Deep inside Lahore, Pakistan
I arrived in Lahore, Pakistan on a red-eye flight from Qatar (and London) early this morning. When I stepped out of the airport I was in a whole new world - a world I hadn't seen since leaving Pakistan as a child with my family 16 years ago. Noisy rickshaws, brightly-coloured trucks, seatbeltless Suzuki vans, donkey carts and people (almost all men) competed for space on the dusty road.
Although I had only slept three hours the night before--it was 8:00 am now--I was told upon arrival that I would be delivering a short sermon in a few hours' time. The topic: the thief on the cross (Luke 23). Addtionally, I am to speak three or four more times in the next two days - in the more northern part of the country. (Going to Murree tomorrow.) Of course, this was news to me, but as George says (and he is not with me on this trip), the gopher program is "anywhere, anytime, whatever it takes." Furthermore, I have been praying for the Pakistani church all these years, so it is an honour to encourage believers here through God's Word.
I am writing this from inside the little church where I will be getting up to speak in a few minutes. Eastern-flavoured, drum-beating music fills the air as the Lord receives praise in song.
Please pray. Pray that God would use me in the less than two weeks that I am here to accomplish His purposes. Pray for Pakistan. There are great spiritual walls here--centuries old--that need to keep crumbling and fall down. May we see this happen in our generation. Lord, we pray for an outpouring of your Spirit. Amen.
Update: I wrote this on my Blackberrry mobile phone, but the email function isn't working so far, so I am sending from my laptop (through a dialup connection). PTL, the sermonette went well.
Although I had only slept three hours the night before--it was 8:00 am now--I was told upon arrival that I would be delivering a short sermon in a few hours' time. The topic: the thief on the cross (Luke 23). Addtionally, I am to speak three or four more times in the next two days - in the more northern part of the country. (Going to Murree tomorrow.) Of course, this was news to me, but as George says (and he is not with me on this trip), the gopher program is "anywhere, anytime, whatever it takes." Furthermore, I have been praying for the Pakistani church all these years, so it is an honour to encourage believers here through God's Word.
I am writing this from inside the little church where I will be getting up to speak in a few minutes. Eastern-flavoured, drum-beating music fills the air as the Lord receives praise in song.
Please pray. Pray that God would use me in the less than two weeks that I am here to accomplish His purposes. Pray for Pakistan. There are great spiritual walls here--centuries old--that need to keep crumbling and fall down. May we see this happen in our generation. Lord, we pray for an outpouring of your Spirit. Amen.
Update: I wrote this on my Blackberrry mobile phone, but the email function isn't working so far, so I am sending from my laptop (through a dialup connection). PTL, the sermonette went well.
posted by Nigel Paul at 5:52 AM
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