From the Kids

Wednesday morning I was reading to my little guys. They had been impressed by how many books I owned (based on how many I've read to them) until I told them that most of them came from the library. They they reminded me that I have to give them back!

Once I got on with the reading, this conversation occurred:

Small 5-year-old girl: How do you know what the story is?

Me (slightly perplexed): I can read. 
Me (pointing to the words): The story is right here.

Her: Those letters tell the story?

Me: Yes. The letters make words and they tell the story.

She can't read quite yet and was quite surprised to learn that letters can make words that can then make stories! She (and some of the others) were quite impressed that I can read all of the words!

I love 5-year-olds; they're so easily impressed.

Happy First Day of Spring!

 "The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month."   ~Henry Van Dyke

Two weeks ago it felt like spring. Last week winter returned with a vengeance (cold and snow). This week it's been starting to warm up again. By my calculations, we are moving from second winter to spring of deception (as some have called it) and have at least one more return of winter before mud season and proper spring.

Evidence Not Seen: A book review

A friend recommended Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose, and I'm very glad that she did. The book was heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time.

The book is subtitled A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II. Darlene tells her story as a young, newly married missionary to New Guinea. She left her home for language school in January 1938 and landed in Indonesia that August. The plan was five years and then a furlough; the reality was almost 8 years, four of them in a Japanese POW camp on one of the islands. 

Darlene's story is heartbreaking. Anyone who has studied WWII history knows that the Japanese POW camps were not a good place to be: they included hard labour, little food, unsanitary conditions, sickness, beatings, and fear. The camp was for women and children; Darlene and her husband were separated and she was never to see him again as he died in a different camp. At one point she was taken to a notorious prison and interrogated/tortured as a suspected spy. It was a dark time.

Darlene's story is also beautiful. Her faith shines through in the midst of everything. She learns again and again to trust God and that He will never leave her. She witnesses to the much feared Japanese leader of the camp; her faith and words touch him and he becomes more gentle, eventually visiting her in the prison and saving her life. Many years later, she will learn that he eventually became a believer. Her faith in the middle of horrendous circumstances was beautiful and encouraging.

I absolutely recommend Evidence Not Seen.

When You Are Speaking With Others

"If she sins, speak of God's forgiveness. If she fails, speak of God's mercy. If she doubts, speak of God's faithfulness. If she suffers, speak of God's lovingkindness. And if she hurts or offends you, remember that as God has been gracious to you in your salvation, you must also be gracious to her -- especially when you speak."

When Words Matter Most

Cheryl Marshall and Caroline Newheiser

The Pilgrim's Progress

I've been reading The Pilgrim's Progress to my Sunday School class this year. Someone gave me a curriculum that I can use with them, complete with vocabulary and worksheets. We've been enjoying it, but they have found the 17th Century English a bit much (although they like some of the new words).

Yesterday I finally broke down and started reading to them from a slightly updated version. It's the only one that I approve of so far as it only updates a bit of the language and sentence structure. Much of the very good vocabulary stays, but there's a remarkable lack of "whither" and "goest" and "wherefore" in it. The children were happy and focused better than they had been; while it wasn't that different, it was enough that they thought it was much, much easier to understand.

I only had one complaint. We were up to Faithful's trial in Vanity Fair. In the original, one of the witnesses was called Pickthank, which means someone who flatters. In the new version, his name was updated to Flatterer. While it means the same, Pickthank is a much better name. One of the kids even said that he preferred it to Flatterer. I fixed it as I read, in part because the worksheets used Pickthank.

Overall, it was successful and I've decided to keep with the easier version. They've heard enough of the original to at least be introduced to the language.

My approved text is this one: https://www.crossway.org/books/the-pilgrims-progress-cob/ It seems to be very faithful to the original, it doesn't dumb things down, and it has great illustrations.

Symphony of Psalms at Shepherds' Conference

I've been listening to this a lot lately.

Sunday School

Yesterday one of my younglings suggested that I could go teach another class and Pastor James could come in and preach for them. I confirmed that he was not suggesting a one time substitution; no, he was ready to replace me with Pastor James!

I considered being offended, but I was laughing at how calmly he suggested the change! Also, I was thankful that we have pastors who take time for the children rather than focusing only on adults as the important people. I have seen Pastor James (and sometimes the others) talking with the youngsters who have very important things to tell him and sometimes pictures that they have drawn for him. He's very patient with them and interested in all they have to say.

Side note, the rest of the class was willing to keep me around!

Anyway, I explained to my young student that Pastor James already preaches twice on Sunday and he would not be able to teach Sunday School as well. I did tell him that I would ask Pastor James if he would like to teach, or at least visit, one Sunday when he isn't preaching.

He seemed to be okay with the possibility of a visit from Pastor James and that he's stuck with me!