Events and One Amazing Meeting!

Hellllllo my dear friends in the grand ol' US of A!

Let's see... first off, engagement! I hear wedding bells!! haha, noooo not for me! For some complete strangers :]] Mr. Ariel, one of the admins at EMS invited Veer and I to go to his daughters engagement party. It was very interesting. There were two large chairs that looked like thrones that were positioned side by side facing rows of chairs. Both families and friends sat in the rows while two pastors (Veer was one of them) sat on a bench to the side of the thrones. Obviously, the newly engages couple sat in the thrones. They started off with a message from the pastor (not Veer) and then moved on to gifts. The man and woman gave eachother money, fruit, sweets, and other things. Then the three seemingly more important gifts were Bibles, rings, and big, decorated leis. Then they fed eachother slices of cake. It had many similarities to a western wedding. There was a camera man too, who used an unnecessarily bright light that rendered me partially blind haha. Anyway, afterward there was a dinner which concluded the party. It was quite interesting to witness.

Next up, I spoke in church this past Sunday. For those of you who were part of my gaduating class, you'll appreciate the fact that I chose to speak on John 15, yes, our theme for retreat haha. This is the second time I have preached with a translator... and I still don't like it. I'm too ADD to stop talking every 2 sentences and actually stay focused. It made concluding my message very abrupt, rough, and a little awkward. I just kinda lost my train of thought. Oh well! Afterward I sat in on the orphans' sunday school class and that was nice. They wanted me to quiz them on their Bible knowledge. They did rather well. But then I stumped them with questions like "Who are the Nephilum?" and "Which book of the Bible never says the name of God?". But they knew a lot more than I had expected.

Now, for "One Amazing Meeting".
Veer invited me to go to a prayer meeting with him last night. I said yes, of course. Blessy warned me saying that it was a fast too, and I wouldn't be able to eat till the meeting was over, and I assured her that I can go without one dinner. Then she warned me saying that it was 7 hours of straight prayer and worship, nothing else. I don't think she realized that she was only making me more excited about the meeting. So Veer, myself, and two other pastors hit the road for the 2 hour drive to Pali. Once we arrived, the second I stepped out of the car I could hear loud prayers being shouted from inside. I was very excited. I took off my shoes at the door and walked inside. The feeling I got the second I walked into the main room was... wow... I literally got chills down my back and arms from being overwhelmed with the Holy Spirit the second I stepped inside. I took my seat, and began to pray... I wasn't sure what I was SUPPOSE to be praying for, but it was amazing nonetheless. Then one by one each of the pastors (there were about 20) would stand up and say their prayer requests and praises and then we'd all pray as a group after each one. Loud praises went out for the many testimonies of miracles that had been preformed. I shan't say the things that were revealed there, but they put chills down my spine as they were spoken. I can't really explain any further other than... WOW. The Holy Spirit's presense was so THICK in that room. It was incredible, truly incredible, to be around such faith. I will never forget my night last night.

Anyway, that's all I really have to say. I'm doing well. Blessy made me cold milk which was very nice of her! haha

Misssing you all!!!

Love,
Ethan