Mama Mia! We improve the Jersey shore! And for those of you who wish to raise your cultural level, here is this week's edition of "The Italian Gringo," my weekly account of our shenanigans, I mean, adventure, in Mexico:
Greetings, Gringos! For many of us, the weather has improved, and we sure did need it.
Just as we were getting ready to quit, attendance at our Saturday morning children's church has gone back up. Behavior is fairly good, and the kids are learning. Don't quit serving God because it's rough. Our pastor told us that when they first arrived, their goal was to start ten new churches in one year. One year later, their three biggest financial supporters had died, and they had no new churches. Ready to quit his ministry and return to the US, he was suddenly called to become pastor of his present church, and things are going well.
Things are going well at the orphanage, and I am now there four times a week. Gringo volunteers are all over the place, and Annabelle, who founded the place, is struggling to deal with her demotion by the board. People whom she is hostile to are serving in many areas, and she seems to be coming to terms with it.
The Bible teaches us that salvation is the result of God's grace (kindness). We don't deserve it, and we can't earn it. But it also teaches us that successful Christian service is also the result of God's grace. The Apostle Paul wrote that he worked harder than anyone else, but it wasn't really him, it was the grace of God in him.
See you next week,
Vicente
They make Italians look bad. Plus......I am a real Italian
