Silverlinings (for other editions, see Silverlinings)

Helpers
(July 28, 2006)

Someone has been in my house again. I see things have been moved around. The pictures are in a straight line, not grouped the way I like them. The rug is turned in a different direction. The pillows are standing straight--I like them in the corner of the couch at an angle or in the center of the bed at an angle.. The windows have all been closed and the temperature is now 98 degrees when I open the door. I find my china cup stacked on top of the tupperware glasses, and the sharp knives have been placed with the dinner knives. I still haven't found my large mug. My kitchen towels are hanging in the bathroom with the dish cloth. My "for show" hand towel is in the kitchen. The sheets on the bed are upside down. My books have been rearranged again by size and not subject.

No, it is not a burglar or a trickster. It is Rona or one of her friends. This week it is Patty.

Rona and Patty

She waters the lawn and cleans the house. She also does the laundry by hand and hangs them neatly on hangers on the clothes line. When they are dry she irons them. Rona and Patty are helpers for my landlady who lives next door where I park my car. When I blow the car horn, one of them opens the big security gate to let me out or back in. Helpers give me more time for ministry. They do daily chores that in the US might be weekly or monthly. The smog and smoke from fires fill the house, causing a layer of dust on the floor and furniture everyday. No one goes barefoot in the house--feet become very blackened. Laundry is a chore that takes more time--I don't have a US style washing machine--mine hold two or three items at a time!

Each week I practice my Tagaog with them and invite them to the Nazarene Church only five minutes away. Each week they smile and listen patiently to my language mistakes, but still haven't accepted the invitation to attend church.

Will you include Rona and her friends in your prayers? They need to know Jesus.

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Dr. Geneva Silvernail

Asia-Pacific Regional Literature Coordinator
Regional Education Consultant

Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary
Ortigas Ave. Ext. Kaytikling, Taytay
1920 Rizal Philippines

Email: gsilvernail@apnaz.org
ministry@genevasilvernail.org