Last Saturday we were invited by Samuel to return to the Park near his church in Jerusalem. A large church from Villerhermosa came down for a Retreat and Baptismal Service. We didn’t realize until we arrived that all 4 Squad A Teams would be there along with the Media Team. The worship was awesome. This big ole charter bus pulled up and church members started getting off with armloads of food and Instruments! I think it was a 6 piece band with two vocalist and HUGE JBL Speakers. It was all in Spanish but we recognized a number of the songs they sang and it was just so much fun to be a part of it. The two highlights were the lunch- Chicken I think with rice and some sort of sauce and some really HOT salsa…and of course Corn Tortillas. The other highlight was the Baptismal Service in the River. Two church members and three of our teammates (Jon, Eric and Talia) were Baptized. Remember, our team comes from all sorts of backgrounds- I think some of them were baptized as infants and wanted to do so again. It was sweet!
Just before we left the Park, Pastor Javier’s wife and two of his children (who live in Palenque) joined us for the ride back to Aguilar. Javier and his daughter Elisa rode in the van with us. Elisa was a quiet as a church mouse on the way to town, but about an hour after we got back she showed up with some of the other Aguilar kids and let’s just say she came out of her shell. Later that night Pastor Javier came by the house to inform us that all four of us guys would be needed at 7:00 am the next morning to help build walls in the house he is building.
So, Sunday morning we met at the church and began sifting sand and gravel. We separated enough pure sand to mix with cement mix to create mortar for bricklaying. Apparently Javier hired the Mason. We were just the grunts for the job. It was good to do something physical though.
Sunday night we began a 3-part preaching series. On Wednesday night we are planning to purchase a Piñata’s and drinks and throw a block party at the church. I doubt we’ll be able to compete with the birthday party that some of our teammates went to Saturday night. The whole town must have showed up; they played loud music all night long and I guess our team came home about the time the beer came out. One of our girls won a bottle of Apple Soda dancing! I hate I missed that. Really funny thing happened Sunday morning: Javier cranked up sermons and music on the PA system at church about 6:45 a.m. I would hate to have had a hangover from the birthday party and then had to listen to 7 hours of sermons and music blaring from the church!
Since we didn’t really take any time off last weekend (other than going to Samuel’s) our plans are to leave Aguilar a day early (Thursday) and spend a night in Palenque so we can get caught up on our internet responsibilities (and find a Pizza!) We will go back to Samuel’s Friday morning where we will meet all of Squad A & B for an overnight Debrief. Actually, we’re going to have an optional trip to Misol Ha (another stunning waterfall and cave) and chill time all day Friday and then Debrief on and off throughout Saturday. Chad and the Media Team will leave for Guatemala on Saturday so as to be there when we get there Sunday or Monday. Our Race Leg to Guatemala begins Sunday morning. Squad B will be racing to Nicaragua. Rumor has it we will have an opportunity to rest and get oriented in Guatemala (including some internet time) before ministry begins.
