And now for another chapter of the “Something happened on the way to the orphanage!” story. As I wrote that account I marvelled and wondered at the intricacies of God plan.
You might not have read that update. It came on April 3. If not I'll refresh your memory but let me warn you it gets a bit complicated so you might want to check your other e-mails first and come back to it. Anyway, here goes...
Ana Luiza, who was taken from her birth mother after seven years of abuse, and who, instead of going to the orphanage, was court ordered sent to her distant and unknown relatives in Sorocaba, and who, after four years of living just a few blocks away, began coming to our church because she was invited by a neighbor to our VBS in January. Remember the story? The neighbor was the boy who wanted to fly his kite in our parking lot just before our VBS was to begin.
[side note - you can skip this paragraph if you are already lost at this point. But, this detail could have short circuited the rest of this adventure if Grandma had been scared off.] I didn't tell you what that boy's grandmother saw as she approached me that Thursday afternoon in January! I looked like a stinking, filthy, old, pirate! Our theme being Adventure at Sea I was dressing the part. I had on old, ripped up, knee length, cut off, bluejeans; a ripped up t-shirt, old flip flops, a blue doo rag, and a painted on five-o-clock shadow (still can't grow my own).
Not necessarily the type of person that one would normally approach to ask questions, especially with small children involved. However, she did. And you will remember that a near slip of my tongue almost turned that boy away. However, he came to our VBS and on his second day invited Ana Luiza.
Now jump from January to April. The second week into our Saturday kid's club (April 6) Ana comes for the first time. My lesson was, “Where we got our Bible”, and all of the kids listened attentively to my short talk.
[Side note 2, experienced children's workers can skip this paragraph too.] As some of you know when working with kids it can be “easy to get them to make decisions for Christ”. Children think that teachers knows everything and will readily accept almost any concept a teacher presents, often without question. Thus the challenge of allowing the Holy Spirit, and not Mike Jewell, to convince them of their spiritual needs.
After the lesson I tell the children that if they have questions about salvation that they can raise their hand and I will pray for them. And, if they want to talk to any leader we would love to show them what the Bible has to say about becoming a part of God's family. Only one child raises their hand and it wasn't Ana.
Now jump forward to April 29 a cold, dark, dreary, rainy, Tuesday night. One of those nights that you would just as soon stay home and not make any visits. But, Dawn and I head out on foot to make one which, in the end, doesn't work out because we can't find an address.
As we head home I say, “I know why this visit didn't work, it is because we forgot to ask God's blessing, 'Father help us to be able to share Christ with someone on the way home.'” Just then Ben drives up and asks if we want a ride, Dawn accepts and I, for some reason, don't. So there I am walking home alone in the rain thinking, “Maybe I'll meet a street person who will come to Christ and end up going to seminary!” It doesn't happen.
However, as I'm approaching our street I pass the bakery, Ana Luiza's parent's bakery. I think, “I should go in and talk to Paulo again (Ana's dad).” Then I start to argue with that thought, “You just talked with him the other day. He doesn't want to talk to you again!”, “No, but you should go in!”, “I'm not going in!”, “But, you should!” (You could almost imagine the little devil and angel arguing on my two shoulders). I reluctantly put an end to that little debate and enter the bakery.
To my surprise Ana is there and comes to greet me. I remind her to invite her mother to our Mother's Day Tea, and also about our May Day (May 1) church picnic. “What picnic?” She had missed that announcement and became excited about the possibility of spending the day with some of the kids from the church.
Now jump forward two days to May 1 (which, by the way, would have been my parents 78th wedding anniversary!) It's picnic day. It is threatening rain and windy. But, in my prayer time that morning I had asked the Lord to have Ana come to the picnic and to help me to be able to share with her about her need for Christ. She did come and as the day progressed that opportunity presented itself as we sat (of all places) on the monkey bars with the picnic going on all around us! She took a picture of me with my digital camera and as she did she said, “It looks like you are thinking about life” (That my reading friend is an open door!).
My reply, “I am. And, can I ask you a question about your life?”, “Sure.”, “Have you ever accepted Christ as your Savior?”, “Yes!”, “You did?”, “WHERE? WHEN?”, “The second week of club.”, “What did you do?”, “I did what you said and gave my life to Jesus!” As I praised the Lord I almost jumped off that play set (which would have been fatal)!
Again did you notice the intricate detail of Our Father's plan? I was amazed that He had used me in a small way as a part of that plan for Ana's life. I believe that soon we will be hearing of Ana's parents, Paulo and Bartira's salvation too. Could it happen? Of course! Isaiah put it this way, “ Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” (59:1) Translation, our Father is a very detailed and omnipotent God. He can do it! Let's pray and ask Him for it!
You might not have read that update. It came on April 3. If not I'll refresh your memory but let me warn you it gets a bit complicated so you might want to check your other e-mails first and come back to it. Anyway, here goes...
Ana Luiza, who was taken from her birth mother after seven years of abuse, and who, instead of going to the orphanage, was court ordered sent to her distant and unknown relatives in Sorocaba, and who, after four years of living just a few blocks away, began coming to our church because she was invited by a neighbor to our VBS in January. Remember the story? The neighbor was the boy who wanted to fly his kite in our parking lot just before our VBS was to begin.
[side note - you can skip this paragraph if you are already lost at this point. But, this detail could have short circuited the rest of this adventure if Grandma had been scared off.] I didn't tell you what that boy's grandmother saw as she approached me that Thursday afternoon in January! I looked like a stinking, filthy, old, pirate! Our theme being Adventure at Sea I was dressing the part. I had on old, ripped up, knee length, cut off, bluejeans; a ripped up t-shirt, old flip flops, a blue doo rag, and a painted on five-o-clock shadow (still can't grow my own).
Not necessarily the type of person that one would normally approach to ask questions, especially with small children involved. However, she did. And you will remember that a near slip of my tongue almost turned that boy away. However, he came to our VBS and on his second day invited Ana Luiza.
Now jump from January to April. The second week into our Saturday kid's club (April 6) Ana comes for the first time. My lesson was, “Where we got our Bible”, and all of the kids listened attentively to my short talk.
[Side note 2, experienced children's workers can skip this paragraph too.] As some of you know when working with kids it can be “easy to get them to make decisions for Christ”. Children think that teachers knows everything and will readily accept almost any concept a teacher presents, often without question. Thus the challenge of allowing the Holy Spirit, and not Mike Jewell, to convince them of their spiritual needs.
After the lesson I tell the children that if they have questions about salvation that they can raise their hand and I will pray for them. And, if they want to talk to any leader we would love to show them what the Bible has to say about becoming a part of God's family. Only one child raises their hand and it wasn't Ana.
Now jump forward to April 29 a cold, dark, dreary, rainy, Tuesday night. One of those nights that you would just as soon stay home and not make any visits. But, Dawn and I head out on foot to make one which, in the end, doesn't work out because we can't find an address.
As we head home I say, “I know why this visit didn't work, it is because we forgot to ask God's blessing, 'Father help us to be able to share Christ with someone on the way home.'” Just then Ben drives up and asks if we want a ride, Dawn accepts and I, for some reason, don't. So there I am walking home alone in the rain thinking, “Maybe I'll meet a street person who will come to Christ and end up going to seminary!” It doesn't happen.
However, as I'm approaching our street I pass the bakery, Ana Luiza's parent's bakery. I think, “I should go in and talk to Paulo again (Ana's dad).” Then I start to argue with that thought, “You just talked with him the other day. He doesn't want to talk to you again!”, “No, but you should go in!”, “I'm not going in!”, “But, you should!” (You could almost imagine the little devil and angel arguing on my two shoulders). I reluctantly put an end to that little debate and enter the bakery.
To my surprise Ana is there and comes to greet me. I remind her to invite her mother to our Mother's Day Tea, and also about our May Day (May 1) church picnic. “What picnic?” She had missed that announcement and became excited about the possibility of spending the day with some of the kids from the church.
Now jump forward two days to May 1 (which, by the way, would have been my parents 78th wedding anniversary!) It's picnic day. It is threatening rain and windy. But, in my prayer time that morning I had asked the Lord to have Ana come to the picnic and to help me to be able to share with her about her need for Christ. She did come and as the day progressed that opportunity presented itself as we sat (of all places) on the monkey bars with the picnic going on all around us! She took a picture of me with my digital camera and as she did she said, “It looks like you are thinking about life” (That my reading friend is an open door!).
My reply, “I am. And, can I ask you a question about your life?”, “Sure.”, “Have you ever accepted Christ as your Savior?”, “Yes!”, “You did?”, “WHERE? WHEN?”, “The second week of club.”, “What did you do?”, “I did what you said and gave my life to Jesus!” As I praised the Lord I almost jumped off that play set (which would have been fatal)! Again did you notice the intricate detail of Our Father's plan? I was amazed that He had used me in a small way as a part of that plan for Ana's life. I believe that soon we will be hearing of Ana's parents, Paulo and Bartira's salvation too. Could it happen? Of course! Isaiah put it this way, “ Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” (59:1) Translation, our Father is a very detailed and omnipotent God. He can do it! Let's pray and ask Him for it!
That is an awesome story. Also, gotta say, the doo rag does something for ya.
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