Guest Post

I was invited to be a 'Guest Blogger' on http://www.astepinthejourney.com and this is the posting I sent.  LB was going to Uganda for a week or so and guests posted for her while she was away.  I did not know what the criteria was, and after reading the other posts felt a bit inadequate, but as an English person I do not gush - I guess you had noticed this!!!  LB was happy with it and that is the important thing for me to remember.

Rick Warren, Pastor and Author, of Saddleback Church in California said in a interview with Paul Bradshaw:
People ask me, What is the purpose of life?  And I respond:  In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity.  We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.
We were made by God and for God and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, your're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

I visited Laura Beth's blog from another blog but it was Sundays that kept me here.  I loved that I could pray for others, believing that the louder the shout prayer the more God takes notice.  It's a silly attitude, but sometimes we all need to give Him a nod.

I am Christine, crafter from England and the Guest Blogger for today.  I have had an 'eventful' life so I am blogging all my memories, recollections and legends.  I do not see much of my grandchildren but hope that one day they will want to know where they came from, and what made us believe sooo strongly in our God.  Ergo the very personal blog is evolving.

Back in 1983 my DH wanted to work in Africa with Reinhard Bonnke, but he was a new Christian and had a lot to learn.  In 2000 we attended a Conference here in Birmingham England and Reinhard asked for Witnesses as he was going to bring 1 million souls to the Lord.  PJ had gone and signed up for us before I could say anything, but knowing how this was answered prayer for him I looked forward to it.
The first trip out of the Hotel and my heart was broken, I cried in pain for the poverty and hurt sooo much.  Gradually over the weeks, I realised that the people were rich in God, were thankful for so much that they did have and happy.  At our final meeting there were 1.6million souls and I left Nigeria a different person.

Two years later we were back out again, this time as 'guests' of a fellow university student PJ had started a conversation with.
Our visits as 'missionaries' has changed my faith, it is deeper, simpler and I try to live my life according to the two Commandments that Jesus left us with.  God has shown us that he is faithful, not just in PJ going out to Africa with Reinhard but in other ways.  One day as we stood on the banks of the river about to Baptise, I looked across the river and heard a child's voice saying: when I grow up I am going to be a Missionary. 

 It was my voice and here I was - 50 years later but God had remembered and in the quiet time beforehand, gently reminded me.





God had taken us out of our comfort zone: I wanted so much to help but how? We spent hours trying to work out what to do.  I stopped having my magazines and saved the money instead so that every year I could take out £250  - that's what I was spending in magazines. 

One of the boys is middle back

That first year, we helped with school fees for the 3 sons of a Minister in Lagos, the 3 children of a Minister in Ibadan and numerous small donations as the Lord directed me to give.  I will never forget the look on the 'gateman's face (a nobody who just kept watch overnight) as PJ gave him a shirt, trousers and shoes for no reason than God told PJ to. 

Lagos Church now has solid walls.

We contributed to the building of several churches - this is not to brag but to explain that when God directs, He knows exactly where He wants you to go and what to do.

Ibadon Church in 2002 was just second floor rooms -
Here it is in 2007

We have travelled many places and been in many frightening situations but our faith is sooo much stronger, I am not afraid now to speak the Word of God ............ I look forward to the opportunity and am overjoyed by every invitation.


I pray now that God will enrich your life with all that He has, that He will keep Laura Beth and company safe, bring her home with a stronger faith and a great number of testimonies with which to enrich our lives.
Now ..................... SHHHHHHH! We're praying ............