There might be people who think baking cookies isn’t high on the “service to God” list...
I do...
God can use ANY ability, skill, gift that we might have – for His glory – and to be a blessing to others... Including – baking cookies... (Consider our body... we don’t think about eyebrows or nose hairs very often... but they serve an important service...) We love Medin... she comes to El Jordan every November/December for a couple weeks... and makes thousands of delicious cookies... she makes them into scrumptious plates... and we give them to churches, individuals, families and businesses who in some way, big or small... have helped/encouraged El Jordan, our students or volunteers....
I always take 3 or 4 plates to the International Fair office... we give them to Buby and Marco... two managers who have always been helpful in getting our passes changed from individual names to “institutional” passes... We also give one to the little man (Romer is his name) who is in charge of locking up all the pavilions at night... and sometimes to the gateman...
Well... when our space for the fair fell through on Thursday afternoon, I went to sit outside Don Buby’s office on Friday morning... When he got in, another man who arrived after me rushed in... so I waited a bit more... Eventually I was able to talk to him... I was a bit intimidated because he is such a busy man... and in offices where most people dress up, I was in my usual jeans and t-shirt... I told him our sad tale... who we worked with, how many years we had come to the fair... how important this was to our students... why we no longer had a space... and then asked if there was some way he could help us get a space... even if we had to pay something... He asked me a few questions – who helped us, what churches, where El Jordan is... and “Are you the one who brings us those cookies on plates?” =)
He gave me no answer – just to come back “tomorrow” between 11 and 11:30 and he’d talk to the sales people... Here in Bolivia, when someone tells you to come back tomorrow, sometimes (usually?) it is just an easy way to get you out of their office... and they’ll find another excuse the next day.. and the next... Everyone was waiting anxiously when I got back to El Jordan... when they heard “mañana” they started thinking about other ideas just in case... (like finding a Christian who has a stand... and asking for a tiny corner)...
Don Buby was talking with someone when I got there... with several others waiting outside... I relaxed back in my chair, ready for a long wait... when Marco (the other manager we give cookies to) walked by and told me to come into his office... I was expecting to have to explain the whole situation again... when he got out a little plan of where the outdoor artisan booths are... pointed out which ones were still free... and asked which one we wanted... He colored in my little spot... wrote “Jordan” on top... and said... okay... your passes will be ready on Wednesday... and that was it... I had probably waited less than 5 minutes!!!
“How much does it cost?” “No, don Buby said it wouldn’t be anything...” THANK YOU GOD!!! Wow... I pushed a little further... “Do the passes come with individual names?” Without hesitation he said, “If they do, bring them to me and I’ll make them institutional!” Another THANK YOU GOD!!!
Our space is VERY small (basically enough for a meter and a half table) and it is outside so we will have to pack up every night, BUT, it we are in, it is FREE and we have INSTITUTIONAL passes!!! Yeah!!! Please pray with us that God will richly bless our students who have been working diligently with their hands... The Bible says, “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” Ephesians 4:28
Thank God... (and Medin... because I’m sure her cookies helped sweeten the way!!!)
The fair starts on Friday the 16th... and runs until Sunday the 25th... so you can be praying...
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Dayana is in the hospital for maybe up to 15 days... she was on a gurney in emergency for close to 24 hours, waiting for a bed to open up... but now is actually on a bed... she is such a brave little girl... never once have I heard her whimper or cry... I wished that she would... I think it was harder to see her silently shivering and shaking with fever and pain... not asking for any pity or comfort... Poor little thing... The government only has health insurance for kids up to 5 years old... so Adela and Elio need to figure out how to cover the hospital bill and daily prescriptions... When I went to see Dayana on Friday afternoon, she already looked a bit better... although she still had a fever... Please pray that she will recover quickly and completely... with no complications for her one kidney... (Elio, the stepdad was thinking that all of this was either Dayana’s or Adela’s fault... Please pray for the “health” of the whole family...)
Thank you... thank you for praying for these situations...
We appreciate it so much...
Corina (for us all)