January 12, 2006

• Our ladies classes and Far Above Rubies classes have begun again this week, after our holiday break and we are off to a great start. We started a new study on prayer in our ladies class and are continuing our study of Proverbs 31 in our FAR class.

  
  

  It's always amazing to me how often God seems to coordinate the direction of our studies with what we need the most at that time. Our study on prayer has opened a discussion about how a lack of love can cloud our path to communion with God. The greatest command to love God above all else and to love others as ourselves encourages us to put His love into action ... to show who He is, by showing love to others. We've been given several opportunities to do just that and I'm so proud that our sisters have taken the challenge with a cheerful and enthusiastic heart.

  
  

  Riina's love for children and her desire to serve the 'least of these' has been a wonderful example to our other girls. Riina, Kayli, Merlin and Heidi have been honored to spend some time at one of our area orphanages, playing and loving on those precious little ones. It took some time to get permission for Kayli to join them but Riina's sweet heart and willingness to go the extra mile enabled her to make her first visit last week. She's been on cloud-nine since then and looks forward with anticipation to their next visit on Saturday morning. This has been Kayli's greatest wish since she arrived in Estonia ... to work and visit the orphanages here. Because we are foreigners, red tape can sometimes get in the way but we continue to look for opportunities to serve in the other children's homes here, as well.

  
  

  We have also been blessed with an opportunity to reach out to the homeless of Tartu and we are moving forward to grab that too. Our Far Above Rubies class has taken us to a study on 'resourcefulness' which the girls are able to put into practice as they minister to the homeless here. With the leftover fabric from our crazy quilt  project, the girls are making simple drawstring bags that will be filled with needed items for those at the shelter. After our bible study tonight, they lined up their fabric and began cutting away. Over the next few weeks, toiletry items, socks, needed winter items, etc. will be gathered and tucked away in the handmade bags. Prayerfully, we'll be able to deliver them to those staying at the shelter very soon.

  
  

    

  
  

  It is such a joy to watch our young Christians take the principle of love in action so seriously and to be willing to do what it takes to show who Jesus really is.

  
  

  "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This, then is how we know that we belong to the truth ..."   I John 3:18,19

  
  

   

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