“But Mommy, we’re not missionaries anymore because we live here!” Mercy Joy💗
I’m so glad that the kids are feeling so at home!
Before we left the States, I started going through and giving away almost everything. There were a few things the kids begged me not to give away, like my little, chubby birds. I’m so glad I could bring them! As soon as I pulled them out and started putting them around, the kids said it feels like home now. Having a few of our own decorations from home makes this feel more like our home.
The kids have been blessed to have friends already on the property. Every day they have a couple hours in the afternoon to play before supper. I’m sure that has helped them settle in more quickly. I know the girls will be sad when Grace leaves for college again soon.
Sunday was a very busy day. Church begins at 7. We sing a few songs then they dismiss the kids for the children’s lesson. When we were out in the village on Saturday, we were inviting kids to come. We had about 220 kids come! The services ended up going about an hour longer than I planned so I was scrambling to figure out how to keep that many kids from getting too restless. I need to remember to have a backup plan of extra activities.
There are a few kids in particular that the Lord has placed on my heart to pray for. I do not know their names. One I know a little about his family and their religion. They follow the teachings of a Jamaican man who says God is in you. I don’t know all that their religion teaches, but I know it involves the use of marijuana. He listens very attentively to the lesson, but has not raised his hand for salvation yet.
Immediately following the services, I went to Shadrick’s house to help prepare a meal for those interested in helping with the children’s ministry. We chopped onions, cabbage, bell peppers, tomatoes…made rice and chicken. We sat on the back, screened porch to cook. They had buckets of water for cooking and washing. On the floor were three metal, hourglass shaped things that they put charcoal in. They set the pans on top of them to cook on. It smelled so good! Every once in a while, a chicken would sneak in and eat anything that had fallen to the floor.
It took us a few hours to prepare everything. When we finished the meal, I ran home and got Eric and the kids. The meal was delicious! Shadrick then asked me to speak to the volunteers. Most are in their teens, but I pray they will see the importance of this ministry! Such an opportunity the Lord has given us! Pray I can get them to be involved.
Pray the Lord gives me the words to teach! I want to present everything as clearly as I can especially with the language barrier. Eric said it does not hinge on my words, and I know that…but at the same time, what a huge responsibility! I know I will give account for what I say and do with this great ministry the Lord has opened up for me and I do not want to take it lightly! I want to bathe each lesson in prayer and study that I may be approved. It’s so easy to view children’s ministries as just a time filler, but OH! What a responsibility we’ve been given to impact a life!
Monday we started language lessons. My mind feels like a chaotic, scrambled mess of trying to keep up with home and giving my kids a good education. But I pray the Lord will give me clarity of mind to grasp the language that I may minister better! Please pray for us as we study the language.
Update: The internet hasn't been working well, so this update is a little old. It is from January 3rd. The young boy I mentioned hasn't been back to services.
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