posted by Donald on 09/13/07
The first great thing about God’s timetable is that it includes things, basic, foundational things, that continue in repetition and never change. The second thing about God’s timetable is that there are other things, real life things, that He can change at will because He loves us and wants to teach us His character.
This Thursday was our grand opening and in the morning meeting, one simple command from Wes was “Be flexible”.
All through the week the team had already had multiple opportunities to demonstrate some flexibility as the press made its appearance many times, but this was the climax. Drum-roll, red carpet and banners were all in place. Just after 11:00 reporters, camera men and photographers entered the bank, one of four rooms that they highlighted. We were at a good point in the class routine though. A few more students practiced making a deposit and filling out a deposit slip for them to see. With about ten minutes left in the class we slowed down and took our time with those last students while the ones sitting down on the bank’s waiting benches answered questions for the reporters. Then we lined up and took the students out into the hallway. There, Mr. Lyons came to stay with them while the press interviewed the teachers. About five minutes later, we took the next class, coming in from the Library. It was great.
The first thing we normally do at the bank is have the students take a customer number printed by a computer near the door. Here I had time to give an introduction to the bank and talk about the value of saving money. The students were standing in a line while I stood not far from some of the remaining reporters. Soon after that they left and there were no major changes to our class schedule! We did it!
Another surprise today was a pleasant one. As the Martins moved into their new apartment, they found a suit in the closet. It had once belonged to the landlord, who worked for EVA airlines. Knowing that our aiport station was modeled after EVA, they gave us the suit, just like that! More often we wear casual attire during our classroom sessions but now, if the need arises, we’ll have a suit “well-suited” to the occaision.
So amidst the many things that happen (or don’t happen) pray with us that God would continue to exceed our expectations. On His timetable there is defintely repetition with variation! Like a rendition of Handle’s Messiah the work here is a joy for me to experience first-hand.
FLEXIBILITY
Being willing to alter my plans and expectations
when God provides something better
7 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports
Have you ever never mowed your lawn? Well, this year was the first time for us. No, it wasn’t intentional; it was just that our lawn mower kept breaking down and has thus been in the shop all summer. Of course we keep the grass around our house cut really nice (that is Jonathan’s job!) but as for the rest of the seven acres, we let it grow wild!
If you ask me, I think it is kind of nice to have a “real” field. It’s beautiful to see the grass waving back and forth as the wind blows down the valley. The color is simply spectacular too. When the late afternoon sun streams over the grass, the hillside glows with golden light. The tall grass also provides a great habitat for countless insects and wild flowers, which, in my opinion, are great photographic subjects. Of course, if you ever have to wade through it in the morning before the sun has time to dry up the dew, then there’s no way to keep from getting completely soaked. But what’s wrong with that?!
