my week in the mission field. (part the fourth)

Day 4 (7/13) Wednesday.  Slept in, didn't get up until 7:00.  Breakfast made by Pastor Adam's wife, Sister Lorna.  She'll be largely responsible for meals for the rest of the week.  Scrambled eggs and a bread called fry-bake.  Pan fried dough, but slightly salty like soda bread, not at all sweet like the fried bread I love to eat for breakfast.  Tasty.  So very, very tasty.  Despite the fact that we've got events planned all day in the church, we don't break down camp.  We push the tents to the side walls and tuck our gear away between one tent and the stage.  After some time spent making preparations for the kids that will be arriving at 10:00, mom and Melissa take a hike to the creek, leaving me to put the finishing touches on the hand puppet I'll be using later.  Kids begin arriving, and after several minutes of puppet fluffing, I decide that something must be done, so I engage the kids in a sing-a-long until Melissa and mom return.  The latter part of 1 John 4:4 is our memory verse for this event, so we sing "Greater is He that is in me/Greater is He that is in me/Greater is He that is in me/Than he that is in the world," over and over again.  Mom and Melissa return and take over.  Mom presents the memory verse, and plays some games with the kids involving the verse, and she tells them the story of David, and his accomplishments due to his relationship with the Greater One.  Now it's my turn.  I introduce the children to Billy the lamb.  He's a sock puppet.  He retells, for the children, the story of David vs the lion and David vs the bear from the point of view of one of David's flock.  Then game time, and some how, while playing doge ball, we manage to pop one of the kick balls we brought with us.  Finally our time with the children comes to a close, and mom gives them each a bracelet.  After the children are sent home, we have a couple of hours of down time before the evening service with the whole congregation, during which time I put together my first sermon for the week.  It's about love.  According to Hebrews, it's impossible to please God without faith, but according to 1 Corinthians while both faith and love (along with hope) abide eternally, love is the most important.  How can love be more important than faith, if we cannot please God without it?  Because (according to 1 John) God IS love.  His very nature is love, therefore, when we show our brethren love we show them God's very nature.  To love our neighbor despite whatever wrongs he has made against us, is to know and reveal the nature of the Creator of the Universe.  At this point I need a 'washroom' again.  The church has its own outhouse.  Another wooden hole.  This one, however, does NOT empty into the river, it has been sanded for comfort, and it gets cleaned, with bleach, regularly. Much. Better.  Night closes in and the generator is set up, the keyboard and mic turned on and tested, and the tambourines and maracas are set out.  Shortly, service begins.  During the first two songs, I help keep the rhythm with a tambourine, but a blister develops on my thumb and I have to stop.  After praise and worship, Pastor Adam introduces Melissa (most folks know her, she's been here more than once) and she immediately introduces me.  I say my piece on love.  It's not a long sermon, but people seemed to appreciate it.  Mom preaches next, then Melissa.  Then we ask if anyone one needs prayer.  One brother comes forward.  He's getting married soon and asks for prayer.  I'm up, so I pray that the union will be one that glorifies God, and I ask for His guidance as they move forward in their lives together as one.  Service ends with the usual post-service meet-and-greet.  For several hours after service has ended, Pastor Adam's sons and nephews play (the SAME EXACT TUNE on) the keyboard accompanied by various singers on the mic.  The speakers are old and fuzzy and the keyboard is turned up far too loudly.  My mom would love some post-service quiet time, but none is to be had.  We spend a few minutes packing things up, so we can leave right after breakfast in the morning.  Finally the keyboard is retired for the evening and the generator is shut down.  I crawl into bed needing to get to sleep quickly, tomorrow morning we must break down camp while Sister Lorna makes breakfast.  No worries, though, sleep comes quickly.