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Sunday morning was again a joyous celebration. The choir, made up of several Filipinos and several of our people sang very well.
Dustin preached on Jonah and the storms of life. When we are afraid or desperate like Jonah, that is when we think to pray, but God wants us to communicate with him, even when things are going well. God is still moving, even when Jonah resisted. We might as well follow God-- His plan cannot be thwarted, even when we think we know better and choose resisting or even running away.
A mission trip like this gives us many opportunities to serve, but not all are tasks in our wheelhouse of skills or things we particularly enjoy doing. Many times we will be called upon to do something that is the complete opposite of our gifts or inclination. We can run like Jonah or be dragged along complaining or inwardly resentful. Or we can just say, God use me in whatever way you see fit, even if it means corralling small children when we’d rather work with teens, cleaning up a building site, when we wanted to be the person running the reciprocating saw, following when we’d rather lead or leading when we prefer to follow. Besides, it has been a very hot day and the beach is just a few blocks away. It is when we willingly do whatever is needed that God will use us to accomplish his purposes and teach us a little humility in the process.
For those who weren’t building, the morning was spent prepping VBS supplies, as well as filling 160 bags of rice and 160 bottles of oil for the food hampers to be distributed later in the week.
VBS was all hands on deck, builders, leaders, everyone all in working together to accomplish a greater purpose-- that these kids would know that Jesus loves them. About 40 came to sing songs, hear Bible stories, do a craft and have a small group time.
Praise that a potentially serious mishap on one of the sites was averted.
Pray that we would be able to communicate God’s message clearly. The smaller children have limited English skills and we only have a handful of translators. Pray for stamina for everyone, it was a very hot day today and VBS takes a lot of energy (also earplugs). Pray that that the builders would be able to get the houses completed, including painting by Friday.
May we all serve with willing hearts, doing whatever needs to be done.
Nineveh is calling. The whales need to find another snack.
