As you can see from the sign, one of the changes this year has been signs posted around all the pageant areas except for the street. Apparently there will be no talking about Jesus Christ on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints property. God is so good. Our trip has been so great. Our serving the Manti community has created such a buzz that we have been inundated with requests for us to serve. We will be painting over graffiti, continuing to do some yard work and digging a ditch tomorrow. Chip is getting us help from some of the other Christian groups as well. Word spreads fast in a little town like Manti. Tonight the Stake President for the area came looking for "the Rising Tide" and wanted to meet and shake hands with our group. We have invited him to several events we have planned tomorrow. Please pray that we will have some time to talk with him tomorrow as well.
Yesterday we were able to see the College House and Cafe and again hear the miraculous story of how God provided. We were able to help Chip and Jamie move a huge pile of dirt to different places around their yard. We will be hanging out and having a meal with them tomorrow! After a hard day of work we hit the streets of Manti and had great conversations with LDS, then watched the Manti Miracle Pageant.
Today we headed up to the streets around BYU and went door to door to the off campus houses. This is always a highlight for me as the residents are almost exclusively students and many are returned LDS Missionaries who know what it's like to go door to door. Many times I will hear that they had promised themselves that they would never turn away a missionary from their experience and so we usually get into great talks right away. Today was no different. Every team had a great experience. We then ate lunch on campus and again had meaningful talks with LDS students.
It is raining off and on as I am typing this (our poor campers!) but the weather stayed clear enough for the evangelism time to be uninterrupted. I can't say as much for the performance. It was amazing to look around the Manti streets and see EVERYONE in our group engaged in lengthy conversations all night. We of course had ice cream at Miller's and then came back to hang out, talk and pray.
Please pray for clear weather tomorrow and continued wisdom and discernment as we share in love the truth of God's word. If you have been praying for boldness, please continue as even our most timid have been engaged in conversations. I am so proud of our college, high school and younger kids that are sharing and asking great questions.
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3 comments:
This sounds like the best trip ever. I am so proud of all of you and to have been a part of your family! This trip is special because you've simply applied the character of our group to the present environment there in Manti. In other words, you've simply taken the RT to Utah and lived it out there on the streets and neighborhoods of Manti.
Just a week ago we were serving Vic's neighbor here in our own community, and a week later you are doing the same work two states away.
It's amazing to hear about how God can use your SERVICE to change hearts. I know that you are probably involved in many conversations simply due to the fact that you are willing to love FIRST. You are earning the right to speak into their lives. That approach takes time and labor. It makes me wonder what would happen if we were part of that community on a full-time basis. I bet you are modelling something that Chip and Junelle can extend throughout the rest of the year (and I bet they already do!)
Sometimes I think we hear the Biblical commands of God related to love and we mistakenly think that God is trying to tell us something about 'character'; that He is trying to tell us how we should behave morally. But God may instead be trying to tell us something about 'evangelism'; how we can draw others to the truth. So love the people of Manti and bring them to the truth...
Waiting for the next post!
jim
We continue to pray for you all. What an awesome example you all have been to Manti - living out your faith in our Lord and Savior. We are so blessed to hear some of what has happened there - we truly look forward to hearing more!
May God give you all much more grace and energy as you continue on the mission field in Utah and then back home. "As long as we have the light of day, we must work -not to conquer, acquire, accumulate and retire, but to make visible the invisible Christ by touching people with His love. We can then be confident that our 'labor is not in vain in the Lord' (1 Cor 15:57-58)...In God's eyes, true greatness is serving others" - I read that and thought of you all. We appreciate the updates!
carol
That is so great to hear of the full days of speaking and engaging the people of Utah and sharing the love of Christ in word and deed. Grace continue to be with you and may the boldness of the Holy Spirit be yours in full measure. We miss you all and each day we pray for you.
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