Sunday, July 31, 2022

THE LOG CHURCH SERMON, JULY 31, 2022 - SALVATION FROM THE WORLD

“Salvation” or “being saved” are terms that are thrown around a lot in Christian circles. They are good terms and they are Biblical terms, but often we do not understand exactly what it is from which we need to be saved. We think of hell—we need to be saved from hell. We also think of being “saved from our sins,” (another phrase that means different things to different people). These are actually accurate descriptions of salvation, but these definitions alone do not give us the full picture of what Jesus is speaking of when he speaks of our need to be saved.

Saved by Baptism?

Our lack of understanding about salvation becomes apparent by our inability to know how to interpret something that Jesus once said. These words that he spoke were actually some of his last just before he ascended into heaven after he had risen from the grave.

Thursday, July 28, 2022

CHILDREN OF THE LOG CHURCH ORPHANAGE - PAGE 8

Peter Ontiri – 11 year-old boy found on the street in 2017

While were we ministering at Tabaka town with evangelism team, on our way back home we met elderly street boys their ages ranging between 19 to 21 thoroughly and carelessly beating one of their colleague who was this boy Peter Ontiri. We all stopped there and made inquiries what the problem was.

They all said that this boy Peter was disclosing their evil secrets how they snatch pedestrians’ phones and other items in the evening times when it is dark and the streets are not so busy. They all shouted in the loudest voice with anger, “We must kill peter tonight!!! We swear that he must be dead by tomorrow” they continued shouting!!

We feared so much and this forced us to spend there 3 hours begging them not to harm Peter in any way but none of them could listen to our advice. Their temper was too high despite the people of that area intervening to cause them change mind of killing their colleague-a young boy.

Back in the year 2016 the same boys had killed one of their colleagues in the same manner of petty arguments. We asked for one volunteer to take Peter to him/her home as a means of protecting him and safe his life but everyone around feared to take a street boy!! Eventually we were the only one who had courage to come with Peter in the orphanage taking risk of helping him but being encouraged in our hearts through the previous street kids we had adopted that Peter also might be a good boy in a wrong place.

Right now Peter is in the safe hands of God and has never done any crime for this long period we have stayed with him in the orphanage facility. We did guidance and counseling on the first day we brought him in the orphanage and took him to school and we can testify that Peter behaves very well and he is a very polite boy. Peter likes playing football and dancing in church. He is determined to use his dancing gift in giving God Glory. Peter says that he will live to serve God who saved him from a deadly street. God bless Pastor Donald and Vivian for starting this orphanage.

 

Kevin Ombati – 13 year-old boy found in the street in 2018

We had a crusade and evangelism program at Ogembo town 2018 April. The meetings went on successfully and many people were being convicted with the word of God daily. We had a pulpit where ministers and choirs stood during the program.

It was something shocking that this young boy Kevin at the age of ten he could lit a cigarette and boldly came up to the pulpit to join our choir in singing, wanting to dance with the choir of the church while taking cigarette at the same time!!

All the ushers could try to block him from the alter of God but they could find very hard time to manage him! He made it a trend daily as we entered into crusade services!! On the last day he came somehow well-dressed but now without cigarettes at all! Pastor Vincent started praying for those people who wanted to give their lives to Christ. Kevin was the first one to step on the pulpit for prayers!!

Then pastor Vincent said “I have been led by the holy spirit to break the evil spirit of drug abuse in this young boy Kevin, and from this time forward the life of this boy must change for good in Jesus name!!! No more drug abuse.”

Everyone was quite in the meeting!! Then Pastor Vincent asked the audience whether the parents of Kevin were present at the crusade grounds. That is when we realized that Kevin was a street boy and his background was not known by anyone. After prayer pastor Vincent said “we will adopt this boy in our orphanage and teach him the ways of God.”

There crowd clapped for that and when we ended the crusade we came with Kevin to our orphanage. This boy is grateful and thankful to God for the amazing things he did to him after accepting salvation. He is free from drug abuse and he really sympathizes with those who take such drugs.

Currently Kevin is the choir trainer of junior youth and he is very committed in the work of God, He has a passion of being a pastor through the call of God so that he can change more lives including street children who are addict to drug abuse. Kevin is congratulating the Log church for their wonderful support through Pastor Donald and his dear wife Vivian. God bless everyone who gives to support us.

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If you would like to help the children of the Log Church Orphanage of Kisii, Kenya, you may make your check out to “The Log Church” and write “Orphans” on the memo line.

Send it to:

 The Log Church

PO  Box 68

Tripoli Wisconsin 54564

We now need to pay a wire transfer fee with every payment, which amounts to $50 each time, but other than that, your donated money will be used only for purchasing food, clothing, schooling, and other necessities of living. We wait until we have $4000-$5000 before we make the bank transfer to make each transfer more economical. Nothing is held back or diverted for any other purpose. Thanks!

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

REPORT FROM THE LOG CHURCH ORPHANAGE - KISII, KENYA

Dear beloved Dad, Mum, Church and Friends,            

Greetings in the most precious name. We thank God for the love and concern for the Kenya family. We are praying for you all each day. We thank you for your prayers and help which has sustained us to this far may God reward and keep you all.

We are sending email to let all readers of the blog to know that we appreciate the work you are doing here in Kenya. May bless you all.

Ksh.400,000 food budget

Rice=400Kilogram,one kgs=Ksh. 250x400kgs=Ksh.100000

Maize =466kilogram, one kg =Ksh.290 x466=135, 000

Cooking oil =60litres, one litre cost Ksh. 450x16litres=Ksh7000

Omo (a type of soap)  17 kilograms, one kg @ 150=Ksh.2600

Vegetables 160 kgs. 1kgs =Ksh. 160x160kgs=Ksh.25600

Unga ngano (baking flour) 164kgs One kilogram =Ksh.160 x164 kgs=Ksh.26,300

Salt 76Kgs=Ksh.7600

Beans 200kgs one kilogram Ksh. 350=Ksh.70000

Books and pens Ksh. 20000

Transport cost Ksh.5900

 (Corinthians 9:11-12) “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”

Our prayers are with you all, may God bless you all. Stay blessed once again as you are the head not the tail.

Thanks God bless you and provide for your needs also. Thanks. Really good we call you blessed.

Yours in Kind regard Son Joel and Church/Orphanage leadership Kenya.




Sunday, July 24, 2022

A PECULIAR PEOPLE - THE LOG CHURCH SERMON, JULY 24, 2022

As a boy sitting in church and trying to keep my attention focused (and usually failing), I remember one verse of the Bible that set my mind to wander more than once. It still sets my mind to wander.

I quote it here in the King James Version, because that is the only translation that we had when I was a boy: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 KJV).

It seems like this verse was read quite often in our old, Swedish Baptist church. I think our pastor must have liked it. It is a rich verse. In it, the Apostle Peter draws from many Old Testament sources to demonstrate to the Christians of his day the richness of our heritage and our high calling. Each one of those phrases in the verse brings to mind the image of some special way in which God related to his people in the Old Testament. Peter then applies these same phrases to the Christians of today. We also are a chosen race, a royal priesthood.

But I always smiled to myself when I heard the term peculiar people. As a young adolescent, I perhaps should have had more respect for my elders, but I remember looking around the congregation and thinking to myself that the word peculiar maybe did describe some of the people there.

Two Definitions

At the time, I only knew of one meaning for the word peculiar. To me, something that was peculiar was something that was strange or odd.

Thursday, July 21, 2022

CHILDREN OF THE LOG CHURCH ORPHANAGE - PAGE 7

Moffat Miruka – 12 Year-old boy found in 2017 during street evangelism

Moffat was born in the street of Magena and his mother raised him up with the street lifestyle. His mother was a refugee of the post-election violence, finally ending up in Magena. It was there, while living on the street, that she later conceived and gave birth  to Moffat.

In the month of October of the year 2015, we were conducting an evangelism campaign in the market of that town. During our time there, Moffat’s mother surrendered her life to Christ during the alter call carrying her baby Moffat on the arms. It pleased our hearts for this street girl to give her life to the Lord.

Business people within the market were very much moved and touched with this young street girl and blessed her with blankets, a mattress, clothes and some other food stuffs. These business people then gave us a challenge as a church to provide a house for this street girl with her son Moffat.

The church leadership accepted to look for a cheap rental house for this family and kept paying the house until January 2017 when this girl died from heart attack in Nyangusu Hospital under medication.

The body of the deceased was buried in the cemetery but this kid Moffat remained under our care. We therefore took Moffat to our orphanage so that he can grow together with other kids as we provide him with the necessities.

Right now Moffat is embraced with the orphanage lifestyle and he is glad to call the orphanage “Home.” He likes playing football and dancing in church Moffat has a great hope of using talents to glorify God forever and ever more. He appreciates the monthly support from pastor Donald, mum Vivian and other friends. God bless Log church USA.


Jackline Mokua 
 11 year-old girl found in the street in 2016

Two months after we had rescued a boy named Kemiso David out of the street that he requested that we may go and pray for the three other kids that used to be with him there before in the street. We went to that place for prayers with our intercessory team but we did not find all the three kids in the street of the town of Kenyenya.

Only Jackline was there. The other two street kids had gone to join other street children in the next sub-county called Nyamarambe to search for food. The situation for them in Kenyenya where they used to stay was becoming hostile with inadequate food left overs and they were rarely fed by strangers in the town.

We did not follow them to Nyamarambe but we prayed for the young girl Jackline, we bought her some snacks and provided her with two clothes. But at the time when we were leaving, she cried terribly that we should not leave her alone in the street and she was very tired with street life.  She told us that if we were not to go with her she would simply kill herself by taking poison later on after we have gone!

The only option was to bring Jackline to our orphanage to help her survive. Jackline is happy and thankful for the orphanage environment where she is being provided with shelter, food, clothing and she is glad to join school like other kids of the age.

She likes singing and always tells us to pray for her that in future she would be a gospel artist who can bless the nations with good singing and praising God through her voice. She likes to quote that “with God all things are possible”. Thanks to God that through pastor Donald and the Log Church friends she is always being supplied with her needs.

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If you would like to help the children of the Log Church Orphanage of Kisii, Kenya, you may make your check out to “The Log Church” and write “Orphans” on the memo line.

Send it to:

 The Log Church

PO  Box 68

Tripoli Wisconsin 54564

We now need to pay a wire transfer fee with every payment, which amounts to $50 each time, but other than that, your donated money will be used only for purchasing food, clothing, schooling, and other necessities of living. We wait until we have $4000-$5000 before we make the bank transfer to make each transfer more economical. Nothing is held back or diverted for any other purpose. Thanks!

Sunday, July 17, 2022

THE STORY OF THE BIBLE - THE LOG CHURCH SERMON, JULY 17, 2022

The study of the Bible is a daunting task. The history of the Bible spans thousands of years, and its scope is no less than eternity, both in the eternal past and the future. Its themes run from everyday common sense to deep philosophical discussions. The pages of the Scriptures are filled with stories of love, hate, faithfulness, and treachery. There are hundreds of characters with names that are foreign and difficult to pronounce and nearly impossible to remember.

There are many ways to tackle this job of research. The Bible student might study the Bible’s historical aspects or break it down into themes or topics. We can study the biographies of the characters of the Bible, or we might concentrate on an analysis of the doctrines. Scholars have divided the pages and subjects of the Bible and analyzed the text as if it were a laboratory specimen.

It is not that it is wrong to do this. In fact, it can be very helpful. However, the danger in doing only this is we may miss the broad and universal theme of the Bible. We may come to know the parts, but we do not know the whole. To avoid this myopic view of the Bible, it is important to preserve the overrunning premise and topic of the Bible.

Why was it written? If one had to state in a sentence the purpose of the Bible, what would it be?

Friday, July 15, 2022

WEEKLY REPORT FROM PASTOR JOEL, LOG CHURCH KENYA


Dear beloved Dad, Mum, Church and Friends,

Greetings from Kenya family. We are with great appreciation from the children, leaders and the Log churches of Kenya. We are humbled for the love and the heart of caring you have shown towards your family in Kenya. We thank God for each one of you for every financial gift you send and taking time to pray and stand with the work in Kenya. May God reward you for hearing His voice by reading the post on the blog which Overseer  Don posts on the internet. Really you hand of help has help greatly for the work in Kenya.

We thank God for the daily food through you your support. The Church in Kenya is praying for you all each that you may experience the grace of abundance and restoration upon your life. We know that Covid-19 affected you but you have not grown weary in well doing:

 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 58

Expenditure budget of Ksh.500, 000

Ksh.100000 school fees

Ksh.70, 000 plastic chairs for churches.

Ksh.330,000 food budget

Rice=400Kilogram,one kgs=Ksh. 250x400kgs=Ksh.100000

Maize =466kilogram, one kg =Ksh.290 x466=135, 000

Cooking oil =60litres,one litre cost Ksh. 450x60litres=Ksh27000

Omo  17 kilograms , one kg @ 150=Ksh.2600

Vegetables 160 kgs. 1kgs =Ksh. 160x160kgs=Ksh.25600

Unga ngano/baking flour 164kgs One kilogram =Ksh.160 x164 kgs=Ksh.26,300

Salt 76Kgs=Ksh.7600

Transport cost Ksh.5900

Thanks God bless you all, we are praying for you all daily and we pray that God will supply for your needs also and provide for these children here with us. Please accept our thanks for your love towards the work we are doing here. May I inform you that the Lord has been incredibly good to our pastoral ministry.

Also we are busy in doing soul winning as we do evangelism, Keep praying the church members to have food to eat. Please keep us in prayer God to
provide for the poor families in our churches. Through this soul winning work many people have turned up into the kingdom are attending church worship service.

May the Lord bless you for the efforts and your labour for the increase of God’s kingdom. It is our hope that the Lord will give us burning desire to reach out even beyond our boundaries of the land of Kenya, that the poorest of the poor be gathered to worship God. Pray for the financial yokes to be broken in Jesus name.

We request you to join prayer. May shower his blessings to you all as you always pray for us thank you for, hoping to hear from you.

Yours in Christ’s love,

Son Joel and Church Leadership - Log Church Kenya

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If you would like to help the children of the Log Church Orphanage of Kisii, Kenya, you may make your check out to “The Log Church” and write “Orphans” on the memo line.

Send it to:

 The Log Church

PO  Box 68

Tripoli Wisconsin 54564

We now need to pay a wire transfer fee with every payment, which amounts to $50 each time, but other than that, your donated money will be used only for purchasing food, clothing, schooling, and other necessities of living. We wait until we have $4000-$5000 before we make the bank transfer to make each transfer more economical. Nothing is held back or diverted for any other purpose. Thanks!

RECEIPTS BELOW:

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

CHILDREN OF THE LOG CHURCH ORPHANAGE - PAGE 6

Elizabeth Nyabuto, 17 year-old girl found in the streets during post-election violence in 2018

Elizabeth was raised by a single mother who lived at Rongo from the year 2005. She gave birth to Elizabeth there at Rongo shopping center.

When Elizabeth tried to enquire about their family background from her mother, the mother used to rebuke her and eventually told her daughter Elizabeth that she was misplaced. She always told Elizabeth to stop asking about their family background but instead work hard in school!!

Unfortunately the mother of Elizabeth was slaughtered by violence perpetrators who attacked the flat where they were living. By good luck Elizabeth at the time had gone for sugar at the shop!! On her way back to the house she saw these perpetrators cutting her mother’s neck and other neighbors were tightly held also to be killed. She threw down the sugar, but in her hand she was having a change of kshs 150 from sugar. With that money, she picked a motor bike and escaped to Nyamarambe sub-county.

She did not wish to go back to their rental house at Rongo again where her beloved mother was killed before her eyes due to 2012 -2013 post-election violence. One of the teachers at Nyakeyo primary school adopted Elizabeth to his home and later in November the year 2017 the teacher’s family migrated to the nearby country of Tanzania leaving Elizabeth in the care of their elder brother.

This brother chased Elizabeth from his home due to pressure from his wife who did not want   Elizabeth to be adapted to their family. Elizabeth ran to the street and we found her in need of our help. After listening to her, we came with her to the orphanage.

She is now peaceful in the orphanage and she congratulates Pastor Donald, mum Vivian and all the friends who contribute their funds to help Log orphanage. She likes cleaning the church and reciting memory verses. She has a passion of becoming a teacher of the word of God. Blessings to everyone who donates.


Faith Ontiri, 12 year-old girl who came to the orphanage in 2018

The parents and two siblings of Faith were brutally killed at Bomet while they were digging in the garden of their neighbor as an odd job to earn their living!! But Faith was the only one left back home at their rental house. She had remained behind to prepare tea and take it to the garden for her parents and siblings.

This is where she received the shocking sad news about the cruel death of her parents and siblings as a result of post-election violence!!! She felt down on the floor and fainted!! One of her close neighbor and family friend took Faith and hid her to prevent her from being tortured and killed also!!!

Two days later this good neighbor escorted Faith up to the border of our Kisii and Kipsigis community- a place called Sotik. The neighbor returned at the border and gave Faith Ksh 400 to use as a bus fare to wherever she would like to go for refugee within her own tribe Kisii.

Since she was now on her tribe’s land and would not be killed, Faith bordered a vehicle and paid a bus fare. She was heading to unknown direction since she did not have any information concerning her father’s family back ground!!

All of a sudden she saw us having a crusade at Omoriungamu junction and she abruptly stopped the bus!! After coming down the bus, she directly came to the crusade ground. As the crusade continued she was terribly crying!!

Pastor Vincent went close to her and inquired from her what the problem was! She told Pastor Vincent how her parents and siblings were killed, how she was rescued by her good neighbor and she had nowhere to go from there!! After the crusade we discussed the issue with other leaders and decided to have Faith in the orphanage due to here dilemma station.

Faith is happy to belong to the orphanage where she receives love and support through Pastor Donald in connection with Pastor Joel Kisii Log church. She is a very talented singer and she wants to use her talents more especially after school to glorify God. She really appreciates Pastor Donald and all donors for providing to her daily needs. Surely to this far it is the hand of God!!!

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If you would like to help the children of the Log Church Orphanage of Kisii, Kenya, you may make your check out to “The Log Church” and write “Orphans” on the memo line.

Send it to:

 The Log Church

PO  Box 68

Tripoli Wisconsin 54564

We now need to pay a wire transfer fee with every payment, which amounts to $50 each time, but other than that, your donated money will be used only for purchasing food, clothing, schooling, and other necessities of living. We wait until we have $4000-$5000 before we make the bank transfer to make each transfer more economical. Nothing is held back or diverted for any other purpose. Thanks!

Sunday, July 10, 2022

THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH - THE LOG CHURCH SERMON, JULY 10, 2022

“This mystery is great,” the Apostle Paul said, “but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:32).

The mystery of the church is indeed great. In leading up to this statement about Christ and the church, Paul quotes something that God said and which dates back to the dawn of time. Interestingly, what he quotes has to do with the marriage of a man and a woman:

“For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife; and the two shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24 NAS). It is after Paul says this that he continues: “This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”

 In what way is this statement from the time of creation to be understood to be a commentary on the church? What does Paul mean to say when he tells us that when God gave these early instructions for the marriage of a man and a woman, God also meant the words to have an application between Christ and the church? How are the two similar? These are questions that we must ask.

Despite all that we know or think that we know about the church, the greater part remains a mystery. What exactly is the church, and why has God so deeply involved himself with it? 

Descriptions of the Church

The church is described in Scripture not only in terms of a man being united to his wife, but also in many other distinct and diverse ways. Some of these various illustrations that we have seem to clarify many of the aspects of the church, but in other ways, the more the church is explained to us, the more enigmatic it appears.

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

CHILDREN OF THE LOG CHURCH ORPHANAGE - PAGE 5

Harite Jared, 12 year old girl found abandoned in 2018

Harite’s mother was suffering from mental illness!! Her mother was called Mary. She came to Ogembo Sub-county with a child of 5 years (Harite) from unknown place. Mary could spend the night in public facilities like schools and sometimes in the street together with other vulnerable children.

Harite could face challenges of being raised up with mentally disturbed parent but at her age she could not realize the condition of her mother. In the year 2018 we were shocked one morning that Mary was found dead, but her child Harite was walking around her dead mother’s body!!!  Not knowing she was no more!!!

Her body was buried at Nyambera Cemetery. We had to pick the child and come with her in the orphanage through sympathy.  Later on Pastor Vincent took her to Kimai Primary School after we bought her school uniforms, books and a pencil. Upon reaching at school Harite was questioned by class one teacher and the teacher enrolled her in that class.

 We asked our upper classes orphanage children to keep coaching Harite evening times daily after school and by the grace of God Harite is now in class 5. Harite is very proud to be in the orphanage and she is delighted to receive good care and love in this premise, She is a polite girl. She likes making decorations and she wants to be a decorator in the church after school.  This girl Harite say that pastor Donald, mom Vivian and the log church have been a great blessing to her life. Thanks for your donations 


Emmanuel Angwenyi, 10 year old boy found abandoned in 2017

Emmanuel’s mother was a prostitute in Nyakuerigeri bar located at Mogonga. She  served in this bar right from the early age of 16 years  to 23 years when she conceived and bore Emmanuel while staying within the bar premises. When Emmanuel was six years old his mother went through medical examination and the doctor diagnosed her with HIV/AIDs. The same evening after the test, she hanged herself in the room where she was living and died, whereby she left an orphan.

Since the family background of Emmanuel’s mother was not known the government ordered the bar owner to adopt this child Emmanuel but he refused. After persistent pressure from the government the bar owner took Emmanuel to his home but conflict started among the family members wanting this kid Emmanuel to leave their home. Because of disagreement the bar owner went to unknown place and one month later his wife also chased Emmanuel from their family.

This boy Emmanuel became homeless for the one week until when a certain lady brought him to our orphanage as a good Samaritan requesting us to admit Emmanuel and give him care. It was a challenge for us to accept Emmanuel but the situation was really demanding!!!That is how this young boy became part of the orphans.

Now Emmanuel is in class two and he performs very well. Emmanuel is thankful to be in the caring hands of God through the support of Pastor Donald and friends. He is also very much excited to join school like other kids and he has a passion to be a pastor. Emmanuel always that life is good in the orphanage.

************************

If you would like to help the children of the Log Church Orphanage of Kisii, Kenya, you may make your check out to “The Log Church” and write “Orphans” on the memo line.

Send it to:

 The Log Church

PO  Box 68

Tripoli Wisconsin 54564

We now need to pay a wire transfer fee with every payment, which amounts to $50 each time, but other than that, your donated money will be used only for purchasing food, clothing, schooling, and other necessities of living. We wait until we have $4000-$5000 before we make the bank transfer to make each transfer more economical. Nothing is held back or diverted for any other purpose. Thanks!

Sunday, July 3, 2022

WHY WE ARE NOT HAVING COMMUNION THIS SUNDAY - THE LOG CHURCH SERMON, JULY 3, 2022

A long time ago, back when our oldest son, who is now in his forties, was only about four years old, Vivian and I took a team of 30 young kids to Ireland to work on a mission’s project for an entire summer. These were kids who varied in age from thirteen to the late teens—teenagers, I guess you could say. It was not the first experience for Vivian and me to work with this age group of kids. Previously, we had worked together with the youth when we were both in college in the Twin Cities, and after we were married, we were the youth leaders at our church here in Wisconsin.

I liked working with that age of kids. They were full on energy and ideas, and they were discovering life and formulating dreams and ambitions for their futures. Sure, there were problems. The girls had jealousies and bickerings; the boys had their overly competitive attitudes and sometimes fights. But they were young. They were learning to live.

And the life that Vivian and I were trying to help them learn was a life of service—service to one another, and most of all, service to God. We spent that summer teaching the kids that more important than any personal goals and desires that we may have for ourselves are the goals and desires that God is trying to build in us. We spent the summer trying to instill within these young minds and souls that our highest calling in life is to know God and to walk in the way of Jesus.

After that summer in Ireland, Vivian and I also led other teams of youths to other places. We also had several other experiences working with young people learning to live a life of service, including teaching in a Bible College in Venezuela where we had our discipleship groups of students.

But it was that first summer in Ireland that came to my mind this week, because it was the first time that I became closely involved on a daily basis with the lives of a group of people who were learning to walk with Christ. We worked with those kids every day. We had deep discussions with them and we also joked with them. We laughed with them and cried with them. We played with them and we nursed them back to health when they became ill.

We were their leaders. We were their teachers, their pastors, their doctors, their bosses, their mom and their dad.