First allow me to apologize for the wrong planet! I thought it was a little strange that we could actually see Pluto much less so clearly, but I didn't think about looking on the web for verification. Yes, the large one was Jupiter and the smaller one Venus. Makes a lot more sense!
We have lost a couple of pastors in the discipleship groups. Paul now has 15 on Tuesdays and 14 on Fridays. I have lost one lady that really shouldn't have been in the group to begin with so I have 12. This is week 7. We will break for 3 weeks after lesson 8.
One of the pastors has been especially difficult for us to deal with outside of class. He, bless him, is a single dad with a twelve-year-old and a six-year-old, both daughters. His little one has been sick since we have been meeting. He lives on an island in an inland lake east of Manila and has struggled with someone to care for her while he comes on Fridays. Ten days ago he stayed to ask for financial assistance as she had fever and the government doctor had ordered a chest x-ray, diagnosed pneumonia in both lungs, and ordered an expensive antibiotic. We urged him to take 1,000 pesos ($20) to be sure and have enough medicine, but he would not take it. Sure enough he ran out after 8 days. To make a long story short, the doctor was mad at him and he came back to us, dragging his daughter who now had fever again. We were frustrated as he just didn't seem to listen nor understand. I was ready to pull my hair out! I finally called a missionary doctor last Thursday and asked how to get this poor pastor into his clinic. If I took him and was physically present, they would see little Lenny Mae without the wait. We decided on Monday - today.
In the meantime, Paul received the authenticated documents for the import of the discipleship workbooks. Shipping documents also arrived from the printer in Hongkong the end of last week. He called the forwarder and scheduled a meeting in the ACTION, Philippines office for today. He prepared the paperwork for the Philippine government and had our director sign them at the Christmas party last Saturday.
We prayed this morning as we went to the vehicle - prayed for both our days. I specifically prayed for understanding and a still heart as I dealt with Pastor. Both Paul and I agreed he was difficult to deal with because he was distraught. We prayed for Paul's day, not knowing if the paperwork would be complete or not.
I waited for Pastor and Lenny Mae outside the gate of the clinic. Lenny Mae was dressed up in a lovely Christmas dress when they arrived. As we stood outside waiting for the doctors to arrive we had a wonderful talk. He was relaxed. He was not trying. I discovered he is a college grad, a professional who forsook that to pastor a very poor little church on the island. The doctor looked at the x-rays, listened carefully to her chest, gave her a TB skin test and new medicine. Then she turned to Pastor. She made a chart for him and the doctors gave him the once over, a skin test, and antibiotics! They promised to supply the TB medicines if they have positive tests. Pastor was very, very happy and is confident that they will be healthy again!
Paul and the forwarder (a bi-vocational pastor) met at the office. The paperwork was all there and complete! No changes. They needed a check for P4,500 (almost $100) and since it was Monday, the right person was present to write the check! The workbooks have arrived and we should have them by the end of the week.
What a day! We were both home for lunch and praising our Faithful God. Romans 15:5 calls God the God of Encouragement and Endurance (ESV). I love that. He changed our hearts and then met us there today.
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