This past weekend marked the midway point of our three-month ministry here in Uruguay. We have so much to be thankful for...
We are thankful for God's grace.
We need our God. We need His grace. Every day is a reminder of our need of Him. The nature of the Battle in which we are engaged is readily apparent:
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist...(Ephesians 6:12-13)
The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.(2 Corinthians 10:4)
We are thankful for abundant opportunity.
Ministries have included worship services on Sunday afternoons; a morning Sunday School hour for teens, children, and pre-schoolers; mid-week prayer meetings; Bible studies with teens on Saturday afternoons; a ladies' Bible study; visitation in homes; and miscellaneous opportunities to share at least a few words and Gospel tracts with some with whom we cross paths as we go about the demands of daily living.
We are thankful to be co-laboring with Daniel and Viviana, who so faithfully assist especially with the Sunday School ministries and the music in the worship services.
We have been encouraged to see the small but faithful group here taking small steps forward. Several memorized and even recited publicly Daniel 4:35, the theme verse for last month. Many also worked hard to read through the Book of John (another of last month's goals). Although the majority rely on the church van for transportation, an encouraging number came to the ladies' Bible study on their own initiative when sickness in our family did not allow us to provide the usual transportation. A dear elderly lady has consistently looked for opportunities to help in "hands-on" ways, bringing a bag of tea for use at church or ordering a huge pizza for the teens' day of camp. Her situation and actions move me deeply as they bring to mind what Christ said of the widow's mites in His day. Similarly, several teens volunteered to bring snacks for that day of camp or for their regular weekly Bible study. On their own initiative, the ladies enthusiastically provided quite a spread on their Bible study day. Each of these are precious snapshots of a healthly community of believers, ministering to one another. We rejoice to see evidence of God at work in hearts. Please continue to pray for growth in grace!
We are thankful for generally good health.
For the most part, we have remained healthy. Leaving the Upstate in late spring and arriving in South America in late autumn (almost winter) with two little people has been a challenge. Acclimating to the cold has not been easy, and we have each had bouts with at least runny noses if not several days of low-grade fevers as we have battled the many "bugs" that are now going around.
Please pray for strength and health needed to carry on the work still before us. Pray for grace to accept the measure of health that our Good Shepherd in His wisdom chooses for us.
Will you pause to praise the Lord with us? Will you carry these requests to His throne?
No comments:
Post a Comment