Friday, November 9, 2007

Ninos les gusta una conferencia

Otro que compartir... una persona que estuvo en Austin, Tx en una de tus conferencias, asistió con su hija y dos nietas pequeñas, quienes viven en Georgetown, compartió con mi hermano lo siguiente: " La conferencia titulada " El hombre es la canción de Dios" en inglés, fué espléndida, llena de sencillez y espiritualidad . La Sra dijo que sentía gota por gota, la luz de la espiritualidad y salió de ella con el corazón tan lleno que cuando regresaron al automovil, su hija conversó de la conferencia con las niñas ( sus nietas) y una de las niñas dijo: fué la cosa más dulce que habían escuchado, incluyendo la escuela dominical y su hogar. Dijo la Sra que las niñas habían dado su testimonio tan tierno, dulce y sencillo, repitiendo para su mama y abuela lo que habían escuchado en tu conferencia. Creo que es algo tan pequeño y tan grande a la vez, porque viene de unas niñas, puras, que son todo imagen de nuestro Padre-Madre Dios.

- Cristina

Fruitage summary for Tamaulipas Mex Fall 2007

Lecture Summary
Ciudad Victoria – Oracion Efectiva y La Salud
This lecture came out of the lecture last year. There is such tangible progress from last year. Last year was the first lecture in Tamaulipas. One person had been healed about a year before and had begun studying CS and telling her friends. They had a group of maybe 8 people and she wanted to sponsor a lecture to share Christian Science with more people in Ciudad Victoria. 50 people came. This was the situation last year. Now, they have an email list of 40-50 people who are receiving the weekly Bible Lesson, studying and praying. They have had lots of healings. This lecture was held in a lovely conference room in the Holiday Inn Express in Ciudad Victoria.

A woman came simply to tell me that she had received her “miracle” from the last lecture in C.V. She had come with her 2 cousins last year, and had told them that she was coming for a miracle. She couldn’t get pregnant and she wanted a child. I remember talking with her and praying with her. She told me that when she left the lecture she felt that she was healed and had told her cousins that. She came to this lecture and brought her cousins simply to tell me that her son was born 3 weeks ago and to tell me that she had received her miracle and to express gratitude.

A woman had been having a lot of pain in her knees. She told me at the 3rd lecture, that she had been healed during this first lecture. The pain disappeared completely.

Cristina and those organizing these lectures had demonstration after demonstration during the planning of the lectures. They had a half page full color ad and article in the newspaper which was printed for the cost of a little black and white ad. They had another black and white ad donated. They had people donating flowers, locations, discounting rooms, I lost track of all the things she was telling me. She must have talked for an hour telling me the demonstrations of someone saying the cost would be $1000 for something and then they would get it for free or something else would work out for a fraction of the cost. They also had members of their group and local people donating money for publicity, printing, etc. This is so important, that even when money is coming from McAllen in support of the lectures that the local group “owns” the lecture, plans it, makes the demonstrations for the money etc. That was most definitely the case here. They made their demonstration every step of the way.

A woman who attends another denominations healing services came from Nuevo Leon. She is an elderly woman visiting friends. The three of them were all visitors. She was especially enthusiastic and said she was going to share S&H with the leader of their group back in Nuevo Leon. They all said they were going to come to the other lecture in C. V. on Sunday and bring another friend. They did come to the 3rd lecture. She was especially grateful for the lectures.

A nurse working with children with cancer, talked to me before the lecture. She wanted to know what she could read, so I showed her a copy of S&H which she began reading while waiting for the lecture to start. Then she came and talked to me again (we started 25 minutes late). She told me about her job and asked how she could help these children. I told her the lecture would give her specific ideas and to talk to me after. She did and said that she now saw precisely how to pray for these children. She said she was very satisfied and had gotten what she came for. I think she also talked with the group here and I think indicated that she wanted to meet with them for their services and study.

A man came with a list of people that he wanted me to pray for. I assured him I would. We prayed together for him, right then. He had taken several Heralds. He said he wanted to give one to each of the sick people, and I assured him that reading the Heralds would heal them. He expressed a lot of gratitude for the lecture. He also bought S&H.

They charged $5 entry fee and then discounted the price of S&H. .

A lot of the visitors added their names and information to the list of people who were interested in meeting on Weds for services and for studying together.

They sold 22 S&H, a lot of Bibles and all but 3 of the free Heralds that they had on display were taken, along with some other free literature.

Lecture Summary
Ciudad Victoria – Demuestra Ahora el Poder del Amor
This lecture was the 2nd in Ciudad Victoria. At the lecture last year, Cristina’s mother came as a visitor. She was very skeptical before that lecture. But she had a transformation of thought at last year’s lecture. After a while, she began reading S&H and studying. Then she asked Cristina to start having study meetings and testimony meetings in her neighborhood. So Cristina began a second group of people in this local rather poor neighborhood. They decided to have a lecture in this neighborhood, which is very different from the area where the Holiday Inn is located.

A doctor was there who had been a visitor to the lecture last year. He has begun studying CS. He is praying for patients. He works with AIDs patients. He also had invited Cristina to come and talk to a group of physicians who meet regularly to talk about spiritual topics. She is a regular speaker at their group and has given or sold S&H to everyone in this group. He talked with me about wanting to contact CSists in Laredo. There is a clinic there of AIDs patients and he was hoping that some CSists would help him pray. He also talked with me about some personal family situations and how to pray. After this lecture, he invited Cristina to speak to another group of students when they come to the section on spirituality. She is going to put together ideas from the various workshops and lectures that I’ve given here to share with them. This meeting will take place after the first of the year, I think. He has experienced several healings himself and several of his patients have been healed using CS. He is studying and practicing Christian Science himself and recommending it to some of his patients. What progress from last year when he came at the end of the lecture and bought S&H!

I talked with most of the people after the lecture. They all wanted to have me pray with them and I stayed for almost an hour doing so.

A nurse who began studying CS 2-3 months ago has attended every lecture and workshop that I’ve given in the past few days. She spoke to me after this lecture and showed me her arm. She had had an accident a few days before the first lecture, and there was a huge gash. But she told me that when it happened she began praying. She went to the hospital and rejected some of the shots they wanted to give her. They simply stitched the arm. She said she didn’t have any pain and there wasn’t any bleeding (her words). The doctors were predicting this and that, and she rejected it all with what she has been learning about CS. She also said she stopped talking about it and when any of the people at work were asking her she would just say she was fine and it was nothing. She was so grateful. She also said in the few months that she has been studying CS that her life has really changed. She has experienced several demonstrations and feels that she is completely different. She talked about some current situations and how to pray about them. She said she has learned so much from the 3 lectures and 2 workshops.

The owner of the funeral home came to this lecture with the worker who is studying CS. The owner bought a S&H and is indicating that she wants to begin studying CS.

They charged for this lecture $5. But because the area is rather poor, anyone who was retirement age came for free. Also the funeral home purchased 6 tickets for people.

They sold 3 S&H, 2 Miscellaneous Writings and 1 Bible. They gave away another 6 or so S&H, 3 Bibles and maybe a couple more M.W. They also gave away a lot of Heralds.

All the visitors signed a sheet and many indicated they wanted to join the study group and testimony services that are being held in this neighborhood. One or more indicated that they were going to come to the study group in Cristina’s house which is in the center of the city. There were a lot of people who were newcomers to the first lecture who came to this lecture. I didn’t count them as newcomers here. Some of them brought friends or relatives to this lecture. One newcomer from the first lecture invited 3 friends, another invited 2. It was great to see the immediate response and multiplication of interest in Christian Science and healing.


Lecture Summary
Jaumave – Demuestra Ahora el Poder del Amor
This is a small town an hour from C.V. Cristina and her family have friends and relations by marriage who live there. One woman had begun studying CS and I believe had had a healing. She was the one who found the location, a local hotel on the zocalo or main plaza, and made the local arrangements. They had a lovely banner on the hotel and had distributed a couple hundred invitations and many posters.

The location of the lecture and the workshop was the patio of a local small hostelry. It was covered and had some outdoor lighting. The place was completely full by the middle of the lecture as people continued to come. Whole families came with children, infants, grandmothers, etc. Lots of children, who at the beginning were a little inquiet after praying all the children settled down and listened or slept. Several people came who were visitors to the first lecture. They brought their family members or friends who needed healing. They drove the hour from C.V. to attend this lecture. There was one woman who drove an hour from Tula to hear the lecture. I think she is beginning to study CS but had never been to a lecture.

This lecture was free.

Every family there bought S&H. I think they sold 8. Lots of Heralds and other free materials were taken. Everyone stayed to talk with me and with the other CSists there.

They are going to start a study group here. They took the names of the folks who indicated an interest in learning more.


Lecture Summary
Reynosa – Demuestra Ahora el Poder del Amor

McAllen had tried to arrange a radio interview for me but had been unable to do so. I talked with Cristina about this the day before the lecture as we were driving up from C. Victoria. When she got to the house she was staying she called some people. They told her that with the political campaigns there was no air time available (there are city and state elections taking place this Sunday). Cristina has contacts with the station owner’s wife. She continued praying and was able to work out a 15 minute live interview on one of the biggest stations in Reynosa for very little cost. When we got there for the interview, she talked with them about airing it again. The live interview was 1:30-1:45pm. The radio personality became interested in the lecture, healing and finding out about Christian Science during the interview. We gave him a copy of the New Testament Bible we’re sharing at the lectures and a copy of Science and Health. After the interview the station people were so pleased that Cristina was able to arrange with them that they would air it again at 4pm which is the drive home time for those working in the maquiladoras, for free!

Many people came up to me simply to thank me for the lectures and tell me it was helpful to them.

They charged $5 entrance for this lecture. The two boxes of Science and Healths were given away (brought by Jackie and Dick from McAllen). Also additional S&Hs brought by the group, Bibles, and many Heralds.

Several at the lecture asked to start a CS study group in Reynosa. They are going to do so. In addition, others are going to start a Spanish speaking study group in McAllen. This is a good way to launch Spanish speaking services and activities.

Additional Fruitage:
We held the first Sunday services in Ciudad Victoria this morning. Cristina set up 15 chairs in her living room and we held a regular church service. I was First Reader and Cristina was Second. We sang the hymns to the CDs provided by TMC. We used a recorded song for the solo. We took a collection and this is the first time that they have ever taken a collection. It took everyone by surprise, but many of the people contributed. There were 12 people attending including my husband and I. It was a wonderful beginning of having Sunday services, which they have decided they are going to try and continue. They have been reading the Bible lesson together but not holding services, just Wednesday services.

This was a wonderful series of activities. Newcomers purchased S&H in each lecture and signed up to study CS further. Healings took place and will continue to take place. Many people have called local practitioners for Christian Science treatment. The seeds of the Christ Truth were sown in more than the 3 cities. Newcomers from Nuevo Leon, Monterray, and Tula were there and are taking S&H back to their cities as well. Your continuing prayer and support of the power of divine Love is what nurtures the seeds planted in the good soil.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Sin is just a wrong note

My husband got the idea of sin just being wrong notes. Wrong notes aren't part of the original composition. I think it was clear to him for the first time that maybe he was not an inharmonious melody, he could sound beautiful and good. He was a musician at one time and spent many long hours teaching himself to play a guitar by ear.
- from Austin TX lecture "Being God's Song"

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

New Orleans survivors helped through prayer

My parents lived their whole adult lives (they are in their 70's now) in New Orleans, Louisiana and were temporarily visiting us (August 2005) in Birmingham, Alabama. They had planned to stay three or four days and had no awareness of the impending hurricane. Their home was within a mile (at most) of one of the worst hit levees and remained under 8 feet of water for weeks at least. Even their car was totally submerged. It was a total loss and has since been demolished down to the dirt. Nothing remains on site but they did save some special things.

My parents are very resilient and found a small apartment in Birmingham. My neighbors provided so many wonderful things to furnish an apartment and so they moved in. Immediately a man from the same small complex walked up (after talking with the apartment manager) and explained that he was to be married very soon and could not use any of his furniture or small appliances. He immediately moved all of his belongings straight into their apartment, including his own clothes and they now had a full apartment! This was such an incredible demonstration of God's Love and care.

My parents did well until they started to droop during the following May and June of 2006. I did become concerned and began trying to "solve this problem". My husband and I kept our eyes out for a suitable house as they really need more space and provided them information on local events, etc.

In June, my husband and daughter left for two weeks to attend a Christian Science summer camp in Missouri. This was a wonderful time for further study and reflection. The day before Father's Day I took my parents to pick blueberries for a diversion and we all enjoyed this greatly. I had a moment in which I truly said, "I am not going to be seeking a house for my parents. They truly are just fine where they are."

That same evening I had a strong message while at home alone to "Stand Up" which I did, "Go for a walk", "Turn Left", and "Stop here" which I also did. Let me say I have never had any experience quite like this before and can be rather hard-headed at times but I felt no anxiety or resistance at all.

Well, when I stopped I looked up (this is 1/4 block from my own house) and I saw a house for sale that seemed to be specifically for them. I immediately called the agent and we planned to meet ASAP. It being a holiday, Father's Day, the agent wished to wait until the following day and no other agents could see this house. I felt this was divinely figured out for me. I also never ever noticed this house particularly
before and had never seen a for sale sign in the yard.

My parents bought the house the day they viewed the house and continue to live there now. They have since perked up and have some new best friends that live nearby that are so close in interests that it is a perfect match!

I am so grateful for the realization that I personally am not the source of solutions and just need to take my one next step without even knowing where I am going.

- Linda

Lecture widened view

I loved the lecture, first of all, as a mother. I was amazed and
grateful to hear about the need for immediacy and urgency in
listening to and acting on angel messages and especially the need to
help children understand this as well. Really, the lecture was
fundamental in helping me take a huge step forward in widening and
narrowing my lens to see God more fully in the Truth all around me.
This has even unfolded more and more over time.

- Linda

Relationship changed

I had one of my occasional visits with the gal at the nursery next door
today (the one who came to the two lectures you gave in Chardon.) She told
me that thoughts I'd given her when she shared physical challenges she was
having regarding menopause brought them immediately to a halt. She went on
to say that after she and Joe came to "that little seminar you had" their
relationship "completely changed,--did a complete turn-around." She began
seeing him as the child of God, and he began acting like it. Whereas,
before she just saw him as wanting to go play baseball, drink and not be
very interested in spiritual things, now, all those things have changed and
he is thoughtful, attentive and active in his church. She is very
grateful.
- Toni

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Progress in Riga, Latvia

After church, the day following the lecture, the members and I talked about progress and challenges within this church group (in Riga, Latvia). Two years ago they established a Sunday School and it is well attended. They have 6 or 7 regular students ranging in age from 3 to 13. They have been working on a translation of S&H into Latvian and are nearing completion on this project. The project is has been receiving a little financial support from a CS Association in Switzerland and a member of that Association was in Riga to talk with them about the project's progress. Talking about the project opened the door for talking about community outreach. They had been thinking about the translation of SH as a project mostly for themselves, but we explored the idea that this is something for their whole society and that they should begin right now thinking about how to share it with the community and growing into a more self-sufficient role in providing for that outreach. The two forms of outreach we discussed were the possibility of opening a RR and the lecture activity. They want to takes these steps and are praying about it - they know this kind of progress is natural. They have come a long way in the last few years. They were officially registered only a few years ago (a huge step in which TMC played a significant role by providing an attorney to help them), they established a Sunday School two years ago, and they hold Wed meetings twice a month. They currently rent a space just for the hours of their services, but they are praying about and working toward purchasing a place of their own. We talked about the possibility of a Reading Room that could be used for church services too. They are a small, but dedicated group, and your prayers and financial support of the lecture activity are playing a significant role in allowing them to continue growing and serving their community. They all expressed their gratitude for the support from TMC and from the private sources.

-Marie

English church sponsors lectures in Russia

We discovered the Spiritual Resource Foundation and came to appreciate its work in Russia so much. Our branch church is registered with them as a ‘sister church’ in that several members are working conscientiously for it and for the work of Christian Science there each day. So it seemed logical to sponsor lectures there, and thanks to the generosity of our members we were able to contribute to the expenses of two lectures there – one in Riga and one in St Petersburg. The fruitage to our membership of working with and for the Russian field is incalculable, it has given our membership a lift and enabled us to feel, tangibly, that in some way we are helping to “feed and clothe a hungry world.” All members have gained a broader sense of community since deciding to support 2 lectures there and have rejoiced with the reports of fruitage Marie Helm has sent us, and have responded immediately when alerted to the need for specific work. We are so very grateful for the work undertaken there and feel privileged to be able to support it in some way.

- Alex

Monday, March 19, 2007

Tongabezi Trust School, Zambia Africa

From Oxted, England:
The Tongabezi Trust School in Zambia, Africa, of which I am a Trustee is always close to my heart as I have been able to observe the progress of this school from the very beginning when Vanessa Parker started the school back in 1996. Vanessa had gone to Zambia in as a VSO (voluntary service overseas) teacher to teach maths and english at the Livingstone Institute of Learning. She knew nobody there and even had to organize her own accommodation as no-one (in true African fashion) had prepared anything for her arrival. You have to imagine a town with dirt roads, no supermarket, no public transport and no hotel (at the time) and private housing without doors and windows.

Eventually, she met and married Ben Parker who had just established a Safari camp on the banks of the Zambezi, called Tongabezi. Vanessa, rather than work in and for the camp, saw the need for a school so that the children of the camp staff could be educated while their parents worked. She started with one classroom of first graders and taught and organized everything herself with no pay and a classroom which had been built by the camp with just a concrete floor and a thatched roof . It was a great success and became very quickly so popular, that the need to expand became obvious. So, one additional class was added each year until there are now some 120 students from grade 1 to grade 7.

All of this was achieved through the donations of guests at the camp, and friends at home and in 2003 the school was formed into a Charity: 'The Charitable Trust for The Tongabezi Trust School' and given the name 'Tujatane' which means: 'Let's all hold hands together'. It is a delight to observe the children's eagerness to learn. Many of them walk barefoot for hours to school and arrive without having had breakfast and no lunch. This necessitated the establishment of a food program so that all children now receive breakfast at school and are served the very basic mealy meal for lunch.

A basic learning course was also established for the childrens' parents and this is well and eagerly attended.

All in all, the school is a big success and has been recognized by the Zambian Government.

Donations and sponsorships are the lifeblood of the school and every penny donated goes directly to the school. Unfortunately, since the recent revaluation of the Kwacha, all funds have been almost halved in value and donations are constantly needed. Anyone who would like to contribute to the continuing success of the school can find information on our website: www.tujatane.com or by simply 'googling' The Tongabezi Trust School. You will find all necessary information on this website but if you need/want further information please email vanessa@tongabezi.com

Vanessa went through the Sunday School at Oxted church and her Mum and I are active in the Christian Science church in Oxted.

Silvia Harris
Oxted, England

Friday, March 16, 2007

Welcome!

Welcome to the Wider World for sharing ideas regarding Christian Science international outreach. Tell us how you or your church is supporting church activities in another area or another country. The Christ is universal and your ministry is universal. We'd love to hear from you!