Thursday, September 02, 2010
Even though I am headed back to India tomorrow morning and not back to the US, it certainly feels like I am almost done with this particular segment of wanderings. It’s hard not to be a little excited to head back to a place where at least I have my own bed, however it also feels like we only just got started with the pastors in Togo. Having spent a week teaching, basically, “What is the Bible?” and the difference between the law and gospel, I won’t see these men again for over a year. Good thing Kossi is around in the meantime.
Today I have one final class with one of our smallest church bodies. Dennis in South Africa might actually win that title, but here in Ghana it’s pretty close. With only 8 or 10 men Gideon continues to persist in hanging to the truth, and I must say he is one of the more upbeat of all the pastors I visit in Africa.
Gideon and his handful of members, after a difficult time attempting to gather a little money together have finally managed to run some electricity to the small patch of land where they meet and buy a light bulb so that they can see to read the bible when it gets dark. Next they are hoping to erect some type of roof to keep the rain out.
When I asked Gideon if there was anything in particular that he would like me to talk to them about. He said that I should tell them what Lutheran means and why it is important. So sticking to the basics, a good plan in any event, Romans 3:21 is up for tonight.
There is one other pastor here with Gideon who is interested in learning our doctrine and helping Gideon out. So Gideon will be taking him through the same instruction books Dave took Gideon through. And hopefully next year he will join our pastoral studies in Togo.
Gideon meanwhile got remarried a year ago, and now has a new child on the way. We pray God’s blessings on that gift.