It was four years ago on a Saturday afternoon in Santiago.
Thirty children sat in their classroom at La Iglesia Bautista La Castrina, learning about the love of God.
The excitement soon turned to chaos as smoke filled the building.
An electrician had made a mistake, and suddenly the whole building was in flames.
By the grace of God, everyone made it out safely, and within minutes, four firetrucks were on the scene.
Volunteer firefighters fought to save the building as brave neighbors ran into the temple and dragged out church pews, lining them up in the street.
However, the fire couldn’t be stopped and most of the building was demolished.
Pastor Nelson Castillo walked to the church early the next day, Sunday morning, preparing to consol church members when they saw the devastation.
To his surprise, they greeted him, with dirty hands and willing hearts.
They’d been cleaning up the wreckage since sunrise.
“It was the most humbling, impactful, and inspiring moment for me,” said Pastor Nelson. “The church couldn’t be stopped. We were united.”
It took five months and many hardworking volunteers to reopen the church.
Now, it’s more united than ever before.
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11
We’ve been living at this church for a month now.
The evidence of reconstruction is all around us, in the hearts of this community.
This church family is not afraid of the fire. They aren’t afraid of new growth.
It’s encouraging to me, because I feel like that’s the reason we were sent here.
To start a spiritual fire in the hearts around us. To usher in the Holy Spirit and allow Him to do the reconstruction.
As a team of carefree young women, we’re not exactly what you might imagine when you think of the term “missionary.”
Our hairstyles, our tattoos, and our lives look different than the picture of Paul, letters in hand.
But our hearts look the same. Throughout this month, we’ve pleaded with the Lord to let His Glory shine through the distractions of appearance. Shine through the spirit of offense.
After a month of sharing God’s love, we’re leaving this church “under construction” of the Holy Spirit.
That’s the scary part.
But, if we’ve learned anything about this community, it’s that they’re not afraid of the fire.
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19
