There is a large bulldog guarding my door since I arrived with groceries for tomorrow’s church potluck. I think it’s the food bag and not my safety that concerns him. I saw other creatures (people) today. The same gypsies ride the trains with their mandolins. I did not see this practice in Prague. They play well, compliment the women, and ask for money. Because I don’t understand the language, I asked a lady, also awaiting the next train, what the man had said to me. He said my sunglasses were pretty then waved angrily when I didn’t know how to respond. We all need to be more patient with each other with language. I know people who get so impatient thinking others are not smart because they don’t speak their language. Assume the person is smart but just new to town? Today I also saw a man leave the market with such pride, carrying the most perfect, huge loaf of bread. He is making someone happy and wore a pink sweatshirt which takes guts. I see many on the street who are akin to my friends back home and must be related in some way – a long-lost cousin? There were also visitors to the library. Men met for a prayer meeting before opening. I had to convince them that I belonged there to gain access. A local girl who had lived in Utah when age 15 stopped for coffee. I think she has an interesting story and hope she will return. A group of three women met for Bible study and stayed almost four hours – wow. Lot’s of groups enjoy using the library. A girl from Ghana who was baptized since she moved to Berlin came for a strawberry latte, a visit, and to help clean. I will see her at church in the morning. Then library leadership trained in (took a train) on a tour with supporters from Oklahoma who have a long history with the libraries, then lastly, a Saturday eve ‘homechurch’ was setting up as we left. That is a lot of use. I see the value in keeping this ministry going as a benefit to the larger “church” (catholic – meaning universal) in Berlin, regardless of how many books I moved today. I know I’m leaving someone out but let me mention Rev Andrew J Miller. He wrote a piece I read today on evangelism. I noticed some new thoughts. Sometimes I imagine that I am only capable of easy missions like short trips but God tills the soil. Heb 6:10 reads, “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do”. He remembers us and our feeble or brilliant efforts, and will convince people of sin and misery and they will be found by Him. We respond in faithfulness and God puts His mark on it with His fruitfulness. A Sean McGever has compared folks doing evangelism to mail carriers (like the local guy on his giant yellow tricycle). Do you think your sermon hit the mark? How was your door-knocking? Your testimony? Remember, His activity goes before you and behind you. I had never noticed that before and after the Great Commission, in Matt 28:18-20, that it is sandwiched by God’s power and presence, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE.’ AMEN”. Power and presence – His word has spoken.
The library has so many wonderful Christian books…