So, we had some church last night! Four of us together. God is so amazing. Julie and I taught Jessica and Candy some worship songs and we translated one into Chinese. I taught on God's Love for Us as shown through Jesus Christ. Julie translated into Chinese to make sure all was understood. Learning from Pastor Jeff, I told her my requirement: just say exactly what I say...don't change it. Some points required additional explaination, but all was understood. At the end we prayed and I asked both Candy and Jessica if they were saved. Candy said yes, but Jessica said no. I asked her if she wanted to have eternal life and I laid out God's plan of salvation for us. She said yes! I helped her pray a sinner's prayer and she became my sister in Christ!!! Then it was time to pray for Candy and a new job. I asked her if she had been Baptized in the Holy Spirit; she said no. I gave a short explaination on the Holy Spirit and why he is important. I asked Jessica if she wanted to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit as well. Not surprisingly, she said yes! Both ladies received the Holy Spirit last night!
Afterwards the girls said the reason they were able to make their decisions was because of the Chinese translation (I had brought some Chinese/English New Testaments and Julie translated). God completely set this up! I only met Julie the night before and told her to come. I had been inviting some other Christians from churches that I've been to and the reply has been: "Oh, you're having a Bible study...how nice." I'd say no...we're having church. "You can't do that! You're not a pastor! You don't have any training."
But I say, I rather be obedient to God and have no training than to sit at home and do nothing. And I know I have the best teacher...the Holy Spirit!!! Bible school is nice and fine...nothing wrong with going...but at this point and in this place, what more do I need? Jessica's salvation and baptism as well as Candy's is so much more important and more valuable to me than being accepted by the Christian community here. I thank God for moving last night. I thank him for the divine appointments he's given me. And I looking forward to next week. I'm praying that more people will come...I feel like Paul in Acts 28:30-31.
Yesterday morning I attended a new church called Dayspring. I don't know if it's affiliated with Dayspring in the US. The pastor is from Germany and preached in English. He talked about trusting God in order to walk in our purpose and destiny. It really was so encouraging. I had asked God this week, "What am I doing having church at my house?" He said to me, "Feed them and you will be fed."
I'm going on a retreat of sorts for the holiday on Wednesday. We will go to a mountain, have a hike, then go to lunch and have a time of worship and teaching. And next week, I will be attending a cell group, which meets at a decent time!!!
Praise God!!! All of this on the 5th anniversary of being Baptized in the Holy Spirit at New Hope! I couldn't ask for a better gift! One salvation and Two Baptisms in the Holy Spirit.....Alright God!!
We wrote the English and Chinese lyrics and tacked them on my wall. (Sorry it's sideways...I'm on the computer at school and can't read the Chinese to change it).
A time of worship.
Me, Jessica and Candy!
The famous one handed shots!! Me, Candy, Jess, and Julie.