I am sitting in the closet that Linnea and I have been given as our honeymoon suite. It is so necessary for us to be able to at least spend this time alone, though we can never escape the constant noise that 50 single young adults can make. We just had an incredible day, such a difference from yesterday.
I had completely forgotten that today is Sunday, with the blur of travel and people. While it is not as hot as Guyana, I am still in a constant sweat. We got the news that we were going to church today, and we should look nice. (Linnea is looking at pictures of Sequoia right now, I hope someone will give the puppy a hug) So I dry shaved, which I am getting used to, I decided not to grow a full beard. Montezuma has also made his presence known, and we have no seats on the toilets. Such a sad, sad song.
We piled into a bunch of Nissan bus vans and drove for an hour into the mountains. What beautiful country, after doing ‘Daily Bread’ today from Psalm 8, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers….Oh Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth”, we got to see it, the beasts of the earth, who am I that God is mindful of me?
We got to church and were met by Seth Barnes, Gary Black, Andrew Shearman, and Bob Wag. A guy named Steve was there also, I remembered him from the August conference, but don’t really know him. These guys make you believe in an all-powerful God, in a God of love, a God of healing, a God of fun. To be able to view life from their perspective, to know God that well, I believe is what God wants. That God wants us to know we are His beloved children, and to live like we have an all powerful father, that we are brothers with Jesus.
The 50 plus of us stampeded into “town”, and with most of us not able to speak spanish yet, I felt like I normally do at church. (Where can I hide?) So I did what I know how to do, smile and make funny faces and fart noises. Some of the children laughed, none cried, so that was good. Then church started and I was trying to hang in the back, a rumor started that Seth wanted all of us to fit into the building, so I shrugged and got in line.
Our small progression just kept piling to the front until I was standing two feet from the pastor as he was praying. The music started, and we sang songs from my childhood, but in spanish. Then we were supposed to sit, and I wound up sitting right next to Seth, I finally wound up on the floor, front and center to let a woman use the chair. I was sitting indian style in the aisle with Gary Black wacking me every time he got excited (when is he not?). Probably one of the most incredible experiences for me, as I said, what the heck, I’ll raise my hand to admit I am not feeling well, and Seth and Andrew prayed for us. Then they asked the mexicans to pray for us, and a boy that looked about 12 was next to me, so I had him pray for me, then Bob wanted him to pray into the mic, and at some point the boy started crying. I was holding him up with my left hand, and Linnea said “HUG HIM!”. I wasn’t too sure about this, but again, what the heck? So I got on one knee and hugged him, and he went almost limp and he cried on my shoulder for a while, well past what I though I would be able to kneel for.
Seth spoke, shared some of his spiritual journey, said we are all on a spiritual journey. He said there was a time when he went from merely believing in Jesus to beginning an awakening into God’s kingdom. Seth (maybe it was at tonight’s debrief) also said we are just beginning our awakening. Seth spoke in english, Bob translated to spanish, then the pastor in this church (Samuel?) spoke in Chollo (sp).
After church, we celebrated with the village and had beef and rice. It tasted fantastic. Then it was off to a waterfall.
Agua Azul was amazing. I tried a flip off it, after a nice struggle across the current, and landed flat on my back. I slightly misjudged that one, and underwater I started to think about how old I was feeling.
After swimming for a while, and helping to get Tana before she went over an ugly drop (she attempted to cross where I didn’t want to go, then I realized I had to try it if a girl was willing. I am starting to realize what a spirit of bravery dwells in Tana’s chest.) It started to rain. A dark cloud came over and dropped diamonds from the sky. Huge drops slowly falling and reflecting the sun, thousands of prisms- little rainbow snowflakes flowing down.
Twenty four hours after wondering what I was doing on this hairbrained adventure I felt so alive and so confirmed. Thank You Lord! IM ALIVE! and right where I am supposed to be!
Now I just want the diarrhea to stop.
