Teaching

Pastor Zac is currently away teaching at a pastor's school on the other side of the country. While he has been gone, George has been filling in for him on Sunday mornings. As always, I love to hear him teach. Kiswahili is not his first language so he prefers to teach in English while Redemta translates it in to Kiswahili. Kenyan Kiswahili is a little (George will say a lot!) different than Tanzanian Kiswahili so it was a challenge for George to speak it when we first got here. Now that we have been here for almost two years, his Kiswahili has gotten so good that he naturally switches from English to Kiswahili mid-sermon. I rely on him speaking English when he preaches so I know what he is talking about. Now, I have to say, "what I heard was great... but what else did you preach about?!" We are still working on teaching Eli to sit in church during the service. He is still so young that it's a challenge to keep him occupied. I usually have him color for a bit and then read his books. Once he gets wiggly, we go just outside the church doors. I don't let him run off, but try to keep him close and remind him that it's church time. Sometimes there are other little ones out there too so he has someone to entertain him. While I am watching Eli, I try to listen to the teaching. George is so good. I know he is my husband, but even if he wasn't I would think that! He has a way of relating to everyone and teaching solid truths from the Word. Two Sundays ago, he taught about seeing Christ in all circumstances. Not just in the good times. This past Sunday, he taught about avoiding self-pity. It was a particularly powerful topic. Life is so hard here. It's easy to fall into self-pity and depression. You have to have a reason for living other than your current life situation. George shared stories from his own difficult childhood and how Jesus gave him hope and joy. It was a special Sunday.