We Carry On In His Strength & Thank You For Praying
0 comments | Posted by St Peters on 15 Jan 2010 in Missionary Support ::
From: Catherine and David Cotton
Friday, 15 January 2010 8:19 AM
Dear Praying Friends,
Thank you to all who prayed for our activities last weekend, and for the return e-mail messages of encouragement etc.
On Thursday I bought the food for the banquet for 20 youth and an afternoon tea for 5 families. As I spent the money I had to trust for our own needs for the month. The following day a friend handed an envelope to David and it was an anonymous gift of 50€ from someone else – which was just perfect timing! It was like the Lord was confirming if we step out in faith for His purposes, He provides – but after we step out!! (We’ve learnt this before, by the way, but stillneed reminding!!)
On Friday afternoon I realised as I cooked that I didn’t have the generous spirit required to clean, cook and clean up for 20 youth some of whom I didn’t know very well. I had to pray that that the Lord would give me His love for them. We all pitched in as a family – Laura helped me set the tables up and make it look attractive, Sophie helped cook, David and Joshua did lots of running around. Sophie organised games and then they all had the meal. The local Spanish Pastor, Josue, spoke between main and dessert and also helped us run back and forward from the kitchen! It seemed like they were all relaxed and didn’t rush away but sat around chatting at the end and some to the Pastor, who though local, most had not met before. I think he was encouraged to see that number of youth from the villages. Please continue to pray for these young lives, some who have a little faith and some who have none.
On Saturday we were exhausted and so it was hard getting the house cleaned up and furniture reorganised for the five families coming. After a time of eating and chatting, David showed the displays for various countries at New Year and showed the Sydney fireworks. He asked them what they did at New Year and if they had special traditions. After listening and responding to their thoughts, he spoke of new year resolutions in Australia and then about how although that is a tradition, he has found that real change only comes in his life through having faith in Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. We then moved on to speak of the symbols on the Sydney Harbour bridge and on to chitchat. We didn’t know how they would take his openess about his faith but no one ran out! One family who we have got to know through Joshua playing tennis, has since spoken of a paddle tennis competition between the 2 fathers and the 2 sons, and David started teaching this father English just this week. We are encouraged as they don’t seem put off and we are glad that people know we have faith. All the families who came would be Catholics who don’t attend church and our prayer is that they would see a difference between a personal faith and religiosity.
We are very much aware of our weaknesses and frailty, needing to look to the Lord for His equipping and for His love for those around us.
Furthermore, David has received some amazing insights into the thinking of Spaniards through his English classes this week, where all his students have been talking and writing about their thoughts and opinions of each of Santa Claus, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and the Three Wise Men (who are the focus of the Spanish celebration each year on 5-6 January, which is actually bigger than Christmas here!) Two of them said as they were leaving today, “Can we talk about this more next class?”, which was rather unexpected!
So – we carry on in His strength and thank you again for being the sort of people we can send the (previous) prayer request to and now this follow up.
We attach some photos of the occasion too. (not listed here)
God bless you all. With much love and thanks,
Catherine and David, and Sophie, Laura and Joshua too
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