God Is Incredible

God is incredible. The things He can do, the people He can change, through people like us amazes me. 

We started yesterday off a little different by going to a nearby school. We split up into groups and each group went into a classroom of younger children to invite them to VBS in the afternoon and speak about Jesus. Then we did the same with classes of middle schoolers and high schoolers. Cory, our group leader, took on the middle schoolers since he teaches that age back in Alabama. It's hard to share something so big in such a small amount of time, but we were given a time limit in each class. However, inviting the kids to VBS gave them a chance to come hear more about Jesus and have fun while doing so. 

These are a couple boys we met during recess. The boy in the middle, Juan, loved giving everyone big hugs. We saw him later on at VBS:)

Of course, there was a soccer game going on during recess between some middle school aged boys. 

This is the group of middle schoolers listening to Cory teach. 

When we left the school we headed back to the church for lunch and then to the open field for VBS. Benjamin shared the gospel with the kids and adults who came, and then we did a craft with the kids. They made crowns that represent Jesus as King and got to decorate them with stars and jewels. 

We also did face painting, bubbles, chalk, and more games. The kids had a blast and I had fun watching them get excited with the activities the team prepared for them. 

After about an hour it was time to go back to church to get ready for the woman's meeting. There was about 10-12 women and teenage girls who came and a few girls from our team led the small group. At the end, another woman in our group, Tammy, shared her testimony. The pastor's wife also shared her testimony. It was a good way for all of us to connect despite our differences and the language barrier. We had a wonderful translator, Yorlina (Jojo), who helped immensely by being patient with those who spoke. At the end of the meeting the girls from the team had some gifts they brought with them. We handed out makeup bags full of soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, and lots more little things. 

After the women's meeting, it was almost time for the evening service. There is a room attached to the back of the church where the service was held. Some of the guys from our group have spent the past couple days installing lights in the back room. They finally finished yesterday afternoon before the service and this is the outcome. 

It may not look super fancy, but Pastor Calero was very appreciative and thankful that there were now lights in the room. 

Pastor Calero's birthday was yesterday, and his wife asked the team to sing his favorite song, Amazing Grace, to him. 

Then Cory spoke on reasons why we should appreciate our pastors and ways we can do so. The pastor is the leader of the church, and it is important for the body of the church to follow the pastor as it says in Hebrews 13:17, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you". 

Cory encouraged us last night to learn to appreciate our pastors because they play a huge role in the church and the growth of the church. 

Last night two things happened that can only be described as incredible. The woman in this picture is someone we met on Sunday going door to door. 

One of our group members, Zach, shared the gospel with her. Jojo noticed something was wrong with her after he finished and she asked her what. Zorayta told Jojo she was struggling with two of her older kids. Whenever they would spend time together all they wanted to do was fight and argue. She works a lot, so she doesn't have much time to spend with them. It was heartbreaking to see her upset because I could tell she loved her kids and just wanted them to be together. Each of us gave her some encouragement and we were all in tears by the end. We asked her to come to the night service, which she and her younger son did. Then we asked her to come again last night, which she did. Jojo told us she could tell Zorayta was happier. God knew what Zorayta was struggling with and I believe he sent us to her home to share with her and let her know she wasn't alone. God is changing her and He used us to to help. 

The second incredible thing that happened had to do with the drunk guy I briefly mentioned in the last post. The first time we talked to him he was drunk. Then Benjamin went back on Sunday to see if he accepted his challenge to be sober and he was drunk again. This guy (I'm not sure of his name) worked in the evening and we were told he would be sober after work around 7. I walked out of the service last night to see none other than the drunk guy talking to Benajmin. I found out later that he was sober and felt convicted of his actions. God had been working on his heart before we even got there, and He used one of our team members to show the guy there was more to life than drinking. I don't know when or if he will give his life over to God and change, but the fact that he came to the church after work to talk to Benajmin SOBER was incredible in itself. 

God has different ways of using each of us for his glory. But it is our choice of whether we want to allow God to use us or ignore His voice. God is all around us and He has given us the free will to make these decisions. Amazing things can happen if we open our hearts and allow God to work in and through us.