Saturday's Event

Where shoould I start? Yesterday was an amazing day!



We had a couple from the capital and their fifteen-year-old son staying with us. I cooked a American breakfast, and we left for the town at about 11:30 am. The rest of the team met us there at twelve. Setting up always takes a long time. Here the men are setting up the screen. We keep all this equipment in the condo and transport it to the town. This time, the friends who were helping us had their own car, so we only had to make a trip. We took all the sound equipment, laptop projector, dvd player, guitars, coffee maker, table cloths, napkins, cups, paper plates, forks, spoons, food and drinks, oh, and a cooler to buy ice in town.






Our team consisted of our friends from the capital and their son, a single woman who is a psychologist and will be working in this area, a newly wed couple who will do follow up now, a clown, and John and I, but a group came from a near by church. This is the pastor whom we met last time. He designated a couple to work here. They came and brought a mime group that performed in the evening.




For some reason, the School Board had offered the use of the school for the clown, therefore, we had to send the children across the way to the school. The women stayed with me. I knew it was not a perfect arragement, but one learns to be flexible. We had about 25 women and about 85 children! (The local school has 70, some kids were not of school age yet). I took Christmas bracelets as the craft for the women. They loved them. One of the ladies called the craft "a stress releaser." Some young men were there also, so I gave them a craft. They were reluctant at first, but I told them that their girlfriends would love them. They really got into after that. Everybody completed the craft and went home sporting the bracelets.




My fifteen minute talk was about the wise men and their gifts. The gift that Jesus wants now is our heart. As the wise men returned by another way, after we experience Christ, our life also changes.


The children loved the clown. He was amazing, controling that large group of children. They had a craft and a story also. There was one couple at the door who obviously was not from town, but who stayed for the afternoon program. I found out later that they were just passing through, but their little boy wanted to join the party. Well, he is a lawyer and offered his services to the organization with which we work! He left us his card. They are nationals who live in the area.




The activities went from 2 to 4 in the afternoon. We dismissed them and told them to come back at seven for the movie. Some would not leave, so John and the clown stayed with them. The clown painted their faces, and John marched the entire gang to the local store to get ice cream. Alas! There was no ice crem, so he bought them all potato chips and sodas. John is very nutricion minded! I went home and prepared a quick meal of spaghetti, salad and Italian bread from the German Bakery (Don't you just love that?) for nine of us. We were all starving. Of course, we did not forget those who stayed behind. We we rejoined the group at 6:45, the whole crowd was already there. We sang songs, showed the movie, "The Harvest," and our young friend Robin, the newly wed had another short talk about salvation. We dismissed them by lining them up at the door, passing presents, cookies (donated by a big bakerey), punch and tracks. If we had not done that, we would still be there!


So, what does all this mean? Well, we now have a matured couple from the church who is committed to start a Bible study in town; the other young couple who will work with them; maybe they will continue with the English Club, and three families willing to have Bible studies at their home. We feel like parents letting our child drive the car alone for the first time! It needs to be done, but it is a little aprehensive. We will still be in the picture and do special events, but it is really out of our hands. We are thrilled to see how the Lord is working in this place. We can sense that He has great plans! We just need to show up. We want to thank all of you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for this town. We can't wait to see what the Lord is going to do next.


PS: English spell check not working!

The Lord's Timing

Today our friends were coming from the capital to help us. They were to arrive between 2 and 3 in the afternoon. We wanted to go into town before dark to invite people to the event tomorrow. Well, our friends were very late. There was a big accident on the way and the roads were blocked; therefore, they had to take a long detour. They finally arrived about half an hour before sunset, but we decided to go anyway. It turned out to be the best time today.



We walked around the entire town handing out flyers about the event, knocking on doors and inviting people. Our friends in town were not at home, and we were worried because we had no confirmation that we would be able to use the place tomorrow. As we were walking back, by this time using flashlights, our friends drove up in their car. Just in time! We were able to talk to them to finalize things for tomorrow. Had we gone to town earlier, we would not have seen them! PTL!

Merry Christmas

We are getting ready to leave for the beach, arriving on the 26th. Our outreach has been planned for Saturday, Dec. 29. Please pray.