Over The Weekend

I haven’t been writing much lately. Bad me. =) A lot of little things have been happening that don’t seem worth writing about all by themselves, so I decided to write a long journal entry combining different events of the last several days that I want to share with you. Hope you don’t find it too dull. =)


Sunday, June 1, 2008

I woke up feeling ill. I don’t think I’ve been getting enough sleep lately, and my body is run down from my allergies. I really did not want to go to church. I tidied my room, then made Mom and myself an egg for breakfast. Falling on my knees by my bed, I begged God to strengthen me. “Cheer my heart, Lord,” I prayed. He did. Suddenly I felt eager to serve Him.
What a dreary, humid day it was today! It was freezing in the building, not that that’s anything new. I don’t think the people at the school we rent believe in heating. My fingers were so stiff from the cold that I could barely move them as I attempted to play for the song service. I wonder if they have mittens thin enough that I could use for playing the piano. Ha, ha! Wouldn’t that be an interesting sight? =)
We had two visitors in church today. They seemed to like it; hopefully they come back.
Dad preached a step-on-toe message. His main verse came from 1 Chronicles 9, about the set office of each temple administrator. Each person had a job to fulfill. Dad used Mischa, our deacon, as an example of one who has a dozen jobs to do in the church while most everyone else just warms a seat. I just don’t understand that. I guess it’s because I was raised to serve in church. It’s as natural as breathing to me. I don’t comprehend people’s lack of love for God, and, therefore, their lack of desire to DO something in the ministry of the Lord. While Jesus taught us by example to serve, many Christians only enjoy the treatment of being served. Christianity these days is sadly lacking!
Then Dad preached about children and how they ought to be in church on Sunday, not at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Ouch! Dad talked about how Lydia has spent so much time cleaning and preparing the nursery room for use. When people don’t bother showing up for services, there are no children to make use of the work Lydia has invested. The same thing goes for the children’s Sunday school class. Steven and Mom spend their precious time preparing the lesson, choosing and laying out the flannel graph, and cleaning the classroom. It’s all a waste (humanly speaking) when folks don’t bring their children to church. It’s discouraging. Thankfully we lay up rewards for ourselves in Heaven for this unused spending of our energies. If we did what we do for the people alone, I think we would have quit the ministry the first day we started. I’m glad God appreciates what people do not.
Then Dad preached about singing and how we ought to really sing, not just mouth the words.
All in all, we heard what you could call “kinder garden preaching” today. It was good…and needful.
Shelby informed us that Pauline (I mentioned her recent salvation in an earlier post) has been enthusiastically sharing her newfound faith with her mother and classmates. I would like to ask you to pray for Pauline; her boyfriend has threatened to kill her because she got saved. A baby lamb has been born into the fold, and the wolves are on the prowl. Please pray for Pauline’s protection. God is able!


Saturday, May 31, 2008

I woke up at 4:28 a.m. My nose was running (I have hay fever. It’s nasty--all the symptoms of a cold, in addition to itchy eyes and throat, and countless sneezing attacks. Miserable!) so I went to the bathroom to get a tissue. It was already somewhat light outside. During the summer it stays light until about 11 p.m. or so, and it gets light again as early as 4:00 a.m. The first bird was already chirping. He sounded awfully alone out there. He eventually stopped; I guess he finally concluded that all self-respecting birds ought to still be sleeping at such an early hour. =)
Throughout the day I practiced the songs for church tomorrow, did some garden work and handiwork, cleaned the kitchen several times, wrote emails, posted some things on my blog, etc., etc., etc.
Mom and Dad left for their dinner date at 4:00 p.m. The three of us kids ate cheese soufflés for dinner and watched a “Daniel Boone.” Dad read to us before bed.


Friday, May 30, 2008

Family Night: We ordered snack bar food for dinner. Dad and Josiah picked up while the three of us girls made a salad and green beans to go with the meal. Yum! The guys cleaned up dinner since it was Friday (we have what is called “Boy Night” on Mondays and Fridays, when the guys have to clean up dinner).
Then we drove to Bussum and got ice cream from the health food store. Yummy again! =)
We went home and watched the next “The Way of the Master” session. Dad likes to preview them before we show it at church.
Dad read some more of our book to us, called Bless God and Take Courage, The Judson History and Legacy. What a great book! It really gets one thinking. We missionaries have it so easy compared to what those before us endured. I can hardly comprehend the trials and sorrow. The Judsons’ first baby was stillborn. Their second baby died when he was 8 months old. Living in a strange land, surrounded by foreigners, with only each other to love and comfort, baby Roger was the joy of Adoniram and Anne’s lonely lives. Certainly a tearjerker.
I worked on my cross-stitch as Dad read. I’m almost finished! It’s so cute!
Then we watched a “Father Knows Best” about keeping your word and the consequences of making a promise and then having to follow through with it. Ha, ha! It was funny, but had a good moral.
We were just sitting around talking, when Josiah devised what I call “The Tired Test.” He says you have to close your eyes half-way (down to little slits). If you’re tired, your eyes will close all the way. If you still have enough energy to be awake, your eyes will pop back open. I tried the test, and sure enough, my eyes closed. Mom’s did too. Ironically, Josiah’s eyes popped back open. Hmm…doesn’t that just figure… Ha, ha!