Buenos Dias from Paraguay. I am going to attempt to type with
some form of punctuation, even though every other letter comes
up as a Japanese character. Ah, the joys of using Microsoft 95
in Japanese. . .
Thank you for all of your prayers. It is amazing to see the transformation
in our ministry here. . . the way God has really been working and revealing
Himself in just the past week. This past week, Elvin and I have been
meeting with Sadato, teaching him how to do an inductive bible study in
Acts. It has been a continual praise, seeing how God provides the words and
the communication between three languages. It is such an unreal experience,
each of us talking and jabbering away in our own language, and then
retranslating at times from Portugese to Spanish so that we all can
understand. Yesterday morning we woke up at six to meet because all of us
had busy schedules and that was the only time we could meet. God really
blessed the time, even though I looked like Frankensteins wife with my poofy
hair, glasses, mosquito bites, and puffy eyes. It has been so exciting
seeing Sadatos desire to grow and challenge himself, and his willingness to
meet with Elvin and I.
The three of us double as the worship team, so it has been awesome serving
together in that capacity as well. . . leading Japanese, Portugese, and
Spanish songs during the youth group times. In this group as well, there
has been such a change in spirit. Somemtimes it is easy to think that our
work is responsible for the new energy, joy, and enthusiasm that has
emerged, but I think God humbles me and I remember His grace to have allowed
all of this to happen. I looked at the twenty one youth group members last
night, arm in arm (I wanted to institute the closing circle praise song that
we have at Davis AACF, so I made them stand in a circle and link arms). . .
and I could see the joy, their love for each other, and the amazing way God
bonded us in His spirit and love. It was such an encouragement, and I think
that spirit was reflected in the passionate worship we had last night.
Although we meet in the small open patio of the Yoshizaki home, I felt that
we were in the presence of God, a small little church praising Him with all
that we could offer. I can imagine the echo on the silent sleepy streets of
Paraguay. . . the incessant thumping of Sadatos drums, the crazy pounding of
a pianist filled with joy, and the joyful strumming of Elvins guitar.
Praise God that He dwells within the praises of His people. . . we have seen
His face in this small little town, and in the hearts of His children here.
I wish you could have seen the faces that I saw illuminated by the overhead
projectors shadow. . . the huge grins, the bright eyes, and the passionate
song flowing out of their mouths. It was a moment of
victory.
Yesterday we made another home visit to Torigami-san, the woman bedridden
for six years. Again, it was so humbling and so inspiring to learn from her
example. . . to hear her ask that we continually pray for her, and to hear
her hearty -amens- after every song. She told us that she was blessed by
the smiles of our faces. . . that the face of love is a face of victory. In
my eyes, she is the most radiant victor. . . a glowing testament that God
remains faithful to those who love Him. It is still difficult to imagine
the hardships of her life, lying in the same position in that shadowed room,
but I imagined her radiance in Heaven.
I have experienced God in the people that teach me their stories and
challenge me with their deliberate choice to worship God. Thank you for
praying for my Spanish. . . I am constantly amazed at the way God provides
during key moments. On Tuesday, I shared my testimony with the youth group.
. . speaking and reading from Psalms 91. I shared about my intial
difficulty in coming to Paraguay, my struggles with being sick and away from
home, and the way Gods word provided comfort and refuge. I was a little
nervous about speaking, but God really infused me with peace. I was able to
communicate my ideas, read from the Bible, and challenge the youth, so I
praise God for His provision. It is amazing to see the Spanish flow from my
mouth, when I know it is beyond my ability. Shu wa subarashi. . . God is
good. (Japanese)
Thank you for all of your prayers. . . please continue to pray for our
ministry here, and these remaining days with the youth and
children of PJC.