Trip to the Country

In preparation for the campaign next week, Hayden and I went to Aguilares with Guillermo and Pastor Manuel.  Our task was to make contact with the principal at a poor school and ask if they would let our team share a lesson on forgiveness in the classrooms and then distribute clothes, including more of the dresses made by the ladies from First Baptist, Ferguson, to those children who were in need.

Pastor Manuel picked a school "out in the country," which meant it was at the end of a gravel/dirt road.  He had never been to that particular school, so before we went in he prayed for God to bless our visit and provide us an opportunity to share the gospel with the kids during the upcoming campaign.  We got out of the car and a student opened the gate.  As we approached the principal, he recognized Pastor Manuel--he had previously been a teacher in a different school in Aguilares where Pastor Manuel had visited.  God was so faithful to bless our visit.

We were able to schedule to return with the team next Tuesday morning to share in the classrooms and pass out all of the donated clothes that the team brings.

Monday Campaign

Monday was our first day to share a lesson at a school.  We were able to make five different teams and reach five classrooms of students. We arrived early so each group had time to pray before the class. 

 The teams presented the lesson on sexual purity so we were in grades six through 9.

In the afternoon we drove north to Aguilares to work with Pastor Manuel.  We set up the inflatable, sound system and movie in an open field.  

It was a great day with a total of 125 professions of faith between the school and the festival.  

May Campaign--Day 3 and 4

After devotions on Monday morning we had time to come back to the apartment.  Since there were only five people, they took the morning to visit the volcano and go to the gringo market.  I, on the other hand, finally had time to go to the grocery store and re-stock after our three weeks in the states.

The other team, a group of 28 from Truett-McConnell College was due in around noon, but . . . .  But, like our recent flight, they were delayed (mechanical problems) and didn't arrive in time to go to the evening campaign.

Instead only the Alabama team was able to go up north to El Paraiso (Paradise) for the family festival.  This is Pastor Manuel's newest church plant and it is being directly supported by Pleasant Grove Baptist.  They were excited to see the building they are renting and to meet Pastor Manuel.  One of their Sunday School classes sent a $300 gift--the money was raised by selling fresh eggs which are donated by one of the class members. 

Tuesday morning the whole team was in place for morning devotions,  Pastor Steve shared and then we headed out to our first school of the week.  The new value lesson, kindness, was well received by the students.  There were 100 professions of faith.  We shared with two sixth grade classes, but they met outside because they are part of the afternoon session.  Unbelievably, almost all of the students in the class came in the morning to hear the lesson (even though they had to return for their regular classes in the afternoon.)

Tuesday evening's family festival was in Santa Tecla and it was well attended.  It was the first campaign for the team from Truett-McConnell in Georgia, but they all got right to work sharing the gospel.

Happy 3rd Anniversary

We drove to Nueva Concepcion yesterday afternoon because Pastor Manuel asked Stephen to sing a couple of songs for the anniversary service.  The service started at 4:00 p.m., but since there is road construction in Apopa, we left at 2:00 so we wouldn't be late.  

The service was well attended by members of all three of the Vida Nueva churches up north, IBVN Aguilares, IBVN Coyolito and IBVN Nueva Concepcion.  It was good to see old friends and meet several new families that are fruit from the October campaign.  

Stephen sang two songs, "Poderoso" and "Tu Gracia Abunda en Mi."  The songs are quite different from the typical congregational singing, but I think that's the reason the congregation enjoys them.

I'm not singing, just holding the microphone.

After the service, there was "dinner on the grounds."  

Us with Pastor Manuel and Pastor Joel.

We didn't stay because we knew our trip home would be long.  Unfortunately, we spent about an hour trying to get through a 2-mile stretch of Apopa and then when we finally made it to the other side of town, we realized that our exit was completely closed and we were forced to continue toward San Salvador a different way than normal.  It took quite a long time and a couple of "lucky" turns to reach a place we recognized.  All in all, it was a 2+ hour trip.  

This is exactly what it looked like as we drove through Apopa.

Nevertheless, God was glorified in the service and two people prayed to receive Christ--our inconvenience is nothing compared to their new lives!