We are settling in to a routine of leaving the house about 5:15 p.m. to be sure we have a parking space relatively close to the church. Arriving by 5:30 gives Stephen time to get ready before he starts playing the piano and gives me plenty of time to get my area (entry to counseling/counseling stats board) set up for the evening.
Last night we had less help in our area, so Misha and I were busy the whole time. Seventeen groups (424 people) passed through; there were 55 professions of faith and 18 rededications. The total for the week is 101 professions of faith and 54 rededications. The last counseling group finished at 12:10 a.m. and we were home by 12:30 a.m.
Today and tomorrw we start two hours earlier, which, hopefully, will mean we'll get home no later than 11:00, but we'll see.
Keep praying for the health of the workers and for the Holy Spirit to convict those people who see the drama and bring a great harvest of souls.
Last Thursday and Friday night we were in two different neighborhoods in Apopa. We had been at both places before, but weren't able to set up because of the rain. We were hoping that this time would be different.
Thursday night we got the inflatable up, Guillermo started the kids games and the gringos went out for the door to door. The rain started just as they came back. We waited it out for about 15 minutes, but had to pack up and head home.
Friday night we went to the Saint Teresa neighborhood for the third time. We were able to put up the inflatable--something that we had promised the kids the last two times. The gringos went out door to door, but we weren't able to set up the sound equipment because it began to rain and there was lightning in the area. I think the kids got to play for about 45 minutes before we had to pack up a very wet inflatable.
In spite of the rain, we had 54 professions of faith on Thursday and 35 on Friday. This just proves that, as Pastor Steve always says, the door to door sharing is the most important thing.
The Apopa church posted a picture from the follow-up reception on Sunday afternoon--seventeen adults and three children came. Praise the Lord--He is faithful to bring the harvest when the workers do their jobs.
Wednesday and Thursday morning we worked the streets in Salitre just like on Tuesday. Ken and I worked together again on Wednesday morning and had the blessing of leading Carlos and Diego to Christ. On Thursday, he went out with his friend, Dave, so Stephen and I took photos and found the time to slip back to Bosque Popular (old-folks home) and visit with Orlando and Marta again.
We did family festivals on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Both nights we were at a park in the midst of large apartment buildings. Thursday's family festival was the most well-attended of the week. We traveled a distance away from the hotel to a poorer residential area and the park was full of people.
At orientation on Sunday, Pastor David told the team that we were going to try many different things because they weren't sure if the type of outreaches that we do in Central America would work in Bogota. After Thursday, we could definitely say that when God's people share the gospel, He will bring the harvest.
It was a long, but productive week and amazingly the rain held off. In fact, it's been very hot, humid and dry--quite an uncomfortable combination.
However, the harvest this week was anything but dry--more than 750 people made professions of faith this week--most of them were high school students who heard the gospel presented in their classrooms.
We said goodbye to the team tonight after the final campaign. It's always bittersweet when it's time for them to return home.
