O Happy Day!

Truly what a Happy Day we had today! This morning we all attended and helped with a local rural children's church. It was such a blessing! I love, love, love to see children singing praises to the Lord! When we arrived there was a goup of older children leading songs and encouraging the kids to participate. They would even call rows of people to come up and help lead singing different songs! And yes, they called us up! We sang, "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord" in spanish and then in English. The boys were shy at first but then decided that it would be okay. Carson was very concerned about going to the service especially when Cynthia told him that it was they only spoke spanish. To describe the actual church that it took place in: we pulled up to a concrete made building with open air windows and gates for the two doors. It did have an elevated concrete stage to act as a platform. Right out the holes, where our typical windows would be, you could be about a dozen cows grazing maybe 4 feet away and a soccer field where some young male adults were playing. The little girls in the room were sooo interested in Abigail. They would wave and talk to her and as they finished singing a young girl, maybe 8 years old, came up to me and asked me something...not sure what she said...but soon found out as she took Abigail out of my arms and on to the little kids sunday school lesson. Abigail was fine at first and then got a little disoriented and started hollering. She brought her back to me with a sad little face, "lo siento" (I am sorry! ! told her) We were told that the sunday school teacher for the younger kids did not show up and thus Cinthya was asked to give an impromptu lesson. What a neat time! Carson and Andrew piled in with the local kids to hear a bible story lesson in spanish! Cinthya did a great job getting the kids involved and sang a couple of songs with them. Abigail and I were right there in the midst and thus all the little girls were continuing to eye her, touch her and talk to her. Many of them held out their arms to hold her, but she would shy away and bury her head in my chest. In the culture here it is not uncommon to see 5 or 6 year old girls and older holding their younger siblings and caring for them. I loved seeing the children and their excitement over the bible story and thier grasp of understanding that God loves them so much!! What a special time! After the bible study time the kids got to come back and sing some more songs with one of the missionaries, Don. He is a really neat guy that God has called to minister to the children in this area. He is trained as a physician but is no longer practicing. All he is doing now is riding around on his motorcyle all over the countryside and mountain villages with his miniature guitar to minister to children and teach them about Jesus in the local schools and churches! What an awesome ministry! So, Don sang some songs and then he was off to the next local church! The kids. Oh, how I love to see discipleship! What a blessing to be a part of this ministry this morning! Two missionaries, along with Cinthya and Joel, have been working with the local pastor to reach these children for Jesus! The other couple has a bus and goes and picks up all the rural children on Sunday morning and brings them to church to learn about Jesus!! After singing with Don, the kids had a snack time with COOKIES! Yummo! The boys were pumped!! They passed out cookies and coloring sheet and word finds for the kids to do before they ended. At this time a couple of girls that were about 13 I would say came up and were talking to Abigail and I (and of course, trying to hold Abigail!) one of the girls asked what her name was and as I told her that her name was Abigail and the young teenager's eyes lit up instantly!!!! Her name was Abigail too! How rare! She sat down and we got to talk a little. She looked at Abigail's book and was able to tell me all the colors in spanish and english....she was so proud of herself, this new friend Abigail was one of the girls that was leading the praises at the beginning of the service and I had noticed her so joyous and fun as she led out! I couldn't help but feel such compassion for her as I began to pray for her and her walk with the Lord, that she would seek Him faithfully, that she would continue to lead others to Christ, that she would always walk in His ways, that she would never forget how deep and how wide His love was for her, that she would continue to sing His praises no matter what the circumstances in her life may be! Thank you Lord for this sweet Abigail and the plans and purposes that you have for her! Thank you that you have called her to yourself and that you are using her in such a mighty way! Truly, what a Happy day to spend with these missionaries as they shared the love and grace of Christ with these precious children. May God bless their work greatly!!