Sunday, April 7
The Lord’s Day
Minute for Mission: The Outreach Foundation
Dave and his Kenyan friend Joseph get washed up!
When his Charlottesville, Virginia, congregation initiated a prayer-partner program with Tumaini Children’s Center in Nyeri, Kenya, Dave was partnered with Joseph, a 15-year-old boy living at the center.
While other congregation members regularly received letters from their student partners, Dave received only one short letter from Joseph. Dave was disappointed that Joseph didn’t write more often.
Through The Outreach Foundation, Dave’s congregation, Meadows Presbyterian, organized a mission trip to Nyeri to visit Tumaini and meet the children. Dave decided to go on the trip, hoping to meet Joseph.
The Meadows team arrived at Tumaini with great anticipation. The children were eagerly awaiting their friends from the U.S. Dave had a picture of Joseph and anxiously scanned the faces of the children. When they met, Joseph said that he loved receiving Dave’s letters. He read them so often he could recite them from memory. He explained that he couldn’t write back because he had a learning disability. He also left the home to go to his village and care for his disabled parents every Friday, returning to Tumaini each Monday.
In that aha moment, Dave realized his assumption about the reason Joseph didn’t write was wrong. When he got to know Joseph, Dave realized his prayer partner was a wonderful child of God. It was a humbling experience and a powerful lesson. Dave learned that when you follow Jesus into the world, the first life you change may be your own.
—Tom Widmer, associate director for development, The Outreach Foundation
Let us pray
Heavenly Father, thank you for children—sometimes our best teachers. Thank you, too, for leading us into your world to see how you are working to transform each of us into your likeness. Amen.
Sunday Lectionary and Hymns
Acts 5:27–32
I Love to Tell the Story
HB 383
Ps. 118:14–29
Cantad al Senor (O Sing to the Lord)
PH 472
or
Ps. 150
Praise Ye the Lord
PH 258
Rev. 1:4–8
Jesus Comes with Clouds Descending
PH 6, HB 234
John 20:19–31
O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing!
PH 116, HB 206
Daily Lectionary
Morning Psalms 93; 150
First Reading Isaiah 43:8-13
Second Reading 1 Peter 2:2-10
Gospel Reading John 14:1-7
Evening Psalms 136; 117
