Sunday was an absolutely amazing and refreshing day! We took vans about an hour away to church. It seemed like the whole village came out to gather around the church, and probably the sight of 50+ white people. Half spoke Spanish, and half a dialect called chole. At first it seemed like groups of us just stared at each other and smiled, the children peeking around their parents and giggling, parents smiling shyly. The language barrier was quickly broken, however, as we began trying to interact and then the service was started. I have never experienced such a powerful service in my life! We are blessed this week to have some amazing leaders who have flown in to prepare us more, and they led part of the service, along with the local pastor. That little building was completely wall to wall crowded, and people crowded each window and door as well as gathered all around the building, attempting to hear and be a part of what God was doing. For 3 hours we prayed over each other, testimonies were shared, and songs of praise were sung. God’s Spirit was very evident in that place! One awesome testimony was that a women who had been declared barren last year by the local doctors, had been prayed over by last year’s world race team and stood today at church holding her baby! What an awesome God we serve!
One of the men had donated a cow for our lunch, so the people all served us large portions of beef and rice, along with jamaicha. I was very humbled to be eating first, but they wanted to serve us! We were able to interact with them some more after church- some singing Spanish songs with the children, others taking pictures and showing the locals who were so excited to see what a photo looked like, some taking the opportunity to now serve them a meal, and others (who are fluent) being able to have conversations.
We then jumped back in our vans and headed to the most incredible waterfall I think I have ever seen. Fall after fall seemed to stretch on forever- we were surrounded by what looked like a tropical rainforest. We swam and jumped off falls and just took in the beauty for the afternoon. Thank you God for the beauty You created for us to enjoy!
(Jumping off waterfalls at Cascadas de Agua Azul)
We are all lodging at a conference center for training pastors, spending the mornings and evenings being trained/prepared, and the afternoons going out ministering. Next week the full time ministry will begin. I am praying for the Lord to make me completely broken and dependent on Him, my heart cries out “Yes” to whatever He asks of me. I already said “yes” to abandoning everything, and now I am asking for more of His heart! I don’t know exactly what this year will hold or what all He is asking of me, but I do know that I will continue to press hard in to Him and will not back down when the enemy tries to discourage. It’s the demons who tremble, not me! I don’t do the will of God, I am the will of God! God can do anything He wants, but He chose to use the method of man/us!
My challenge to you is to have a “yes” heart to whatever God is asking of you! It’s all about Him! He gave me this verse that I just keep meditating on-
Habakkuk 1: 5- “Look among the nations, and see;
Wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
That you would not believe if told.”
