February 16, 2015

Dwaine:

Yesterday morning we studied Romans 6 with Sra. Reyna.  She is the older lady we have been studying with who comes to services every Sunday.  We really thought she was about to say she was ready to be baptized.  She said she took care of two small boys and did not want to take them and could not leave them by themselves but it was clear she was really struggling.  Keep her in your prayers that she will soon be a new sister.  Then we went to Stephanie’s house but we were told she was working in the coffee fields.  So we came back home to get ready for lunch.  I tried to give the car a quick wash job because it is so dusty here and we thought we might go sightseeing with our lunch guests in the afternoon.  It is one of the nicer cars we have ever had and it stays so dirty on the outside.  I must not have done a very good wash job because I left the car outside and about 2 hrs later we noticed a flyer on the windshield for a new carwash place opening in Ataco.  Then Cesar and Eliza and Bro.  Alan Melton came for lunch.  We sure enjoyed visiting with him.  He is certainly a colorful character and a great servant for our Lord.  They left about 2:30, the sightseeing had been another miscommunication, imagine that!  Then at 4 we went back to Stephanie’s.  Bessie, her cousin who is a sister always goes with us and had said she would meet us but she had to go with her mother to the Dr. so we decided to go on by ourselves since we were already there.  Stephanie did seem slightly hesitant but she said come on in.  We had decided to use the Spanish book “Que Dice La Biblia” because we just did not know her knowledge level.  It was funny, she already had the book but said she had not really read it.  Bessie joined us in a few minutes and we had a good study.  We went straight from there to the house church meeting.  Hector led and did a great job.  It was on Abraham and when he talked about Abraham leaving the land of his father to go to Cannan he compared it to us coming here with only our luggage.  We got home about 6:45 and got to spend some skype time with ¾ of our children.  We sure are thankful for skype. 

Charlotte:

It is funny that I thought that I would be doing the blog, but Dwaine usually jumps up and does it.  It is an enjoyable thing to do, relate what is going on and think that our friends and family like to keep up with us too.  Sometimes while we are walking from one study to another, I am amazed that we are actually here.  We are truly blessed.  The entirety of the day is mostly filled with thinking about what might encourage the next person to become a Christian or for a person to stay strong in their faith.  Each week we witness the leaders teaching small group studies all over the communities and during the day going door to door.  To develop relationships among so many dedicated servants of the Lord is a blessing beyond comparison.  One aspect of the service that I am really impressed about, is prayer.  Everyone is so involved in the prayers of the church.  If you mention something in conversation, it will probably be mentioned in prayer.  One Sunday, Edgardo asked for time commitments for prayer.  This past Sunday, as a person made a prayer request, they asked two to three people to commit to pray for the request during the week.  It keeps the body united, praying and encouraged.  Surely the prayers are a sweet aroma to God.  Yesterday, as Dwaine mentioned, we had guests for lunch.  Dwaine did so much to help me prepare the food and as always, wash the dishes.  We doubled the cooking and took food to Bessi’s mom too for her recovery for surgery.  We request prayers that we will be able to develop a friendship with her so that she will study the Bible too.  Everyday we meet Bessi, we try to pop in and say a few words.  We are so moved at the open doors and open lives. Today was Christina's 16 year spiritual birthday on the 16th.  It is a golden year to be a Christian:)  Happy birthday Christina!

Love the Flowers

This road opened last week.  It was so white and clean when we would walk it.  I thought I should get a picture before it so car traveled and dirty.

Musings over locations.

Allen Melton from Texas visited our home.

Caesar, Eliza and Abi for lunch. 

This elderly man pushes this heavy cart with wares.  At times he will stop on a corner and call out items for sale.  After a bit, he moves on to another spot.