Dana's Christian Journey

We were standing at the gate in Amsterdam’s airport waiting to get on the plane when we saw the report of the terrorist attack that had just struck Garissa University in northeast Kenya. After landing in Nairobi and going through extra vigilant security, we met with our 410 Bridge Kenyan leader and got further updates.

We appreciate all prayers for our trip. God gave us great peace and we knew we were in His hands.

We did enter some of the pain of a nation hit by evil, just as people of other nationalities entered our pain on 9/11/01. President Uhuru Kenyatta declared three days of mourning for all Kenya as the final report revealed 147 dead and 79 people wounded in the Thursday attack by four members of Al-Shabaab.

After spending the night in Nairobi, we drove south and reached our ministry destination just in time to join a Good Friday church service. At the close of worship, our American team was introduced and all were invited to exit the building for a time of fellowship. Little cookies and warm bottled soft drinks were served to all, and we enjoyed meeting many brothers and sisters in Christ.

Eventually, many of us wandered back to the little church building where we heard music and laughter. Upon entering, I smiled to see children, young adults, elderly Kenyans, and a few Americans dancing to the music. One of our ladies asked about the lyrics of a song and was given this translation: “When we praise God and dance, God laughs.”

Early in the thirty-minute drive on the dirt road leaving the village, we gave a ride to three ladies walking back to their home. As they rode with us, one of the ladies burst out singing in English and the other two joined: “We are dancing for the Living God; we are dancing for the Living God; we are dancing for the Living God. Hallelujah, Jesus Christ.”

“Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.” Lamentations 5:15

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.” Psalm 30:11

“Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the strings and flute, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” Psalm 150:3-6

I’m headed to Kenya this week so I’ll probably not write next week. I would appreciate your prayers as we take a group of students to work with a school in a village a couple of hours outside Nairobi.

We’re working with a group out of Atlanta called 410 Bridge, which partners with villages in Kenya, Uganda, and Haiti. Their goal is to come alongside, encourage, and learn from those who serve Christ in developing countries. 410 relates to the Scripture (below) that serves as a purpose statement for the ministry.

I pray you have a wonderful Easter as we give thanks for God’s great Gift to the world. He is risen! He is risen indeed!!

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” I Peter 4:10

My youngest brother Brian lived in Africa for seventeen years as a missionary: three years in Benin, seven in South Africa, and then seven in Zambia. Soon after my first stem cell transplant in 2001, Brian and his family invited all of my family to visit them over the Christmas holidays in Cape Town, South Africa.

If it had just been an invitation to me, I would have probably declined.  But Susan and the kids had confidence that I would be strong enough to travel, and the kids agreed that money should be no obstacle.

When we arrived in Cape Town, I was greeted by a group of Christians who had been fervently praying for my healing. I was welcomed as a family member and I still remember their hugs and hospitality.

For years, Brian worked diligently with young gang members in the inner city of Cape Town, always rated as one of the highest murder capitols of the world. We met several of his guys and saw the challenges they faced living for Christ in such a violent environment.

Brian and his family now live in Texas, but he frequently gets to travel back to Africa to visit the places where he has labored. Last month Brian visited four countries and got to spend some time in Cape Town. He wrote me a note that included this story:

All the saints send their greetings to you from Cape Town. They all thank God for your health.

It was good to be with the old gangsters. One called me up at the last minute and said I had to meet him in the old neighborhood. He told me which corner to meet him on.

I met him and he introduced his wife and two little girls to me. He had remained faithful along with his mother; had converted his wife, and is now raising his daughters in the Lord.

He just wanted to let me see what taking the time with him as a youth resulted in with his young family. That was really a special time for me.

We know God gives the increase… but without his servants planting the seed, watering the plants, and faithfully praying… what happens to the fruit? May we accept the invitation to be ‘God’s fellow workers.’

“What after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” I Corinthians 3:5-9