Christmas

The Christmas play went without a hitch and all our hard work paid off. I am so thankful it is over and I can breath a sigh of relief. All of the children did an awesome job. We had many people there who do not normally come to church. Even some of the unsaved spouses were there. Thank the Lord! This is a direct answer to our prayers. Hopefully, this we increase the work here.
Afterward, we were good Baptists and had a food fellowship. That is one thing that Baptists in the US have in common with the Baptists here, we all like to eat. I made Bro. Mike's favorite cake (for his birthday) and the congregation loved it. They had never seen a RED cake before. (his favorite is Red Velvet Cake) Trying to explain that one in Portuguese took some doing. (how does it get red anyway) We all had a great time and good fellowship.
The kids loved the gift that I had made of a Bible coloring or activity book. (depending on the age of the child) Some got started on the activities right away. I am so thankful that God gave me the talent and ability to serve Him in this way. Only the experiences through which He has led me would have brought me to this place and this time to serve Him in this way. He has led me "for such a time as this" and I thank and praise Him for His leadership and guidance. More about how Christmas was this year later.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Today, I completed the gift our congregation is giving to the children this year. It looks pretty good. I made a coloring/activity book for our kids. Coming up with the activities was something of a challenge, but also a lot of fun. I used Braille, Morse code and the Alberti cipher and came up with some nifty activities. For the younger children, I put together some coloring sheets and dot to dot activities.
They are doing so well in learning their parts. I think that the program will go well. Course this is the Christmas play we are talking about, you know the one where something always seems to go wrong. However, we are not doing this play for our glory but for the glory of God the Father. Pray that He will use it to reach someone that normally would not be reached. Our congregation has asked many people to attend, so this is an opportunity to reach some new people.
I have been very busy finishing Christmas projects and rehearsing our play. It is better to be busy for the Lord than stuck in a corner wasting talents, so I don't mind the business. Even serving God in "small" areas is better than no service at all. I am thankful that I am able to do the things that I can for my Lord.

Lots of Happenings

Since my last post a lot of things have happened so let's see if I can catch you all up on the news from this part of the globe.
First, our Thanksgiving meal was great, the fellowship awesome and the food delicious. We had so many leftovers. (I still have bread in my freezer from the meal.) The next day, the ladies from our congregation had their Christmas get together. It was a lot of fun and the food was really good. (no leftovers though) the waiter was patient with us and even took some pictures for us.
Next, the play for Christmas is coming along. The children are learning their parts and they are doing a great job. I am directing the same play in two different churches so there are two groups of children. (Now if only I could remember what I was doing.) I was able to use my new piano and make recordings of all the songs so I don't have to be in two places at once. (Not an easy thing to do as all you moms know.) I am working on a special present for the kids. I can't say what because some of them read my blog. (Sorry you will just have to wait till Christmas.)
Lastly, do you remember my blog from September that mentioned my veranda had flooded. Weeeeelllll, it happened again, but because we had so much rain it came in my house through the drain spouts. I had water all over the kitchen and flowing down the front steps to my front door. I am so thankful that the Portuguese manner of construction calls for tile in every room. Can you imagine if it had been carpet. I am so thankful that nothing was ruined and only needed time to correct. (that and an unblocked drain so the veranda could go back to being a veranda and not a lake.) Oh well, ain't life fun. (Sorry mom for the ain't. I know you raised me to talk better than that, but it just seemed to fit. So please forgive me.) So that was how my week went. How was yours?

Happy Thanksgiving, I know I am a day late. However, some of the American missionaries here in Portugal are getting together today. Most of us have church on Thursday and we wanted a lot of time to fellowship. So, we are eating today and I am saying Happy Thanksgiving a day late. All of the ladies are bringing something to eat so no one person has the burden of cooking for all of us. There are about 22 people that are going to be there and that is a lot of food to make, and being Thanksgiving there are a lot of special things to make. I am making pies, bread, and stuffing. I am looking forward to the fellowship and good food. The pictures are blurry because it is so cold outside and the oven heated up the kitchen thus creating fog on the windows. I even did the dishes. My mom would be so proud. (see blog from September 26, 2008)
This year I have many things for which to be thankful. I thank God for my parents, who taught me to follow God. The fact that I am sitting in my kitchen in Portugal, for a little while there it felt as if I would never get to Portugal. I am glad that God does not go on our feelings but on His own time schedule. I am also thankful for my new niece. She is such a cutie. Also, I am thankful for the work God has given to me here. Most of all, I am thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am thankful that He saved me when I don't deserve it and keeps me in His hand guiding me through this life.
On a lighter note, I am also thankful that I am living in a country that does not have Black Friday. I used to work retail and I am so thankful that I don't have to be in the stores. For all you that braved the traffic and crowds, my hat goes off to you. I am just glad that I don't have to deal with it.
Hope your Thanksgiving was filled with family and thankfulness.

A Service for Children

This Sunday, I taught a flannel graph lesson to the congregation. The Pastor then preached about the same story. This was to show the parents what their children have been learning and what we do in class every Sunday. We also sang some of the songs that we sing in Sunday School and memorized a verse that went along with our lesson. I taught on Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego. Our memory verse was Daniel 3:18. Of course, it is in Portuguese but you get the idea. The English speakers had trouble with King Nebuchadnezzer's name in Portuguese. If you thought it was hard in English it is twice as hard in Portuguese. Nebucodonosor. We finally just called him Nab. This was much easier to say. I guess that will be one of the names I will be praciting a lot this next week. I want to be able to say it next time with no problems. As my mom says, "Practice makes good because only God is perfect." After services, several came and told me how they had enjoyed seeing what the children do in Sunday School. I just had fun teaching. I love the flannel graph set that my mom left for me and have put it to good use here. When I get pictures of the service, I will post them here. (I forgot my camera at home so have to get them from someone else.)

Christmas is coming!!

I know I mentioned this just recently, but Christmas is rushing up on me this year. Maybe it is all the projects I have to complete or just me getting older (mom no laughing), but time is flying. Or am I just having fun and that is why it is flying? Anyway here are some pictures of what I have been up to. The children and I have been hard at work practicing a play for Christmas that is based on the story The Three Trees. This story has a clear presentation of the Gospel so I am praying that we can touch at least one person this Christmas.
Since Portugal does not celebrate Thanksgiving the Christmas decorations are already up in the stores and the Christmas merchandise and specials are showing up as well. They traditionally eat cod fish and potatoes on Christmas Eve right before midnight Mass. On Christmas day they eat suckling pig. I mention this because I want to know what they do where you are at. Please leave me a comment.

What God does He does well

The horse is prepared against the day of battle but safety is of the Lord. I know this seems a weird verse to quote but I see it as we can do all we can to keep safe but our safety does not depend on us. The same applies to who is President of the United States. Still I have to agree with the guest blogger at Portugal bound, We have a knucklehead for a President and we live in a post-logical society. (It is too logical for those who are like the people in Romans 1) While I love living in Portugal and enjoy the culture here, I disagree with their President. He said that having Obama for a President was the best thing the United States could do. They just mean that Obama would fit in better with the rest of the world leaders. I don't think he is right. Yes, Obama will fit in better with the world's leaders but who wants that, most of them hate the United States and that for which she stands. What I don't agrees with is that Obama was the best thing for the United States. However, I do know of Someone who is in control of everything and is working everything out according to His perfect plan (sometimes in spite of ourselves). If I did not believe that God controled the universe, I would just give up and find a small corner of the world in which to curl up and die. Since God is in control, I will just have to trust that My Heavenly Father knows everything. Though I can't see His design, I will walk each day as if I did trusting God to guide me all the way. President Obama, enjoy your time in office, just know that God is watching all you do and you must answer to Him.