"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have on e purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor." 1 Corinthians 3:7-8
We have been visiting the river colony almost 2 months and already we are beginning to see people coming to us for prayer. Today, was the first time, to my knowledge that we passed out some fliers with Bible verses on them with the dispensas of food. After everyone present was taken care of, we noticed that some either had come back or waited so they could request prayer. We have not shared the gospel to this point. But the precious people of this colony are recognizing that we are Christians by our love.
Before we gave out food, Hector addressed the people. He told them that the food that we brought would last them 2 maybe 3 days at the most, but we also have something that would last for eternity. Then he stopped and started helping us dispense the food. It was strange, I thought, but I'm learning that Hector is a fisher of men. He puts "bait" out all the time and then watches to see who is hungry.
Today we prayed with a lady Suzy for the second time. The first time we met her she had informed us that she had found her son buried in the river colony. She was still grieving and asked us to pray for her. When she came today, she told us how hungry she was for more of God and that she was a Christian, but didn't know the Bible that well yet. She was asking if we could help her with a group of people that she had been gathering in her home to learn about God. Apparently, she was learning along with the people she was having over.
After talking with her, Hector presented me with a challenge. He asked if I'd like to help teach the Bible to a group of ladies. My response was not what I had expected. Think about it. I don't speak Spanish fluently by any stretch of the words. I just learned this lady's name is Suzy and now I'm being asked if I'd be willing to teach the Bible to a group of ladies. My response was "what day? What day does she want the class ? Let me check with DJ and at the orphanage and see what I can do."
I'm trying so hard not to try and figure out how something is going to work out. Everything in me wants to see if I can pull something off before I say "yes". God's kingdom is upside down. I'm learning also that the weaker I am, the stronger He is. The less I can "pull off" in my own strength, skills, or talents, the more glory He receives. I am in over my head and never has my life been so exciting and full of joy. It will be interesting to see where the LORD takes me in this adventure.
After that encounter, the two sisters, Noemi and Alejandra that I've mentioned before came to us. Noemi asked us if we would pray for her family. Apparently her mother's health was being affected by the way the siblings were treating each other. If you remember past blogs about these two sisters, they had told us that their mother was a Christian and that they had been taught about Jesus, but were not living for Him. Now Noemi was very concerned for her mother's health. Apparently she had had a heart attack because of the stress in relationships in the family.
Again, Hector was used by the LORD to speak to these girls. He talked to them for a while and then I told them my testimony of God's provision in my life. Through Hector interpreting for me, I shared how God had provided for me time and time again, but that was not the reason I was there. Nor was I there to tell them that God would take away their problems. I told them how I was convinced God loved me, and that God had a place prepared for me in heaven. I was there to let the colony know that God loved them. I told them how they already knew that they needed to put their trust in God. They were trying to solve their own problems and meet their own needs when God was waiting for them to trust Him. After I was done, Hector continued with telling them that they needed to look for God with all their heart. We could pray for them, but they needed to pray themselves. Noemi asked what time Hector's church started. And before I knew it, Hector was telling these sisters that we were going to start a Bible class and would they be interested.
Before we left I met one more lady today. Her name was Maria and she had waited a long time to talk to us. She wasn't asking for prayer, but for a baby over sewing machine. I thought that was an odd request until she explained that her house had been robbed and someone took her machine. She was wondering if we could purchase one for her in the states and then she would purchase it from us. So, now I will be looking for a Baby Over sewing machine. I asked her to bring a sample of boys pants that she new how to sew the next time we came back in 2 weeks. She said for a top and pants she charged 50 pesos. That's not even $5! I asked if she would be interested in teaching ladies how to sew. She wasn't interested for the mere fact that then she would be losing business if she taught others. So then I told her I might be interested in buying some pants from her. I got to thinking. If we gave this lady too much business, maybe she would consider teaching someone else to help her keep up with a blessed sewing business.
We have been visiting the river colony almost 2 months and already we are beginning to see people coming to us for prayer. Today, was the first time, to my knowledge that we passed out some fliers with Bible verses on them with the dispensas of food. After everyone present was taken care of, we noticed that some either had come back or waited so they could request prayer. We have not shared the gospel to this point. But the precious people of this colony are recognizing that we are Christians by our love.
Before we gave out food, Hector addressed the people. He told them that the food that we brought would last them 2 maybe 3 days at the most, but we also have something that would last for eternity. Then he stopped and started helping us dispense the food. It was strange, I thought, but I'm learning that Hector is a fisher of men. He puts "bait" out all the time and then watches to see who is hungry.
Today we prayed with a lady Suzy for the second time. The first time we met her she had informed us that she had found her son buried in the river colony. She was still grieving and asked us to pray for her. When she came today, she told us how hungry she was for more of God and that she was a Christian, but didn't know the Bible that well yet. She was asking if we could help her with a group of people that she had been gathering in her home to learn about God. Apparently, she was learning along with the people she was having over.
After talking with her, Hector presented me with a challenge. He asked if I'd like to help teach the Bible to a group of ladies. My response was not what I had expected. Think about it. I don't speak Spanish fluently by any stretch of the words. I just learned this lady's name is Suzy and now I'm being asked if I'd be willing to teach the Bible to a group of ladies. My response was "what day? What day does she want the class ? Let me check with DJ and at the orphanage and see what I can do."
I'm trying so hard not to try and figure out how something is going to work out. Everything in me wants to see if I can pull something off before I say "yes". God's kingdom is upside down. I'm learning also that the weaker I am, the stronger He is. The less I can "pull off" in my own strength, skills, or talents, the more glory He receives. I am in over my head and never has my life been so exciting and full of joy. It will be interesting to see where the LORD takes me in this adventure.
After that encounter, the two sisters, Noemi and Alejandra that I've mentioned before came to us. Noemi asked us if we would pray for her family. Apparently her mother's health was being affected by the way the siblings were treating each other. If you remember past blogs about these two sisters, they had told us that their mother was a Christian and that they had been taught about Jesus, but were not living for Him. Now Noemi was very concerned for her mother's health. Apparently she had had a heart attack because of the stress in relationships in the family.
Again, Hector was used by the LORD to speak to these girls. He talked to them for a while and then I told them my testimony of God's provision in my life. Through Hector interpreting for me, I shared how God had provided for me time and time again, but that was not the reason I was there. Nor was I there to tell them that God would take away their problems. I told them how I was convinced God loved me, and that God had a place prepared for me in heaven. I was there to let the colony know that God loved them. I told them how they already knew that they needed to put their trust in God. They were trying to solve their own problems and meet their own needs when God was waiting for them to trust Him. After I was done, Hector continued with telling them that they needed to look for God with all their heart. We could pray for them, but they needed to pray themselves. Noemi asked what time Hector's church started. And before I knew it, Hector was telling these sisters that we were going to start a Bible class and would they be interested.
Before we left I met one more lady today. Her name was Maria and she had waited a long time to talk to us. She wasn't asking for prayer, but for a baby over sewing machine. I thought that was an odd request until she explained that her house had been robbed and someone took her machine. She was wondering if we could purchase one for her in the states and then she would purchase it from us. So, now I will be looking for a Baby Over sewing machine. I asked her to bring a sample of boys pants that she new how to sew the next time we came back in 2 weeks. She said for a top and pants she charged 50 pesos. That's not even $5! I asked if she would be interested in teaching ladies how to sew. She wasn't interested for the mere fact that then she would be losing business if she taught others. So then I told her I might be interested in buying some pants from her. I got to thinking. If we gave this lady too much business, maybe she would consider teaching someone else to help her keep up with a blessed sewing business.
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