If you will remember last week we were to visit the congregation at Yowando/Binalodo but we were hindered due to the water over the dirt road leading to the village. We hadn’t had rain for a week so we were hoping the mud hole had started to dry up. There was still water over the long stretch of road but fortunately the shoulders had dried enough that we didn’t have any problem getting through it in 4 wheel drive pickup.
We arrived before the people had started to assemble so we went to the chief’s house and greeted him. The chief is a brother to Brother Emmanuel who has been an evangelist for many years. Emmanuel has dementia and lives with his family in Yowando. He has had dementia for several years and been unable to preach. The chief wanted to talk about the charity money we give to Emmanuel and his wife each month. The chief said he didn’t know if his brother would die before him or vice versa so he wanted to make sure the family was taken care of. We decided it was in Emmanuel’s best interest to put a portion of his money in savings each month. This way he will have something to fall back on if he is hospitalized or the family needs food.
Daniel, the young church leader, asked if I would preach a lesson of encouragement to the church that helped explain why Christians as well as others outside the church become sick. I began with how Satan brought sin into the world which in turn brought disease. I gave them the story of Job. I ended with James’ exhortation in chapter 5:14-15 how the prayer of a righteous man avails much.
At the end of the service we had a short question and answer period followed by the announcement that two young women requested baptism. That was great news! We gave Daniel, the church leader a bag of crocheted hats to be handed out later to the children. Timothy quickly took the ladies confession and we took them to a nearby stream where they were baptized.
After returning the people from the baptisms to the church building we visited Emmanuel and his wife. We left him a small amount of money to help with bills.
Daniel had not received a bicycle to help with the church work so we told him we would try to get one for him.
After eating our lunch Kandie and I went up into the town and purchased a used bicycle for Daniel. Our bicycle fitter helped us pick out a good one. He will fix everything as needed and will grease the bike as well. We are to pick it up tomorrow.
That wraps up another Lord’s Day here in Yendi. We hope you are having a good day as well. Stay Corona free and may God bless!
In His service,
Stephen and Kandie Taylor
