“I really like the tia, (sounds like “CHEE as”) (“aunt” meaning Deanna)), and I really like the little tias (our girls), but who I really like is the tio pelada (pay LAD a)( (the bald headed uncle). He meant me.

Dedé, one of the moms who came to church Sunday night, was walking up the hill with a group of children. She overheard Adriano talking to his friends. This seems kind of odd to me, as Adriano  is the first person I ever kicked out of church, and that was only two weeks ago. I have been asked by church authorities to please participate or please leave myself, many years ago, but this is the first time I remember requesting this of someone else. It is uncommon how often these things come around. To loosely quote Mel Gibson in The Patriot, “I have often been afraid that the sins of my youth will overtake me and I will not be able to bear it.” I think maybe Apostle Paul felt the same way at times.

Adriano lives in a broken home. He always is getting into trouble and bothering people. Right while I am preaching he will come to the front and start snapping his fingers. Two Sundays ago when Deanna preached he started acting up. I was kind of tired. I went up front, got Adriano and walked him out the door and up the hill to our gate. I told him we were here to hear from God. This was not the time for playing. He could not stay if he was not going to behave. He nodded calmly, thought about it a bit, and left. That was two weeks ago.

At this children’s conference he was exceptionally well behaved. He surprised everyone. Did I already mention this his home life is a disaster? Here is a photo of Adriano worshiping Jesus at the children’s conference.

Everything was quiet and controlled. Several leaders up front were holding out the grape juice and the crackers. Then Zezim noted that more people were going to Deanna’s plate than to his. So he started smiling and pushing his plate in front of those still coming forward. When Yara, who also had a plate full of the condiments saw what was going on she said to Deanna, “He is stealing all of your clients.”


This added to the joy of the moment, and the sense of God being with us. Getting closer to God and helping others get closer to God is always a good thing.


One highlight of the Acampamento Kids retreat was the ministry time. A lot of the children felt God’s presence in a real and strong way. There was prayer to break off generational curses. Most children indicated their parents called them things like “worthless”, “fools”, “vagabonds” etc. The leaders prayed to break the power of those words, and prayed blessings on the children.

Seven days after the burial family and friends go to the grave to put up the cross or gravestone. It is called a “Seventh Day Vigil”.

Why is it so hard to take a sabbath rest? The Bible seems pretty clear, “One day in seven, take a break. Don’t work. Enjoy life. Enjoy God.” When I worked for the government in Northern Canada everything screeched to a halt for the day off.
We had to keep the highway open during about six months of blizzards through a stretch of tundra that crossed the Arctic Circle. We rotated days off. Mine was Thursday. Much as loved running all the heavy equipment, and the good pay check, I looked forward to Thursdays all week. Now it seems like life is racing by. There is so much to do, and so few workers. It takes a lot of faith to know we can take a day off and God will pick up the slack.

I don’t see God as having a big stick, looking who he can punish. I see Him as a good boss, wanting to make certain his workers do not burn out. He wants us to enjoy life now, not just after we die. God wants this so much that He made this one of the ten commandments. It is right there beside Love God, and Don’t Worship Idols.

I knew a man who loved and served God all his life. He understood that we now live in an era of sabbath rest, so every day is the same. We can work every day. So he did, and he was a very, very hard worker. But he remained poor and was often frustrated.

“Six days are set aside for work, but on the Sabbath day you must rest, even during the seasons of plowing and harvest.” Exodus 34:21 NLT