People work hard all over the world--maybe harder than US

This was for Saturday, March 13:
Today was a nice change of pace for us.  We were able to sleep in a little bit and catch up on our rest.  We went shopping at the Banugi "hardware" store to pick up some of our missing parts.  I praise God they had what we needed and we are ready to return to Mbiaki tomorrow to finish the project.  Please pray that everything works and I look forward to water coming out of the new system.

The rest of our day we spent in Boali.  We toured the ICDI short wave radio station.  This station reaches all across the CAR transmitting educational and spiritual information.  The station is operated by staff members of ICDI, these men do all the programing for on air.  They teach about good hygene, nutrition, and sermons given in several languages.

After this we went for lunch at the local restaurant.  We enjoyed grilled beef, gozo, fresh bread, and coke.  This gave us a chance to experience the constant activity of the town.  We watched men load up dried cow skin for export to Nigeria to make jerky.  We of course are part of the spectacle, many come to see the "white men".  Nothing like eating with an audience!!

After lunch we visited Boali falls.  This was a great time of worship; God's creation is awesome.  The beauty of the falls and surrounding area is a small glimpse of God's power and creative genius.  We also commented that this great beauty is surrounded by great problems in this country.  This reminded me that God is not overwhelmed, His plan is consistent.  We have the privilege to be used by God to help those who are hurting.

It was a great day to relax a little and have some fun.  We walked across a cable bridge spanning the river before it goes over the falls.  The phrase "don't look down"  is an understatement except that you have to keep your feet on the cable.  One tries to ignore the spliced cables and bamboo hand rails missing and the water flowing beneath.  Oh what is the weight capacity again!!  This crossing is the every day commute for those who have gardens on the other side of the water falls.  The soil is very rich with nutrients to help many plants grow well.  The local women traverse this bridge with supplies on their head and a baby on her back so what are we complaining about.

On our way home Rick and Jim helped a man pushing his push cart loaded with lumber.  Rick and Jim did not last long and gladly turned the cart back over to the one man pushing it up a hill.  These men work very hard, they haul wood for up to 30 miles outside of Bangui to the markets to sell it.  These men know what it means to work hard.

Thanks for your support of our team, we appreciate your prayers.

• Please pray for the drilling crew of ICDI.   They are in the north east part of the country.  This is the Darfur region.  You might here about this place because of the constant violence.  One well has been drilled with great success, but there a lot more wells to do.  
• Pray for the drilling equipment to work hard and work efficiently.  The heat is affecting the rig as well as the potential for violence in the vicinity surrounds the crews.  The wells are desperatly needed but at great risk to the ICDI staff.

Thanks for your prayers!!

In His Service

Tim Harley

Garden Monkey & Gozo; to see more pictures click, here.