Chapel was interesting today, I found myself really looking at all the girls as they sang or yawned or in some cases did not participate at all. I started to really look around to see how many girls were not singing. I know there are some new girls here from Orissa who are still learning the language so that they were not singing was not a surprise but there were a few who seemed very sad or closed off. I wonder what their stories are? Some of the girls are quite open and friendly and will share their stories but many are very guarded. I made a mental note to try to connect with some of the ones I noticed.
I was asked to do the message for the morning service at ten and directly after this I knew I had the fourth session with the discipleship course. The morning service went fine, I felt I should take the information I had gathered at the chapel service and just talk about how faithful God is in meeting us where we are. I talked about the journey through the desert and how the people were not always sure God would protect them and that even when we know who God is our feelings sometimes get us lost. I always struggle with how much the girls will understand but I know most of them know the scriptures better then I do. I just have to let he Lord lead and trust that He will take it to them by His Spirit.
Right after the service the older girls gathered for their class. I noticed that it has gone from about 35 to 14 but that does not surprise me. They originally asked all the older girls to stay back but they were not all interested in continuing. I had originally hoped for no more then 20 anyway so we could pray together. Trying to get the girls to pray is a challenge. They will pray together all saying their prayers at the same time but there seems to be little praying for individuals here. I have been getting them into small groups which is a start. I talked about the anointing of the Holy Spirit and I prayed for each of them and anointed them with oil. After I prayed they were all just sitting in a circle and praying on their own silently. It was really quite wonderful. I sat with them for about 15 minutes and then just quietly left them, they were still all praying. Many of them were crying quietly. I trust the Holy Spirit was doing what He wanted to do.
I thought the rest of the day would just be quiet and I had decided not to go to the evening service and go to bed early instead. But just as the service was starting there was a knock on my door and Philomena was there asking me if I could please just speak for a few minutes at this service as well. So much for going to bed early. I quickly gathered my things and went over to the church. As I sat there listening to the girls sing I got to thinking about the fact that the Rick and Dee would be at our morning church service at that same time. I am guessing that it would be one service off site somewhere since it is the long weekend there.
I was remembering our trip to Brazil and the church service we went to the day we all got sea sick because the waters were making the boat roll. So I talked about that. The children enjoyed hearing about the boat rolling and my tummy rolling and how I was a little afraid to climb into the dugout canoe to get to the church. It was another good example of God's faithfulness and I remember thinking at the time that He was not going to allow us to miss the service He had planned and that He also got us back to the boat safely after that. I talked about how God gives us the desires of our hearts and blesses us so much that we just can't help wanting to bless Him and His people right back!
It was a good day!
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