Kory got the go-ahead today for an idea he's had for a while - to have a free car wash at Filadelfia Church. From the conversations we’ve had with the refugees that are here from Africa – they are bored out of their minds and have nothing to do. They want to work but no one will hire them because people are so prejudice. Kory felt there was a need to bridge the gap between the refugees and the locals, as the locals feel the refugees are here just sucking off the system. So Kory talked with the leadership at Filadelfia Church about having a free car wash (anything free here is a huge hit), and letting the refugees wash people’s car just as a “thank you” for being part of the community. The refugees like the idea, the church likes the idea and even the guy that owns a car wash across the street from the church, likes the idea (one of the church staff members asked if it was OK with him since he’d probably lose some business.) So Kory got the green light today for this little project and he’s anxious to see what comes from it next Saturday when they give it a go. Kory has the idea to have all the refugees that wash cars write up a little paragraph about themselves just so people can see they aren’t bad guys. They all have stories that would break a heart, so he’s hoping to use the car wash as a way to help incorporate these guys into society here and possibly get work for some of them. We’ll see what God will do, but Kory is pretty excited.
Kaleb hasn’t had much to say about The Morten Report lately as Morten has been picking on other kids instead of him. Kaleb says now when he sees Morten beating up someone he just walks over to him and asks him, “why” he feels like he needs to do that. Kaleb thinks it helps, as Morten tries to answer him, which gives the kid a chance to escape, and for that, Kaleb is proud. So both my “boys” are trying to make the world a little better place and for that, I am thankful.
Today was Cousin Odd’s 59th birthday so we were over at his house for cake and coffee right after dinner. Because the evangelist is still in town and was preaching tonight, Odd’s mom wanted to go hear him again at church so Odd made sure everyone knew the party would be over at 6:45 so his mom could go to church. We were glad for that too as we also wanted to go to church. Odd and Turid let Kaleb stay at their house while we were gone as they thought it was terrible we left him alone last night (I already had plenty of guilt about that one.) The preacher gave another wonderful talk - tonight it was on the Prodigal Son - and the church was packed full. We didn’t stay for coffee afterwards since we needed to go get Kaleb, but then we stayed on at Odd and Turid’s until nearly midnight talking with them about many things, but mostly the trip to Trondheim next week. Odd has big concerns about Kory’s heart and thinks he should get a stent if he needs one. Kory doesn’t want to be on drugs the rest of his life so he’s starting to have second thoughts about a stent. God still hasn’t “led the way” one way or another for him so we’re still waiting to hear something from God about this.
While Kaleb and I were at school today Kory was home puttering around outside. For the first time since the neighbor stole one of the downspouts on the houses here, Kory saw him out in his yard. (We got the downspout back via another neighbor.) Kory started to think he should go say something to the guy, since it was obvious he got “caught.” Kory thought of the Bible verse that says “All things work together for good,” so he started to think what good came out of that situation with him stealing a downspout (of all things). So Kory walked up to the guy and thanked him for stealing it. Kory told him that since he has the job of “watchman” for The Sinking Houses, if that guy wouldn’t have stolen the downspout, he wouldn’t have had anything to put on his monthly report to the owners, and then it might seem that he wasn’t needed here. But because he was able to report a theft, and that he recovered the stolen goods and reinstalled it, it was like job security for him. The guy didn’t know what to say, as it was pretty comical that Kory was thanking him for such a thing. Then the guy started making excuses and explaining what a horrible life he’s had and on and on. Kory told him that God has the power to transform any kind of life and maybe he should come with us to Agape Church on Sunday. The guy agreed. So if he keeps his word, on Sunday we’ll be bringing a genuine thief with us to church. It would be too funny too since Pastor Mark at Agape Church preached a few weeks ago that he wanted to fill the church with drug addicts, alcoholics and thieves, and this guy qualifies as all three.
Kaleb hasn’t had much to say about The Morten Report lately as Morten has been picking on other kids instead of him. Kaleb says now when he sees Morten beating up someone he just walks over to him and asks him, “why” he feels like he needs to do that. Kaleb thinks it helps, as Morten tries to answer him, which gives the kid a chance to escape, and for that, Kaleb is proud. So both my “boys” are trying to make the world a little better place and for that, I am thankful.
Today was Cousin Odd’s 59th birthday so we were over at his house for cake and coffee right after dinner. Because the evangelist is still in town and was preaching tonight, Odd’s mom wanted to go hear him again at church so Odd made sure everyone knew the party would be over at 6:45 so his mom could go to church. We were glad for that too as we also wanted to go to church. Odd and Turid let Kaleb stay at their house while we were gone as they thought it was terrible we left him alone last night (I already had plenty of guilt about that one.) The preacher gave another wonderful talk - tonight it was on the Prodigal Son - and the church was packed full. We didn’t stay for coffee afterwards since we needed to go get Kaleb, but then we stayed on at Odd and Turid’s until nearly midnight talking with them about many things, but mostly the trip to Trondheim next week. Odd has big concerns about Kory’s heart and thinks he should get a stent if he needs one. Kory doesn’t want to be on drugs the rest of his life so he’s starting to have second thoughts about a stent. God still hasn’t “led the way” one way or another for him so we’re still waiting to hear something from God about this.
While Kaleb and I were at school today Kory was home puttering around outside. For the first time since the neighbor stole one of the downspouts on the houses here, Kory saw him out in his yard. (We got the downspout back via another neighbor.) Kory started to think he should go say something to the guy, since it was obvious he got “caught.” Kory thought of the Bible verse that says “All things work together for good,” so he started to think what good came out of that situation with him stealing a downspout (of all things). So Kory walked up to the guy and thanked him for stealing it. Kory told him that since he has the job of “watchman” for The Sinking Houses, if that guy wouldn’t have stolen the downspout, he wouldn’t have had anything to put on his monthly report to the owners, and then it might seem that he wasn’t needed here. But because he was able to report a theft, and that he recovered the stolen goods and reinstalled it, it was like job security for him. The guy didn’t know what to say, as it was pretty comical that Kory was thanking him for such a thing. Then the guy started making excuses and explaining what a horrible life he’s had and on and on. Kory told him that God has the power to transform any kind of life and maybe he should come with us to Agape Church on Sunday. The guy agreed. So if he keeps his word, on Sunday we’ll be bringing a genuine thief with us to church. It would be too funny too since Pastor Mark at Agape Church preached a few weeks ago that he wanted to fill the church with drug addicts, alcoholics and thieves, and this guy qualifies as all three.
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