After this last Friday of going to feed the homeless. We met this family whose situation was rather difficult. The father was an electrician who lost his job at a city nearby and the company didn't even pay him for the days he worked so he came to Prudente to try to find something. Running out of money quickly he started to beg to feed his family and by the grace of God ran into him. This small family had been in Prudente for a couple days. On Saturday we went to visit them in the rundown hotel they were housed up in. The husband was such a man of God. He said that we were an answer to pray. He told us many stories of the faithfulness of God in his life and that of his family. It was so encouraging to see this man, is the direness of his situation still praising God and preaching and challenging us to look to our Father. We were able to put them in a better hotel, get them some food from a restaurant owned by someone in the church, some medicine and some goodies for the little kid. Then we were able to send them on a bus to the town where the father in law lives. Praise the Lord for the contagious joy of this family, in the little we could offer.
This weekend was also a rush of events. Sam spoke in the youth service on Saturday night. He presented a Nooma video that drew our attention to the heavenly perspective of our Father taking care of us, regardless of the childlike understanding of trials that we unknowingly assume. Amen. Sunday was communion in the morning and regular church at night. The sermon at night was done by this man who had spent a considerable time studying Messianic/Jewish studies. His message was a bit Zionistic and in my opinion, didn't transfer the hermenutics of Jewish context of Jesus's time, ie not doing anything on the Sabath, into today's context very well. To be blunt about the way I perceived the message it was reminiscent of the Pharases of Jesus' day who drew more focus of the little details of law than worshiping God Almighty. It was a struggle to realize that many in the congregation where taking the sermon at face value because they haven't a counter reality through which these misspoken truths can be placed in a great perspective.
Soccer on monday night, youth cell goup on tuesday and now a social cinema tonight- we will be showing a movie on sex trafficking. The numbers have been low, I think that the event planned are very attractive and pertinent to the spiritual growth here. Sam has been ditifully incorporating the wisdom he has learned through his travels and journey with God to share back home. That is wonderful testament to see lived out. I pray and ask you to pray as well that God will move amongst hearts here and spur more and more to be drawn to emulate the person of Christ.
As for myself, I started teaching three english conversation classes this week. They are going well as finally a student found a book that they had previously ended with and I could judge where to go next. A little bit of humor to end this post. During the communion service we were given about a fourth a slice of bread and a small cup of juice. As I saw the rest of the church partaking of the elements I followed ensuite and had just put the whole piece of bread in my mouth, thinking it was different but sweet that they used bigger pieces of bread, when Sam turns to me and starts laughing. needless to say he forgot to tell me that at his church they take a small bite from the bread and then share it with those around giving each other a "GOD BLESS" and a hug. I had to smile as I had to stand awkwardly for a few moments while this went on around me.
