December 31. The last day of the month. The last day of the year. And the first day of the New Year meetings. The morning meeting was scheduled for 9:00, but it was well after 9:30 before the meeting started. Praise the Lord for a good number here, including quite a few from Marivo!
Daddy started preaching around 10:30 and preached for over an hour. Matthew had brought him a fishing pole with hook and sinker which was really a great introduction to his teaching. Visuals are a good attention getter, and it really helped the people in understanding the teaching that followed. Today he talked about the family not doing things together because each family member is so busy doing his or her own thing and they neglect to spend time as a family. He also talked about the separation of the family in the church meetings, most likely a carry-over from their old culture. Men in one place, boys in another, women in another with the little ones, girls in another. Matthew followed up by giving people time to pray in their places.
Matthew preached this afternoon, his topic being “Abiding in Christ.” In the afternoon, most, if not all, of the people sat together as families. We pray that it will be a conviction of heart and a lasting change.
Since I knew I would be sitting a long time today, I didn’t do any computer work until later this afternoon. Until time for lotu this morning, I worked on reorganizing all my paints, cleaning up the guest room, and going through more of the books on the bookshelf to see what we should get rid of. This afternoon and evening, I worked on the review lesson for the unit 5 of the history/geography course. Have that just about finished now.
The youth were here this evening for their meeting. Several of the parents came with their children as well. There were about 50 here all together.
“8She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” Mark 14:8,9
January 1, 2015. The beginning of a new year. Praise the Lord that He has crowned the old year with His blessings, and we are looking forward to the blessings He has in store for us throughout the year 2015.
It was an off-and-on rainy day all day today. We saw the sun peek through for a few minutes a time or two, but otherwise it stayed overcast and cool.
People were around early this morning to start preparing food for everyone to eat today. The Marivo folks had brought lots of food yesterday. Praise the Lord for their being a blessing in that way! Once again the meeting started long after 9:00 - about the same time as yesterday. Daddy’s teaching this morning was on children’s disobedience to parents, and parents’ disobedience to God in not correcting their children. There were a handful who responded to the invitation at the end of the meeting.
In the afternoon, Matthew continued his teaching on “Abiding in Christ,” talking today about Satan being the ruler of the kingdoms of this world. Then this evening, before the youth meeting, he came and asked Daddy about John chapter 15 because Daddy had recommended that chapter to be included in Matthew’s teaching. It became clear then that he really didn’t understand the meaning of the topic that he chose to speak on. So Daddy spent a few minutes explaining. And that wasn’t easy to do either because Pidgin just doesn’t have the vocabulary to express the thoughts. We believe that it finally became clear to Matthew by the end of the conversation.
People hung around a long time after the afternoon meeting because it was raining. The youth practiced a song for tomorrow. Philemon came in and talked with us for a while. I found another book in our bookshelf which I gave him as well as some pictures on anatomy - the skeletal system, circulatory system, etc. Philemon likes to talk so I didn’t really get much else done in the afternoon. Just a few minutes at the computer and then I had to start supper - spaghetti this evening. I had already prepared greens the day before so didn’t have to take time to prepare a veggie.
I got a couple e-mails written, fixed and printed out the copy of the ordination certificate to be given to Matthew on Sunday, and then did some non-computer work.
Tomas came and talked again, this time about Phinehas. Like Matthew told people, when you go out of this meeting, Satan is going to be out there with his bait and hook. Watch out! Phinehas did not watch out! He swallowed the bait and hook too. It is clear that Satan is not happy about the things that are being taught and is fighting with all his might to hook those who are not on guard. There have been several incidents this week that have made my heart sad.
Whenever God is at work, Satan is fighting hard to undo the work God is doing in the hearts of individuals. Please pray for these men and women and children to be able to recognize the wiles of the devil and stand against them with the full armor of God.
“And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.” Mark 14:24