Today begun at Horizon Christian Fellowship, watching Michael Villoria’s illusions. I loved his passion for the Lord and how he can use something he is passionate about for the Lord, rather than the world. I got to talk to his wife, Debbie, about her testimony and how she came to know the Lord which was really cool. I was really blessed by it.
Then, we served the kids root-beer floats and the teachers came up and asked why. We explained that we wanted to share God’s love and they were so thankful. It was encouraging. We learned small gestures, like pouring soda, mean a lot. If you are faithful with little, God blesses you with more.
After lunch, we headed to the Laundromat. I immediately met a woman named Paula. I got to pay for her laundry and help her transfer loads and fold her clothes. She shared how much of a blessing it was because she just lost her house and had to move in with her unstable daughter, because that was all she had. A left-handed woman, her left arm was paralyzed, too.
As we were talking, she opened up about her relationship with Christ. She explained how on one day, her son Julian both graduated from high-school and committed suicide, she endured a stroke, and Julian’s son was born. She talked about how she had lived with guilt for a while, trying to do the right thing as a mother. She said God delivered her from that and that God is a loving God. She was very excited about God’s faithfulness and spending an eternity with God in heaven.
As time continued, I got to encourage her more. We talked about trusting in God’s promises and I shared with her Ephesians 6: 10-12 about putting on the armor of God and standing firm against the spiritual battle. I told her the battle is already won and, at the end of the day, she had done what God called her to do by raising her children in a God-fearing household. I asked to pray for her and got the team together to pray around her. She gave us handkerchiefs as a gift and I told her that whenever we use them we will pray for her. I walked her to her car and she gave me so many hugs. She said she was so blessed because young kids don’t do this anymore.
At the end of the day, we headed over to Horizon Christian Fellowship for an awesome asian-cuisine dinner. I sat with Rocky, a graduate from CCBCI, and I was able to encourage her in her walk with the Lord. We attended the prayer meeting before services and then headed into chapel for service. The service was awesome! Chaz Yandall taught out of Jeremiah, Daniel and 2 Corinthians. I was encouraged by Daniel purposing in his heart not to defile himself. It’s so important not to be negatively influenced by the world. Chaz did a great job helping us understand the importance of committing yourself to honoring God and being a proper ambassador for Christ.
The night ended with worship. I was convicted by the lyrics “with all I am, I praise you”, because I realized that I was putting God in a box. I want to praise Him all the time, not just at church or on outreaches, but during the in-between. I want to be a good influence to my classmates, too, not just the lost because God is worthy.
-Monique Correia on day 15
