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Wednesday, April 2

7:30 pm

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Elva opened with a short devotional and told us she learned that the staff at The Cove had a list of those in our group and were praying for us multiple times a day.

She challenged us to keep on sharing the Gospel by:

Committing yourself to sharing the Gospel

Preparing yourself by reading the Word

Trusting God for the results

Following her challenge, she introduced their son Jon who recently had a challenging experience while being on a short mission’s trip to Democratic Republic of Congo.

He signed up for the challenge of going on this trip to the DRC and expected it to go well, just like many previous mission’s trips with His Great Love ministry.

However, it turned into an experience that was sometimes very scary and other times filled with faith and trust after they were captured and held in various government facilities without access to their phones and passports, and sleeping on floors under the watch of armed guards. Each day the guards would say, maybe we will release you tomorrow.

The group was not sure why they were captured, but suppose the large group raised suspicions with the local government as there was a war going on between DRC and another country.

Jon mentioned times of prayer and singing and at other times wondering if he would ever see his wife again – until the United States Embassy intervened and gave them a smooth trip back to the United States. He was glad to be home and very grateful to the USA, but disappointed that they did not get to accomplish the reason for their trip.

If interested, you can read a few more details here.

‘Just really difficult’: Greater Cincinnati missionaries detained in Congo for 10 days

Following Jon’s testimony, his mom created a chalk art drawing from a childhood memory. She titled it The Barn Raising.

She shared the experience (via recording) of her dad and brothers responding to a neighborhood fire. In the background we could hear fire sirens which were included in the recording. She continued to share about the days ahead when their family and many neighbors helped at the barn and fed those who rebuilt the barn.

As she shared this experience, she said she was dedicating this chalk art to her two brothers who were in the audience – and on this bus trip.

If you look closely, you can see a few men on the barn.

I continue to be amazed by her chalk are skills.