We hope you were happy on Easter.  We hope you are happy everyday!  What we hope more is that you celebrated Easter...I mean really CELEBRATED Easter.  There’s no other day that gives more of a reason to celebrate than the day of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!  Sure His birth is important, but come on...it wasn’t merely His birth that made the difference.  We also fall short if we just stop and admire His “passion” on the cross.  But Jesus rose from the dead!  He’s alive!  You ask me how I know He lives?  He lives within my heart!  And I for one can tell you that Easter gives me a reason to celebrate.

 

This week has also shown me that there is no greater joy than in the “hunt.”  As much fun as it is to hide and hunt Easter eggs, I’m not talking about finding eggs  and eating chocolate (by the way chocolate candy inside plastic eggs in AFRICA is not a good idea!).   I am talking about the search for those persons of peace God is working in and through, bringing them to himself.  And this week I was reminded again about how much joy...true joy...there is in evangelism.  Why?  Because Easter happened!  Because Jesus is alive!  Because God is at work drawing men to himself!  Because we have been given new life and our spirit can’t help but get excited when the Holy Spirit uses us to bring about God’s will!

 

Let me give you an example.  On Tuesday, I was bombarded with the temptation to be lazy.  It was hot.  I was tired.  I didn’t want to walk...didn’t want to talk.  Still, I went.  I had one of the best days talking with people and watching God open doors.  The first place I went was to an office where I had met a couple of young ladies a few weeks ago.  I wanted to just say “hi” and see if they would be interested in meeting for Bible storying.  I didn’t even get to talk with them because their manager grabbed me, first.  He is a Muslim and my first thought was that he knew I had come there before sharing my testimony.  However, he asked me a few questions and as our conversation progressed I was invited to go hunting with him at the edge of the Serengeti!  When I told Diana the exciting news about how I can be a witness on the trip, she wasn’t so sure...”He will have a GUN, Jimmy!”  I said, “That’s okay...I will, too.”  (That didn’t seem to bring much comfort!)

 

Then, I walked to the market where I met four guys with whom I have been building a relationship.  We had a great talk.  They asked me if I would come to the house of one to teach them to speak English.  Now I didn’t come over here to teach English...but I will take advantage of every open door that may lead to sharing God’s Word.  One of the guys said, “I’ve never been to school.  I’ve never been a student.”  I replied, “That’s allright ‘cause I’ve never taught English!  We’ll help each other.”  His smile and double handshake assured me that was good enough.  We start on Monday, May 7!

 

I walked away saying, “God, You are truly amazing!  Thank You for the joy you’ve placed in my heart!”

 

So are you low on joy?  How’s your hunting been?