The Touch of the Master's Hand

The work is going well here in el Bolson and next we will be holding a baptism for our investigator Isaias!  Isaias is 9 years old and I met him about 2 months ago.  We have been wroking with him every now and then but it's been a little difficult because his mom, Marta Cayo, is always working!  Marta is a less active member but she has now committed to go to church every Sunday in order to support Isaias as well as help herself which is great!!  So next Saturday Isaias will be getting baptized!  Now here is the scoop on Romina, she is ready to be baptized, but the only thing we are wating for are Marcelo's papers so he can baptize her! Marcelo has had all his interviews and is ready, but now we just need to receive the papers that will then give him permission to baptize Romina!  So all is well here and we are working hard!

Bueno, now is the Christmas season when we start thinking a little more about Jesus Christ, his birth, and the great blessing that He is in our life.  I love this time of year and I love my Savior Jesus Christ so I would like to share one of my favorite poems about him.  It is called "The Touch of the Master's Hand" by Myra Brooks Welch:

’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile:

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three—” But no,

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

And going, and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand

What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:

“The touch of a master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,

A game—and he travels on.

He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,

He’s “going” and almost “gone.”

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand.

Each and every one of us are like this old violin.  We are battered and scarred with skin, and often times with our lives out of tune.  But with the touch of the Master's hand, the Master being Jesus Christ, we can become someone incredible.  He heals our wounds and scars, making us clean from sin.  He changes our worth, by helping us be better than we ever could without Him.  The Lord is everything, and He makes all the difference.

I hope you all have a wonderful wonderful week and realize the beautiful music that the Lord plays in our lives through his grace and mercy like that old violin.  

Next week are transfers so we will see if I stay here in el Bolson or if they move me to another area, which will probably be my last area!  But I will talk to y'all next week and I love you all sooooo much! SO MUCH!

Quote of the week:

Nurture your mind with great thoughts, to believe in heroes makes heroes.

Benjamin Disraeli

xoxo

Hermana Anika Van Boerum