Pink Floyd and Mint Tea

"Oh, I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl."-Pink Floyd

Yes, Pink Floyd sang these words, but you have never heard the song until you have heard it sung by a Moroccan on the roof top of a mountain hotel nestled into the paint stroked blue plaza of Chefchaouen while sipping a brewed glass of mint tea. The last three days have been more than I can describe, a tapestry of color and new experiences that I am so afraid of forgetting. The counselor training was much more powerful than I ever expected, and I felt the hand of God as we taught Moroccans basic counseling skills. Our evenings were spent laughing so hard that my face hurts and loving others so much that my heart hurts. I taught my new friends the Elvis Presley song, "You Ain't Nothing but a Hounddog," and they sang it at the top of their lungs, along with some Moroccan selections that I will never be able to remember, at the top of their lungs.

My new friends and I had very intense exchanges where it was obvious that we were longing to convert each other, not out of duty, but out of love. Our sharing was so passionate because we enjoyed each other's company so much that we wanted to have it for eternity. Mike and I were invited to one of my new extremist friend's homes where we sat in his living room and battled for his soul while he fought just as hard to convert us.

On a lighter note, I was forced to swallow my pride and get over my language barrier nervousness when a maid at our hotel asked me for "Big Towers." I answered New York because I thought that must be what she was referring to. Very emphatically, she finally explained to me that the whole time I was telling her about New York, she was trying to ask me for "Big Towels" that I was not supposed to have taken to the swimming pool. It was one the many times that God confronted me with my pride, selfishness, need to control life, and worship of comfort.

Too much to say. Gotta do another post when I have like 10 hours to write.

Today I flew for 9 and 1/2 hours from Dallas to Madrid, Spain. An hour and a half later, I flew to Tangier, where I'm sleeping tonight. Since I've never been to Europe or Africa, I would say that is definitely a big day. Once again, I find myself asking, "What do I have to offer?" I have come to the conclusion that the answer is nothing. However, God has everything to offer through Christ, and I trust Him to work. In fact, we walked from the hotel to the beach and before we got there someone approached us, and the discussion quickly went to Jesus. Mike then began to share Christ with the man. He was very open and had in fact been kicked out of his family for expressing dissatisfaction with Islam. So, Mike shared Jesus with him, and I bought him a phone card. Not sure what's in store for him, but that experience affirmed that God has everything to offer, and He has already prepared hearts for His truth. Reminds of how Philip popped in the picture at just the right time to encounter an Ethiopian trying to read the Bible. Philip didn't have to save the Ethiopian. He just had to help him read. Maybe we can just help them with their counseling skills. God will do the saving.

Honestly, the language barrier which is a constant bouncing back and forth from Arabic, Spanish, and French is petrifying me right now. I'm feel like I'm in over my head on this one, but my hope rests in God.

Anyway, miss my wife and kids, and I desperately need your prayers. Travel went well, and God is good.

Jim