I can’t believe it’s already been a week since everyone arrived in Honduras! With an awesome breakfast at Aunt Paula’s house of egg casserole and biscuits and gravy, we headed off to the soup kitchen. We sanded the tops and frames of the 10 large tables and then just the framework of the 20 benches there. It took quite a bit of time especially with the framework, since nothing had been done to them since they were built several years ago. We took a break for lunch and we had one of my most favorite meals, MilayJ (A local restaurant that serves typical Honduran food). The work resumed and everyone was again covered in dust, rust and mud. We then cleaned and wiped off the tables and painted the framework and underside black so it would cover the rust spots and also help to hide the dirt that the kids are sure to wipe off their hands onto the bottom. Uncle Alan had bought five different bright colors to paint the tabletops; green, pink, yellow, orange and blue. Two tables were painted of each color and then left to dry as we headed home. After a shower and supper, everyone started to play volleyball. It was a lot of fun even though my team lost lol.
It was quite odd to me having kids' crusade on a Sunday morning, but I think it went great! The adults came in from the class Bro. Pahlman was teaching just in time for the last skit, ‘The Judgment’. It followed the life of a young girl named Rosa and a young man named Miguel as they made different decisions about situations that arose in their lives. Today went quite a bit better than last night I believe and the kids response improved and we had a great time.
We came back to the house for some delicious homemade lasagna and flan for dessert. After we cleaned up, I went and sat down on the couch in the living room while everyone was fellowshipping and fell asleep and didn’t wake up until 15 minutes before we left! I do believe that tonight was the best night of the kids' crusade. The whole thing just seemed to flow smoothly and everything went together. Aaron explained several new games to us and everyone enjoyed either participating in them or watching the others play for the first time. I love these crazy kiddos so much and it has been so crazy getting to see them at church again and how much they all are growing! I’m sad but also excited for them. I know God has great plans for our kids. Well praise the Lord for the awesome services that we have been having. Dios es tan bueno (God is so good!) Mission complete! We helped out at the soup kitchen, visited three other Saturday schools and had the first night of the kids’ crusade. Several of the team members reenacted the story of Jericho and the kids responded really well. There wasn’t any food left on the plates that I saw, especially since fried chicken tacos were on the menu for today. We rushed to the first Saturday school so we could be there around one. The kids were completely absorbed in the Jericho skit and I was so excited to see many of those same kids at church tonight. The second and third visits to the Saturday schools turned out great as well. I was able to get an Espresso Americano (better than Starbucks) coffee while we updated our blogs this afternoon.
I think the first night of kids’ crusade turned fine especially being our first experience working together, getting everything coordinated and up and running. I had the chance to pray with a young girl and as tears started to roll down her face, she began to thank the Lord for her salvation and for all that He had done in her life. It was an awesome experience. What an awesome youth service tonight; from the testimonies to the songs to the preaching to the response in the altars! Lisa testified about being raised in church, but not having the heart to serve God as young people, which is exactly what some of our youth are facing. The Lord had laid on my heart to story of Peter walking on the water to Jesus and that many times, especially as young people we have a great start in our walk with the Lord, but the things of this world distract us and cause us to take our eyes off of the Lord. Bro. Brock preached about taking up the mantel of the call of God. He used my grandpa as an example of someone who felt the call and left everything behind and picked up the mantel. Then my dad came along and took the mantel from him as the job could not be done by just one person. The challenge was then issued to anyone who felt the call of God on their lives. I couldn’t hold back the tears during the preaching, but it became especially hard to keep the tears in when I saw young men from our congregation weeping as they came forward. It was so encouraging to see my church people acknowledge that they felt a calling on their lives. I am sad to see the end of the youth services, but I am looking forward to the soup kitchen, Saturday schools and kids’ campaign tomorrow! Dios Les Bendiga!
The main part of traveling to the bases is over and we left the hotel to head back home early this morning. We stopped along the way and Dad let everyone have the chance to try fresh coconut milk, right out of the coconut. I don't think it was a big hit with Melissa, Autumn and especially Lisa by the looks on their faces. Lol. We spent most of the day traveling in the van and most of us slept quite a bit. We stopped at the Cuevas (caves) de Taulabe and surprisingly found out that it was extremely warm for the inside of a cave. I enjoyed getting to go back, but this time with part of the team.
The first night of youth revival went really well. Katrina, Janna and Rachel did excellent jobs testifying and we all sang 'Oh The Blood of Jesus' and 'Create In Me a Clean Heart'. It's amazing to see how the Holy Spirit prompts different people to preach or deal with the same thing or something that is strongly related. Aaron and Bro. Pahlman shared what was on their hearts and the Lord moved mightily in the altars. Afterwards, a brother from our church asked me to interpret for him so he could talk to Bro. Pahlman. He began to tell him of how the words that had been preached where not his, but the Lords. He said he felt as if he was going through a time where the Holy Sprit was not moving in his life, but that the messages went straight to his heart and he felt the Lord directly speak to him. What an awesome God we serve! ¡Hasta mañana! Wow! What a day! Although we didn’t hold as many services today as we did yesterday, it was again an awesome privilege to be able to minister to the police and soldiers today. There was a good size crowd at our first service with the Special Forces police and the commander invited us to eat breakfast afterwards. I have to say again how wonderful it is getting to eat Honduran food again! I really have missed the delicious homemade tortillas that are so common here. The men in our group went and visited the soldiers that were in the military hospital and then we were on our way to the Air Force Base for our second service. As we came into the parking area, there were several of the personnel directing us to a parking spot in the shade whereas we normally have to park and leave the car and in sun, they told us that we now had our own ‘special’ parking spotJ Bro. Chris did an outstanding job as he ministered to the young men present in the service. Just as my dad and I always do after services at the Base, lunch is served to us in the Commander’s dining area. Several out of our group tried ‘tamarindo’ for the first time and I believe everyone liked it! Our final service was held where a group of about 100 men were stationed for a special mission. It was really neat getting to see our good friend Sub-Teniente Morfy stationed there. The presence of God was felt so strongly in that place and all came forward to pray after Bro. Brock’s message about the five foolish virgins. Even though it was getting dark, you could still see men’s hands raised as they sought the Lord. At the conclusion of the service, an opportunity was given to anyone who wanted to express what was on their heart after hearing the message. A young man came forward and said how encouraged he felt and that it had been a great blessing to be present there. It has been an awesome two days so far, traveling to the bases and battalions and looking forward to what the Lord is going to do in the upcoming youth revival and kids’ campaign!
Hasta luego amigos! J The first day of traveling began at 4:30 a.m. We arrived at our first service at what is known as the parachute battalion. There was a small group of soldiers that had been chosen for special training and before they left, Dad was able to have a short devotion with them. As the main service went on, it became apparent that soldiers weren't our only audience! Three sheep kept roaming throughout the benches and around the pavilion where we were conducting church! After service we were invited to the comedor to eat breakfast with Major Paz. It was so awesome getting to have some beans, eggs, ham, cheese, tortillas and coffee; your typical Honduran breakfast. Our second service was held at El Primer Batallon de Artilleria, where Bro. Chris LePelley did a great job preaching to the small group of soldiers gathered. Daniel Threadgill preached for the first time since coming to Honduras at our third service, which was at CEDACE, the military's agricultural base. From there, we traveled on to the Air Force Academy where the response to the altar call after Bro. Brock's message about addiction brought such a sweet spirit into that classroom. It was wonderful to see men and women weeping before the Lord. Our fifth and final service at the Engineer Battalion went extremely well. I can definitely say that throughout the places we had the opportunity to testify, sing or preach, it was evident that God's presence was in our midst. As I am writing this, we are traveling down the highway, with the hotel being our final destination for the night, but not before we stop and get some fried fish for supper; my favorite!:)
Please continue to pray for us. God bless! I am so excited to see what the Lord is going to do through the SENT Team. There has been prayer and fasting in preparation for this trip. I know there is going to be a great move of God as we minister throughout the country.
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AuthorElizabeth Sumner is a freshman at Free Gospel Bible Institute. ArchivesCategories |