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!