April 23rd…….
What a beautiful day! Today was a bit more relaxed, as it is Saturday here. We didn’t start out until later in the morning. Ovi and Ed saw to a couple of things at the mission house. Karey and I lingered over scripture memorizing, chatting and bouncing ideas and thoughts off each other. We headed out to check on the church in Zomba…..it is looking good! And then a sweet time of fellowship and lunch at Samuels house! He was so gracious to have us for lunch and his wife made us a beautiful meal. Rice, nsima, chicken, scrambled eggs, cabbage and green beans! It was all so delicious and they even brought us out some sodas!! To top it off they brought out some Thobwa…….a fermented drink. We have had it in the villages before when it was much thicker, more tart and had a Smokey flavor to it……it could be challenging to drink. But the thobwa Samuels wife made was a delicious creaminess. Before we left, as we thanked Samuel he said he hoped we would come again because “this is your house too”. It was so touching to me, his sincerity, his eyes and his smile…..i felt so welcomed. He reminded me and they gave me a good example of hospitality and the importance of fellowship in our homes. Encouraging each other, sharpening each other and loving each other.
We went on an adventure after lunch. We went on a “drive” up to see waterfalls, the “Emperors View” and the “Queens View” and somewhere waaaaaaaaay up top. Yes we drove in a car……Praise the Lord it had 4 wheel drive! The waterfalls were beautiful….water spilling over the rocks at different heights. The “Views” over Zomba breathtaking!!! My pictures will never do it justice. The vast magnitude of Gods creation….that I would see just a little of it. Afterwards we drove up to another spot……..let’s just say I may have let out a loud “woot” when Ovi fishtailed on the way up and a louder “AHHHHHHHH” on the way down when we reeeeally fishtailed. Karey reports it was quite shrieky! 😂 I think I scared everyone on the second one……we laughed so hard Karey and I were crying….we made it down and Ovi bought some passion fruit from the roadside too. We had a delicious dinner upstairs in the mission house before heading back down for showers……who knew a crazy ride with breathtaking views could tire you out so much!!!
Today was a good day…..and a sad day personally. While eating dinner I received a message that my cousin Jim died of cancer today. I wasn’t sure if I should share that here, but it is a part of my day. I reached out to my cousins (his sister and brothers) tonight to tell them I love them. Death can be hard, each circumstance is different and the same. As I sit here tonight…..Each one of us are faced with a decision to make in this life time that affects our eternity. Will we accept the free gift of salvation? Do I/you believe that God sent his son (fully God and fully human) to die on the cross for my/your sins? Do I/you believe he rose from the dead on the 3rd day and defeated death and hell. Do I/you believe that he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God and has made a way for me/you to be with Him in heaven for eternity? YES, I do. There is nothing in me that is good enough, there are no good works that I can do to earn me a way to heaven. Only my Savior dieing on the cross for this wretched sinner. Do you believe? Do you have questions? I would love to talk with you about my Savior…….