Another week, walking behind Him and watching Him work in miraculous ways. I am beginning to think that each week here in Palenque and Cartagena will not look the same. I am not sure why this is but I have accepted it and rest in Him to order each of my steps. Please join me in asking the HS to help me obediently go where He sends me, speak His Words that He gives me, and sit in His Presence when He commands it; no matter how illogical it may seem to me at the time. Ask that I will not worry or think about what others might think but just concern myself with what My Father thinks y ya.
Tuesday, I talked to Krstn and Dncl who I was suppose to meet with that morning. They told me that they had to leave and would not be able to meet with me and so I stayed at home. I watched several classes, completed a couple of assignments and tried to organize my week to be able to give 100% to Him through my seminary classes. I packed up the car, ate some lunch, and we headed out to Palenque. Darlys is not with me this week because she is in Cali taking two classes to complete her class in missions. Praise Him for providing her transportation and money to buy food while there through some faithful servants. Usually, I use this 2-hour drive to work through some mentoring materials with Darlys, we pry to ask for His goals for the week, and organize our ideas together how to be obedient in what He has called us to do. Since she was not with me, I took advantage of the time to do something I know my mom would never think I would do…listen to a book on tape. I know, for years I made fun of her and my sister for listening to books on tape when we went on trips. I know see their wisdom and was thankful that He had allowed me to purchase Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper on CD. It was a great time just allowing Him to challenge me through the words of this gifted speaker. If you haven’t read this book, I would recommend it or really anything that Piper has written or preached.
I arrive in Palenque and head to Ddr’s house for our weekly study. It was a great time with her and to hear more about what decision that they had made about their son Js and another family’s daughter, Crn. We pryd together and I will continue to support them and help them in anyway I can. These families do not know anything about parenting but I am thankful that HE has surrounded me with amazing families and placed me in the best family to learn from them and His Words. I am pryng about doing a workshop for the parents here in Palenque but think I will prepare a workshop on marriage first and then teach on parenting using His Words. That evening I went to the local club service and had the opportunity to speak to most of the youth and just see how they were doing. I enjoy having all of them in one place and just going from youth to youth to see how their week was. Even Zn came to the club tonight, sat down right beside me, and laid her head on my shoulder. Pry for wisdom as I try to be her friend and lead her in the study of His Words.
That night, we received an amazing blessing. As usual, it was extremely hot in Palenque and I was sweating like I normally do…just sitting, not exercising. We had not had water for 3 days and were completely dry in the house. HE gave us water that night and water with enough pressure that I was able to take a real shower before going to bed. I don’t think I have ever felt so fresh in my time here. It was such an undeserved blessing but I praise HIM for it as it helped me sleep better and take the edge off the headache I had.
Wednesday, as Brody and I went for a walk that morning, HE told me to just sit in His Presence in the morning and then HE would give me His To Do List for the day. So after the morning devotional with Hrln and Neusa, I just sat with Him and allowed Him to give me strength and wisdom for the day. I left the house to meet up with Ktln who was in the club pryng. We spent some time in pryr for Palenque, for the families of the local club, and His direction for our morning. We left the club and headed to a woman’s house named Btrc. She lives at the very top of barrio arriba and we were at the very entrance of barrio abajo. As we walked and pryd, He lead us to stop and to visit various women along the way and introduced me to more women in the village. HE has placed in Ktln and myself, a desire to unite the women who live close to each other and have a weekly study of His Words. We believe that these women need to have community amongst themselves and a people to go to when they need pryr, encouragement, or accountability. Please ask that HE will continue to show us who He has chosen and that HE will open their hearts and place this desire in them to meet together.
When we finally arrived at Btrc’s house, we were hot and tired but I was excited to meet yet another woman. As she shared things with us, HE gave me the opportunity to learn more about this culture I am serving and living in. She shared that she believed in Him but had gone to a witch to please her husband when a spirit was tormenting her. Through this, I learned more about the practice of witchcraft here and in other towns around Palenque. It was neat to hear them openly and honestly share these things with me and how HE used this knowledge to open my eyes to more opportunities to use His Words to correct their ways of thinking. She was hungry for the Word and was excited when I asked her to pry about meeting weekly with a group of women. Please pry for Btrc. Her man is not a believer but is searching. She told me that he had told her not be ashamed to read The Word in front of him or pry if she truly believed in HIM, she should do what she believes in this house with confidence. Are you serious? A non-believer challenging a believer to read His Words, talk about His Words, and pry with him. Praise HIM for preparing and cultivating the soil of his heart to receive His Seek of Truth. Ask that HE will strengthen Btrc in her faith and that she will bolding proclaim the Truths that she understands in her home and that HE will save this house. Proclaim the words of Paul that through her, her husband will be saved.
We head back to the house, eat some lunch, and Ktln leaves the house to go to the sewing workshop that a local university is leading here in Palenque. I spent some time reading and studying for my seminary class and then headed out to pryr walk through the street where Krstn and Dncl live. Bobby calls me while I am out and tells me that he is coming to Palenque today. I had asked him months ago to pry about coming and teaching some of the men His Words and Truths and he had decided to come and help today. We go to Dncl and Krstn’s house and Bobby and Dncl began to share with each other. Krstn, Rs, and a neighbor and I began to share about different things. Earlier, both Dncl and Krstn had asked me individually for a Word like mine because they had difficulties understanding the KJV that they had. Praise Him for the obedience of a club from the states, who purchased and sent a couple of boxes of The Word for me to use in Palenque. If you could have seen the face on Krstn when I gave her this Book, she started to cry and as she read the Words and understood them more clearly, she could not stop her tears. She had told me about one of the sweets she makes to sell that she had burned earlier that day and how Dncl did not get mad but just hugged her and told her it would be okay. She was still struggling with this and not knowing where they would get the money to buy more ingredients to make these to sell on Friday. So HE took me to James chapter 1 to share with Krstn. The most incredible thing happened right before I asked her to read, she bowed her head to ask for the HS to give her wisdom and insight to His Words. She had listened to what I had said months before and was putting it into practice! HE is so faithful! It was incredible to watch her read verse by verse and as we talked, she truly understood and was able to apply The Truth to her life. I praise Him for His Truths, for the gift of His Truths, and how It’s Power changes people’s lives.
We left; I walked Bobby to his car, and then went to eat some dinner. As I was eating, Ddr called me to ask if I knew where her boys were and me, being the smart one, told her that they were probably at their girlfriend’s house. She asked me to go get them and send them home and I obediently did what she asked. I told the boys to go home and then HE opened up the door for me to hear this side of the family’s story to the problem in between their children. I was able to encourage, correct, and love them as I listened to them share with me all about this problem. I asked if they pryd as a family each night, read His Words together each day and they responded no. I offered to help them start this and they were so excited that they immediately wanted to start. So we sat and pryd as a family and I am excited to see where HE will lead us during this time. Please pry for Frnd and Omd as they show His Love to their 6 girls and seek His Wisdom to guide and discipline their children. Ask that He will restore the relationship between Crn and her mom, as she does not like to be told what to do and whom she can and cannot see. Ask for patience for me as I teach and love this family and serve as a mediator. Ask that His Name will be glorified through this family in this village.
Thursday, I woke up sweating and knew that today was going to be a long day. As I walked with Brody, I just asked for His Wisdom over my day and still asked that I would be focused on Him than what others say to me. After the morning devotional, I went to have some quiet time with Him. Today in my study, I was challenged to praise HIM for all of His Attributes that I read in James chapter 1. Then I was directed to just sit in His Presence and wait for Him to speak to me. It was such a peaceful silence (even with the kids from the school in this house screaming.) He shared many things that I had been waiting to hear, He answered many questions, and confirmed me in what I am doing. I am so silly that I do not do that enough; just sit in His Presence and wait for Him to speak to me. He gave me permission to work more on my classes and I finished one of the many required readings and started on a report for the class. He then directed me to go to Ktln’s house to spend some time with her and it was such a sweet time of sharing together. While I was there, her nieces and daughter came home and we spent some time together. I praise HIM for opening Zn’s heart to me and that I am getting to know her cousins. I pry for more opportunities to share with them and for Him to open up their hearts to me.
I came back home, ate lunch, and was just reading another book for another class when Rs came to the house. She came looking for something but HE had ordained this divine appointment. We talked for a while and then HE moved us to talk about His Words. We began to read and study together and it was neat to watch her understand different parts of the text just by different questions that HE lead me to ask. After we finished the study for today, I gave her homework and we scheduled to meet next week to continue to study His Words. I praise Him for divine appointments! Susie came back to the house and we had a chance to sit and share. I was able to listen and encourage her and we just shared life, as we had not been together for many months. It was great to see her and be under the same roof again. While we were talking, it began to rain. We had planned a bonfire for this evening to celebrate their “valentines day” which is called the day of love and friendship. I called Ddr to ask her what she wanted to do, as she had offered her house to host us and she said that we should postpone it until next week. As I began to call the youth to tell them that we were canceling the activity, here came Zn and her two cousins into the house to escape the rain. I was so excited to hear Him responding so fast to my pryrs earlier that day.
About the same time that the girl’s arrived, Bobby and Caleb arrived. I was just sitting and chatting with the girls and starting to get to know them. Bobby began to share the several stories from His Word and the gospel with them. He shared for over an hour and when he stopped the rain had stopped and the girls were ready to go. I was sad that I didn’t get to spend some time with them but trust in His Sovereignty and hope that His Words will be planted in their lives and stir up more questions and desires within them. Bobby, Caleb and I went to Mnl’s house to take them a washing machine and so that Bobby could get to know Mnl. We had a great time of just sharing with the family. After awhile, I walked home with Brody and we finished the day in pryr at the house with the girls in the house. It was a great day, once again not what I would have expected but still full of blessings.
Not sure if I shared this, but The Paul’s have accepted a new job in Buenos Aires, Argentina and are waiting to hear when they can move. It can be as soon as 2 weeks or later in November. I am very excited that they will be moving into a position that Bobby feels lead to do in a big city, working with professionals. They will be responsible for connecting the clubs in the states to the clubs and work in Buenos Aires. Please be in pryr for them as they plan to move, transition to a new culture, and are surrounded by a new team. Ask that HE will be sovereign over the entire process and that HE will give them the date that HE wants them to leave. It is hitting me now that they are leaving after such a long time of pryng for where HE wanted them. I am sad to loose a family but so excited for how HE will glorify Himself through them in this new job.
Friday was a great day on the farm and in His Words. We are studying through the book of James with Kay Arthur and I love it. It is very challenging and moving our women’s study to a deeper level as we are forced to get into His Word more. Julie wasn’t with us today but the three of us had a great time of reflection and realizing that we like to know the answers but since we are challenged to let The Word interpret The Word, we are just waiting to be shown. Stacy’s parents were in town and it was nice to meet them. Please pry that HE will give Mike and Stacy boldness and an open door to share the gospel with her parents who are lost. Ask that HE will protect their time together and that it will be a blessing for everyone. Ask that the parent’s will have a face-to-face encounter with Him. I also had the opportunity to talk with Luis Fernando about things he has been doing with the local clubs and he asked me to join him in helping these clubs get outside of their 4 walls. I am excited about this opportunity to help him and the local clubs. When I arrived home, I unpacked, showered, and laid down for a little rest before studying and preparing for Saturday.
Saturday morning, I had a great time in James and just focusing on verses 2-4 and what I need to learn from Him in these verses. It was a great time. Luz came at her normal time but still had not located the Experiencing Him study and so we just talked about what she had been learning in His Words, pryd together, and I answered her questions. The youth arrive, late as usual, and it was a great time studying with them. He is confronting them with His Truths in a really neat way and asking me to leave them there, no matter how uncomfortable it is for them. They were all stuck on the fact that Paul says that those without the Law will still be judged which goes back to chapter one where we are told that all are without excuse. It is very tough to accept after years of being told that He wants everyone to be saved and HE needs us to share His Truths. We finished the study and celebrated their Valentine’s day together. I left them at my house waiting for Julie, who was coming to rest at the house for a couple of days and headed to the club to teach the women. I was disappointed at the fact that only one young lady showed up but there were a bunch of older women, which I am sure HE designed for His Time with them. I had planned to start the study with them but HE kept bringing me back to His gospel message and starting with it. I did not understand but after the first session with these ladies, I completely understand that they do not have any idea what the True Gospel message is and needed this refresher course. They needed to be confronted with His Truths and how they had wandered away from them because they were uncomfortable. It was an interesting time but a time where His Name was glorified.
I came back home completely exhausted as these women had taken all my brainpower to focus first on their Spanish and second what they were saying. I had two women leave the discussion because I showed them in His Words where He does not need us. They were convinced that He needed us and could not get away from this fact that I was telling the women that He did not need us. Praise HIM that I was using His Words and not mine but at any rate, I was exhausted. I made some veggies, chatted with Julie for a minute, and then had a skype date with Bekah. It was great to see her face and hear her heart after the passing of her father. She shared the song she wrote for him with me and we spent time just talking, pryng, and studying His Words. When I got off the call with her, I was physically, spiritually, and emotionally spent but had to get on my knees and praise Him for all that He did in this one short day! What a Father!!
Sunday was another day in the club with the youth in SS. For the first time in the service, I was in agreement with the sermon from the pastor. He was preaching Truth and not watered down Truth but teaching his sheep from His Words. It was neat and I praised Him for answering my pryrs about this pastor and rising him up. That afternoon, the family came over to celebrate their Valentine’s Day at the house. We ate, played games, and just spent time together in family all afternoon. That evening I had the opportunity to skype with the youth from GHBC, all 4 of them but it was good to hear what is going on in the club at home. After our conversation, I went for a walk with Brody and was alerted to my knee that had been bothering me for two days but I just figured it was muscle soreness from running or lunges. As I was walking, the pain became more intense and I notice a large ball behind my knee. I went home, iced it, and tried to study for my seminary classes. I am sure that it is nothing and just old age.
HE did a lot this week…incredible what HE does when we completely trust Him and allow Him to move. I will tell you that I am exhausted but it has been such an incredible week with Him that I cannot wait to see what HE has planned for next week!
Tuesday, I talked to Krstn and Dncl who I was suppose to meet with that morning. They told me that they had to leave and would not be able to meet with me and so I stayed at home. I watched several classes, completed a couple of assignments and tried to organize my week to be able to give 100% to Him through my seminary classes. I packed up the car, ate some lunch, and we headed out to Palenque. Darlys is not with me this week because she is in Cali taking two classes to complete her class in missions. Praise Him for providing her transportation and money to buy food while there through some faithful servants. Usually, I use this 2-hour drive to work through some mentoring materials with Darlys, we pry to ask for His goals for the week, and organize our ideas together how to be obedient in what He has called us to do. Since she was not with me, I took advantage of the time to do something I know my mom would never think I would do…listen to a book on tape. I know, for years I made fun of her and my sister for listening to books on tape when we went on trips. I know see their wisdom and was thankful that He had allowed me to purchase Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper on CD. It was a great time just allowing Him to challenge me through the words of this gifted speaker. If you haven’t read this book, I would recommend it or really anything that Piper has written or preached.
I arrive in Palenque and head to Ddr’s house for our weekly study. It was a great time with her and to hear more about what decision that they had made about their son Js and another family’s daughter, Crn. We pryd together and I will continue to support them and help them in anyway I can. These families do not know anything about parenting but I am thankful that HE has surrounded me with amazing families and placed me in the best family to learn from them and His Words. I am pryng about doing a workshop for the parents here in Palenque but think I will prepare a workshop on marriage first and then teach on parenting using His Words. That evening I went to the local club service and had the opportunity to speak to most of the youth and just see how they were doing. I enjoy having all of them in one place and just going from youth to youth to see how their week was. Even Zn came to the club tonight, sat down right beside me, and laid her head on my shoulder. Pry for wisdom as I try to be her friend and lead her in the study of His Words.
That night, we received an amazing blessing. As usual, it was extremely hot in Palenque and I was sweating like I normally do…just sitting, not exercising. We had not had water for 3 days and were completely dry in the house. HE gave us water that night and water with enough pressure that I was able to take a real shower before going to bed. I don’t think I have ever felt so fresh in my time here. It was such an undeserved blessing but I praise HIM for it as it helped me sleep better and take the edge off the headache I had.
Wednesday, as Brody and I went for a walk that morning, HE told me to just sit in His Presence in the morning and then HE would give me His To Do List for the day. So after the morning devotional with Hrln and Neusa, I just sat with Him and allowed Him to give me strength and wisdom for the day. I left the house to meet up with Ktln who was in the club pryng. We spent some time in pryr for Palenque, for the families of the local club, and His direction for our morning. We left the club and headed to a woman’s house named Btrc. She lives at the very top of barrio arriba and we were at the very entrance of barrio abajo. As we walked and pryd, He lead us to stop and to visit various women along the way and introduced me to more women in the village. HE has placed in Ktln and myself, a desire to unite the women who live close to each other and have a weekly study of His Words. We believe that these women need to have community amongst themselves and a people to go to when they need pryr, encouragement, or accountability. Please ask that HE will continue to show us who He has chosen and that HE will open their hearts and place this desire in them to meet together.
When we finally arrived at Btrc’s house, we were hot and tired but I was excited to meet yet another woman. As she shared things with us, HE gave me the opportunity to learn more about this culture I am serving and living in. She shared that she believed in Him but had gone to a witch to please her husband when a spirit was tormenting her. Through this, I learned more about the practice of witchcraft here and in other towns around Palenque. It was neat to hear them openly and honestly share these things with me and how HE used this knowledge to open my eyes to more opportunities to use His Words to correct their ways of thinking. She was hungry for the Word and was excited when I asked her to pry about meeting weekly with a group of women. Please pry for Btrc. Her man is not a believer but is searching. She told me that he had told her not be ashamed to read The Word in front of him or pry if she truly believed in HIM, she should do what she believes in this house with confidence. Are you serious? A non-believer challenging a believer to read His Words, talk about His Words, and pry with him. Praise HIM for preparing and cultivating the soil of his heart to receive His Seek of Truth. Ask that HE will strengthen Btrc in her faith and that she will bolding proclaim the Truths that she understands in her home and that HE will save this house. Proclaim the words of Paul that through her, her husband will be saved.
We head back to the house, eat some lunch, and Ktln leaves the house to go to the sewing workshop that a local university is leading here in Palenque. I spent some time reading and studying for my seminary class and then headed out to pryr walk through the street where Krstn and Dncl live. Bobby calls me while I am out and tells me that he is coming to Palenque today. I had asked him months ago to pry about coming and teaching some of the men His Words and Truths and he had decided to come and help today. We go to Dncl and Krstn’s house and Bobby and Dncl began to share with each other. Krstn, Rs, and a neighbor and I began to share about different things. Earlier, both Dncl and Krstn had asked me individually for a Word like mine because they had difficulties understanding the KJV that they had. Praise Him for the obedience of a club from the states, who purchased and sent a couple of boxes of The Word for me to use in Palenque. If you could have seen the face on Krstn when I gave her this Book, she started to cry and as she read the Words and understood them more clearly, she could not stop her tears. She had told me about one of the sweets she makes to sell that she had burned earlier that day and how Dncl did not get mad but just hugged her and told her it would be okay. She was still struggling with this and not knowing where they would get the money to buy more ingredients to make these to sell on Friday. So HE took me to James chapter 1 to share with Krstn. The most incredible thing happened right before I asked her to read, she bowed her head to ask for the HS to give her wisdom and insight to His Words. She had listened to what I had said months before and was putting it into practice! HE is so faithful! It was incredible to watch her read verse by verse and as we talked, she truly understood and was able to apply The Truth to her life. I praise Him for His Truths, for the gift of His Truths, and how It’s Power changes people’s lives.
We left; I walked Bobby to his car, and then went to eat some dinner. As I was eating, Ddr called me to ask if I knew where her boys were and me, being the smart one, told her that they were probably at their girlfriend’s house. She asked me to go get them and send them home and I obediently did what she asked. I told the boys to go home and then HE opened up the door for me to hear this side of the family’s story to the problem in between their children. I was able to encourage, correct, and love them as I listened to them share with me all about this problem. I asked if they pryd as a family each night, read His Words together each day and they responded no. I offered to help them start this and they were so excited that they immediately wanted to start. So we sat and pryd as a family and I am excited to see where HE will lead us during this time. Please pry for Frnd and Omd as they show His Love to their 6 girls and seek His Wisdom to guide and discipline their children. Ask that He will restore the relationship between Crn and her mom, as she does not like to be told what to do and whom she can and cannot see. Ask for patience for me as I teach and love this family and serve as a mediator. Ask that His Name will be glorified through this family in this village.
Thursday, I woke up sweating and knew that today was going to be a long day. As I walked with Brody, I just asked for His Wisdom over my day and still asked that I would be focused on Him than what others say to me. After the morning devotional, I went to have some quiet time with Him. Today in my study, I was challenged to praise HIM for all of His Attributes that I read in James chapter 1. Then I was directed to just sit in His Presence and wait for Him to speak to me. It was such a peaceful silence (even with the kids from the school in this house screaming.) He shared many things that I had been waiting to hear, He answered many questions, and confirmed me in what I am doing. I am so silly that I do not do that enough; just sit in His Presence and wait for Him to speak to me. He gave me permission to work more on my classes and I finished one of the many required readings and started on a report for the class. He then directed me to go to Ktln’s house to spend some time with her and it was such a sweet time of sharing together. While I was there, her nieces and daughter came home and we spent some time together. I praise HIM for opening Zn’s heart to me and that I am getting to know her cousins. I pry for more opportunities to share with them and for Him to open up their hearts to me.
I came back home, ate lunch, and was just reading another book for another class when Rs came to the house. She came looking for something but HE had ordained this divine appointment. We talked for a while and then HE moved us to talk about His Words. We began to read and study together and it was neat to watch her understand different parts of the text just by different questions that HE lead me to ask. After we finished the study for today, I gave her homework and we scheduled to meet next week to continue to study His Words. I praise Him for divine appointments! Susie came back to the house and we had a chance to sit and share. I was able to listen and encourage her and we just shared life, as we had not been together for many months. It was great to see her and be under the same roof again. While we were talking, it began to rain. We had planned a bonfire for this evening to celebrate their “valentines day” which is called the day of love and friendship. I called Ddr to ask her what she wanted to do, as she had offered her house to host us and she said that we should postpone it until next week. As I began to call the youth to tell them that we were canceling the activity, here came Zn and her two cousins into the house to escape the rain. I was so excited to hear Him responding so fast to my pryrs earlier that day.
About the same time that the girl’s arrived, Bobby and Caleb arrived. I was just sitting and chatting with the girls and starting to get to know them. Bobby began to share the several stories from His Word and the gospel with them. He shared for over an hour and when he stopped the rain had stopped and the girls were ready to go. I was sad that I didn’t get to spend some time with them but trust in His Sovereignty and hope that His Words will be planted in their lives and stir up more questions and desires within them. Bobby, Caleb and I went to Mnl’s house to take them a washing machine and so that Bobby could get to know Mnl. We had a great time of just sharing with the family. After awhile, I walked home with Brody and we finished the day in pryr at the house with the girls in the house. It was a great day, once again not what I would have expected but still full of blessings.
Not sure if I shared this, but The Paul’s have accepted a new job in Buenos Aires, Argentina and are waiting to hear when they can move. It can be as soon as 2 weeks or later in November. I am very excited that they will be moving into a position that Bobby feels lead to do in a big city, working with professionals. They will be responsible for connecting the clubs in the states to the clubs and work in Buenos Aires. Please be in pryr for them as they plan to move, transition to a new culture, and are surrounded by a new team. Ask that HE will be sovereign over the entire process and that HE will give them the date that HE wants them to leave. It is hitting me now that they are leaving after such a long time of pryng for where HE wanted them. I am sad to loose a family but so excited for how HE will glorify Himself through them in this new job.
Friday was a great day on the farm and in His Words. We are studying through the book of James with Kay Arthur and I love it. It is very challenging and moving our women’s study to a deeper level as we are forced to get into His Word more. Julie wasn’t with us today but the three of us had a great time of reflection and realizing that we like to know the answers but since we are challenged to let The Word interpret The Word, we are just waiting to be shown. Stacy’s parents were in town and it was nice to meet them. Please pry that HE will give Mike and Stacy boldness and an open door to share the gospel with her parents who are lost. Ask that HE will protect their time together and that it will be a blessing for everyone. Ask that the parent’s will have a face-to-face encounter with Him. I also had the opportunity to talk with Luis Fernando about things he has been doing with the local clubs and he asked me to join him in helping these clubs get outside of their 4 walls. I am excited about this opportunity to help him and the local clubs. When I arrived home, I unpacked, showered, and laid down for a little rest before studying and preparing for Saturday.
Saturday morning, I had a great time in James and just focusing on verses 2-4 and what I need to learn from Him in these verses. It was a great time. Luz came at her normal time but still had not located the Experiencing Him study and so we just talked about what she had been learning in His Words, pryd together, and I answered her questions. The youth arrive, late as usual, and it was a great time studying with them. He is confronting them with His Truths in a really neat way and asking me to leave them there, no matter how uncomfortable it is for them. They were all stuck on the fact that Paul says that those without the Law will still be judged which goes back to chapter one where we are told that all are without excuse. It is very tough to accept after years of being told that He wants everyone to be saved and HE needs us to share His Truths. We finished the study and celebrated their Valentine’s day together. I left them at my house waiting for Julie, who was coming to rest at the house for a couple of days and headed to the club to teach the women. I was disappointed at the fact that only one young lady showed up but there were a bunch of older women, which I am sure HE designed for His Time with them. I had planned to start the study with them but HE kept bringing me back to His gospel message and starting with it. I did not understand but after the first session with these ladies, I completely understand that they do not have any idea what the True Gospel message is and needed this refresher course. They needed to be confronted with His Truths and how they had wandered away from them because they were uncomfortable. It was an interesting time but a time where His Name was glorified.
I came back home completely exhausted as these women had taken all my brainpower to focus first on their Spanish and second what they were saying. I had two women leave the discussion because I showed them in His Words where He does not need us. They were convinced that He needed us and could not get away from this fact that I was telling the women that He did not need us. Praise HIM that I was using His Words and not mine but at any rate, I was exhausted. I made some veggies, chatted with Julie for a minute, and then had a skype date with Bekah. It was great to see her face and hear her heart after the passing of her father. She shared the song she wrote for him with me and we spent time just talking, pryng, and studying His Words. When I got off the call with her, I was physically, spiritually, and emotionally spent but had to get on my knees and praise Him for all that He did in this one short day! What a Father!!
Sunday was another day in the club with the youth in SS. For the first time in the service, I was in agreement with the sermon from the pastor. He was preaching Truth and not watered down Truth but teaching his sheep from His Words. It was neat and I praised Him for answering my pryrs about this pastor and rising him up. That afternoon, the family came over to celebrate their Valentine’s Day at the house. We ate, played games, and just spent time together in family all afternoon. That evening I had the opportunity to skype with the youth from GHBC, all 4 of them but it was good to hear what is going on in the club at home. After our conversation, I went for a walk with Brody and was alerted to my knee that had been bothering me for two days but I just figured it was muscle soreness from running or lunges. As I was walking, the pain became more intense and I notice a large ball behind my knee. I went home, iced it, and tried to study for my seminary classes. I am sure that it is nothing and just old age.
HE did a lot this week…incredible what HE does when we completely trust Him and allow Him to move. I will tell you that I am exhausted but it has been such an incredible week with Him that I cannot wait to see what HE has planned for next week!
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