04/23/13 4:48AM

Martha's observation today:
In church we are told to leave our chairs and come forward. "Come, the Holy Spirit is present! Everyone must speak in tongues!" But when I stop to listen I hear children playing! You are right. What you are telling me and what I am reading (Acts 2)--tongues are languages! and what I was hearing are only lost children playing.
  • aleta
    What a pure hearted learner! She already has helped me in some foundational thoughts for my teaching teachers class. Please, keep sharing. It's so inspiring to "watch" the seed take root in her heart.
    by aleta at 04/23/13 7:18AM
  • tryphena
    Martha is one discerning lady. Just think what will happen as knowledge and wisdom meld together.
    by tryphena at 04/23/13 7:28AM
  • dawnmk23
    So happy that Martha is listening and learning from you through God's word!
    by dawnmk23 at 04/23/13 8:07AM
  • ginnyann
    Martha, Martha......what an inspiration. she is already out teaching.....reminds me of what the Eunuch probably did as he went on his way rejoicing.....
    keep us up to date on her progress, please!
    by ginnyann at 04/23/13 8:40AM
  • figpicker
    That last line gives me shivers. Poetic and so true. (mrs here)
    by figpicker at 04/24/13 12:13PM
  • worker_at_home
    She has an amazing heart!.....and so do you! So thankful for God's written word which has the power to touch the heart.
    by worker_at_home at 04/24/13 1:14PM
  • chickadee
    :-)
    by chickadee at 04/26/13 8:51PM

04/22/13 12:15PM

Remember Martha?
Our studies continue. A wonderful development has occurred.... Martha continues to meet with her church. She related the following, with all the excited hand movements and voice inflections that I love in African women.

"After our worship time, we are asked to testify. So I tell everyone of this sin thing that we have not been told about, that it is keeping us from reaching up to God!"

" 'uuuuu! Marta, we don't know this! Where are you learning this?"

"In the Bible! Three doors down from me is a man and his wife who are teaching me things from the Bible; things I never heard before!"

"Tell us more!' "

"So I tell them more. I tell them to go with me to learn."

"No, you tell me us."

"So they come to my house and I teach. But some things I think I know but when I try to teach it I learn I didn't learn. So I'm here to listen some more."

BTW, her husband is telling her to talk to him, and THEN he will read the printed material, and THEN come to see my husband. I can hardly wait!

Do you find it as amazing as I do that the "pastors" are teaching believing in Jesus in order to be saved and never mention "this sin thing"??!
  • marmee
    Interesting, in deed.
    by marmee at 04/22/13 12:37PM
  • justg
    This unfinished story had me from the jump....
    by justg at 04/22/13 1:34PM
  • tryphena
    Love this whole thing!
    by tryphena at 04/22/13 1:35PM
  • sjean
    Wow! Doors are flying open.
    by sjean at 04/22/13 1:52PM
  • ceoltoir
    :-)

    That enthusiasm is such a beautiful thing. I remember when a lady here was learning the truth. She was in her 80's and in poor health. When she came to understand the story of the 11th hour worker she could hardly grasp the idea that she, an old woman, could have access to the same reward as a person who has served God for many years. Tears of joy and amazement accompanied her conversion.
    by ceoltoir at 04/22/13 2:10PM
  • magnolia
    I am loving this continuing story -- please keep sharing!!
    by magnolia at 04/22/13 2:14PM
  • joc
    This is great!
    by joc at 04/22/13 2:22PM
  • cmay
    Love it!!
    by cmay at 04/22/13 10:23PM
  • ncreaves
    Enjoying so much your exchanges. So encouraging.
    by ncreaves at 04/22/13 10:27PM

04/18/13 6:52AM

Martha's lessons continue:
Today, we came to the scriptures concerning what is sin and how it affects us and those around us, including what is called original sin. Suddenly she exclaims, "Oh, I have been losing too much sleep, praying and praying! The preacher is always telling us that our sins are being given to our children, and I do not want them to carry my sins! Now I see I am wasting my sleep time. They must carry their own sins! I now can change my prayer to ask God to help them stop their OWN sins!"

Martha had a full morning of learning today. When I had her read the list of sins that will keep us from the kingdom of God, Gal 5, she asked me what envy means. After I explained the sins of jealousy and envy, she began talking, as only an African woman can:) And it was I who began learning!

"The preacher teaches that man is like God, he must take care of everyone. He (therefore) has the right to take many wives. And the first wife must not have envy (jealousy) in her heart toward the other women. Now, a woman hears that my husband is attending the church; she will decide to go and try to get him for her husband. So you have all these women in the church dripping in jewels and nice clothing, fancy hairdos, singing Hallelulah! Pass the husband!"

I very nearly lost my breakfast...
  • lovescats
    Oh my...
    by lovescats at 04/18/13 7:34AM
  • aleta
    As our kids might say, "For REAL?!" What an arousing discussion and opportunity you have there.
    by aleta at 04/18/13 8:19AM
  • cmay
    Wow!
    by cmay at 04/18/13 8:29AM
  • misssonja
    I want to live near Martha in heaven -- she'll be so entertaining! :)
    by misssonja at 04/18/13 9:26AM
  • canardmom23
    Wow, I don't think I could handle it if children inherited actual sins like that. Poor woman, what a blessing you are to her!
    by canardmom23 at 04/18/13 10:34AM
  • sjean
    Every culture has it's challenges. Do they turn a blind eye to abortion in Africa?
    by sjean at 04/18/13 7:43PM
  • tryphena
    You are doing a good work in Martha, and in those of us who read what you write about your conversations with Martha.
    by tryphena at 04/19/13 6:53AM
  • friedaj
    I love your work!
    by friedaj at 04/19/13 10:04PM

04/12/13 2:27PM

An amazing thing happened to me on my way to...

One morning last week my gate was shaken. Someone is at the gate. "I have come for you to teach me the Bible." No kidding! Word of mouth in the neighbourhood has done its work. So today we met together for the third day running. Martha was fed up with the denomination she was a part of, never talking about Jesus Christ, but rather to praise the "pastors" who were milking the congregation. "We are told to give to repair the guitar, pay for this or that and our prayers will be heard! Then we have to go to the bank for a loan to please the pastors. But now I am praying for something else--how am I going to pay for the loan?!"

Martha has been a joy to teach, listening in absolute amazement and hungry for more and more about this wonderful plan of God's. "I have been starving! Now I am eating!"
  • dawnmk23
    Wonderful! So happy to hear about people truly hungry for the word!
    by dawnmk23 at 04/12/13 3:09PM
  • aleta
    Praise God for Martha's fertile heart and for your availability, knowledge and love to plant the seed.
    by aleta at 04/12/13 3:09PM
  • worker_at_home
    What a wonderful opportunity!
    by worker_at_home at 04/12/13 3:26PM
  • misssonja
    Hot dog, this is wonderful news!!! :)
    by misssonja at 04/12/13 3:49PM
  • marmee
    This is truly the spreading of the gospel at work!! God gives the increase, doesn't He? :)
    by marmee at 04/12/13 3:51PM
  • hmjmom
    So encouraging to hear stories like this.
    by hmjmom at 04/12/13 6:19PM
  • joc
    Absolutely wonderful!
    by joc at 04/12/13 7:38PM
  • mountaingirl
    What a happy story!
    by mountaingirl at 04/12/13 9:43PM
  • magnolia
    Oh, that is so, so neat!
    by magnolia at 04/12/13 11:42PM
  • grandmadiane
    When the kids return home from their mandatory visits I often them they are the music that makes my heart sing.

    Martha, and others like her, are notes within your song that create the beautiful music of your life.


    Psalm 96:1-3 (KJV)
    O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
    by grandmadiane at 04/13/13 1:49AM
  • justg
    Inspiring post! Strong work....
    by justg at 04/13/13 6:32AM
  • tryphena
    Greatly encouraging!
    by tryphena at 04/13/13 7:38AM
  • sjean
    Happy, happy, happy
    by sjean at 04/13/13 5:05PM
  • justpeachy
    Sweet, sweet sounds!
    by justpeachy at 04/14/13 4:12PM
  • cmay
    Truly encouraging! Wonderful to hear! Your life stories are very inspiring.
    by cmay at 04/14/13 7:42PM
  • 2nd_fiddler
    I pray for more Marthas!
    by 2nd_fiddler at 04/15/13 4:48PM
  • ginnyann
    Oh Happy Day .......someone starving for the truth.....You go girl!
    That is wonderful.
    by ginnyann at 04/15/13 6:46PM
  • chickadee
    This is so uplifting! Thanks so much for sharing. We all need to hear good news.
    by chickadee at 04/16/13 1:08PM

04/08/13 3:21AM

Driving to our traffic circle I saw an amazing thing. While awaiting one car pulling another car, whoosh, suddenly a car coming off the mountain came around the circle and drove right across the chain between the two cars! And made it across. whew!
  • grandmadiane
    Death wish? I hope the driver could feel the chains as he crossed, realizes how blest he was, and takes it a little easier on the road from now on. You make it sound like bad drivers are universal and not just in my neck of the woods :)
    by grandmadiane at 04/08/13 5:20AM
  • tryphena
    Scary to see near-misses like that!
    by tryphena at 04/08/13 6:05AM
  • hmjmom
    WOW! That would be scary. Can't imagine how the people in the cars felt!
    by hmjmom at 04/08/13 6:34AM
  • marmee
    Whoa! ... and I thought drivers in the PRC were scarey. :) Glad all are safe.
    by marmee at 04/08/13 8:06AM
  • ncreaves
    Scary! Kinda amazing like the day I saw a huge dog riding on the back of a motor cycle! :)
    by ncreaves at 04/08/13 9:06AM
  • sjean
    Whew. I hate to be the driver in the car being towed. I think I would have especially hated it there.
    by sjean at 04/08/13 4:43PM