A Standing Invitation

Today we are at the apartment. Walt worked on some presentations for the coming weekend Bible Camp and on testing out how the Skype conference can be projected for all to see. We also went grocery shopping which sounds easy but had a twist. While attempting to check out the cashier said the Bank of America card won't work because something is down. Cash was needed but we didn't have enough on hand. He tried the ATM at the store but with no luck. So Walt hoofed it, in a huff, across town to the ATM he usually uses to get the money. He got the money and his exercise and we got the groceries. Few things turn out as planned in Ecuador. We caught a taxi and got the goods 'home.'
 
One thing we were able to do today is appreciate what we have in the United States. It is so easy to go to services. Just get in the car, turn the key and go. We can be and are very independent in the States because most everyone including the youth have a car to use. No buses or taxis or continuous load music, road noise or TV screens to contend with. We ride in the comfort of our own car!!

When we get to the services the song leaders and organist are ready and waiting. The songs have been picked out and maybe even practiced. The services start on time. The speaker has studied the text long before because a schedule has been made and distributed to the speakers.

We sit down in the pew, the song leader announces the song or hymn. We only need reach over and take the recently published hymnal with hundreds of songs from the rack and begin to sing. It is so easy!!

Some of our children might talk during the services or otherwise annoy us by doing something small. In contrast there are very few children at the services in Ecuador. They don't exist. They were never born. In the States the children light our lives at services with their actions and smiles. "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:14)

Alison Mikkola at services in Chiquicha Valley

 

At the end of the services the Service Director announces the schedule for the rest of the day and the week coming. Can we be any more informed then that?? Well yes, we can get the schedule on our I-Phone too. To boot nearly every home has a monthly schedule taped or fastened in some means to the refrigerator or bulletin board. Is there any excuse for not knowing when and where there are Christian activities?

When we get home from church we can pick up the Bible, Voice of Zion or one of many other Christian books or periodicals and read. Or you can check on line for services in another congregation and listen in. In Ecuador many still do not have Bibles, don't get or can't read the Voice of Zion.

During the week there will be Bible Class, Song Services, or maybe a youth discussion. Possibly it will be the week that the local board has its monthly meeting to discuss the work of the Kingdom in the local area. And yes there will be Sunday School, Day Circle or home services too.

We have much to be thankful for when we can go to services or other activities many times in a month. It's like sitting down each week for a prepared meal and with a standing invitation. Isn't it as pictured in the words of Psalm 23:5? "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

Probably we all have taken the above for granted. In Ecuador there are services and Bible Class but not often. Getting to them can be stressing. Transportation and tight budgets are always a problem here. It seems as though the majority of Ecuadorian believers just get by.

The planning and organizing of services here are in an infant stage. The believers here don't take collections although recently there has been talk of fund raising among a few people. They don't pay dues either. They have home services which is an ancient and honorable setting as mentioned in the Bible. Yet the Ecuadorians don't have a nice local church to gather in either, some place to call their own either.

Walt and Avis