Sunday, August 2, 2009, Nashville, TN., 4:04 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!

I am happy to report that I and several of the staff members who went with me have returned safe and sound to the United States; we were in Africa, in Kenya, where we had been doing missionary work.  It was a most eye-opening experience; I don't think I will ever forget it as long as I live!

We spent a week helping out a group of Maasai Christians build a church; then we held several services there.  It was amazing to see how hungry these people were for the Lord; over 100 gave their hearts to Christ, and we saw more than a few delivered and healed of sicknesses or life situations that threatened to hold them in bondage.

We even helped out at an orphanage for handicapped children.  Oh, they were so precious!  My family fell in love with them; in fact, when we were leaving, Tirpe, one of our children, asked when we were going to adopt another brother or sister for her!  LOL  Tirpe is so sweet!  We feel blessed that she is a part of our lives!  (We adopted her several years ago from Ethiopia; she has blossomed into a caring, compassionate young lady with a heart for the Lord.)

My son, Bruce, Jr., who is now in Bible college in Texas, will be graduating next spring; he is going to follow his old man's footsteps and become a pastor.  He has helped some at church, and he has a heart for the teens of our congregation; I think he would make a terrific youth pastor!  People really seem to like how he preaches!

The weather over there in Kenya was cool; while it is summer here in the States, it is winter, going on spring, there in that part of the world.  It was rather rainy, wet, at times, miserable. 

We just thank God none of our staff got any mysterious tropical or sub-African diseases or got infested with parasites. 

God kept us safe by surrounding us with His protection and grace.  We all made it through our trip in fairly good shape.  Even our handicapped family members fared beautifully; we are praising God for His goodness upon our lives and the lives of our church congregation!

The only "problem" we ran into was when our youngest child, Tzipporah, two, got bit by a tsetse fly and got sleeping sickness.  We were worried we might lose her.  After much prayer (and some time spent in a hospital ward for sick children), Tzippie made it through; she's now back to her usual energetic self.  She is terrorizing her older brothers and sisters, not to mention, the animals!  LOL

At church, you can hear her yelling during children's church.  The children's church is held right next door to our sanctuary, so at times, you can hear the children laughing, crying, yelling, or screaming.  Our darling, sweet Tzippie seems to be one of the loudest kids; we can easily pick out her voice among all the others!  LOLOLOL

Tzippie was in rare form this morning; Teresa, my wife, had to go over there to try to quiet her by giving her an all day sucker, which she promptly dropped on her nice, clean white dress, so she now has a nice, red stain down the front.  *Sighhh*  LOL 

Anyway, back to our story:  Teresa and I are thinking of adopting a brother or a sister for our children.  Tirpe and Tzippie want a girl; the others, a boy.  My wife doesn't care, as long as the child is healthy (or reasonably so if the child has special needs).  We have begun yet another adoption journey, started filling out more paperwork, and can be expected to have a home study, a thorough medical checkup for both of us, and make sure we are suitable for a particular child.

If we knew how much work that goes into adoption, we wouldn't have done it; however, God, in His infinite wisdom, saw that it was for us, so He blessed us by bringing the children we now raise as our own.  We hav eight children now, six of them adopted, one from China (Canaan), and five from Africa (Tzipporah, Tirpe, Hezekial, Josiah, and Rachel). 

This is in addition to our own two miracles, Bruce, Jr., who is starting into the ministry, as you know, and Brooklyn, who is going into her last year of high school.  When she graduates, she plans on enlisting in the United States Air Force.

Maybe we will adopt another child from China, or perhaps, Africa will once again be calling us.  Only God knows what will happen; we just have to trust, believe, and go with what He wants.  It's only between God and us.  We do know that we have the desire to take in another needy child into our home and love them as our own.

Well, it's time I let this go.  I have to get ready, then leave for church; have to be there by five, to get tonight's message prepared and ready to be delivered to our congregation.  This is the first Sunday we've been back.  Pastor Jones took care of the morning services (did a great job, I hear); I will be preaching tonight, on "The Perils Of Pride", based on the book of Proverbs.  I hope to challenge my congregation into putting their prideful ways aside and ask God to humble their hearts.

It won't be easy, but I am sure that many will respond.  I can only pray that they do!  :)

Well, you take care and may God bless you abundantly!  Remember this:  God is good all the time; all the time God is good!  And He IS!  :)

~Sincerely,

In His Service~

Pastor Bruce, Senior Pastor, Christ Community Assembly of God, Nashville, Tennessee.