Memory work challenge

"Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee."

The school holidays are long; classes in many Brazilian school start again only in February. In one family, Dad takes one of the boys at a time to his bicycle repair shop to work with him. However, the young people to whom we minister in Icui do not have very much to do, to keep them out of mischief and trouble. Early in February our mother church is planning a retreat - to take people away from the city during the terrible Carnival activities. The church leaders want to take the young people again this year, and their nonChristian parents have agreed to let them go, it seems. However, to get enough money together is a problem. Saving? What is that?
We had the young people come to our mission property a week ago Saturday; they love to come to the spacious green area to play. However, I also taught the girls to make Calzones (which we ate for lunch). As I was urging them to consider making such a thing to sell, I discovered that the girls had already made several different kinds of food and sold it, saving up the money for the retreat!
The same day Robert had the boys each help a little with the construction of a cupboard for the classroom at Sunday School.

Another idea that Robert had, to give these kids something profitable to do during vacation, and to help in a small way to send them to the retreat, was to challenge them to memorize Scripture verses. Last Wednesday he presented his idea. He would pay them 25 centavos for every perfectly-quoted verse. By Sunday six people had learned Psalm one! Our star student, by Sunday evening, had said three Pslams (1, 127, 128)!! Praise the Lord!

A wet Wednesday

Yesterday a heavy rain came in the late afternoon, after a very sunny afternoon. The flat campus where we live flooded - again! Our team leader said this week, "There's a small river nearby where the run off seems to go!" referring to the Amazon!
When we finally got safely to church at Icui, driving through rain in poor visibility, I led in the reading of Ps. 8 and one of the songs we sang was "How Great Thou Art" (only in Portuguese, of course).

A psalm of David... Psalm 8

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

How great is our Creator and how marvelous are His works! This reminded me of a poem I wrote years ago, while meditating at the side of the river sea, on the island of Mosqueiro:

Lord,

I marvel at

the immensity,

the power

and the vengeance

of the sea,

at the obscurity,

the weakness

and insignificance

of me! (Gladys Noble, 1976)

Gratitude

The lesson that I am preparing for tomorrow is about being grateful; expressions of thankfulness do not always come easily. Many people here do not teach their children to say the simple, ear-pleasing words, "Thank you."

I have read again the story of Hannah and her song of gratitude to God.

I reread Ps. 118:17, "To Thee I shall offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and call upon the name of the Lord."

Also Philippians 4:6, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

One of the many reasons that I have to be thankful is that God has given us many friends. We have entertained a number of friends over the holiday season and been invited to join others.

Friends of friends who live in Regina, working here short term with Samaritan's Purse.

Friends from Alberta, one of whom used to work with us here in Brazil.

Our ample home became a meeting place for many of her acquaintances and former colleagues.

The lady who has been our hired helper over many years -
she helped Michael take his first steps by his first birthday.

We had a visit from a former student at AVA, a grad of 1982. He is from a Church of Christ missionary family. He and his wife, with their two youngest children are preparing to go to Mozambique as missionaries.

On Dec. 25th, this friend and team mate hosted our team for brunch. Yummy!A big family of friends we got to know when we went to church in Terra Firme district for 4 years. We were invited to the wedding of the youngest daughter - she is a friend of our girls. In fact our daughter who visited this summer took pictures for them and designed their invitation.

Their son-in-law on the left was the pastor at the church when we began to attend there.
How his family has grown up!

Praise God for friends!