[This is El Puente, our mission base. We live behind it and also conduct many ministries from this site, such as our women’s Bible study.]
We have been praying about
starting a Bible study for women and had our first meeting Tuesday
morning. At first no one showed
up. Eight of us gringos (or
gringas if we want to get technical), were there promptly at 7:30 anxious to
see who would come. We had
announced our study at multiple men’s Bible studies, asking them to tell their
wives, at church, and had extended many personal invitations to our neighbors,
friends, and chance encounters on the streets. I personally was very excited about starting this study
because a few women who live next door to us had asked me specifically about a
women’s Bible study. Needless to
say when no one showed up we were a bit discouraged. We spent the rest of the time together praying and God has a
sense of humor because after about 30 minutes of prayer we opened our eyes and
realized a Nicaraguan woman was sitting in our circle. She had come in while we were praying and
none of had noticed!
It’s funny how God often reveals just enough to keep us trusting Him. Just when we could have been discouraged he gave us a glimpse of his plan to renew our faith. He doesn’t have to, but He often does. The Lord is teaching me so much about having more faith-truly believing in what he says. Yesterday morning was a great reminder that every heart counts. Cynthia, the one woman who came to the Bible study, may be the only reason we are having this study. Or maybe God will bring more. Regardless of numbers, his faithfulness astounds me and he is teaching me more of what it means to trust in him.
Please pray for this Bible study, that we would honor the Lord in the way we conduct it, that it would be a safe haven in this community, a place for women to come together and learn more about Jesus together and to be encouraged by fellowship.
