Bridget's Bunia Blog 30

An unsent-letter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ ~

I am very interested to learn more about a cultural phenomenon that I have observed in Bunia during the past year.

I would like very much to know why many of the Revivalist congregations choose to meet at night. More so, I would like to know why the services have to have maximum amplification. If I understand it correctly, only a few members of the congregations gather for such meetings, therefore it doesn't seem necessary to amplify the preaching and the praying and the singing. And if the raison d'être of the amplification is to reach out to the non-Christians and the pagans of the town, surely it would be more appropriate to do so during daytime? I know that, I for one, would be more disposed to listen when I was compos mentis. I thought that God ordained the night hours for sleep so that, rested and refreshed, we could arise and live and work to his praise and glory during the day.

Even the political campaigns don't begin until daybreak when people are awake and functioning. And the Muslim call to prayer – though at 5 am - is short and sweet and not menacing.

I fail to understand how you can justify thus harassing the population: children and students who need a good night's rest in order to study well at school, exhausted mothers, and weary sick people who also need undisturbed nights.

I think the writer of Proverbs 27:14 - "You might as well curse your friends as wake them up early in the morning with a loud greeting" - expresses my point well. And it seems to me that, as Christians, we have a duty to consider our testimony among the unbelievers and to be kind to them.

However, I do see the value of assembling the Christians during the night hours of late when heavy rains are causing people to stay indoors during the daytime hours. Wise move!

Another trip is underway

One of our other leaders, Kelly, plus one of our teammates, Lauren, have embarked on another trip to visit Gregg and Karen in Uganda. They have started their own blog, called Two Crazy Girls in Africa, to provide us with updates from their trip. They went on the same flight as Alex and I did six weeks ago, and arrived safely this morning. They are going to do some work around Gregg and Karen's new flat and help out with office support in addition to checking out ministry opportunities in Uganda.

Update on next meeting

Hey gang... the old notes said we were meeting this weekend, but obviously we are not. The next meeting for any current and potential members of the Congo 2007 team and their families is scheduled for Saturday, October 28 *updated* November 4. More details to follow.

Bridget's Bunia Blog 29

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together, and one of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to trap him with a question. "Teacher," he asked, "which is the GREATEST commandment in the Law?"
Jesus answered, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments." (Mat 22:34-38)

But Jesus, I only wanted one commandment. Why have you confused the issue!

When the students were taught by a British teacher using an American text book, they were confused. There are so many differences between the meaning of the same words, the spelling of the same words and the pronunciation of the same words.

One of them asked, "Teacher, what is the best way of speaking - American or British English?" The teacher answered, "Better, Lwanzo, better. You're comparing two things. Neither is better. The key thing is communication. You must communicate so that people can understand you and so that you can understand them. But more important again is not the accent of your words but the words themselves. 'Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.' " (Eph 4:29)

Blessings,
Bridget Howard