FAIR SUNSHINE

The LORD in His tender mercy has once more breathed upon the smoking flax and caused its faint ember to burn afresh. Such encouragements have often come unto me in seasons most needful, arriving not a moment too late, but in that wise providence of the Father who knows well the precise hour wherein His child is weary and near unto fainting. I have received many such gracious helps from His hand—those quiet mercies which seem small unto the eyes of men, yet are glorious refreshings unto a discouraged soul. I have often considered the matter of labor and fruitfulness, and have found my own thoughts too frequently governed by the feeble judgments of human reason. A man casts a seed into the earth and departs from it; he leaves it there unseen and forgotten beneath the soil, and when he passes by in another season, behold, a tree has risen where once there appeared nothing but bare ground. So does the Lord often work in ways hidden from our sight. Many a time have thoughts arisen within me...

My labour of tract distribution led me to a group of young adults who were diligently minding their wares near the edge of Santa Maria. As they fell within my appointed route, I offered them a Gospel tract, but they politely decline. I inquired softly whether their rules forbade them from accepting materials from without, yet they exchanged only knowing, silent glances. I then sought to court their engagement, asking if they might share the substance of their own doctrinal books, but the boy who was clearly in charge abruptly bade me simply to take a volume and leave. The exchange was utterly one-sided; I was, in effect, begging them to share the Gospel with me, yet I was astonished to be directed to seek the counsel of a medical psychologist instead! I must have appeared as a pitiful lunatic in their eyes, judging by the cruel advice so readily dismissed. Oh, these poor, poor souls. They flatly refused engagement and promptly told me, “I invoke my right to silence.” The young man t...

Our new teacher, Grandpa Willie ( Lolo Willie ) has appeared three times now assisting in teaching the children regarding questions on the New City Catechism. The children are reportedly more excited now than ever to attend each session, typically lasting 30 minutes, which includes a short overview of major stories in the bible. Since their families do not open the bible in their homes, it is good that we are enabled to assist the children by presenting the bible to them in its proper context and in a biblical fashion, emphasizing that the Word of God holds supreme authority above all.  We are currently in the Old Testament. We have included simple typology, to show Christ in every story. After this, we move on to the questions and answers of catechism consisting of 51 important subjects of the faith. It gives us great joy every time we hear the children answer past questions on their own, declaring "we are not our own but belong to God." Lastly, the children recite the 10 c...