We will surely live!

"We look forward to a day that's coming,
When You bring healing to every land.
Heal Africa!!"

These are the voices of children who bear physical scars of torture from the war in Ruanda, who have seen their parents killed, or die of AIDS, leaving them to care for their siblings. They sing from their very hearts, not merely repeating words prepared for them.

"Lord, You bring comfort to those who weep;
You are the Healer of wounded hearts!
We bring praises to You, O Lord."

South African orphan music is bringing the healing love of Jesus in our house. After a rough summer of almost losing Bob, and Peter's hand injury, we are sensing the presence of our Savior who wants our family to be one in Him, serving Him with passion as the day of His coming is almost upon us.

Our boys generally go off to youth group Sunday evenings, where more and more African American kids are joining them. Occasionally, though, the guys get to accompany Maggie and me to the little yellow house of Hope in downtown Jackson.

Last week we all had the privilege of praying for some hurting men and women who had been been shepherded in from the 'highways and byways' to a barbeque the folks had prepared for them. What a privilege to be standing next to Jesus as He laid His hands on alcoholics, drug addicts, ladies of the night, AIDS victims and lesbians.

Jackson's mayor recently set a curfew in Jackson and declared it a state of emergency because of the crime. But Jesus is bringing hope.

Even our cautious Rob is getting over his concern about getting shot at down there. :) Maggie is curing us of that. After all, she reasons, if Jesus has a plan for your life, you can follow Him anywhere and be safe. Besides He has already promised us life forevermore.

As the little African children's voices sing,

"We will not die,
We will surely live
We will live for Jesus our Healer."

To listen to some of these songs, go to:

http://weareone.org.uk/audio/healafrica.mp3
http://www.weareone.org.uk/audio/healerofgrief.mp3
and http://www.weareone.org.uk/audio/singaloudaloud.mp3