Gina, Anna, and Maria CrimildaRainy Saturday
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
How rewarding it is to sew into people's lives and reap heavenly rewards! Each of the children and people here are treasures and it is such a joy to minister to them!
Lately the Lord has been speaking me about spending TIME with people. Just as He loves to spend time with us. It is not the 'things' that we give people that builds them up and encourages them, but the time we take to focus on the person in front of us. Loving on them, listening to them, caring for them, praying for them.
Saturday night is movie night in the girls dorm. It was pouring down rain, cold, and very windy. After turning on the movie (The Parent Trap) and passing out little bags of chips, I huddled in with the girls (all trying to keep warm) and enjoyed their laughter, and repeating lines. It was so nice to just be with them.
Sunday afternoon I walked with 2 girls that are rather shy, Paula and Judite, to the pool down the road. It was too cold to swim, but we sat and had french fries and coca-colas. They were teasing each other and laughing the whole time. What a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The girls had so much fun!
We have started discipleship in the girls dorm. The girls are divided into age groups, and 2 afternoons Ellie (missionary also involved in the girls area) and I invite the girls, and one of the Mozambican dorm mothers, into my house. We serve them tea or juice, and sit down in a comfy setting to learn about God. So far we have watched a film about the prodigal son, and how the father is like our heavenly Father. That has brought us into a session on the Father heart of God. Something important for these girls to learn, as many of them have a bad example of what a Father is. We do activities with them, and they get a memory verse to work on over the week.
I so enjoy being here! The Lord is faithful all the time. My days are filled with nursing small cuts with bandages, holding little girls who's feelings were hurt, laughing with those who laugh, praising the good things and disciplining the bad. It is amazing to be here, and I love it!
Things are going well in the baby house. I will only be running it along for another 2 weeks or so, and then Tracey comes back (yay!!). Everything has gone smoothly, praise God! The babies are lovely and growing so fast!
For those who may not have heard, baby Jill did go to be with Jesus. It was very hard, but the Lord has been gracious. And we have a new baby here now named Nehemiah. His dad is a pastor of a church near here. His mom died 3 weeks after he was born. He is about 6 weeks old now. Today his dad came to visit him. He comes a few times a week. When Nehemiah is a bit bigger he will be able to go live with his daddy.
Every day I am blessed by the treasures God gives to us! And I am reminded that our treasures are not our possessions, or our money. Our treasures come from how we are living our lives and using our time! Is it for the Lord? That is the richest life to have!
Bless you each! Take time to store up heavenly treasures! Of all things, you will NOT regret it!
Love in Jesus,
Anna Coumos
