I send you greetings from Cape Town.  Except for a washing machine that leaks out water and I had to hand wash my clothes, I am happily settled down.  The washing was pretty easy and thank God that the sun came out and I could dry my clothes.  My residence is about 10 minutes walk from the university and 10 minutes walk to eateries and where I can buy my groceries.  Although I’m only into my fourth day, I do miss home.  Perhaps it is because except for occasional interaction with the librarians, I hardly talk to anyone as a large part of my time is spent in reading, searching for books, thinking and writing, and once I return to my residence, cooking and sleeping.  But I need such a routine if I’m going to complete my dissertation as much as I do not quite enjoy being alone for such a prolonged period of time.  At this point of writing, however, I am feeling quite happy and that’s because I’ve just returned from worship service.

It was raining the last few days and I did not and still do not have an umbrella.  I was afraid I would not be able to attend church service because of bad weather.  But thank God.  The Lord knows my needs.  I told the Lord to give me good weather as I really wanted to worship and draw close to the Lord together with His people.  I needed to be charged by His presence.  The Lord is good.

I walked for about 40 minutes in cool weather and I found the church—Mowbray Presbyterian Church.  I took a church weekly and sat down.  Within minutes, an elderly lady came over to speak to me to make me feel comfortable.  She also introduced me to several people.  I was encouraged by this kind gesture of hospitality.  My pastor friend Dave Smit was up there leading the worship with a guitar.  He saw me and introduced me to the whole church, mentioning warmly our friendship.

The worship started with the hymn: “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”  I sang with the rest of the congregation and felt the comfort that came from the hymn lyrics.  Indeed, just when I needed a word of encouragement, the Lord spoke to me.  The message and the fellowship after service also ministered to me.  Thank the Lord.  He has indeed given me strength and encouragement.  I echo the words of the psalmist when he says (Psalm 84:1-7, 10):

¹ How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty!

² My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

³ Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young– a place near your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.

⁵ Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

⁷ They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

¹⁰ Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

If you are irregular at attending Sunday Worship Service, I urge you to make effort to do come for Sunday Worship faithfully.  First, you are a social being—you cannot live in the world alone.   You need the encouragement and comfort of God’s children.  It is not that Christians do not make mistakes—we do, but because our Lord loves us unconditionally, we too are able to truly love one another.  Second, you are also a spiritual being because you have a soul—your soul needs nourishment and the food that keeps it healthy is the very life of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He only can truly satisfy you because in Him is abundant and eternal life.  Come for worship service.  But do stay back for fellowship too.  Dear All, as we fellowship with one another, be kind to and comfort one another.  Pray for one another regularly too because God alone strengthens and He will.