July 22
Saturday

Today’s tentative plan so you can pray and prepare:
Arrive in Johannesburg 5:35,
collect baggage and exchange money.
Lodging at the Aviator.
Dinner in Joburg.

As you begin your quiet time today please read Psalm 141.
Highlight or underline any verse that jumps out to you.
Choose a verse to pray for yourself and for others as you read.

Psalm 141:1 A Psalm of David.
O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!
4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
and let me not eat of their delicacies!
5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
and from the snares of evildoers!
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.

In the days to come you will have a Focal Passage and “One Another” for each day.

Focal Passage for Today:
Romans 15:7: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Theme: Welcome One Another
We are entering a new country and have so many great experiences ahead. You will notice very quickly that the South African and Swazi people are very welcoming. They are very proud of their country and their heritage. You will eat things you may have never eaten. You will see things that will be brand new. My prayer for you as you experience so many firsts is that you will approach each of them with an open heart and mind asking the Father what He wants to teach you through it. Our Missionaries are super kind and they too will roll out the welcome mat.  Choose now to have a grateful spirit. Look for the good things going on around you.  Know that you are going to be living with a brother and sisters you may not know very well, but we are going to be a big family this week. So practice our focal verse, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.  Choose to let others go first, have kind words of appreciation, and most of all remember that others outside the “family” are looking at you and watching to see if you really live the last part of the verse, “for the glory of God.” We have a great opportunity to be light in this dark world. May we all shine brightly with Christian love for one another that truly is welcoming to a lost world.

Close your quiet time with praying for:
The mission ahead
Our travels tomorrow
New friends we will meet
That the gospel is made clear by all we do.