Our First Service...

Sunday night was our first service and man was it incredible! Missy and Brooklyn weren't feeling well, so I (Brandon) went alone--something we normally won't do. In all honesty I've never felt so helpless as I did in that little taxi on my way into the village. We almost got hit only once and almost hit someone only like three times. I've always prayed for safety and stuff like that, but never really out of total desperation like I did that night. I've done this sort of thing before, but never alone. Soon the pavement turned to mud and I new this was for real...

After arriving at the church it was like something kicked into gear and I knew exactly what I had to do. We worshiped for 1 hour in that hot little church full of people. The sound of ceiling fans, plastic lawn chairs on cement, and scooters screaming by outside was familiar and weirdly comforting--like I was at the right place at the right time. Before my message started they turned all the lights off. Only randomly blinking Christmas lights filled the room with light. Then the most heart-warming sight I'd seen since we'd arrived--12 little girls all in white dresses holding candles slowly marched in time down the middle isle of the church as we sang what sounded like "Silent Night." I didn't feel a need to say a word after that because God's love was already so evident in that room. Not in some white, American "minister," but in those little kids.

I still spoke that night and prayed for 6 people who said they've never felt the love of God. If we'd have left after Sunday night, I would have felt like we came to do what we were called to. As I hugged those six people, some young and some old, I could feel their desperation to know something more than the life they knew now. And God, I believe, filled that void. All glory to Him. Know this: His love is ALWAYS big enough to handle ALL situations.

We just returned from Singapore--we had to reload on milk for Brooklyn and make sure his fever wasn't anything major. In some strange way it was actually nice to return to Batam even though we didn't mind Singapore's amenities. Besides a trip to the doctor, we considered our stay there sort of a Christmas celebration since we'll be doing services on Christmas day here in Batam.

Last, but not least, little Brooklyn got his first MAJOR haircut. The Batam heat was getting to him, so Missy thought it best to practice her cutting abilities on the little guy. I suppose I'm next.