Journal Entry From Saturday the Fourth.
Tonight was a night I hope I never forget. The day was kind of hard. We were planning our teaching time with the children later this week and then later we planned what we would do visiting churches. I felt like I just needed time alone to think and plan, but that doesn't really happen on trips like this. I also feel like I don't know what to do with the kids. I don't know what to say to them because they don't understand me, and I don't have any fun things to do with them except show them the iPad, which seems pretty lame. So it wasn't the best of days. But did God ever turn it around. We drove to the village church. The guy driving us is from the orphanage, and I've dubbed him Jeff Gordon. We went on the narrowest road we've been on yet, between busy storefronts in a small town, which by the way is packed with people. Then we were on country roads half done. Finally we turned on a single lane dirt road and stopped after one hundred yards or so. We walked back a raised, dusty path in the dark to a church that might have been twenty feet by thirty feet, packed with women and children. Of course they all sat on the floor but honored us by bringing us chairs. It was perhaps the hottest place I've ever been. I could hardly hold back the tears. They are so poor, but they listened to every word with rapt attention. I love them. I haven't felt such love for the children at the orphanage, but I couldn't stop thinking how amazing and beautiful these people were. After the service, Kiran asked if any of them wanted us to pray for them, and every hand went up. He lined them up in rows and told us to go to a row. I knew which one I was going to right away...the one with my favorite bright eyed smiley girl in the front and the woman who had nodded in agreement the whole service right behind her. I knelt down and smiled, folded my hands over hers and prayed. I didn't know what she needed and she couldn't understand me, but we were both crying. God put specific prayers on my lips for her. I've never felt anything like it, and the same thing happened with all the other women in my row. Praise the Lord. He is good, and I can't wait to sit with these sisters at the banquet feast in heaven. After prayer, we were shown the home of the pastor...a thatch roofed hut that might be ten by ten, if we're being generous. Five people live there, and just this morning a king cobra slithered out of the roof and into the hut, where his beautiful and bright daughters often sleep on the floor. Ten thousand dollars would buy him a new house with two rooms and a bathroom. Not to mention that not long ago this pastor went to help put out a fire in a nearby hut, inhabited by Hindus who had recently beaten him for sharing the Gospel. He had Kiran call the fire department and also helped with the building of their new house. They have since become believers. I can't tell you how good the Lord is and what power there is in praying with His people. Thank you so much Father. I love you.
-Patty
