Gale and Chrisann Dawson: October, November, and December 2007
October - Wedding
On a beautiful, sunny day in October, Pastor Papy was married to Miss Mado. Pastor Papy had taught Bible college at our interior jungle college for one year, and two years at our new Bible college at the village of Maluku. Pastor Papy is a godly 32 year old teacher. Mado is younger and is still finishing her formal education. The wedding feast was cooked by the ladies of the church and enjoyed by nearly 250 guests including some village officials. Our family hosted missionary friends, Robert and Esther Marsh, who minister in a different part of Kinshasa. It was an enjoyable event!
November - New Missionaries
New missionaries, Matthew and Adriana Leathley and their three young children Aubrey, Stephen, and Brianna arrived at the end of November, with us receiving them at the chaotic airport. Despite the difficulty of traveling 16 hours on an airplane with toddlers, the Leathleys arrived on the field fresh and ready for the experience of a new culture and to dive into language school. Matt and Adriana braved the depraved capital city Kinshasa. Kinshasa thrives on corruption, thievery, extreme traffic jams and stifling heat with oppressive diesel fumes!
December - Evangelists
Our first city-wide crusade was a spiritual success in every aspect of the word. Evangelists Toru Marshall(top right) and Mark Logan(bottom right) had been traveling to several African countries prior to ours, which was their last stop before returning to the states. We had our 29 college students take the crusade on as a college project for their future ministries. Many church members were active in this bold move too, through prayer and physical help. Our staff oversaw the entire project lending their wisdom and strength. A total of 637 people (second to the right) came forward during this three day crusade, 252 adults and 385 children were saved. We are busy following up every adult saved. We averaged 500 every night with over three-quarters being non-church members. The village of Maluku observed this crusade as a "different type of a crusade." There was no bar music to draw the people, there was no healing service, and there was no preaching on money and offerings! Attendees attested that this was the first time that they had ever seen a purely Gospel focused crusade. The first Sunday after the crusade we had 25 visitors at church. God miraculously kept the rain back during the height Rain-season!