Sorry we couldn't blog last night. A thunderstorm rolled in just after dinner and our Internet connection was weak but the connection is back (for the moment) and I'm going to try and share with you all that we did yesterday!
We headed out to Santa Ana to do a day of street ministry and programs. Santa Ana is a small city, about 15 kilometers from where we are staying at Lake Coatepeque. We went into communities that we have never been in before.
For every program, the entire team walks around, inviting people to see the drama and the clowns (thanks to Zack, Angela, Georgie & Nikki for being clowns - a tough job in this heat - and to Rachel for painting their clown faces). When a crowd has gathered, we perform two dances - "Jesus Party" and "My King Jesus." Then, half of the team goes to a place to pray; half of the team continues with the rest of the program. The nationals encourage us to sit with the kids and play with them, during the funny parts of the program. We learned a Jonah skit that makes everyone (even the adults) laugh. It's a toss up who is a better ship captain: George or Ray. The serious drama - the one that really touches the kids hearts - is called, "The Apple of His Eyes." It's all about how much God loves us...even if we are poor and hungry, come from a broken family, or are picked on at school. Then, the Gospel is preached and children are invited to come forward for prayer: for salvation, for healing, and for any problems they have. We gather around them and pray. It was a great day, although the sun was pretty intense and we all got a little burned (hence, the blog title!)
After our three programs, we hurried back to the campground for the food distribution. Our church purchased a pallet of food that feeds 150 families. Each family with a ticket (Pastor Julio mailed them to families he know ware in need) is given one bag of food (that the team packed up on Monday) filled with rice, oil, corn meal, and beans. Before the distribution, however, the team ministered with one dance and one drama. Then, George shared the Gospel with them. He did a great job teaching about how Jesus fed the 5,000 - just as we came with food. Yet, Jesus didn't just come to fill the crowd's physical needs - He came to fill their spiritual needs as well. George told the audience that the food brought to them wasn't from Kingsway but from God and that the Lord wanted to provide for them in more ways that just with food - Jesus can and will meet every other kind of need we have. It was
Today, we start VBS. We are excited and a little nervous. Continue to keep us in prayer. We are grateful to hear from everyone and appreciate your prayers so much!
Love, Pastor Arlena
p.s. Will try to post pictures when the connection is better!
6 comments:
Awesome update!!
I can just see George preaching God's love for these people & how hearts must've moved!
Praying VBS is GREAT! You're all doing wonderfully shining Jesus' light! I'm so proud!
Love & Blessings,
Kathy
MUST POST CLOWN PICTURES! Ashton will love it!
I'm praying for all of you as VBS starts! How exciting! And as I read of all you are doing in El Salvador, I am so blessed to know such obedient and willing people. And it's a good day indeed when you wake up and realize that your own daughter is one of your role models. Love to each of you, (Miss) Linda & Mom
so good to read all that you are doing and that God is doing through you! praying for you all, especially the teens that God speaks to them about being lights/hands + feet for Him in their schools, and that they truly see home/school as the mission field that it is!
be blessed- and beware: Ray will say/do anything to get to the ocean; he's not really a Captain and has no sailing experience! i'm not sure about George...
RJ
It touched my heart to see how God is using each of you for his Glory. I couldn't help but to pause to pray when I was reading about the children when they were invited to come forward for salvation and healing,etc. They are so precious in God's eyes and I believe thay God is working in their little hearts in a supernatural way. Miss Linda is so right... I also rejoice to see my Neil being an ambassor of our Lord Jesus. I love you all and God Bless
Its so exciting to hear about all that you all are doing there. How awesome to be able to pray over the children ....prayers that many people will be saved and many to be healed this week! Looking forward to all the stories upon arriving home! May God bless you all abundantly!!
The Haggerty Family is praying for our friends and family in El Salvador. May God continue to bless your mission.
PS- Is Zack wearing his yoga pants this year? Is Brenna smiling?
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