Triple Trip Preparations

We've been hard at work helping Guillermo prepare for the triple trip; as you can imagine, it takes a lot of preparing to be able to send 100+ Salvadorans to join up with 120 North Americans in three different countries at the same time. Here is a list of some of the things we've been helping with:

• Verifying those who will be going on each trip and what their role will be, i.e. translator, evangelism, logistics.
• Verifying paperwork for all minors (under 18) who will be traveling, which requires legal documentation from each parent authorizing them to travel out of the country with the church.  All of these documents have to be notarized and multiple copies made.
• Purchasing, assembling and documenting contents of the first aid kit for each country. First step on Monday was to buy $80 of various types of medicine--it's definitely a blessing to be able to buy things here without a prescription.  For example, we bought 9 antibiotic regimes (10 tablets each) so each kit would have three.  We also added lots of over-the counter medicines like Alka-Seltzer, Sudafed, cortisone cream, gauze, alcohol, adhesive tape, cough drops and much more, all the while hoping that no one needs any of these items.   
• Assembling everything that needs to go to each country, Bibles, tracts, equipment, etc.
• Ordering and organizing the MetroAmerica 0-20 t-shirts which we will be selling to the North Americans in each location
• Ordering and organizing the MetroAmerica 0-20 mission trip t-shirts which are gifts for everyone from the church who travels with us
• Making up packets for each country which contain the "Jesus drawing" (see below for pictures) for each night of the campaign (total of 20 presentations across the 3 countries.) 
• Attending and presenting at three training sessions (one for each country.) The Nicaragua training was last night, Guatemala tonight and Costa Rica tomorrow night.
• Lists, lists and more lists

Of course, there's also our regular personal preparations including paying all of our bills ahead of time.  This time we are going to go to both Guatemala and Costa Rica, so that has added to our packing issues.  

Here are a few pictures of last night's training for the team going to Nicaragua.  

Please pray for everyone involved in the trip and for the people who will hear the gospel, some for the very first time, in each country.  Pray safe travels and good health for our team and the teams from the states.      

Judgment House Prep

Vida Nueva is presenting Judgment House at the Miralvalle campus, February 4 to 7, and at the Lourdes campus, February 12-13.  Please check out the info on the Judgment House website (here) to get an overview of the project.  Our church writes its own script so that the the characters and scenes are based on the reality of life here in El Salvador. 

 The undertaking is a huge one, involving 100's of Vida Nueva members in various roles, construction, registration, actors, guides, security, child care, counseling and more.   

I picked up some black fabric at the church on Friday because they need some additional costumes for the demons who are in the "hell" scene.  Although they said there was a pattern, after I got home with the fabric, I realized the pattern was the one robe that they found.  The first step was to desconstruct enough of the robe to be able to use the pieces as patterns for the new robes.  Here are some pictures of my work and the final product (one of four), minus the hemming on the sleeves and bottom.

I told Stephen I  might not be able to sleep tonight!  I'll be glad when I'm finished.  Next year I think I'll request to help with the "heaven" scene.  

The performances start with dress rehearsal on Wednesday (night for church members to come) and then run through Sunday night.  Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we'll start at 6:00 p.m. and, if it's like years past, we'll finish after midnight.  Saturday and Sunday performances start at 4:00 and should end by 11:00 p.m.  Please pray for everyone involved--most of the people will be working all day.  Most importantly, please pray that the Holy Spirit will convict those who attend the drama and that we'll see many people come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. 

Two Full Days

It's been two very full days of VBS preparation and we're done with some things, but not others.  We've just printed some documents that we need for the orientation tomorrow and are heading to "Kinkos" to get the copies made.  

I spent most of the day cutting fabric for the crafts which will be made by the mom's and grandma's who have signed up for the adult VBS class.  They are making a different Christmas craft every day and the adult teachers are preparing a kit for each women each day.  

Stephen spent time making buttons, helping wrap the props and decorations and loading them in Javier's truck and then unloading everything at Javier's house.  We also finished up the translator/gringo assignments and made the maps/visual aids which will be posted at the registration desk.

Among other things, yesterday we did shopping for the snacks and for the prizes which will be given away during the closing session each day.   

Today there were 14 people here for lunch and 8 of us at dinner time. So in the midst of all the work, Rosemary stops and makes lunch for everyone.  

It's amazing to work along with the people from the church here.  They have a heart for kids and VBS is a great way to reach children and their parents.

The team from Bakersfield arrives tonight; the rest fly in tomorrow.  The Salvadorans are leaving from the church in San Salvador at 8:30 in the morning.  Everyone should be here in time for orientation before the evening campaign tomorrow afternoon.

Prayer requests:

1.  Kids and parents to respond to the gospel message presented in the music, Bible verses and Bible stories in VBS.

2.  Endurance for the workers--it will be a tiring week

3.  Divine appointments during the evening campaign and an overwhelming response to the gospel that can only be explained by God's unmerited favor.