I realized never told you guys who preached 2 Sundays ago! Weston preached a sermon on Faith and what that looks like biblically and how we can put that into practice. I gave a testimony about how I came to be here on the race, since it was a huge step of faith in my own life. We received many compliments on our performance, but Glory be to God for giving us a peace with speaking in front of people. It was my first time speaking at a church service and Weston’s first time preaching. Last Sunday has we had our squad leader Sean Smith preach and we were all blessed by what he had to say, he really represented a boldness in speech from the Lord.
Ok so now to inform people about how ministry is going for us. As you all know we have been finishing a home for Isabella, which is almost done the girls are making windows and doors for her home now. They have spent most of this past week doing that and doing some repairs to a future hostel for missionaries owned by a man from the church we are working through. As for Weston and I, we have been learning to weld and do a little metal fabrication to help make a roof for a ministry project Benjamin (the pastor) is working on. We finally finished the roof in six sections and brought it across the lake to San Marcos to do the final installation. It was a little nerve wrecking to put 40 bags of 50lb concrete, 6 people, tools, welder, and air compressor in a boat that should only carry 15-20 people safely. But such is life here in central America, the people here have to load things to capacity and beyond to be able to get their tasks done. We have learned a ton about building and welding and improvising when the better materials aren’t available. While working we have been trying to get to know the locals in the alleys and the indigenous men and woman, I’ve built many relationships with the people here and get a lot of people calling out my name when I’m walking out in the streets. It makes me happy that they feel comfortable to be around me and listen to what God puts on my heart to tell them J. I don’t know whether or not they are fully understanding what I’m saying but most of them are familiar with a lot of what I’m saying since the catholic religion is very big here. I will go into more detail next in my next blog which will be posted today as well.
I mentioned that I was able to be-friend a 28 year old man named Gregorio the second Sunday I was here. During the service he poured out his heart to me about his drug and alcohol addictions, and told me that he was trying to get back into going to church and rebuilding his life with Christ. I’ve been meeting with him and building our relationship as friends for the past few weeks and just speaking life over him and encouraging and helping where I can. He has been in my prayers constantly and I felt led to fast for 2 days while I begged God to break this young man’s addictions and reveal Himself to Gregorio. Last Sunday we were given an opportunity to pray over the congregation, Gregorio was the first to come forward. With tears in his eyes he stood before us waiting for one of us to come and pray over his life and speak blessing into him. I quickly went to him and prayed over him with all my heart, Gregorio sobbed heavily and trembled as we prayed together. I hugged him after and continued to pray for the individuals who came forward for prayer. I almost lost it when I came to a woman named Karen, I had heard her story from the pastor and it saddened my spirit to hear about what she has been through. Karen’s nose has been disfigured from a heavy cocaine addiction and her body has been severely impaired from the Aids virus. She walks with a cane and looks to be
65 years old but is only around 40. She was sitting down in a chair up front and was crying after someone prayed over her. I felt as if the Lord wanted me to pray for her as well so I went over and just spoke about how much the Lord adores her and considers her to be a beautiful daughter in Christ, I almost cried my eyes out when I was finishing, God really broke my heart for this woman. After the service was over and pray was done, I went over to Gregorio to chat, he told me that he had been clean for almost a week and has been really trying to pour into the Lord!! I was ecstatic!! My prayers for this man’s life are being answered! This past Thursday I took Gregorio to the local school to play Frisbee and basketball, he had never played with a Frisbee before so we played Ultimate Frisbee for a while. Soon after starting we had like 30 kids playing with us!! From ages 5-15 years old. We had a blast, and I got to meet the school physical education director and he is going to allow us to have a big sports day with the local kids and allow us to pour God into them!! Glory be to God! It has been amazing on how God has been working in and through my life in such a short time of being on the race.
You’ll have to read my next blog to see what happened when we went to the local witches cave!!
