- Come I Invite You To Church -
THANK you for your comments. I now have an idea on what it is you would like to see and know. Questions like, 'How do I help Dominique with the church'?- 'What kind of foods have I been eating'?- 'What is my life like from day to day'?- 'Where am I living'?.... With these kinds of questions am I blessed to know that our prayers for all of you are heard. Your concern for my well being is encouraging. I encourage all of you to continue gathering together as a body to pray with each other and especially to put yourselves aside and watch the LORD use you for HIS purpose (Haggai 1:14).
As Calvary Chapel Myrtle Beach has agreed to pay rent for my stay on the Island of Mauritius with Dominique, Cindy, and their three children for one year. The Spirit of the LORD moved and molded us as I allowed HIM to. Here is a little taste of what goes on with the fellowship that I was sent to Mauritius to help.
Matt Dove of CCMB planted this banana tree in 2012 with the help of Manuel. This year did it produce its first batch.
Here we have Red Banana from the Island of Rodrigues. Very tasty
ONCE a month the fellowship will get together here in the Sanctuary and have a 'GREAT' meal together...Our 'POTLUCK'- This time is yet again one more perfect opportunity for us to 'Invite Someone to Church'. Let's check out the line up from a previous month.
Manuel is taking courses to become a Pastry Chef. This one was done for his Exam- Almond Cake topped with Almond Shavings... Of course my mouth is watering
Shafeeqa (Congregant) makes cakes for a living, here on the Island. This Chocolate (x3) cross was made for this particular day of "Potluck"- Dark Chocolate cake covered with a Moca Icing topped with Dark Chocolate shavings
Virginie Pimentel (you guessed it...My Wife) brought this one. Yes the center has a large dip in it. She would not tell me what happened and with the look I got when I asked, I was not going to ask twice.
This is called 'Oundé'-Pronounced 'oon-day'. A sort of dough ball with a raisin center rolled in coconut shavings
Soufflé, Salad, a lot of Rice, Sausage (American hotdog)- Always on the menu
After a nice prayer, we dig right in
From L-R:
Adriel; Aurore; Shafeeqa. Most All doors leading to the outside of the house here on the Island are gated. Our little friend in the back is trying to escape
Whenever Joyce comes to church, her hair is put away. You would never know it was there
TO be invited over to a home for a meal is a 'Must Say, Yes'. The parents and family of Shafeeqa are Muslim. A little foot note for you: When Shafeeqa's father went to the hospital for several surgeries, he specifically asked Dominique to pray for him. When all went well for Mr. Ghanty- He was very thankful. We will continue to pray for his heart to be opened to the love JESUS CHRIST has for him and his family. Here are some photos of when we were invited over to the home of 'Monsieur Ghanty' after he came back from the hospital- Do you want a Good Meal! Say YES to Muslim cooking.... Now that I think about it, I will say YES to anyone's cooking, so invite me over!- Bon Appétit
Every meal always has plenty of bread
Here
we have plenty of rice. These other two dishes are chicken, prepared in
two different kinds of sauce. One of which topped with a cheese swirl. You will find Chili with every meal, to spice things up.
Chicken prepared in the oven, yet another way. Potatoes on the side and corn salad mixed with onion on a bed of lettuce - WE all had a great time of fellowship. Sharing what we could of our LORD. Monsieur Ghanty prepared all dishes.
THESE two are sisters that attend the fellowship I was sent to help... René and Paulette wanted to bless us with, YOU GUESSED IT!- A Good Meal
We started with coffee/ tea, and a NICE homemade Banana Pie- Bananas that you would normally throw away are baked and served. This has actually become one of my favorite desserts.
Afterwards we all sat together for Praise and Worship before the main course was served. Manuel helped us along with background guitar.
With a laptop were we able to connect to the flat screen TV that René had. Power Point took care of the rest as we all had no excuse but to Praise and Worship.
Here I am with Manuel
Frederick thought he was going to sit in the corner unnoticed- WRONG, if I'm in the house... Witnessing is delicate here on the Island- I share a little here and there with Frederick every opportunity I can. A lot of agreement but very little commitment is expected with the people here on the Island.
Finally! Here we have typical Mauritius cuisine: Haricot Blanc, Lamb cut into bits, seasoned with Rose Mary and soaked in its own juices, eaten with Dholl Puri- When I say typical, I mean that you will find this everywhere and everyday....THANK GOD!
LAMB- 'Yes, please'. I was surprised to see that not many of the guests were eating very much of this....Too bad for them, more for me- GOD still loves them.
Now that you see what I am eating. Let me show you a few of the projects the LORD has been leading me to do for the home that allows for the gathering of the fellowship.
From L-R: Andréanne; Kushi; Yamaëlle; Vanya; Ruby(teacher); Grace; Adriel; Noë
One of the best emails I received from Pastor Ron, prior to my leaving Maine almost one year ago. It read- 'Take Your Bass'. Here I am preparing for the worship team.
Virginie has got the stance almost right
The teaching here is- 'Verse by Verse', 'Chapter by Chapter' (Isaiah 28:13). I am grateful with all that I am for the Leadership of Calvary Chapel Myrtle Beach, as well as Calvary Chapel Bangor, Maine. They were all used by The Living God in guiding me to get to where I am today. Follow the Leader and be Blessed! 'Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is Sin' (James 4:17).
I am blessed to step in for Dominique when the opportunity arises. My approach is a bit different. I come to you with one choice, PERIOD. (Romans 10:15)
It was a great privilege to have my wife step up and translate for me as I went through Galations 2.
- THANK you for all your prayers and support!! The Peoples Republic of Mauritius has granted me permission to stay on the Island. Now How About That!!
Here is one of the Immigration officers that gave me the O.K., after declining my application two months prior.
there is a minimum wait of 2-3 months to receive a card after your application has been submitted- They gave mine to me in less than 30 days
Virginie and I had to go to Port Louis, to this building 4 times in three weeks only to have them repeatedly decline my request to marry. after we were finally approved did I noticed the name of the building. God does have a sense of humor.
- YES,
the LORD has done a great work. Despite the supposed set backs of
getting a van for ministry, to satisfy the time frame of Pastor Ron's
arrival in August 2014, LET'S PRAISE THE LORD!!- You Guessed It! Our
venture in search of a 15 passenger van has come to our first point of
completion. Cindy was contacted by a
friend who heard that we were looking for a van that the fellowship would use for ministry. This van turned out to be right what we were looking for and best of all, right on time! NOW HOW ABOUT THAT! (Isaiah 55:8-13).
2001 Nissan Urvan 3.0 Liter D.I. Diesel 15 Passenger Van
From L-R: Ranjen
(a brother in CHRIST); Jaga; Dominique.
Here I am giving the Gospel message to Jaga using a witnessing tool called an 'Evangecube'
I started giving the Gospel to Jaga. Showing him just as we had a deal to purchase his van on our word, so GOD made a deal with us here on Earth- giving us His word. (John 3:16)
Jaga let me pray for him. My prayer always is that we would have a more intimate relationship with our Creator.
Jaga was happy to receive a personal Bible by Dominique. Pray with us for his conversion to Christ
- WHAT a joy it was to show you a little more of what the LORD is doing here on the Island of Mauritius. At the end of the month on July 25, 2014.
We are all praying for you at CCMB, CC Florence, South Carolina and CC Bangor, Maine. Until my next post-
- May The LORD Bless You By HIS Grace -
