5 + 13

A late hello as I post this around 11:15pm EST. We've had a long day (13 hours) filled with programs (5 to be exact) but the Lord has been with us and we have been so very blessed.

We left at 8am this morning and spent the entire day in a nearby town called El Congo. Our first stop was a school that we visited last summer. We ministered to the 1st-4th graders. Then, we went to a preschool and shared an abbreviated program with some precious preschoolers. We ate lunch at a Texaco gas station (one of the nicest bathrooms I've seen in El Salvador) and once again made our way back to the school which was our first stop earlier in the day. This time, though, instead of 1st-4th graders, our audience consisted of 5th-9th graders. Pastor Julio asked our teens to once again do the drama "Everything." Many of us felt this was a divine appointment (our prayer focus for today) and we prayed passionately for these preteens to accept Christ. Not many of them asked for prayer, but we feel that seeds were planted that will one day yield a harvest of faith in Christ. Next, we trekked back to the preschool for a full length program with some rambunctious preschoolers. At the close of this program, Pastor Julio asked if we were up for one more program. I was pleased when every team member opted for another program instead of going immediately to our dinner destination of Pizza Hut.

This time, we traveled into a neighborhood of El Congo. We set up the sound equipment and went off in four different directions to knock on doors and invite people to see the program. Again, our students ministered through the drama "Everything" and we saw an amazing response to the altar call. We had a extended time of prayer and we saw so many people touched by the presence of the Lord. We stayed longer than we intended but the Lord's presence was so rich on that street corner, we just couldn't stop praying over the kids. We are all glad that we decided to add the fifth program of the day.

We ended the day with a treat - Pizza Hut. It was such a fond memory for many of our students who went on the trip last year that they couldn't stop talking about to everyone else. Our team leaders arranged for us to go and with everyone chipping in a few extra dollars, we were able to treat approximately 20 members of Pastor Julio's church: children, preteens, and teens who are part of the Kings Castle discipleship program. Going to Pizza Hut was a special memory for them as well so we were happy to do it!

Tomorrow is our fun day - a day at the beach. We've all been looking forward to it but are a little sad that the ministry part of our time here is over. This Sunday, when the team does both services at Kingsway, you'll get to hear how this week has impacted each of us. You won't want to miss the 9 or the 11 this Sunday, July 26!

Thanks so much for your prayers! We continue to enjoy good health and strength. We are definitely tired but refreshed in our souls because of all that God has done and is doing here in El Salvador and in each of us.

Blessings,
Pastor Arlena