ILTI Friday

Week Four Finished.

Friday morning's Bible study continued with the completion of Daniel 3.  Harold, from Colombia and Chicago, led us through observations about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego walking through fire.  King Nebuchadnezzar was burning with rage because the three friends would not bow down to his gods or his golden statue.  He ordered them thrown into the fiery furnace.  One of the interesting observations made was that because the fire was so hot (seven times greater than usual), the soldiers who brought our heroes to the fire were burned up unexpectedly.  Why weren't Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego burned up at this moment, too?  They were under the protective covering of the Almighty even before they were thrown into the furnace.  Miraculously, the three men were not harmed at all in the fire.  Mystery number two?  Who was the man (who looked like a son of the gods) walking around with the men, who were unbound and unharmed, in the midst of the fire?  When he saw this fourth being and saw that the three men survived his punishment, the king called, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God." (3:26, NASB).  He was so awed, he had a change of heart.  When the three came out of the fire they had not been effected by it at all.  Nebuchadnezzar's response:, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him." (3:28, NASB).  Harold observed that instead of getting "fired" the three faithful followers of our Lord were promoted in the end.  We have an incomparable and incomprehensible God.


"Indescribable" by Chris Tomlin

"Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God.
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God."

Helena, Ghana, West Africa, spoke in chapel on Friday.  She told her story of God's faithfulness to her family despite many hardships.  She was one of seven children.  Her father and mother's dream was for all of the children to attend school.  When Helena was two years old, her father died. Though her mother was pregnant at the time with their last child, her father's family took their inheritance, so Helena and her family went to live with her mother's family.  Helena's mother worked very hard to fulfill her husband's dream.  All seven children were educated, by the grace of God, and several went on to earn higher degrees.  Helena earned a BA in French Economics and an MBA.  In 2009, Helena established a Language Training Institute at West Legon, Accra, West Africa, offering English, French, Spanish, German, and Chinese.  It was at this time that Helena was introduced to Don Edic's Using Every Day English (UEE) teaching materials.  After being trained to use UEE the school started using these training materials for their students.  God is using all of Helena's training and past experiences, both in her secular job and as a deaconess in her local Church, for the work she is currently doing in His service.  She is grateful to God who provides for all of her needs. She is grateful for her mother who worked so hard to earn the money that was needed for Helena and all her siblings to become educated and productive members of society.   

Thank you to Greg Bennett for the informative and invaluable week of  leadership training.  Rev. Sid Rice wrapped up Friday afternoon with some entertaining activities, one that separated the introverts from the extroverts.  Not only do we continue to learn about those in our group, we continue to learn new things about ourselves. 


Thank you to Roland and Linda Rice for preparing such a delicious lunch for our students on Friday.

Thank you to Barbara and David Merrill who hosted the lovely swim party on Saturday. 


posted by Christa