Asking questions

When my return bus arrived this morning in the village it was packed full of people with only standing room left. The driver said they would get off at the main road several kilometers away so climb in. We drove down the road and every time the bus driver saw another person he waved for them to get in too. I really did not think there was room when I got in considering there was already a couple of people standing on the stairs going into the bus. I was given a makeshift seat next to the driver, but really there was no room, even the aisles had an extra seat built in and with all the kids on laps there could have been a hundred people at least over fifty. I tried not to think what would happen if there was an accident. One of our stops was at a market and one man got off dangling a lamb by its neck, and then I noticed other men dragging tied up sheep from the roof of the bus --- market day for the shepherds. Never boring going back to the city...

I went to the mission/national church leaders meeting on Thursday and then went with one of the pastor's to visit his two church plants. It was encouraging and disheartening. The pastor has been working with these churches for four years and three years ago started savings and loan groups with each of the churches which have been running successfully. The fund is for the development of the church but they said it is still too small for them to use it in any significant ways. They divide it up and then loan it to each member to generate interest. Two years ago, both of the churches had a joint week long business training seminar to examine potential income generating activities, but have still yet to receive any finances for projects. They opened an account at a credit mutual but after saving money for a few months were told there was no money for them to have a loan, so they withdrew their funds. The pastor explained to me that the church has suffered greatly because they have been promised a well or other funding but nothing has come about. For the one village the closest well is one and half kilometers away and they can spend hours just to fetch water.

I visited the second church in the evening and saw the progress of their church building being constructed and talked to church members. At the end of our visit after they shared with me all of their needs and desires for their church group, the deacon shared with the pastor that the masons working on the building needed food to have energy to finish up the church. They have nothing left to eat and the food from their harvest was finished in December. If they could have money for rice and oil for ten days then they could finish the work of the church.

Tonight my heart is heavy with their suffering, I question what is the best way to help. Would it just be better for the advancement and development of the churches, if I leave them the rest of my support money and return home? I'm not sure, and I have more to learn about all the churches before I can come to a conclusion. Until I know, I will continue asking questions and pray that God would make it clear.