This past Sabbath, Yona took Sarah, Lili, and I to a new church up in the mountains that is just starting! Yona, the current director of ADRA, loves working with young churches to help them grow and begin to flourish. Yona has an incredible family who is dedicated to the Lord’s work and I admire them greatly! They all pitch in and help with Sabbath school and anything else needed to bring Jesus to more people. A one-day church was donated to this village (which is a huge blessing because it rained hard during the service and it was nice to have a strong roof) and they have built some bricks around it to block the wind out. They are going to build another building so they can have a place dedicated to the kids and one as the sanctuary. I hope to help in this building project on my days off because homemade bricks and mud sound pretty exciting to me! There were only four adults at church on Sabbath, but they were on fire for God and very excited to have us volunteers join their small congregation. Though the number of adults was small, there were 10 or 15 kids in Sabbath school! Most of these kids are non-Adventist, which poses a problem because their parents are not in favor of them being there since they are Lutheran or Muslim. There are still more who have come in the past, but their parents or grandparents do not allow it anymore. I am praying that God will provide a way for every child in this village and the nearby villages to come to Sabbath school because I want each one of them to meet Jesus. There are no English speakers there, but I was able to teach them part of Jesus loves me in English and they taught me a Swahili song. I told a children’s story with Yona’s nephew translating and we had a lot of fun. It was amazing to me how these children listened to the lesson and sat so quietly. A couple of them were taking care of baby siblings and keeping them content as they listened and learned. It was an inspiring Sabbath overall and I can’t wait to get to know the members as I worship with them and watch the church grow. We hope to bring coloring, crafts, and felts to Sabbath school in the future to give the kids some more variety and experience some new activities for the first time! This past Sabbath revealed to me that God really is working ALL around the world, even in tiny little communities.
Beth! I so admire your adventurous spirit, and the way you are letting God lead you. The pictures and stories you share are such an encouragement to me. I love seeing how God works as you say ALL around the world. I get so caught up in my own 'stuff' that reading these updates from you, really is good for my courage and spirit. I so would love to worship here with you. Love you so much! Auntie Karen xo
ReplyDeleteYour Uncle Henry and Aunties Sherry and Heather, along with their SS class donated money to build a One Day Church in your Auntie Lorraine's memory. I wonder where that church is. Wouldn't it be amazing if this was the actual one? What are the chances? I will have to check and find out. Sounds like an beautiful little group. I wonder if you gave all the kids a neat toy, or a shirt, or something useful, if that would make the families happy and they then might allow the kids to come to SS. Anyway, you are truly living an adventure. May God continue to bless in all you do.
ReplyDeleteAwww, it's so nice to see a picture of Yona! I miss him and it's interesting that he's the interim ADRA director. That looks like a lovely church! He kept saying that he was going to take Danielle and me there sometime, but it never actually happened. I'm so glad you get to go and be involved! It looks a whole lot nicer and closer knit than the big university church. I'll be praying for the members and the kids who like to come and their families.
ReplyDeleteSoooo glad you are involved in this great church plant. Yona and family are so precious to our family. God bless!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great opportunity! Wish I was there with you!
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