True Religion–Caring for the Orphans, James 1:27
The school year has started anew. Danielle and the kids resolutely (and happily, I might add) leave from the house every morning at 6:15am. I spend some time during the week working on my own class work. Contrast that with so many here who do not have access to adequate education. And what they do receive is so inferior that many graduate with just the basic R’s. Consider how different your life would be minus your education. Far beyond salary differences, education opens horizons, teaches to think and analyze, and gives confidence to the student.
So I try to tell me kids to appreciate doing homework. You can guess their response. I fear my children are growing up with the same entitlement mentality that plagues so many of us. We deserve a good education. We deserve nice things. We deserve a happy life. We wanted to shed the trappings of materialism by leaving the states, but instead its influence continues to cast a long shadow into my own house. “It’s not fair,” is one of Zac’s favorite phrases regarding what he thinks he deserves.
To combat this mentality and to understand true religion in James 1:27, we are going to start working one Saturday a month at an nearby orphanage. The idea is for Scott and Zac to do physical work and for Danielle and the girls to play and spend time with the children. We will stop at mid-morning and share a devotional and some treats. If anything can re-arrange an entitlement mentality it will be the deplorable conditions of orphanages in Paraguay. We are not sure what God wants to do with this ministry, but we look forward to its commencement. We covet your prayers.
This next Sunday Scott will preach at a church in an outlying community and is considered making it a permanent ministry location. They are without a pastor and Scott already knows several of the members. Please pray for wisdom for us in making this decision and that God would richly bless the preaching of his Word in Itaguá (February 15).
I must say here how much I love you guys. Scott, thank you for your ferver (I think that’s a Pastor Eric word
) for the gospel and the Truth of Christ, especially as it relates to the deceits that easily worm their way into our thinking. I will be praying for you guys as you begin work in the orphanage and as you seek to set up a permanent ministry. I love and miss you guys and praise God for you and the work He is doing through you and in you all!!
It is always so good to hear from you guys. Talking about orphanages…Darren just got offered a one-month internship with Back2Back in Monterrey, Mexico, for this summer. He will be working in different orphanages. Kayla is planning a trip to East Asia in July with a small group of young ladies. They are also looking at serving orphans. There definitely is something about caring for orphans, especially in the very sad condition that most of the ones in Paraguay are, that works on ones heart. The Lord bless you for being doers and not only hearers of the Word.
So good to hear from you guys. We all struggle with the trappings of materialism but few of us strive to overcome them. We will pray that your new ministry venture to the orphanage will help your family view “entitlement” differently and will be a blessing to many little children and all of you. Keep us updated. Love you all!
Dear Scott, Dani and family,
It is so good to hear from you and what you are doing. You seem to have endless energy. That is wonderful as you work for the Lord in Paraguay.
We are doing quite well here in Florida. The Lord allowed us to come back this year. We didn’t know if we would as we sold our place but some friends offered their small house and we are very comfortable. It has been very cold tho. Even very white frost.
We have been helping people with yard sales which has been very rewarding. Horace had a chance to witness and leave a bible with a man we did a sale for. We don’t charge – our group of about 8 of us just do it for an outreadch.
One of our friends lost their daughter very suddenly and they have to move back to Mass. to help care for the children so we helped them also.
We don’t miss the snow at home. Terry is having a lot of fun with feeding deer. He even has one eating out of his bucket and he pets him while he eats.
Take care and may the Lord bless your ministry as you work for him.
Aunt Phyllis & Uncle Horace
It was so good to hear from you and to see you on video tonight, Scott. I miss you and your family ,and I’m definitely praying for all of you. Give my love to Dani and the kids.