God’s choice blessings on your birthday, dearest SYDNEY!!! A birthday in COTACACHI ! Now that’s a first! Sydney, you are such a blessing to me and to the other ladies in our Bible Study Class. Thank you for what you mean to us!
Now who is this smiling Doll? Sydney is the wife of Bill Heard, who is pastoring a newly-formed Church in Cotacachi, for English-speaking people (gringos).
Bill and Sydney have three beautiful daughters. I call them Princesses, and that is exactly who they are – three of the most amazing daughters! They remind me of Job’s three daughters, especially created by God, and presented to Job – “He also had . . . three daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemimah (handsome as the day), the name of the second Keziah (Cassia, a fragrance) and the name of the third Keren-Happuch (colorful ray). In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job. . .” (Job 42:13-15) These three junior jewels sure shine in Cotacachi! You’re blessed, Emerald!
Sydney was one of the first ladies who joined our Ladies’ Bible Class which started on 13 January, 2011, and which is held in a shopping plaza in Cotacachi. Dan Oie has kindly allowed us to make use of his premises at the Solid Rock Restaurant and Libreria, where we meet each week.
Our birthday Girl is a keen student of the Word of God. For a couple of weeks we studied the precious gems sprinkled throughout the pages of the Scriptures, and she was given the name “Emerald” – a name that describes her perfectly – a precious Gemstone!
Have you ever seen two Gemstones hugging each other. Well, this is a first, too – an Emerald hugging an Amethyst. Two precious Jewels that Jesus created and polished to sparkle for Him. At this particular class, the “sparkle” flowed from the Gems’ eyes. Just as well we are a Ladies’ Bible Class!
”Emerald” is in a deep Scripture discussion with another Gemstone – “Opal”, as a third jewel, Sapphire, ponders deeply over the thoughts that emerged.
Our birthday Emerald is generous. The lesson studied on this particular morning was on Samson who lost his locks. Look how generous she is – even sacrificing one of her locks in order to reinforce a Biblical truth – don’t trade-in one of your “spiritual locks” for that which is not of the will of God.
On 3 March 2011, Sydney was involved in an outreach in Cotacachi. After discovering some of the functions of Scribes found in the Bible, which included learning the Scriptures and then teaching the Scriptures, the Ladies’ Bible Class distributed Bibles to personnel working in Public Service Departments. Our first port of call was the Mayor’s Office. Most people in Cotacachi have never owned a Bible, and they are awestruck when they receive the greatest treasures on earth – the Holy Word.
Can you detect the absolute sparkling Gem as she hugs this Police Officer – accompanied by two other Gems – Opal (left), and Amethyst (right).
Once again Sydney was ready and eager to distribute Bibles – this time to the “Cuerpo de Bomberos”. It sounds as if it has something to do with “bombs”. Well, we pray that the Bibles distributed to the men at the Fire Department will explode into blessing, and that these dear people will find the only One, the Lord Jesus Christ, who can save people from Eternal Fire – as they read their unique “regalos” – Bibles.
Jesus died for each of these Fire Fighters.
Just check out my precious Gems. An Opal and an Emerald. Oh, I am SO blessed! Today is the 10 March 2011, and Emerald’s birthday is on 0112413, Come on – unscramble these numbers and you will discover when it is her birthday. Shall I tell you how OLD she will be? Exactly 28 days older than my daughter in heaven would have been.
Today our class studied Luke 22:27. Jesus asked the question, “For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet, I am among you as one who serves.” Jesus teaches us to serve one another – in love. It was, indeed, a special privilege to serve Sydney – the “greater one who sits at the table”.
Have you ever stopped to think that Jesus serves each of His children? He never stops! Behind the “scenes” He works for each one of us. Its not for His gain; He does it out of love for us. He works out every detail of our lives. Now, tell me, is it asking too much to serve Him in return – in love. For gain? Yes, for gaining souls into Heaven, and for blessing the “Gems in His crown”. Sydney is one of those exquisite Gems.
What a surprise! Dan, God’s special son, and the owner of the Solid Rock Restaurant came around and gave us a delicious Ecuadorean cake, baked in the leaf of a plant. A birthday cake for you, Sydney. You’re beaming! Yes, another birthday blessing for you. Seems like Cotacachi is a really nice place!!
Aww thank you for posting such a sweet message for my mom. Ann
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