Clean Feet, Lartey and the Well

Wednesday February 24, 2010

Today for the team’s first day in Lartey, Pastor Charles from Theovision led a short devotional and led us in prayer to claim the village and the work there for the Lord. The African pastors and leaders seem to simply say, “now pray for this and that” and then the whole group simply prays out loud from wherever they are. It is a different type of corporate prayer than I’m used to but I like it. After that Reverend Theo started a song and all joined in quickly and strong. Soon some of the men were dancing and the mood of the day was set.

John prayed to dedicate the latrine that still had wet paint on it. However, the well drilling had not gone well in Lartey. They had already drilled several holes that didn’t have good water or any water at all. Then they had broke down again and the community still lacked clean water. Reverend Theo led us to the drilling rig and we prayed over it and for the community and the well. Please join me in praying for clean water in Lartey.

As we stepped up to the rig to pray, one of the ladies (Willi) stepped in some deep mud. She got it all up her leg and almost lost her flip-flop sandal in it. She later went to try and wash up and some men who had been painting the latrine noticed what she was doing. They rushed off and returned with water and a basin as well as towels and proceeded to wash her feet. In the evening Willi shared the story about how both her and Emily were standing there crying because of the act of service and love shown to her in such a Biblical manner. So often it is the one who goes to serve who is served in amazing ways with such generosity of spirit erupting out of economic poverty.

Despite the fact that it was a new village and we had dedications and prayers that delayed seeing the first patients, the doctors saw 427 patients. What an amazing team we have—not a whimper or complaint. Even when John dislocated his finger while playing catch. Tomorrow we are back for more but we know we have to quit early because we are driving back to Accra after tomorrow’s outreach.