Dec. 10th

“Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” This is Lorraine’s title for the women’s class here. There are about 12 women of all ages. Some have their children on their back during class others have their children down in the next room sleeping on a straw mat or outside playing. Both rooms of the building are open. Meaning there is no glass on the windows or doors.

Lorraine wastes no time – her interpreter is a young man in training named, Mike and she warns him that he will wish there was a woman interpreter as he will be uncomfortable shortly. He laughs.

Hope – Trust – Plan

Lorraine teaches, Mike translates into Portuguese and then Filomena, Ernesto’s wife translates that into Changana. This round about is hard on Lorraine. Before much time passes the official interpreter, Ophelia arrives and makes everything better. Now we go from English straight to Chananga which helps tremendously. She is a remarkable woman and flows with Lorraine very well. She mimics each movement and her voice rises and falls with excitement and intensity, she is a great match.

We must get with God’s Plan. No matter what has happened in your life you say

“Why Me?”

God says “Why not you?”

Since it has happened to you what are you going to do? I’m going to live !

Reverse the curse. Renew your mind by the Word of God.

Time with God. Time with God’s Word. Time with God’s people.

Vitamin C’s of Life

Cause

Commitment

Challenges

Choice

Consequences

Changes

Courage

After Lorraine was finished she asked them to share what they got from class. Here are their responses. Keep in mind that each of these women speak only Chananga – it was powerful for me to hear their responses in a language I do not understand.

“The Bible is not a book. We must keep it in our hearts.”

“Time with God learning to speak with God.”

“God has a plan for me. I am a part of God’s plan.”

“I liked the part when you talked about yourself. Today I am a new person by the Holy Spirit for my children.”

“We are a part of God’s plan. Not let the challenges overtake us.”

“Doesn’t matter how long we have been a Christian we must make time for God and His people.”

“God will not forget the plan that He has for me.”

“When our sister offends us we must forgive.”

“We should follow the word of God it will keep me all the days of my life.”

“We have to change our thinking. We cannot change other people.”

“We believe since our mother was poor we will be poor but that is not true. We must change our thinking and God can change our lives.”

“I thank God today for you have said good things.”

After the women’s class we met for corporate Praise and Worship. From the very young to the oldest we all Praised the Lord. Lorraine taught them to lift their hands to receive from the Holy Spirit just as if our bodies were televisions with our arms as antennas. They received this illustration well. Our skin is simply a container, our spirit is what is really us and it is on the inside crying out to the Father. We must receive.

After worship we headed home, exhausted. It is really humid here and that mixed with the heat makes for a sweaty American. At least this American. No one else seems to sweat as much as me this takes hot flashes to a whole new level !

We stopped in Marracuene for a modem card for Ric’s computer so we can get internet access. I was shocked at how many men there were in the village. Lorraine wonders why this surprises me and it is because we are ministering to women with a lot of children – so there are men but there are no husbands. Interesting truth. Lorraine will configure this into her curriculum.

A very large storm cloud is headed our way and in the middle of the night we have the most glorious rain downpour. I have not heard so much rain in many years. It was glorious. When I get back to Texas I will commit to praying for more rain. I have prayed but I will pray more as this drenching was so wonderful to my soul.