Breath of God

   Breathe on me, breath of God
   Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
   And do what Thou wouldst do.

   Breathe on me, breath of God,
   Until my heart is pure:
Until with Thee I have one will
   To do and to endure.

   Breathe on me, breath of God,
   Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
   Glows with Thy Fire Divine.

   Breathe on me, breath of God,
   So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
   Of Thine eternity,

by Edwin Hatch  1835-1889

Note:  As we are nearing the midpoint of our stay here, I marvel at how God is working in our lives through this African experience.  African life is so different from America, and often it still feels like walking in a dream.  It is a great dream.  The people are great, so welcoming, so down to earth (usually, except for their fascination with loud speakers).  And the Lord has blessed us with an eleven year old Tanzanian girl, Keri, living with us for the remainder of our stay here.  Her parents were returning to St. Phillips's Theological School after their break and wanted her to stay in this area until she completed her school term this December.  The Lord is blessing us abundantly.  We are grateful.
 

Your Holy Spirit Blows Over this Earth

On Your last days on earth you promised
To leave us the Holy Spirit as our present Comforter.

We also know that Your Holy Spirit blows over this earth.
But we do not understand Him.
Many think He is only wind or a feeling.

Let Your Holy Spirit break into our lives.
Let Him come like blood into our veins,
So that we will be driven entirely by Your will.

Let Your Spirit blow over wealthy Europe and America,
So that men there will be humble.
Let Him blow over the poor parts of the world,
So that men there need suffer no more.
Let Him blow over Africa,
So that men here may understand what true freedom is.

There are a thousand voices and spirits in this world,
But we want to hear only Your voice,
And be open only to Your Spirit.

Ghana
from An African Prayer Book by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, copyright 1995