On Tuesday, Joel did visitation and radio ministry taping.  Wednesday he preached to the adults.  Then Thursday he and his wife joined Dan and I on visitation.  Friday we had a young people games night out at our church.  I think we had about 25 people here. 

 

I hope to be able to have a game night once a month.  I think it is great for Christians to hang out with each other and just spend time having fun and getting to know each other.  Every place you go, you have clicks, and we have some at church and I’m hoping to get people branched out more.  Plus people act differently in different situations and places.

 

While everyone was here, I pulled out my new camera and took some photos, but I had the camera set to the wrong settings.  So the pictures aren’t the best, but I’ll post some anyway.

 

(kiddos playing Twister -- do you see the boy with the bus in the middle?)

 

(getting ready)

 

(JoLynn takes a turn)

 

(Pastor Dan takes his)

 

(Joel's turn now)

 

(And Bryan sends it crashing -- see David's face on the far right?)

The 23^rd of December was a busy day.  Of course we had Sunday School and Sunday Morning and Evening Service.  Our children sang songs during the morning service and Dan preached a short, untraditional sermon.

 

That evening Dan preached again and after his preaching he preformed his first baptismal service.  This was a highlight for me as we had five children and one adult get baptized. 

 

The adult was lead to the Lord by Dan as her children entertained me in their bedroom.  So though I didn’t get to led in her in prayer, I was still able to be part of it.  The Lord truly worked through this.  Several months ago the church was looking to buy a new church van and ran into this lady’s husband.  He stated that he was saved and our men invited him out to our church (on several occasions).  One night a two man team from our church went knocking door-to-door and knocked on her door.  She couldn’t talk at the moment, since her children were in the tub; our men handed her a tract and left (not knowing she was the wife of the car salesman).  That Sunday she was in church with her two children and mother-in-law.  Later that week (or the next) Dan and I went by the house.  Knowing her husband’s testimony and how she presented herself, Dan stated that he always asks and then proceeded to ask her if she knew if she would go to Heaven if she died (Dan of course thinking she would say yes).  The lady said she didn’t and she wanted to.  Her heart was an open door just waiting for someone to tell her about Christ.

 

 

The next one baptized that night was one of our church family children.  I had mentioned to him that Dan wanted us to talk to our bus children about baptism while we were out and I told him that he could talk to family.  He told me that his grandson (whom lives with him) was saved.  The Wednesday before our baptismal service, his grandson came to the front of the room to get saved.  (My helper and I taught on Lazarus and the Rich Man.)  After Wednesday night class I told his grandma and grandpa about, incase they wanted to follow up. 

 

 

His sister got baptized after him and I had the privilege of leading her to the Lord one Sunday morning after she had struggled with putting her complete faith in Him.

 

 

The boy Dan baptized next was the first student I led to the Lord here at Bible Baptist Church. 

 

 

After him was another of our church children.  She prayed with me one after Jr. Church one Sunday morning and afterwards I told her grandmother (she comes to church with grandma and grandpa).  This was a treat as her grandpa came up to me on a later day and thanked me.  Though that was nice, the great award will be seeing this girl in Heaven one day.  (Of course I feel that way about every child the Lord as allowed me to lead to Him).

 

 

The last one to get baptized that night had made a profession of faith before we moved to North Carolina.  This young man stated that he started riding our bus at the age of 7 and he is now 12 years old.  I praised him for his faithfulness.

 

 

 

This was so special to me for this is the first state that I have led people to the Lord.  Have had children realize their need of a Savior before, but it was during VBS and I had sent them to talk with someone else, so I could continue teaching.  Not only have I been honored to lead children to God, but this is the first time that I have seen any of them get baptized.  I know that we aren’t to be proud, especially in salvation (which only God can bring and give), but I was proud to know that those where “my children”.  And I’m truly grateful that God “gave” them to me.

Well let’s see if I can do some catching up while Anna paints in her new Christmas book. 

 

During the time we remember our Savior’s birth, several churches put on big Christmas plays.  Last year and this year our church didn’t.  We have kept it small scale.  We would like to do something bigger, but with most of our children being brought in with the buses (and some of them not consistently) we find it difficult.

 

We had each Sunday School class bring us something in song/scripture or both.  The nursery class joined the 4 and 5 year old class in singing a few songs.  Anna was in this class.

 

 

Paul’s 1-3^rd grade class brought some scripture and a song.  He said he knew that they would get nervous and quite, but he didn’t think they would be so quite.  I could only smile, as my Jr. Church had done that to me several times.

 

 

Our 4-6^th grade class brought scripture and their teacher have us a challenge.  He said that they weren’t singing since he nor his wife were singers. 

 

 

Our teen class got out of it all.

 

After the children, our choir sang 3-4 songs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the missionaries that South Baptist Church supports is the Burns family.  This family serves the Lord in Norway.  They were coming to the church on the 11^th and we were allowed to see them before we headed out to PA for vacation.

 

I am quarter (or there about) Norwegian and have an interest in Norway (always have).  I would love to go and visit there, but I doubt that I could ever afford it.  I was glad to meet this family and listen to their ministry. 

 

I wanted to have some time to interview them for my column at Haruah, but I didn’t have time.  I asked them if I could email them about it and they said that I could.  I told them that it might be a bit, since I was moving and I didn’t have a home to move into.  I hope to get that email out to them in the next couple of weeks.

 

Speaking of Haruah, you could go there and look at my column pieces.  I now have three up.  I also have two photo illustrations there as well. I’ll tell you more about that at a later date.

We have lived on Staten Island for 3.5 years now.  Dan had told me that I was going to be asked to take and teach Jr. Girls’ Missionary Fellowship.  Though I have taught 2^nd graders for my internship, I have taught several years of VBS, I have taught of several ages during Sunday School, and I have helped with the teen group for several years I didn’t want to teach Jr. Girls’ Missionary Fellowship.  I didn’t feel qualified to teach the class and I didn’t know what to teach them.

 

Well, I was asked and I have a trouble with saying no and I ended up with the class.  To start off, I went to some of my mission books that I had used while in college.  After the first year (which runs Sept. to June) we had a pool party with our pizza.  The girls normally end the year with a pizza party and one of the girl’s family owned a small above ground pool and invited us to have our party there.  We all had a great time. 

 

The second year of teaching Jr. Girls’, we just had a pizza party for the family with the pool had moved away.  Though I had several girls for the pool party the year before, I only had two girls for the end of the year party. 

 

Our meetings are normally the very last Monday of the month, but sometimes (do to holidays) we change this.  This year, I knew that we would be moving in June so I planed to have the very last meeting for the last Monday in May.  But I had to change that date due to our trip to North Carolina.  So, the last meeting of the year and the last one I was going to teach (though the girls didn’t know that) was to be the second Monday of the month. 

 

After preparing for the lesson I had been wanting to do for the past 3 months, after cooking PCC muffins (which the girls loved), and making Rice Crispy Bars I only had one girl show up.  One!  How discouraged I was.  We ordered the cheese pizza and I had Dan and Anna come over to help me with my object lesson.  As they say, “The show must go on.”

 

Below is the lesson I had planned and did use:

 

Last month we looked at contrast, a comparison.  We learned that we aren’t be conformed to this world, be friends with this world, or love this world; however, we are to be conformed to God, be His friend, and love Him.  We learned that you can’t do both for you will love one more than the other.  Colossians 3:1-2 reads, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth.”

 

Today is our last meeting and I want to talk to you about light.  More specifically about being a light.  Girls, the Bible tell us in John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”  Jesus was a light in this world—a way to salvation and eternal life.  This passage tells us that if we follow Him we are to walk in same light of life.    Ephesians 5:8 says, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”  Once again we are being told that if we are saved, God’s children, than we are to walk in light. 

 

I believe that all of us here are God’s children; do we all walk in His light?  Do our actions and words lead others to Christ?  When people watch you do they see that you are different from the world?  I hope so.  The lost are looking and if they don’t see a difference in you, then why would they want what you have?

 

God’s Word tells us to walk in the light, but sometimes we hide our light; this we shouldn’t do.  Matthew 5:14-16 reads, “Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Now please remember that good works don’t save us, only faith in Christ can do that, but we are to do good works after we are saved.  This verse tells us that one reason to do good works is so that the men, lost and saved, can glorify God. 

 

Girls, one reason for a person to repeat something is because that something is important.  In school, you will find that you will learn things over and over and that is because those things are important.  Well, God must have thought that having us shine our lights very important, because you can find it repeated.  Luke 8:16 says, “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candle stick, that they which enter in may see the light.”  We can find this again in Luke 11:33, “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.”

 

I hope that none of us here will hide our light.  You might think that your light isn’t important, but it is—it is very important.  I have a candle here for each of you (pass out the taper candles with bows tried around them) and I want you to watch what happens when I light your candles.  (Light everyone’s candle.)  What happened as each candle was lit?  That’s right, the room got brighter.  Girls, you are very important, this world needs your light.  But if we hide our light, the world cannot see.  I want each of you to blow out your candles one at a time.  (Give them a moment.)  What happened as each of you blew out your candle?  That’s right, the room got darker.  There is now no light to guide us. 

 

I’m going to light your candles again and I want you all to join me and sing, “This Little Light of Mine.”  As we sing it, I want you to think about the words and make a determination to light your light shine in the earth and not to hide it.  (Sing song.)

 

Girls, those candles are for you to keep and I hope that you do.  Every time you look at it, remember that you are to let your light of life shine for the whole world to see.  I still have my candle from when my youth leader did this when I was in tenth grade, I’d show it to you, but unfortunately it is at my parents’ home.

 

June 8, 2006

 

Dear Family in Christ,

 

We once again thank you for your prayers.  We found out last night that the church in North Carolina voted to call Dan as the assistant pastor.  This is an answer to prayer as Wenonah really wanted to know where we were moving to before going on vacation.

 

We returned from our trip to Bible Baptist Church on May 3rd.  Paul Funchess had a college friend come up on May 11th, after he graduated from Pensacola Christian College.  Two days later they went to visit a couple who had visited our church a couple of times.  When they got there they found the lady crying, for her husband had just been taken by the police.  Paul and Dustin talked with her and before they left, God had another daughter as she accepted Him as her Savior. 

 

Last year Wenonah decided to stay home for Mother's Day, but we ended up taking a single mom and her son out to eat.  We didn't know that all the restaurants hike up the prices on that day and the meal ended up being quiet costly.  This year, Wenonah prepared a pot roast and not only invited the single lady and her son, but also Paul and Dustin.   When the lady, who was just saved the day before, came into church crying, Wenonah invited her over as well; we that she had no money for food, and she needed Christian company. 

 

Dan preached on Wednesday the 17th, as pastor was out on vacation.  The May Ladies' Missionary Fellowship meeting was actually Wenonah's last meeting at this church.  On the 20th we joined church members at the church for a church clean up day.  Dan preached the next day, and the following day was the last Jr. Girls' Missionary Fellowship meeting of the season.  The last is normally in June, but with the move Wenonah had the last one in May.  Though she baked for the party and planed an extra special devotional, Wenonah only had one girl show up and she had to enlist the help of Dan and Anna to hold candles in the dark. 

 

We took May 25th off and invited Paul and Dustin to a Met's game.  Wenonah hadn't been to a ballgame since leaving Minnesota and she wanted Anna to be able to watch a game as well.  So we bought the cheapest tickets and went.  Anna had a great time, even though the Mets lost. 

 

Dan's last day of working at the bookstore was May 26th.  We then prepared for the 150th anniversary.  We are now cleaning and packing, going to Pennsylvania with Wenonah's parents the 11-17th, cleaning and packing, and then moving.

 

Serving Him,

Dan, Wenonah, and Anna Robelen

June 3, 2006

 

Dear Faithful Supporters,

 

Greetings in our Lord's name.  We trust that all is well with you.  We want to thank you for your prayers and financial support.  We couldn't do what we do without you.  Sorry this is late, once again, but we have been busy with the church's 150th anniversary celebration on June 4th. 

 

April opened with a Men's Fellowship at the church.  The next day at church we had a visitor and Paul Funchess had the opportunity to lead the man to Christ, praise the Lord!  Dan and Anna had dentist appointments on the 3rd and Wenonah had a follow-up one on the 6th to fix a few cavities.  We held our 4th annual Spring Treasure Hunt on the 15th for the young children of the church.  Wenonah had stuffed 218 plastic eggs with candy in preparation.  When it looked like no one was coming, she started to walk around and ask children she found, and three did come.  After a small devotional by Paul, we let loose ten children to find all the eggs.  Each of them had a great time and all of them went home with tons of candy--and, most importantly, a Gospel seed.   Due to our trip to North Carolina, Wenonah held Jr. Girls' Missionary fellowship on the 17th with two girls in attendance.  On the 20th, she joined the church ladies at the Ladies' Missionary Fellowship meeting--her last at this church.  In the past, our church bowling days have been a huge success, but not so on the 22nd.  Only eight people showed up, and that includes the three of us.  Though the numbers were low, we still had fun, and Wenonah even got to bowl. 

 

We ended the month of April in Virginia and North Carolina.  Dan preached at his mother's cousin's husband's church on Wednesday night, the 26th.  Thursday we drove to Burgaw to see the ministry there.  Dan kept very busy the next few days.  Thursday he went on visitation, something we haven't done since leaving Florida as this church doesn't have a visitation program.  The next day, Dan and the pastor taped a segment for the church's radio ministry, and then they went to the jail ministry.  While there, Dan was enabled to lead a man to Christ in the forty-man cell.  Though Dan was to spend Friday night at the prison ministry, the pastor couldn't get him clearance.  We spent that night with a college friend of Wenonah's.  Saturday morning, Dan was on the bus ministry visitation, and that afternoon we went down to the beach for a while.  Sunday was a busy day for us.  Dan taught adult Sunday school, sang in a duet, played the offertory, sang with the choir, and preached the morning service.  After lunch, Dan practiced with the church's quartet, and then Wenonah joined him for choir practice.  After a short time of prayer, Dan and Wenonah sang with the choir for the service, Dan played the piano for the offertory, sang with the quartet, and then he preached to finish off the night.

 

We ask again for special prayer.  Bible Baptist Church in Burgaw, North Carolina is to be voting soon about taking Dan on as the assistant pastor.  Please pray for this situation--that the Lord's will be done. 

 

Still carrying on,

 

Dan, Wenonah, and Anna Robelen

We have a church that supports us as missionaries.  Thus, we send out prayer letters to the church and to our family and friends.  I’m posting them here as well, so you can get another look into my life. 

 

April 21, 2006

 

Dear Christian Friends,

 

Greetings in our Lord's name.  We hope that all of you are doing well.  We want to thank you for your prayers and tell you what the Lord has been doing here in Staten Island.

 

Wenonah started teaching the youngest Sunday school class for the months of March, April, and May.  She has enjoyed teaching once again.  On the 8th of March, we were privileged to have a missionary couple, which the church has supported for years, speak to us about their forty years of service.  The following day, we had a family celebration of Anna's 4th birthday.  Wenonah can't believe how quickly the time has gone by.  Our once helpless little baby is growing up and now wants to help whenever she can.  Sunday, the 12th, we invited a couple of church children and their families for a small birthday party; we also invited Dan's wrestling friend Jason and his family.  Anna was the only girl at her party.  She longed to have Lozetta there, but unfortunately Lozetta and her family now live in Mississippi and of course weren't able to make it.  We both prepared our reports for the church's annual business meeting on the 15th and Wenonah was once again elected church secretary. 

 

Dan was glad to have three teens show for Wednesday night service on the 22nd.  It has been so very long since we have had enough teens in the mid-week service.  Dan took the teens to the front and taught them a lesson.  Praise the Lord, the angels sang that night, as one of the teenage boys accepted Christ as his Savior after the lesson.  Please pray for this new child of God as he grows in the Lord.  Our congregation was given a real treat for special music on the 26th, as Anna sang, "Jesus Loves Me," with Wenonah.  We were hoping to see all the boys out for the teen activity in the evening, but none of them were.  We only had five children show (three were first time visitors), but everyone that did had fun.  The month finished with Wenonah teaching two girls at her Jr. Girls' Missionary Fellowship meeting. 

 

We would like to take this time to ask you to pray for us in a special way.  On September 4th, Dan felt led of the Lord that it was time to leave Staten Island.  This came to a surprise to us, as we assumed we would be around to help Paul Funchess who came in late September.  Our pastor was also very surprised to find this out.  We have yet to make the announcement in church, in hopes that we would be able to tell the congregation where our next church would be.  Dan has sent out many resumes and has made several calls.  We made two trips to a church in southern New Jersey, but that church did not work out.  We are taking a trip to North Carolina on the 23rd through the 2nd (with some time spent with Dan's family).  We both want to be where the Lord wants us to be and we ask you to pray for us in this situation.  Whether we have a church lined up or not, we will be moving from New York City mid/late-June.  Please ask the Lord to give us wisdom and guidance as we step out in faith. 

 

Trusting in Him,

 

Dan, Wenonah, and Anna Robelen

Our church in Florida supports us as missionaries.  We send monthly prayer letters to them to keep the abreast of what we are doing here.  However, I failed to send them one for November and December 2005 and January and February 2006.  I updated them on November and December on March 7^th. Below is the update for the first two months on 2006.

 

 

March 29, 2006

 

Dear Faithful Friends,

 

We want to thank you for your support.  Your prayers are what keep us going.  We are so thankful to have a praying group like you!  We would like to take a moment and update you on our January and February actives.  Once again, we are so sorry that there has been a lag in our letters. 

 

The new year started off fast paced.  Dan’s sister, Laura, came up with us after we spent a few days in Virginia for the holidays.  We arrived home on December 29th and Wenonah spent New Years Eve decorating a surprise birthday cake for a church lady.  The church was throwing her a small birthday party after the Sunday morning service.  Monday, all of us weathered the rain and took Laura sightseeing in Manhattan.  The fun continued the next day as we went suit shopping for Dan and our “new” car broke down at a stop light.  Paul Robelen joined us for our Wednesday night service and he and Laura returned to Virginia the next day.  Evangelist Chris Miller from the Bill Rice Ranch preached our revival services from the 8th to the 11th.  We praise the Lord for a great turn out: 27 the first night, 37, 49, and then 33.  The church had no heat on Monday the 9th due to furnace troubles, which were fixed the next day.  On the 10th Dan missed four of our people being baptized as he was home with the flu.  We were then out of state from the 14-16th.  The next weekend, the 20-21st, Dan took two teenage boys to Snow Camp in New Jersey.  Wenonah and Anna stayed home since there were no girls attending the camp.  On the 28th, Wenonah enjoyed some Anna-free time with a group of ladies as she attended a baby shower, and then she taught four girls the first four of the Ten Commandments on Monday for Jr. Girls’ Missionary Fellowship. 

 

February was slower than January, church-wise.  The month started out on a happy and a sad note.  The church was holding a Men’s Evangelistic Steak Dinner on the 4th and Dan and Paul were busy getting the finishing touches down, when we received a phone call bearing bad news.  We learned that Edna had passed away early that morning.  She was 95 years old and would have been 96 in April.  In between preparations, Dan and Paul went and spent some time with the family.  Then they returned to finish setting up.  We are very grateful 14 men attended, including Dan’s atheist friend Jason.  The 6th was Edna’s viewing and all of us went.  Yes, all, even Anna.  Wenonah wasn’t too sure about that, but Anna loved Edna so much.  We though it would be a nice distraction for Edna’s great-granddaughters for a few minutes as well as they all love Anna dearly.  Though Anna was never forced to go up and see “Mom-Mom,” she did go up.  The next day we were all at the funeral; Dan MC’d.  Wenonah and Anna didn’t make the burial, however, because Wenonah wasn’t feeling well.  We once again went out of state the 11-13th.  On the 26th we had a teen activity with ten teens in attendance.  Wenonah once again taught Jr. Girls’ Missionary Fellowship on the last Monday of the month.  This time there were only two girls, and she finished teaching on the Ten Commandments.  The very last day of February found us in New Jersey serving at the mission we go to bi-monthly.  The man who normally speaks couldn’t be there, so Pastor Stagno preached.  Paul Funchess lead the music and Dan played the piano.  Though Wenonah and Anna had not joined the group the past two times, they were both at the February meeting.  We praise the Lord that the angels sang as one lost man found salvation through Jesus Christ that night. 

 

That now catches you up, in a nutshell, on our ministry here in New York City.  March is soon ending and we will get another letter out soon to tell you about March’s dealings.  As we close this letter, we ask you to keep a few things in prayer.  We ask you to pray for our Men’s Fellowship that will be meeting on the first.  We are excited to see our men stepping up and getting involved.  We also have our fourth annual Spring Treasure Hunt for children 6th grade and below on the 15th and an all church bowling time on the 22nd.   

 

Serving Him,

Dan, Wenonah, and Anna Robelen

Our church in Florida supports us as missionaries and as such we mail out monthly prayer letters.  I unfortuntaly have to admit that I haven't sent one out since Novemeber, so this letter is to catch our supports up on what we have been up to. 

 

March 7, 2006

 

Dear Prayer Supporters,

 

First off we want to send our deepest apologies for the lack of communication.  There is much to update you on since our November letter.  Secondly, we hope that all of you are doing well.

 

November has long since come and gone and so are the busy times it brings along.  Though Dan had to work, Paul, Wenonah, and Anna went to see the Parade of Champions on the 4th. One of our teens is in the marching band and they have a special night for the parents and alumni to come and watch their performance.  The band has been state champions for the past three years.  We tried something different with our youth activity in November.  We held our first ever Sunday evening teen activity.  We had ten teens show up for a "Build Your Own Pizza Night."  On the 17th the ladies had their missionary meeting and Wenonah was one of the servers.  She worked for ten days to get the Amish Friendship bread ready to share.  Wenonah is also our church secretary and, besides doing the weekly bulletins, she also puts the yearly church directory together.  Dan preached on the 20th and the church had its Thanksgiving Meal.  On the 22nd we took a small trip from the ministry and had some family time at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan.  For Thanksgiving, we invited a single lady and her son from the church to join us.  On the 26th we went with other members of our church to see a Sight and Sound Christmas production in Pennsylvania.  The 28th brought the Jr. Girl's Missionary Fellowship meeting.  Wenonah prepared the church's Christmas mailboxes the following day and on the last day of the month she mailed out the Christmas cards the Jr. Girls had signed for the church's missionaries. 

 

December continued our busy season.  During the afternoon of the 2nd, Wenonah and Anna went to our neighbor's birthday party and then that night joined Paul and some church friends in attending a Christmas band concert, in which some of our church members played.  On the 3rd, Wenonah wrote out Christmas cards to each family of the church.  The 4th found all of us and Paul at a church member's child's birthday party.  Wenonah wrote Christmas cards to all of the church children on the 8th and 9th, and started her Christmas letter to family and friends.  After purchasing small gifts all year and wrapping them, cooking treats, and preparing, Wenonah held the Jr. Girls' Missionary Fellowship Christmas party on the 12th; she was pleased six girls attended.  The Ladies' Christmas party was on the 15th.  On the 16th, Wenonah received a call from Dan stating that one of the ladies that he works with had broken up with her boyfriend and needed a place to stay and that he had volunteered her guestroom.  Wenonah scrambled to pick-up and fresh the guestroom, but the lady never came.  It was a good testimony to the lady, though, and thus worth it all.  You would never believe what we did on the 17th of December--we raked leaves!  That's right, raked leaves.  We had done it before but with the late fall there were more and it was such a beautiful day.  Our annual Christmas caroling was on Sunday night, the 18th, and we had eleven singers.  The New York Transit Strike hindered our city from the 20th to the 22nd. We were given a great gift on the 23rd. Someone from the church gave us their old car--for free.  We only had to pay for the registration.  It made our hearts soar to have freedom to move about again.  On Christmas Day, we of course went to service and then we came home, bringing Paul with us.  The day was a relaxing one with a ham lunch and gifts.  Paul even found a couple of gifts for himself.  December ended for us with a trip to Virginia to see Dan's family.  We were glad to see everyone in his family; it had been a couple years since we had.  Anna enjoyed the farm and seeing her grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

 

Wow, that was a quick glimpse at what we do during the busy holiday season.  We know that this letter is longer than normal, but we wanted to try to catch you up as fast as we could on our ministry here in New York City.  We really couldn't do it without your support and prayers.  We will send out another letter soon, trying once again to get you all caught up with what the Lord has been doing here through us. 

 

Relaying on Him,

Dan, Wenonah, and Anna Robelen

 

         I am the church secretary and as such I make up the weekly bulletins.  I would love to show you an example of my work, but unfortunately I still can’t get pictures posted here.  Tradition is to have the inside of the bulletin where the songs and upcoming events are listed.  Then on a separate sheet of paper, the prayer request are listed and on the back of that is filler.  I try to find little stories on how we got our hymns, funny little stories, quotes and sayings, poems, write ups in Days of Praise, and birthday and anniversary dates.  I want to share with you the write ups from Days of Praise that I included in last week’s and this week’s bulletins.  

 

February 26^th, the last Sunday of each month is our Missionary Sunday:

 

God's Grace and Mercy

 

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

 

      God's grace and mercy can be viewed as two sides of the same coin.  Grace on one side gives us what we do not deserve; mercy on the other does not give us what we do deserve.

      Grace, often defined as unmerited factor, is offered freely by God "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).  It is offered to us only through faith in Christ so that we may clearly understand that it is not obtainable by any adherence to the law.  "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).

      The law is holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12), but unfortunately it magnifies our sin and shows us how far we are from reaching the perfect standard of our holy and righteous Creator.  Thankfully God's amazing grace overpowers our magnified sin, as it  "superabounds" above our transgressions.  "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20).

     God is also rich in His mercy toward us (Ephesians 2:4), as He extends His loving compassion to us despite our sinful condition.  Our salvation is rooted in God's mercy, as He "hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (I Peter 1:3).

     Grace and mercy are glorious gifts from God that should take us to our knees in worship and adoration.  We can bring absolutely nothing to God except a humble and thankful heart as we trust not in our works, but solely in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary.  "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us" (Titus 3:5).  Thank God that "His mercy endureth for ever" (Psalm 136:26).

 

Days of Praise, September 14, 2004

 

March 5, the first Sunday of the month is our Communion Sunday:

 

Christ: Our Redeemer

 

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." Job 19:25

 

      This famous testimony of Job has encouraged many.  He knew, as we can know, the reality of his living redeemer, and that the redeemer would one day reign over His creation as intended.

     A redeemer is one who buys back something which has fallen into the hands of the enemy.  Originally, the creation was in the proper hands, but Adam sinned, and it a great extent, the rebellious world  and all its inhabitants fell into bondage at the hands of Satan.  "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12).  We became slaves or "servants of sin" (Romans 6:20).

    In order to be freed, a slave must be redeemed.  Could we as slaves have bought ourselves back?  No, we had nothing of worth.  Silver and gold would not do it.  In fact, nothing short of the blood of a completely innocent sacrifice would suffice to pay the "wages of sin" (Romans 6:23).  Only God the Son, by laying aside aspects of His deity and taking on human flesh could be that perfect sacrifice.  "And He saw that there was no man [capable of redeeming mankind], and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought Salvation" (Isaiah 59:16).  "In His love and in His pity He redeemed them" (Isaiah 63:9) by His own blood, buying us out of bondage to sin and  Satan..

    Notice also that this redemption is not just something we hope for; it is a fact!  He has done it, and will never be undone!  "Thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob" (Isaiah 60:16).  "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" (II Timothy 1:12).

 

Days of Praise, March 5, 2004

 

The free little booklets of Days of Praise can be gotten from the Institute for Creation Research.  You can write: ICR, Box 2667, El Cajon, CA 92021; call: 619-448-0900; or see their web page at www.icr.org.

 

      The funny little story, with a little punch, for March 5th is:

 

The Mouth of Babes

 

        My  sister and her children moved to my city not long ago and began attending church for the first time in their lives.  They particularly loved the singing and the communion service.  One day while babysitting, I fixed them their favorite lunch of burritos and apple juice.  As I left the room, I heard four-year-old Alisha begin to celebrate communion with her lunch items.  She seemed to have memorized the words of the institution quite well, except when it came to the cup.  She was heard to say, "And Jesus took the cup, and he blessed it, and he gave God thanks for it, and he said, 'Fill it with Folgers and wake 'em up!"  What wonderful theology!

 

1001 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking, by Michael Hodgin, p. 57

 

 

            After arriving home on the 29^th, I had a surprise birthday cake and church bulletins to do.  So, Friday I set up my new mixer that my husband, my brother, and my brother’s wife gave me for Christmas.  I mixed up the decorating frosting (which is a lot stiffer than normal cake frosting) and then realized that I hadn’t followed the directions.  I mixed it up to see if it would work, but it was just too stiff.  So, I made another bowl full, making sure to follow the directions to the tee.  After placing the icing into the bags and trying to squeeze it through over and over again, I began to wonder what was wrong.  I knew the frosting didn’t look right, but I knew I had followed the directions.  Well, I kept trying to make the roses for the cake and got no where. I even tried squeezing with both hands!  Beinging to wonder if I had grown extra week, since October 2004 I handed the bag to Laura to see if she could get the frosting out of the tip.  I handed it to her and said, “Here goat girl, can you squeeze this out.”  I called her goat girl because she has hand milked goats at home and of course that would build up hand muscles.  To her surprise she couldn’t get anything out either.  So, I gave up.  I went to bake the cake so it would be ready to frost on Saturday, but when I went to get the ingredients and found that I was missing some.  The day was lost. 

            Saturday morning, Laura, Anna, and I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things and then we went to Michaels to pick up some icing supplies that I was running short on.  While there, I bought two things of their ready made frosting.  I don’t have much money, but sometimes time is worth more than money.  We came home and Laura and Anna made sugar cookies (will tell more in a separate post).  I colored the store bought icing and made my roses.  Than I baked the cake and allowed it to cool.  Than back to my new mixer that I was blaming for messing up my first two attempts of icing.  See, two summers ago Dan gave me a cake decorating class as Michaels for my birthday and I have never had trouble making my icing with my old mixer.  Well, I let the machine work without me turning the bowl much and not scrapping the bowl much—and guess what.  It worked just fine!  So, I got my frosting to frost the cake.  I baked a full sheet cake and cut it in half for a two layer, half sheet cake.  When the two pieces were placed upon themselves, it looked rather small.  I was told to prepare for 15-20 people.  I called the bakery at a local grocery store and the manager told me that half a sheet cake would feed 10-15 people.  So, I baked up some cupcakes, just incase I didn’t have enough cake.  

            I finished the cake before the New Year’s Ball dropped in Times Square; however, the cupcakes were finished after the ball dropped.  So, that is how I rung in the New Year after a stressful Saturday.  

            Oh, yeah I also got the church bulletins done, with the help of my husband.  He printed them all off for me.  

                Kathie liked her shawl and thanked my many times over for it.  She said that she was going to wear it to work today.  I’m sorry I didn’t post a picture of it yet; the digital camera is giving me some trouble, so I had to use a normal one.  I’ll post a picture when I get it the prints back. 

            Yesterday was the church’s annual Thanksgiving meal.  I took the rest of my Amish Friendship Bread and an apple crisp.  Since I burnt the first one for the Ladies’ Missionary Fellowship, I had to go buy more apples.  I was running late on Saturday because of doing church bulletins and trying to pick up the house.  A little before 5PM, I headed to the corner store to buy some, but they didn’t have any.  I then back tracked and went to the corner store that is right by my house (we like the one up the block better); however, they didn’t have any either.  I told the ladies that I was brining one and the nearest small grocery store is a little ways off, I went to ask my neighbor for a ride.  I walked up the step and was about to reach for the door bell, when the house door opened and there he was.  I told him my little predicament and he took me down the store.  While he was there he bought supper for his girlfriend and himself.  Any way, the church meal.  There was a lot of food there.  There was one large turkey that was not even used!  Though the food was plenteous the congregation seemed lacking.  Those who did come out were filled to the gills. 

            Since the fellowship hall was set up and decorated for the meal, the children didn’t have Sunday school.  (Due to the small number of children we have our Sunday school during the morning sermon.)  So, the four children that would have been in Dan’s class and our little Anna stayed in the service.  But, they still got to listen to Dan, as he preached yesterday. 

           The church had also collected non-perishable foods for the needy of our congeration and community.