Wednesday night service in the dark

     I hurried to service Wednesday trying to beat the rain. It was all around us with thunder and lightening. I made it early and got to listen to the choir and band practice. The lights were out but it was still light outside. The music was all acoustic and wonderful. They sang one of my favorite songs here ESTOY AQUI.  It is just so powerful in it's rhythm and beautiful in it's words. Every time I hear it I am moved to tears and covered in goosebumps. I think it is a Holy Spirit thing.
     The children come in first, the older and middle boys first followed by the older and middle girls. They are all so ready to worship! Jordan on keyboards and Charlie on drums lay down a beat that is just infectious. The whole room is moving as the choir and the rest of the band comes in, then the praise begins in earnest.  It is so great to be able to sit in the sanctuary and take part in this.
      After finishing their songs, the team from Wesleyan Drive Baptist Church in Macon, Ga. presented  music with their members singing and playing guitars. They are a small group in numbers but very large in talent. Amazing Grace and I'll Fly Away have never sounded so good!
       For me the highlight of the night was about to come. Although the lights were out and the fans were off, everyone was enthralled by our lesson from their pastor. I can't count how many times I have heard the story of the Good Samaritan but this was one of the best.  He put the question to us: which one of the 4 characters in this parable am I?
      I can't help but to think about this parable as it pertains to Emmanuel. Time and time again I see these children help each other throughout the day. They take care of those less strong of body or weak of mind. Over and over I see this. The wonderful missionaries that staff Emmanuel, who have made such sacrifices to be here to minister to these children.  The teams who come great distances at great expense to minister to these children. They all love the Lord with all their heart and all their soul and all their strength and with all their mind, and they love their neighbor as themselves. We are all neighbors on this earth. Each and every one of us.
      The service ended, the storm was over and the lights were back on and it was cool as the sun went down on another joyous day at Emmanuel. There were hugs from the children as we walked back to our houses with promises of another day.