We circle the plaza one more time. With every step, we claim it as holy ground – God’s territory. The street lights come on as the sun sets. It is 7:00 Friday night – prime time, the plaza is hoppin´. Tourists stroll around checking out the local goods. Locals sit on the benches talking. The majority of the vendors are of Mayan decent. “Do you want?” a timid voice beckons behind me. I turn around and see a little lady, dressed in traditional, brightly-colored Mayan clothing, holding out her arm towards me. She is covered with bandanas, belts, necklaces, wraps…some even balance on top of her head. We talk for a while, she realizes that I am a lost cause and moves on to her next ‘victim’.
Noe, another pastor with whom we have been helping start a church plant, begins to draw a crowd as he belts out Spanish songs accompanied by his guitar. For a little guy, he sure can sing…and preach for that matter. We continue to mill about and scope out the area while praying for the evening activities, open hearts and discerning spirits. God is already at work in peoples’ hearts. We can feel it.
As the music fades, the drama begins. Great power is found in portraying the Gospel through acting. It literally comes alive in front of your very eyes. For five minutes, the length of the Casting Crowns song, “Set Me Free”, everybody’s eyes are glued to the actors. (These are pictures from the Sat. morning outreach when I was ´the tormented girl´ in the drama. Who knew I liked to act?) My eyes flick back and forth from the drama to the audience. I try to read peoples faces. My eyes fall on a young man, about my age. He is captivated by the story. I take a few steps closer to him, pause, and repeat this process a few times until I situate myself about 3 feet to his left.
He looks over and smiles. I smile back, but do not say anything. I can feel the Holy Spirit drop on him. When the drama comes to an end, at first there is a pause – pregnant with emotion. Then an applause erupts. Noe quickly jumps into explaining the drama and clearly lays out the foundation of the Gospel. Some people loose interest, but others, including my buddy to my right, is still enthralled. He´s not going anywhere – the Holy Spirit has his feet planted on the ground.
As the message is drawing to an end, I feel the release to talk. “So what do you thing about what they are saying?” I ask, “Do you believe it?” He looks over at me, a little surprised that someone is talking to him. “What do I think?” he replies, pointing to himself. I nod, “yeah, did you like the drama?” He looks straight ahead and closes his eyes, folds his arms over his chest and takes a deep breath. It was as though he was watching the drama unfold once again in his mind. “It’s good. I used to believe it, but two years ago I fell away.” He pauses and looks directly at me, “but I am not at peace anymore. God has been calling me back to him.” We exchange names and then both focus our attention back on the message. I do not want to distract him from what I know is coming up…a call to come up front to accept Jesus into your heart or to rededicate your life for his service.
Noe’s next statement is, “Tonight is the night!” He is jumping around up on the plaza steps as he passionately invites those to a life of love, joy…and peace. I look over at Rodrigo, “Tonight’s the night buddy.” With no hesitation, he eagerly, yet humbly, walks up to the plaza steps. With each step he takes, he breaks a little more. When he reaches the front, he falls on his knees and begins to weep. A few more follow his lead.
I glance back at an older gentlemen who is sitting on a bench a few feet behind me. I’ve have been keeping my eye on him during the message also. I can feel the Holy Spirit’s divine presence. I walk over to him, place my hand on his shoulder and introduce myself. “I will walk up front with you if you would like.” That’s all I said. He looks over at me – his eyes are red and full of tears. He grabs my hand as he stands up. And together we walk up to the steps.
I will never forget this evening. What a delight it is to be one of God’s chosen vessels. Later that evening, one of the last things Rodrigo tells me is – “I always knew that I was going to do great things one day. I have always felt destined to preach the Good News…”
