JohnDB
Member
- Aug 16, 2015
- 9,065
- 5,725
Most people believe me to be a little nuts... harmless but completely nuts. Most Christians are thought to be this way who take their faith seriously.
And once again today I'm having issues with keeping my heart from interfering with my eyes.
Let's talk about Slavo, the pastor here who had the misfortune of being born into a Christian family under the Iron Curtain. Yes he was a communist and socialism was his goal. He tells of going to different people's homes for "Birthday parties" during his teenage years where they would sing, read scriptures, and pray. That on May Day he would dance and play games in the square and his father would publicly pray. Never knowing that his father feared for months afterwards that he endangered his family for doing so.
His father and some other men somehow got permits and money enough to build the church we went to Sunday and will again see this Sunday. It's way too small these days. There is standing room only.
But the older members of this church fear disrespecting the miracle of its construction. Some of the younger ones do not want to be disrespectful of the older one's sacrifice.
All of the churches grew once the Iron Curtain fell. People here (I'm in Slovakia writing this) felt lost according to Slavo. The "workers were too few" during that time and the desire wasn't great enough to do the work of witnessing. Slavo laments the lost opportunities.
I met another little girl. One of my students. Painfully shy and quiet. She was had won a prize (lottery system of rewards) and was thinking so hard about what she could have that her parents would let her keep. And she whispered her explanation in perfect English. Couldn't hardly get a word out of her otherwise. Her parents sent her to this camp and she obviously enjoyed it...her smile broke out several times. But for her to be so shy...it's got to come from her parents domineering her harshly.
The last story for the moment is about the little boy Simone . Jacqueline, had told me about him from her exploratory trip last year.
He is short for his age. His parents told us that he didn't talk at all till he was three. But he has a heart that is huge...and zero fear.
His father Pacho is a construction worker that renovates condominium homes. Pacho plays soccer in a local league. (He claims to be atheist)He and Simone play together in the park on weekends. His mother and big sister go to church on Sundays.
Simone may be small for his age but he plays against boys twice his size AND WINS. It doesn't matter whether it's wrestling , soccer, hockey, or pickle ball.
Yesterday we were making Salvation necklace with a cross and colored beads and it basically explains the Gospel. We asked him if he understood the meaning and he said"yes". We then asked if he believed in Jesus and God. He said that he believes all of this. Everything. We asked through his sister if he had requested to be baptized and his sister didn't ask him....she told us he wasn't old enough. Eleven years old.... almost 12. But that next year he could go to baptism classes.
*Heart is in my eyes again*
They may not allow him a baptism.
In addition to classes he has to go to church. They have no place for him there.
I see great things for this little guy. He is a living, walking and talking Caleb from the Bible.
And once again today I'm having issues with keeping my heart from interfering with my eyes.
Let's talk about Slavo, the pastor here who had the misfortune of being born into a Christian family under the Iron Curtain. Yes he was a communist and socialism was his goal. He tells of going to different people's homes for "Birthday parties" during his teenage years where they would sing, read scriptures, and pray. That on May Day he would dance and play games in the square and his father would publicly pray. Never knowing that his father feared for months afterwards that he endangered his family for doing so.
His father and some other men somehow got permits and money enough to build the church we went to Sunday and will again see this Sunday. It's way too small these days. There is standing room only.
But the older members of this church fear disrespecting the miracle of its construction. Some of the younger ones do not want to be disrespectful of the older one's sacrifice.
All of the churches grew once the Iron Curtain fell. People here (I'm in Slovakia writing this) felt lost according to Slavo. The "workers were too few" during that time and the desire wasn't great enough to do the work of witnessing. Slavo laments the lost opportunities.
I met another little girl. One of my students. Painfully shy and quiet. She was had won a prize (lottery system of rewards) and was thinking so hard about what she could have that her parents would let her keep. And she whispered her explanation in perfect English. Couldn't hardly get a word out of her otherwise. Her parents sent her to this camp and she obviously enjoyed it...her smile broke out several times. But for her to be so shy...it's got to come from her parents domineering her harshly.
The last story for the moment is about the little boy Simone . Jacqueline, had told me about him from her exploratory trip last year.
He is short for his age. His parents told us that he didn't talk at all till he was three. But he has a heart that is huge...and zero fear.
His father Pacho is a construction worker that renovates condominium homes. Pacho plays soccer in a local league. (He claims to be atheist)He and Simone play together in the park on weekends. His mother and big sister go to church on Sundays.
Simone may be small for his age but he plays against boys twice his size AND WINS. It doesn't matter whether it's wrestling , soccer, hockey, or pickle ball.
Yesterday we were making Salvation necklace with a cross and colored beads and it basically explains the Gospel. We asked him if he understood the meaning and he said"yes". We then asked if he believed in Jesus and God. He said that he believes all of this. Everything. We asked through his sister if he had requested to be baptized and his sister didn't ask him....she told us he wasn't old enough. Eleven years old.... almost 12. But that next year he could go to baptism classes.
*Heart is in my eyes again*
They may not allow him a baptism.
In addition to classes he has to go to church. They have no place for him there.
I see great things for this little guy. He is a living, walking and talking Caleb from the Bible.
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