’t know these answers, but I can guess that there would’ve been a very slim chance of these things actually happening.   …”he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully.”

This is probably my last prayer letter for my summer in Gabon because I leave this week to head back to Georgia to start up school. Please continue to check my blog as I will periodically be posting updates of what’s happening in my life and where God is leading me. 

>Please continue to pray for the village of Abela-Abanga and for the continuation of the church project and their financial needs.

>Please pray for mine and Vicki’s return trip back to Georgia on Sunday and for readjusting back into work and school.

>Please keep me in your prayers that the Lord will provide for my financial needs to complete this summer trip.

Bonsoir!!

BONSOIR Friends and Family J,

I have so much I wish I could tell you in this letter, but because of the extent of all that I have been through as well as seen, I cannot fully express and inform you on everything. But of course there is one specific event in the last week and a half that I have been apart of that I desire to share.  Before going into more detail, I’d like to share this verse with you. 

Isaiah 41:10- “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am YOUR God. I will strengthen you, Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  

Last Thursday I led a team from Bedford Community Church in Bedford Hills New York, on an adventure that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. This team had the opportunity to go to a village called Abel-Abenga (about 3hrs away). The night before we took off, we all prayed against Satan’s forces in preventing us from spreading the love of Christ. But sure enough, about three hours into the drive, one of our other vehicles with five people in it went off the road and collided into a tree.  Thankfully there were no serious injuries and praise the Lord that everyone only came out with just a few scratches and bruises.

 This unexpected event obviously forced me to make a decision that I was not prepared for; do we turn back and go home or press on?  With so many thoughts running through my head, the only thing I could set my mind on was gathering everyone in a circle and pray. And holding hands, all 19 of us asked the Lord for wisdom and gave thanks for his protection. It was soon clear then that pressing on to the village (which was now only 20km away) was the best option in order that we begin the work that Lord had for us.

Yet Satan did not give, because the rest of that day as well as the next, we could not find a truck to hire in order that we may transport all the cement, sand, water, and materials from where those ‘ingredients’ lie to the church building site.  “How can we possibly begin this church building project without the materials being in place?”

1 Thess. 5:17 “Pray without ceasing!” … I learned another lesson from the Gabonese people, pray all the time!  So that’s what we did, we prayed and prayed some more.  Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” God provided the truck that we needed to hire and the work continued for two more days. 

Sunday arrived and the youth pastor of the team (Dan Haugh) preached a powerful message paralleling the foundation of a church to Christ being our foundation in our lives (Matthew 7:24).  Sad to leave our new friends at the village, we departed Sunday afternoon to head back home in Libreville.  But once again, Satan gave one last effort in attempting to tear our spirits down.  Along the road back the radiator and alternator belt tore, leaving us stranded with an old rickety van that was overheating.  Yet even though we were 65 km away from home, our trust in the Lord and our spirits even more alive in Christ, were shown as we pressed on driving slowly and having to stop to fill up the radiator with water in order of preventing the engine to overheat.

We finally made it safely into Libreville at 9pm taking us 7 hours which usually is a 3 hour drive J

Here’s what we got done with the church project:

-We finished clearing the overgrown property for the church

       -Poured the cement footers and foundation

       -Began laying the cement brick walls

BUT what also was accomplished, was the relationships that were started between the Bedford team (as well as the Envision team) and the people of Abel-Abenga.  Children and adults were shown the Love the Christ in various ways through skits, Bible stories, soccer, singing, testimonies, and FOOD!!!!

“Thank you Bedford team for your willingness and obedience to serve the Lord here in Gabon.  BONSOIR to all.

Prayer Requests:

       -Pray for the continuation of the Abel-Abenga C&MA church

       -Pray for the people of Abel-Abenga

       -Pray for a new Envision Vehicle

       -Pray for the relationships developed with the Abel-Abenga people

       -Pray that the Lord will continue to provide finances to cover the rest of               my summer expenses

Matthew 28:20-"Lo, I am with you always, even to the end."

A week ago I took a  group of Interns with Envision to go on mobile clinic with the OSPAC medical team from one of the C&MA churches.  This village was about an hour and a half away from the city in a remote setting surrounded by thick jungle.  We were informed ahead of time that this village was a new village that a local C&MA pastor had been evangelizing and were informed that there were to be many sick people to seek attention today. 

As we arrived to the village, we set up in and outside one of the believers’ house and began with a short message and introduction of who we were and why we were here in their village.  Two of our lady Interns gave a short testimony of God’s reign in their life in a small crowded room of over 50 sick people.  Then the most amazing thing happened that brought tears of joy to my eyes.  As our Interns finished and the pastor stood back up, he asked everyone to bow their heads as he prayed.  The pastor then asked if there were anyone in the room who wanted to receive the Lord as their personal savior.  As I look around, over 40 people stood up and with arms wide open receive Christ into their lives. I’ll never forget that lady who stood right next to me with tears streaming down her face as she prayed to receive the Lord. 

You see, there can be a language barrier or a physical or financial barrier, but there is NO barrier that can stop the Love of Christ.  God’s Love penetrates through any physical or spiritual hindrances, and because the willingness of a few American Interns and local believers to give their time, money, and few simple words of encouragement, over 40 people’s names were written in the Lambs Book of Life.  

Surrendering ALL to Him

Day 13!
My time here feels like I've been living in this country for a very long time.  Since my last post, I've been busy getting ready for team that comes in on Monday, which has been somewhat frustrating, yet impacting for me personally.  I finally got a detailed schedule ready for this team that comes next week and met with the people I needed to get a hold of, but in the back of my mind, I feel like things aren't going to go as according to plan.  This is when God calmed me (as he repeatedly does) and gave me this overwhelming peace that it is Him who is in control.  I can honestly plan and prepare myself for teams to the best as anyone can, but without God in it, it's useless.  This week I had to come before God and completely surrender all my plans and desires to God.

It's amazing how free you feel once you let go and let Him handle the hard stuff!  I have no doubt that God is going to do amazing things with this Grove City team that comes on Monday.    I encourage you as well that if you are holding onto something that is above your ability to control and handle, anything, even the littlest of things that you might think is unimportant, surrender it to God!  Surrender your all to Him!

God Bless

What's Your Focus

Well it's been 9 days so far back in Gabon, lots has happened and it's only the beginning of a fun and busy summer.  For the most part, I've been planning and scheduling for teams and interns to come soon, and yet at the same time I've been having to lead a few interns and one team who just left.  The last intern is leaving tonight, which will leave me and the rest of my team (Leanne, Hannah) one day without anyone before teams and interns come piling in.

I was reminded these past few days of the importance of remaining focused on INTENTIONAL ministry and investing in relationships.  There is a lot of scheduling and administrative procedures that need to be taken care of constantly, but if I let that take over and become my focus here this summer, then I'm missing the point.  I encourage you as well, that if you're are being consumed and overwhelmed with work and things that in the end are not kingdom bound, then take a moment and reevaluate your priorities.  For me, God reminded me that I need to be serious in the relationships I've developed here and continue to share His love and light to those I come in contact with.

Well yesterday in Gabon it was Mothers Day.  So happy mothers day!
Love you all.

Je suis dans la joi!

When I got back to Libreville last night, the OSPAC medical team had a party for me and Hannah and Olivia as she's about to fly back, and we ate, danced, sang and prayed.  IT was AWESOME!!  We sang "Je suis dans la joi" which means "I am in joy."  That's the truth, I am so happy and joyful for being back in Gabon with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  God has already been opening my eyes to his glory, it's going to be an amazing Summer!

Thank you all for your prayers, I made it safely!  Thank you for your contributions and support, I am finally here!  Because of you and your response and the grace of God, this trip and adventure has been made possible.

Love you all and you're in prayers.

Le temp et arriver

Hey all,
I want to begin by first thanking everyone for keeping me in prayers and for supporting me on this missions trip back to Gabon.  I just finished my Spring Semester of my Junior year at Toccoa Falls College, thank goodness exams are over :)  I can hardly believe it, but I leave in exactly 9 days for Gabon.  WOW, it's been a process, but God is faithful and le temp et arriver (the time has come).  Most of the monies needed for my trip have come in, I still lack a few hundred dollars.  Thank you once again for those who have contributed-May God bless you even more for you kind hearts.  I'm heading back up to Pennsylvania on Monday to spend some time with my Girlfriends family and with my Grandparents and then flying out next Friday from Pittsburgh.  Please keep up with me in my summer events as I will be adding more posts to my blog weekly.  Love you all and God Bless.

Eric