Steps of Obedience and Faith

As some of you may know, we had our first Wednesday night service with the Deaf in Callao this past Wednesday.  There were so many people praying, and God graciously answered those prayers!  

We started the service at 7 with just our family and the Pastor's family from the Hearing church.....but no Deaf.  Every buzz of the front entrance bell sent Matt flying to the door!  About 7:30 we had one Deaf man, Coco.  We were grateful for the one and continued with the service.  When I brought the kids back from the bathroom, I saw that Irene had arrived.  About 5 minutes later, Raul came in with two friends!  Then about 10 minutes later, Josimar, a young man, came in....he had also brought a friend!  God gave us 7 Deaf for our first Wednesday!  Omar, one of the men that came with Raul, is a fisherman.  He told us that he can only come to church on Wednesdays!  Do you ever think about all the wonderful things God does for us and has in store for us when we take those steps of obedience and faith?

We finished the service about 8:30...a little later than we had planned, but God was in control of it all!  I think the Deaf were surprised that we were going to go back to Villa El Salvador that night...it was getting late!  After explaining to them that I had to teach school the next day, they understood and walked with us back up to the corner where we get on the combi (small bus).  On the way to the corner, someone suggested Coca-Cola and a snack!  (I love Deaf culture!)  So we all went to a small store and had Coca-Cola and crackers!  (My kids were so happy!!)  The Deaf wouldn't let us pay!  What fun we had sitting around talking and laughing together.  How I treasure those moments!  We felt so incredibly honored to be invited into and have a part in their world!

When we were finished, we continued on to the corner.  I thought about how God promises to protect us.  I thought about how the center of His will is the safest place in the world to be, no matter what the circumstances are.  I felt like crying tears of joy as I thought about His tender care of His servants.  How strange it must have seemed to see a white family walking down the street with a group of Peruvians - all our hands going as fast as possible as we talked in true Deaf style!!  But God showed me something precious that night - yes, God did set His angels 'round about us...and those angels were Deaf!  

"Stop Talking and Do What You're Told!"

McKendree Family 2012

"Stop talking and do what you're told."  How many times did I hear those words when I was a kid?  Now I'm a Mommy, and I hear myself saying those exact same words to my children!  When I'm talking to my Daddy, I will occasionally mention things that I have said or done exactly like he and my Mom did with me.  I wish you could hear the howl of laughter that comes from him right after I've shared one of those "moments" with him!

The other day, I found myself saying to Martha, "Stop talking and do what you're told!"  I must confess that there was just a slight edge of irritation in my voice.  She went and did what she had been told to do, and I went back to washing my dishes.  I was about half way back to the sink when the Holy Spirit smote my heart, and I heard Him saying those words to me!  I squirmed and started "talking back" to the Holy Spirit - trying hard to "help" Him see my side of the story!  Again I heard, "Stop talking and do what you're told!"  I immediately began thinking of things in my life that I have been "told" to do, and how many times I neglect to do them!  Ooooh!  How patient and loving the Holy Spirit is with us - isn't He?!

Enjoying our new 3-D Books of Peru!

Exploring Peru in 3-D!

Isn't it funny (and convicting) how God uses our children to teach us more about our relationship with our Heavenly Father?  I sometimes think I learn more from my children, than they learn from me!  How precious those "learning moments" are to me!  

So, like my children, I am (again) learning the lesson of "Stop talking and do what you're told!"  And, just like for my children, it is sometimes a hard lesson for me to remember and obey!  But praise the Lord, I have His patience and loving-kindness to help me as I learn these valuable lessons with my children!