Journal - September 2, 2008

2:20 pm - Had something different for lunch - goat on a stick. It's real name is Sate. Ron discovered some strange electrical wiring - three phase electric, but only one phase going to each of three buildings and coming off of, at least, two transformers. It's a real electrical mystery.

Tory is still sick - fever and dizzyness. We were going to a video recording studio where Sharon works. I don't know if that will happen now or not.

I discovered a small tree (or a big bush)with long white flowers hanging down like bells. I'm not sure what it is called but it is very beautiful.

There is a small bird that is very common here. It's moves so fast I don't think I can get a picture of it. I think they call them swifty's. They are about the size of a bat and fly around like one too - diving and turning and swooping. At the first open-air restaurant we ate at on Saturday evening something was flying around over our heads for about 15 minutes. We hope they were swifty's!

The mosque we were at on Monday will be torn down at the end of the month. After Ramadan they are going to build a new, bigger mosque to accommodate all the people wanting to pray.

Muslims are required to pray five times a day. What we discoverd at the mosque was that Islamic prayer is more about performing certain motions and saying certain words in order to gain "good points" in God's "reward system". I you pray during Ramadan you get 700 points. If you pray any other time of the year it's only worth one point. And that's all based on if you preformed the prayer properly. If you mess up, it dosen't count at all.

What I discovered is the stark difference in Christian and Islamic prayer. Christians talk to God as their friend. Any time of the day or night. Any position, it doesn't matter. Christians talk to God because they want to.
Muslims pray because they are trying to earn points. The give to charity to earn points. They help those in need to earn points. They cannot serve God or people freely because the purpose in the service is to gain entrance into heaven.

Christians are not only set free from sin, but they are set free to serve people out of love. They are free to serve God, not out of duty, but devotion.

Freedom in Christ is a lot bigger than freedom from sin! It's freedom to love and serve and live with no strings attached. God is good . . .

5:44 pm - Still sitting at the lunch tables. It's been a good afternoon, but I'm wondering how Tory is doing. He must be pretty sick. Casey was supposed to be back around 2:00 pm, so Ron and I have waited here. We could walk back to the dorm, through the school campus but we don't want to miss Casey, Sharon, or supper! Oh well, God is still good . . .

8:26 pm - I told you God is still good! Seconds after my last post, we got a call from Casey saying he was coming over. Tory came with him and we all went to supper. The nurse thinks Tory is just dehydrated, so Tory is now following my example of how much water to drink. My eye's are tired. going to be in a few minutes.

You can find more trip pictures at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).

They are also posted at my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/)

Thanks for reading!