Church next door!

After devotions tonight with Erik's family I quickly popped into the little church next door because I heard them singing and wanted to join them for the rest of their evening service! I guess they just started meeting in the little building here only a few days ago (the church for Sunday is down the hill next to the beach). It was neat to join the fifteen or so of them and listen to a passage from 1 Peter in Bislama. I could catch the main point of the message because the leader, Nikki, read from the Bislama Bible (similar enough to English) and then spoke in Nafe. And then at the end he asked for prayer requests and then we all prayed together (everyone at once) which is really neat to do! I love how we can meet with our brothers and sisters in the Lord wherever we are, whether in a big church building, at lunch, or in a bamboo sided, palm-leaves topped little church building! It was cool to see so many people there because there really aren't very many people at all in the village this week due to a huge week-long festival in Lenakel (the only town on Tanna). Even though I can't speak their language, it's great to be able to join them in worshipping the God who created all of us! And who loves us so dearly!
~ May the Lord bless you and keep you--the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numb. 6:24-26

P.S. Here's the passage from 1 Peter 5:8-11 that was read tonight in church:
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.