It's the one month a year that my uncle's church gets all dressed up like some foreign place and has missionaries from all over come and motivate the people of Latin America to get up and GO!
There are dances and songs, worship and all sorts of stuff. It's every Saturday and Sunday and hundreds of people attend. Hopefully they all go away challenged to spread the Good News!
The theme this year is H2O, bringing cool waters to a thirsty land. It opened with FIRE! I remember driving up to the church wondering why there was a firetruck out front.
Inside the place is decked out like Africa with thatched walls and dried trees all about the walls along with all sorts of African artifacts . . . .
Ah, and then it started . . . the lights were completely put out and the doors shut. . .
And we saw FIRE!
Both Saturday and Sunday these young men in loin cloths lite their batons and do a "Africa in flames" dance to drumming . . .
It was hard for me to watch as they leaped and tossed those fiery sticks . . they really were close to those DRY thatched huts . . . scary.
Yet that wasn't the highlight of the evenings. Instead it was the speaker that we call Melo, who is a most unassuming bible smuggler who's faith in God to get him through and keep him safe is entirely humbling.
Then he gave his invitation . . anyone feeling like they wanted to join him on his next bible smuggling trip could if they met with four small requirements:
a) they raise a little under $2000 for plane tickets
b) they have the blessing of their pastor and if minors, permission of their parents
c) they be willing to risk 8 years in a middle eastern prison or
d) their life
Not much.
His motto . . . . "Hasta la muerte"
"To the death."
7 comments:
That reminds me of the Tahitian Fire Dance. I would stand as far back as possible!
Risk 8 years in a Middle Eastern prison (or any prison) or their life? Wow. No way could I do that.
But I do admire him for his courage...
Wow. That bible smuggler is hard core. That's really neat. I admire people like that.
We too just finished a missions week. I do believe it fire up something in my 17 year old daughter, but she is not talking much about it. I think she is taking it to God to see what He wants her to do.
Your Bible smuggler...we all better get ready to give it all.
Blessings
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
We need to understand that it is not about us, about what we can or can't do, or what we are willing or not willing to do. It is all about Him and our obedience to His calling and command.
Praise God for those willing to obey.
Loved to have been there to see the dance.
Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.com/
http://www.mikeleonen.com/
I would love to find out how to get in contact with this bible smuggler your talking about.
Thanks.
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