Saturday, March 28, 2015

Speak Lord

1Samuel 3:9 Speak Lord for your servant is listening! 
This verse is a great example of dialog with God, “Not monolog.”  To many times we are quick to speak to God and not wait for Him to answer.  Samuel replied to God’s call, "Speak Lord for your servant is listening."  This is something we are trying to be in the habit of doing,  “Listening to God”

It is Thursday and we are in the village waiting to do Bible studies, beading, and Doctrine training with the men.  We are reminded of this verse that tells us that we need to be still and listen to our God who will answer and guide us in our daily lives.  We pray on a daily basis that God goes before us to prepare the people to receive Him and that He leads us to do the things He wants us to do not what we want to do.


As we stop and listen we hear the sound of a joyful noise.  Every Thursday morning the school has church service in the church building and the teachers take a turn each week leading the study.  This morning, like all Thursday mornings, you hear the sound of drums and the joyous noise of children singing praises to God.  I am able to make out some of the words like: Katonda “God” or Yesus “Jesus” Amena “Amen”.  Yes, we are teaching English in the classrooms, but these songs have been sung in their language for many years.


Janine is wrapping up her second beginners class for beading and sewing.  She is also finishing up with her first advanced class for beading and sewing.  The next task is to start singling out the women she will use for making products to sell in the States and in the area markets.  

Simon is teaching Farming God’s Way and holds class in the garden and in the classroom as well.  What a great opportunity being able to teach the principles in the classroom and then take the students out to the demonstration garden to apply what they learn.  The students are very attentive.  Many of the students understand the local methods of farming, but now they are being taught the Biblical methods.  The hands on training they are receiving is priceless.
We are both so grateful for this opportunity to serve alongside Simon with the teachers, adults and children of t he village.  “Katonda ki li bulungi” God is good!

Bruce’s wood working class is coming along well.  The P7 students are in the process of making 10 new desks.  Most of these students have never used a tape measure, saw or a hammer.  We are presently working on cutting and sanding all the pieces of the desk.  Each desk has 16 pieces and the boys and girls are taking turns sawing and sanding.  They are so eager to learn and we are just as eager to teach.  The goal is for the P7 students to complete these desks so they may use them as they move into the fourth classroom.  Yes, they will be the first to use the desks they have made.

Spoiler alert!  If you don’t want to hear what is coming next, plug your ears.  Lol It involves support.

Janine and I will be coming home for a visit the first week of July.  We will need to seek additional support to make up for the shortage we had when we came out, and to make up for a few who had to stop their support due to lack of funds.  Many of you are supporting us on a monthly basis.  We can't thank you enough for your faithfulness in sending in support!!  If you send in a special gift, quarterly donation, or annual donation and you do not receive a Personal Thank You from us, please let us know(via email).   There is a chance we did not receive it or we did not receive a notification that you sent it in.  Sorry!

Please remember to put "Coker Support" on your donation or it could go into ECM's general budget.


We are so excited to share how God has been working in the village!  We will be sending out a note to inform everyone where and when we will be speaking while we are home!