Zeal

Imagine that you work from 8AM to 6PM from Monday through Saturday. On Monday and Friday nights you attend Bible study at church. On Wednesday night you go to choir practice. On Sunday morning you attend worship service. What would you do on Sunday afternoons?


Recently, I was invited to accompany a friend, who is a member of the Moca congregation, on her Sunday outing who actually has this as her weekly schedule. We did not go out for coffee. We didn't see a movie. We didn't go to visit her family. Instead, she took me to a different area of the city I had not previously seen. The roads were not paved and most of the homes were made of wood with tin roofs. We visited two homes where I was able to participate in three different classes, two with adults and one with a group of teenage girls.


After working all week, this young lady dedicates Sunday afternoon to carrying the good news of the gospel to families who have not heard the message of free forgiveness. It was a wonderful thing to witness and a tremendous motivation to continue working for the Lord.


After a long week working as a secretary, her only free afternoon is spent teaching others about their Savior. The Holy Spirit has motivated her to share the gospel with others so He can create faith in their hearts. Thank you Lord for such zeal. May He work the same in me!

Cleaning day

Saturdays are always cleaning day at church. Several members volunteered to be on the cleaning committee and they are in charge of getting things ready for Sunday service.

The floor is swept, benches are dusted and everything is hosed down with water. Then the mopping begins. This is hard work, especially in the heat. It also takes more than one mopping since the dust accumulates easily with the sides of the building open to the air.

The children stay in the back, since they are taught from young not to walk on a wet floor.

After the work is done, everyone enjoys a quick cup of coffee and some bread or cookies and then heads back home, content that everything is now prepared for worship.

Serving the Savior

2009 ends with two news items of members serving the Savior. The first announcement is the musical debut of a member of the congregation. After two years of practice, he played for services for the first time this past Sunday. I want to thank Roxanne Martens for the musical course she developed for learning to play by chords. The member from the Moca congregation faithfully practiced and has learned to play almost all of the hymns in the book that we use. He is using his talents to serve the Savior.





Another example of service is a younger member, Alexandra. Formerly the congregation was using a ceramic dish for the gathering of the offering. This dish was accidentally broken and a new offering basket was needed. Alexandra had the desire to make one using plastic canvass and yarn. With some guidance from the women in the congregation, she was able to sew a lovely basket that now is used for Sunday offerings. She, too, is using her talents to serve the Savior.