Disappearing Acts

What a joy it was to have Mark DeNoy, Missions Pastor of Eastern Hills Community Church, return for his 3^rdvisit!  Of course, I am always excited and eager for his visits since he is part of our Leadership Team for the School of Hope.  As a former science teacher and school principal, he is a great help to our school.

But the children in the Village and at school are always wondering what Uncle Mark has “up his sleeve.” Mark has been a magician since his years in college.  So he brings “tricks” to enforce Gospel concepts. Jesus used parables, Mark uses tricks.  In a culture where “magic” is very real to people, we call what he does “tricks.”  It is a good lesson to know that there really isn’t magic, just things that trick you.

Uncle Mark made money disappear, scarves disappear and reappear, and finally bees disappear! Another of Mark’s talents is that of being a bee keeper.  The big tree in the courtyard at school is a perfect place for a group of bees to make a home for their queen and the rest of the hive.  We are constantly keeping our eyes out in case a new group of bees arrives.  Here in Africa such bees can be very dangerous.  With children playing underneath the tree, it is a danger we take seriously.  So Uncle Mark, with a little help from Uncle Ben, was able to get rid of the bees that were in the tree and hopefully treat it so that they don’t come back for a long time.  That wasn’t a trick, just scientific knowledge at work!