One recent Sunday morning we were deeply engrossed in a passionate message being delivered by our compassionate pastor when I realized we weren't the only ones being drawn to the powerful message. By the open back door, a slinky little fur ball was pacing back and forth, just waiting for the perfect moment to make a mad dash toward the front pews in order to be able to join his master in the worshipful experience.
Now typically my husband is very accommodating to these nervous first time attenders, making sure they feel welcomed and finding a spot for them to sit. This same hospitality does not extend to dogs. Noting the distraction this mutt was creating, he grabbed the mop setting by the door, took a few menacing strides towards it and gave it his most threatening look. The dog had the wisdom to strike a pose of surrender, tuck his skinny little tail between his scrawny little legs and make haste toward the road.
Chris, thinking his mission was accomplished, turned and headed back toward the church. So did the dog. Now from my spot where I was sitting I could only observe this fiasco through the two side windows. Like a DVD with a scratch on it, I continued to see this repetitive scene...one screen, Chris brandishing the hairy mop, the other screen, the stinky shaggy dog. Back and forth went Chris. Back and forth went the dog. He would chase it up the road a bit, turn around and come back. And every time by the time he got to the front door of the church, the dog was not far behind him. Finally, after this fiasco continued for awhile, the dog gave up and perched himself beside the road. Which would have been fine....IF he wouldn't have taken up a high-pitched howling to voice his displeasure at being so forcefully separated from his master. This created as much a disturbance as the slinking by the back door did, so in an effort to maintain peace and unity, we raised the white flag of surrender and grudgingly allowed the hairy creature into the house of the Lord, where he joyfully resided by his master. Quietness and order were once again restored to this small body of believers.....for the moment anyway....
In our church we have the message first, followed by Sunday School. There is this certain lady that occasionally attends our church and sometimes for only part of the service. She is the kind of woman you meet once, and remember for a lifetime. This particular Sunday she decided to join us just for the Sunday school hour. Upon noticing this creature lurking around in the front of the church she began commanding it in her most authoritative tone of voice to leave. The dog, knowing it had our grudging permission to be there, refused to leave. Not to be deterred, this flamboyant, but well-intentioned lady began chasing the dog this way and that, trying to get it to hightail out the door. Unfortunately, high-heels and a stout frame are no match for a quick, sure-footed dog. We observers realized the futility of her efforts and implored her to give up and make peace with his presence. Out of breathe and finally realizing she was no match for the quick stubborn dog, she gave up and plopped on a chair in the lady's Sunday school class.
Before getting started on our Sunday School lesson, the teacher asked if anyone wants to lead out in prayer. The words were scarcely out of her mouth and we were all looking around yet to see who would be the willing volunteer, when we realized the breathless Mrs. Flamboyant was already praying. Taking us alittle off guard we quickly bowed our heads and closed our eyes. The ever observant mutt, noting every eye was closed and every head bowed, decided it's a perfect time to now join his master in the Sunday school class. Meanwhile, elderly Miss Bertha, engrossed in prayer but feeling the urge to reposition herself, shuffled around the precise moment the hairy creature went slinking past her. Her hard-bottom dress shoes are pretty and pleasant to the eyes, but quite painful when brought down on a dog's paw, which is exactly what happened. The dog, frightened out of his mangy skin, let out a screech, which caused the stunned lady to shriek. Our closed eyes and bowed heads popped up as fast as they went down. Undeterred Mrs. Flamboyant continued her fervent prayer as the rest of us (or some of us:)) struggled to keep our silent laughter from becoming undignified, irreverent snorts.
Yes, indeed, it's an interesting church. One where you never know what will turn up inside its painted concrete walls. It may be a rat in the corner, a lizard on the wall or a congaree in the songbook racks. Come join us sometime! You might be encouraged, or enlightened....and just maybe... entertained!
And now for a few pictures of our month.....
of them and hope to have a good supply of fresh eggs in the future!
or Jake's?? I think our children need an A&P class on chicken anatomy...
A long-awaited, much practiced for day...Bible Quizzing! They memorized
James, Chapter 1, this year. Limes & LaBorie School competed together.
nearby vehicle accident. It was a gruesome scene....blood running down the truck doors....
after years of driving truck, this seemed pretty easy to him:)
Anyway, we went to the government run General Hospital since the private hospital does not staff a doctor 24/7. And what an experience that was! And not a good one. I generally don't like to give a negative view of public places where just anyone can read them, but it really left alot to be desired. The first thing the nurse said to us was, "Well, of course, she has a fever! She has a blanket around her! Take it off! Take it off!" This was said in a very rude manner. I thought, "Ok, maybe it's not helping the fever, but it surely did not cause it!" She had on a very thin nightie and we had just walked into air condition and I wasn't about to make her sit there and freeze yet. The next nurse came to take her blood pressure and told Kaylah to lift her arm up. Kaylah still wasn't comprehending things and I could tell she wasn't even understanding what the nurse wanted her to do. The nurse got all irritated and asked Kaylah, "Why you so vexed for? Huh? Why are you so vexed?"
I said, "She is NOT vexed (a word they often use for mad)! She is sick!!! She is usually happy and cheerful but she is not feeling well!" Uggggg! Without going into too many details, I will say the place left ALOT to be desired when it comes to cleanliness and sanitary practices. I was so ready to get out of there! They gave her a painful penicillin injection that send her through the roof and never really diagnosed her with anything, other than he thinks it's strep throat. I will say the doctor was fairly professional, or at least not as rude as the nurses were. Never again will I take good medical care for granted again.
Day, we were celebrating our last day of school.
Can it be real that these kiddos will be in fourth and fifth grades when school starts again???
mixing concrete for a house, while little boys look on in total fascination.
Prayer request and Praise reports...I think so often I share prayer requests and then neglect to follow up with how some of the prayers were answered! I want to try to do better with that. We are sooo thankful that God answered our prayers for teachers for the next term...in the nick of time. We now have all the positions filled except for one. Pray that we could find that one teacher yet. With school starting in 7 weeks, there is not a moment to spare.
We are also thankful for two pastor couples that have committed to serve in Grenada. Arlen & Sharon Krabill are an older couple from Oregon and have committed to a 2 year term starting this November.
Shannon & Janelle Martin from Pennsylvania have committed for a three year term starting in October. We are so excited to have them come join us! Pray for these couples as they make all the last minute arrangements necessary for a cross-country move.
Pray for Nelson & Rhoda Snyder and family and Kendall & Ginger Fox and family. Nelson's returned home in June and Kendall's returned home this month. They will be missed and we wish them the best as they adjust to life at home again.
A praise for a good week of VBS! Last week we held Vacation Bible School in Willis, a new area for us. We had no idea what to expect but were very thankful that enough kids came out to make the effort put into it worthwhile. Most days there were around 100 children that attended. Pray the seeds planted would take root in their precious young lives.
