Wow, what a week it was. I'll pick up where last I left off.
The Wednesday night family meeting did not disappoint. We had 52 people in our house. We crammed as many chairs as we could fit into the large room at the end of the house and were able to seat 44 people there. The remaining 8 were either in seats just inside from that room or standing just outside.
The singing sounded terrific with that many exuberant voices in a crowded, concrete-walled room. Harmony doesn't really exist much, but the heart and spirit more than make up for that.
We served the cookies and coffee which were both a hit. I believe it was the first time many of them had ever tried no-bake cookies. The night was chilly by their standards so the coffee was also very welcome.
By the time everyone had gone we were worn out, but it was all very worth it. I hope it went a long way towards resolving some of the curiosity of "la casa del Americanos."
Saturday was also a full day. The children and guardians from La Palma in the Children's Program had a meeting at 9:00. This was not their usual meeting to receive their monthly food. Jose had called the meeting to reinforce the adherence to the program requirements. He asked me to speak to the parents so they would know it was not just Jose that wanted to enforce the requirements. He wanted me to speak as a representative of the Monett elders. I did remind them of the three requirements, but also spoke as to why the job of a parent is so important from God's perspective.
Did you know:
After the meeting was over, we did a little shopping and came home to prepare for our coming guests. Jorge and Gloria and family called and asked if they could come to visit since they were going to be in the neighborhood. We really had a good time. But, just in case any of you had any doubt, I am not the next Landon Donovan. I didn't even know who that was until Jorge kept telling me I was just like him. So I Googled. See for yourself, I am not quite ready for that level of play:
We had a very good time with the Rodriguez family. They are such a vital part of the success of the Lord's work in Ocotepeque, Honduras.
Sunday was a truly memorable day, for me. Lori and Erin restarted the children's Bible class for children aged 5 through 10. I was able to sneak out of the adult class after I led songs to watch the children learn about the days of creation (where else would you begin a children's Bible class?). The children seemed enthralled in all the class activities. They were all so very proud of the work they did. I was so very proud of the work Lori and Erin did. Nice job, ladies! There are pictures, but I will let Lori or Erin post them.
Sunday afternoon we had a sort of hiking adventure. We went to visit one of the families who took us to an area of fields of green grass and a large and long hill. The view was phenomenal and it was so peaceful, but I might have enjoyed it more on a day with more time for leisure. About a half hour before we went on the visit, Jorge had called and asked me to preach in Ocotepeque that night. So I was preoccupied with the need to prepare (even though I was going to use the same sermon I preached in La Palma last Sunday.
We got back from the hiking adventure at about 3:30, which gave me just a little time to review the sermon and my notes before heading off to the 4:00 jovencitos class. This week I had the young men all choose a passage of scripture to read from the pulpit to the rest of the class. They were really excited about it, once they remembered that was what we were going to do. Only two of the boys had remembered to pick one of the verses and read it before class this week. Thank you Adonis and Nathan!!! Adonis even brought a friend with him this week and so he got to pick a reward. I had been bringing chocolates and spiral notebooks as the rewards for bringing friends, but had not given one out until this week. Although, each week Jose pleads his case for chocolate. Adonis chose a notebook. He was so excited. Almost as excited as I was! The boys did really great reading. They are not yet polished, but they believe what they are doing is important and want to do well at it. This alone makes my time here worth it.
After class, Jorge arrived to shuttle us to Ocotepeque. I am always excited to worship with the family there. They have such an awakened spirit in them. Most of them wear the joy of Christ on their face and in their greetings. They are such an inspiration to be around. Now, after last night, I have preached in three different countries - and I'm not even a "preacher"! Last night's experience was vastly different than any I have had before. The brethren are not afraid to participate in the sermon with whispered or spoken "Amen", "¡Gloria a Dios!" or ¡Gracias, Dios!". One lady made my heart weep as she was moved to tears at the words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28-30. At the end of the sermon she was one of four who responded to the invitation. God's Word is truly a powerful force when we let it in to our hearts and let the Spirit convict us. I've never had "responses" to a sermon I have preached. This was a humbling experience. On the drive home, Jorge explained that 3 of the respondents were asking to be restored to the church and recognized their need to reach for Jesus. The forth, is not a member of the church, but decided that he needed to be part of the church and needed Christ in his life. Jorge will be following-up with him.
Tomorrow promises to be another good day.
The Wednesday night family meeting did not disappoint. We had 52 people in our house. We crammed as many chairs as we could fit into the large room at the end of the house and were able to seat 44 people there. The remaining 8 were either in seats just inside from that room or standing just outside.
The singing sounded terrific with that many exuberant voices in a crowded, concrete-walled room. Harmony doesn't really exist much, but the heart and spirit more than make up for that.
By the time everyone had gone we were worn out, but it was all very worth it. I hope it went a long way towards resolving some of the curiosity of "la casa del Americanos."
Did you know:
- A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.
- Almost five children die every day as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.
- Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.
- 31% percent of women in prison in the United States were abused as children.
- Children who experience child abuse & neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.
- Over 60% of people in drug rehabilitation centers report being abused or neglected as a child.
- Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy.
- About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.
Source: various sources listed at http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics
After the meeting was over, we did a little shopping and came home to prepare for our coming guests. Jorge and Gloria and family called and asked if they could come to visit since they were going to be in the neighborhood. We really had a good time. But, just in case any of you had any doubt, I am not the next Landon Donovan. I didn't even know who that was until Jorge kept telling me I was just like him. So I Googled. See for yourself, I am not quite ready for that level of play:
We had a very good time with the Rodriguez family. They are such a vital part of the success of the Lord's work in Ocotepeque, Honduras.
Sunday was a truly memorable day, for me. Lori and Erin restarted the children's Bible class for children aged 5 through 10. I was able to sneak out of the adult class after I led songs to watch the children learn about the days of creation (where else would you begin a children's Bible class?). The children seemed enthralled in all the class activities. They were all so very proud of the work they did. I was so very proud of the work Lori and Erin did. Nice job, ladies! There are pictures, but I will let Lori or Erin post them.
Sunday afternoon we had a sort of hiking adventure. We went to visit one of the families who took us to an area of fields of green grass and a large and long hill. The view was phenomenal and it was so peaceful, but I might have enjoyed it more on a day with more time for leisure. About a half hour before we went on the visit, Jorge had called and asked me to preach in Ocotepeque that night. So I was preoccupied with the need to prepare (even though I was going to use the same sermon I preached in La Palma last Sunday.
We got back from the hiking adventure at about 3:30, which gave me just a little time to review the sermon and my notes before heading off to the 4:00 jovencitos class. This week I had the young men all choose a passage of scripture to read from the pulpit to the rest of the class. They were really excited about it, once they remembered that was what we were going to do. Only two of the boys had remembered to pick one of the verses and read it before class this week. Thank you Adonis and Nathan!!! Adonis even brought a friend with him this week and so he got to pick a reward. I had been bringing chocolates and spiral notebooks as the rewards for bringing friends, but had not given one out until this week. Although, each week Jose pleads his case for chocolate. Adonis chose a notebook. He was so excited. Almost as excited as I was! The boys did really great reading. They are not yet polished, but they believe what they are doing is important and want to do well at it. This alone makes my time here worth it.
After class, Jorge arrived to shuttle us to Ocotepeque. I am always excited to worship with the family there. They have such an awakened spirit in them. Most of them wear the joy of Christ on their face and in their greetings. They are such an inspiration to be around. Now, after last night, I have preached in three different countries - and I'm not even a "preacher"! Last night's experience was vastly different than any I have had before. The brethren are not afraid to participate in the sermon with whispered or spoken "Amen", "¡Gloria a Dios!" or ¡Gracias, Dios!". One lady made my heart weep as she was moved to tears at the words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28-30. At the end of the sermon she was one of four who responded to the invitation. God's Word is truly a powerful force when we let it in to our hearts and let the Spirit convict us. I've never had "responses" to a sermon I have preached. This was a humbling experience. On the drive home, Jorge explained that 3 of the respondents were asking to be restored to the church and recognized their need to reach for Jesus. The forth, is not a member of the church, but decided that he needed to be part of the church and needed Christ in his life. Jorge will be following-up with him.
Tomorrow promises to be another good day.
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