Motorcycles, Music, and Spaghetti

I spent several hours on Friday and Saturday cleaning the church to make it look great for a spaghetti dinner we had last Saturday night. I cleaned bathrooms, several counters, a big serving counter, chairs, and tables, and probably more that I am forgetting. The Harvest Riders (Christian Motorcyclists Association) sponsored a spaghetti dinner at our church to draw in the motorcyclists in the area and get them interested in going to church. They cooked all the spaghetti, salad, and bread that we had for the dinner. They also brought ice cream and cookies for dessert, and handed out new testaments and tracts to the people that came. We had live Christian music from a band called Theory's Over which is part of an organization called Youth With a Mission. They are a praise and worship band made up of young adults from all over the world. I met a really nice girl named Keri from Australia who has a real heart for the Lord. She is the main vocalist for the band. The children from the church came to the dinner and they really enjoyed the band also. They want them to come back every week and play for them. We had about 30 people from the area so it seemed to be a great success.
Sunday went really well. The children did much better at behaving themselves than before and really opened up and shared things about their lives when we were talking about telling the truth. Today we went to the church at 2 so Mr. Burdett could have a Bible study with Mr. Dowling and the parents of the two boys I am most burdened for came to join in on the study. It made us all excited. One step at a time this family may be changed for the Lord.

Prayer for the Children

The children of Hungry Horse desperately need prayer. They come form bad home situations and that effects how they behave. On Sunday we took them home from church early because they would just not behave well enough to continue the service. They are not taught how to behave at home and many of them continue to repeat the same bad behaviors as their parents. My prayer is that God will use their leaders to get through to them somehow so that they may be changed for Him. I want them to be able to set examples for their parents of how good healthy lives can be lived.

A Different Kind of Church

Well, I can honestly say I bet most of you have not been to a church like the one I am working in here in Montana. Canyon Baptist Church used to be an old bar and restaurant. The main Sunday school classroom still has the back bar on the back wall. The sanctuary is a room with chairs set up that now has a stage and microphones. It still has the big kitchen area like the restaurant before it. Besides the way it looks, another unique fact is that most of those who attend are children and teenagers ranging in age from 5 to 15. There are only 5 adults counting me and all of the ones besdides me spend about an hour or more picking up the children to bring them to church and an hour taking them home later. Today I taught Sunday school for the first time with them and it was a good time. For the most part they were real attentive. The service consisted of a few songs followed by a Bible story done on a felt board, a modern day story, and a couple more songs. After the service, they all receive a snack before loading the bus to be taken back home.
Two of the teenage girls went to pizza hut and then came back to the house with us. We played games and had lots of fun. The part I enjoyed most though was just talking to them and getting to know them. Already there is a burden in my heart for them. I want them to come to know the Lord and realize that in Him it doesn't matter how the world sees them. Even a church full of children there can still be amazing things done for the Lord.

Beauty

You guys would be amazed at the beauty of the world around me! I am reminded every day of God's presence when I look out the window and can see the mountains and beautiful trees from where I stand. The whole place is blanketed in snow and looks so majestic. We went for a walk down the mountain we live on to the drugstore. It wasn't to cold just my cheeks got a little frozen. Then later in the day we went for a drive so I could see the rest of the town and the lake and river. Last night we got a lot more snow and this morning I had my first experience in shoveling it off the driveway and cars. Today I will take my first trip to the actual church and tomorrow I will teach my first sunday school lesson to the kids. I'm keeping busy and having new adventures everyday.

Hello!