An Amazing First Full Day

Today was an amazing day for the Guatemala team from NSBC.  Two separate armies went out to two different sections of this vast city.  Andrew and Kelcei led one group to Pastor Apolinario's church, where we loved on a large group of children and shared the Word.  Kelly and Stacy rocked the puppets, crafts, and songs.  They led their group well.  I had the opportunity to present the gospel using the Evangecube.  Interestingly though, the children ended up ministering to us, as they quoted the Word of God by heart.  Obviously, Pastor A has spent much time teaching these children the Word.  Next, we went to Pastor's house, where his wife prepared us a home cooked meal. His sweet wife, Maria, suffers from problems with her feet.  We prayed for her healing, and we ask our friends at home to please lift her name up in prayer.  What was so amazing was how a family that has so little materially is so rich spiritually.  How blessed we were by this man and his two adult children who played instruments and sang praise songs to us before the group ate.  Truly these folks have the spiritual gift of hospitality among others.

Interestingly, it was shared that a WICA festival is put on every year in a soccer field directly across the street from Pastor's home.  There is much darkness in this community, and Pastor and his church are in the middle of a great spiritual battle.  Please pray for them.

Mateo and Charene led the other group to Pastor Saul's church.  Kitty stepped up and followed the Holy Spirit by sharing her testimony, as did Scott.  And wow, it was the perfect complement to Mateo's sermon.  God worked it out as always and a young girl made a decision for the Lord.  The team did a great job.  How wonderful it was to see the ministries that this pastor and his wife (who is a doctor) have given their lives for.  Yes, another connection for the church at NSBC, where we know the Lord is working and moving in an amazing way.  

From this first full day, it's interesting how the orchestration of this trip is not all about us, but all about God.  The preordained God moments are amazing.  One pastor called out with a vision, and God brought him a wife that is a doctor.  God ordained it. Where the school and clinic is came about as a result of a guy going through drug recovery.  The guy is still in recovery, but that is the guy that God used to get the property to allow everything else to occur.

Second, there is always more that we can do.  The folks here are proof-positive that we can have more of an impact.  The perseverance these two pastors have in situations that are so difficult is evident in the difference they have made in individual lives and in the heart of these communities.  How God must applaud the great acts that these two men do for the kingdom.  The power of salvation is that power that lives within us.  If we live within God's power, everything is possible!  It is His power that brings about salvation.  The direct result of walking in His power, is that salvation comes and lives are transformed.  We have this power if we focus on the work that He is doing.  Pray, pray, pray that we (wherever we are) make a difference in the lives of others and in our community.

Written by Wendell Sheffield ...