Jim talked about us going to the villages. I spoke at the one we went to on Friday. All the women wanted to shake my hand and wanted me to pray with them and each of their children. There were 4 Baptisms there before we left. In each of the churches we visited Saturday, we were given seats on the podium and then ceremoniously a different person would put a garland of flowers around each of our necks. Just the men spoke this day, but afterward the women and children would crowd around me - asking for prayers, and shaking my hand. Most of the men were still in the fields working long after dark. I don't think many women (white or otherwise) go to these remote areas very much - if at all. Maybe for them to see a woman taking interest in them was very important. Maybe I encouraged them and let them know we care and God cares. In these remote villages, cow manure was mixed with straw (by hand) and made into small patties and stuck on walls to dry. This was their fuel for cooking and heating. Most of the children (3 and under) wore no clothes. We were constantly passing herds of Water Buffalo ambling down the street ("speed slowers"). We saw one herd swimming in the River (Cool). Saturday, two of the churches fed us. It was hard to eat their food (as they stood and watched) for the two preachers that fed us had little or no food for themselves. They were so generous and encouraging us to eat more. Both preachers had a wife and a little baby and lived in a 10 X 10 square room with a shelf for a kitchen and mats on the floor for beds - that's it. These people are so dedicated and self-sacrificing. Everyone knows that I am a dog lover. Most of the dogs are semi-wild here and fend for themselves. I was wishing people would feed them some because they are so thin. Then I realized - so are the people. They are too busy trying to feed themselves and their families. Surviving each day is the goal. You will notice in the one picture, a stainless pot in the corner. These people always give to the church what they can. Many times they have no money so they bring some rice to help feed the preachers family. It may be only a bowl...and maybe it makes them short of food themselves, but they give. At first, we were critical that things were not cleaner and painted up and repaired. We soon learned that when you have to make a choice between feeding your children or paint on the wall....the paint has to wait! This work is very humbling and really puts things into perspective. God Bless - Elaine.
