Woke up this morning feeling pretty good. I love waking up here.
A quick shower then breakfast then starting the days chores.
Some of the ladies on the team and I sorted and packaged the toys and gifts that their team brought for the Fiestas. They had brought about 6 tubs of stuff. We got it all ready for the rest of the week. By then, it was time for lunch.
Jasmina made a wonderful dish of shredded beef steak (much easier to chew) with carrots, onions and peppers in a gravy. It was sooo delicious. One of my favorite dishes that she makes. We also had rice and beans, and cabbage slaw and tortilla. For a treat, she fried up some white cheese. Everyone loved it. I can't eat cheese or anything fried so it was especially hard for me to smell it and see it. There was a tiny piece that had fallen off of someone's serving on the platter. It was about the size of a pencil eraser. I tasted it and oh, my goodness, was it delicious!!! That one little taste was like heaven! I probably wouldn't appreciate it as much if I could eat the whole thing. This tiny morsel was so much more special to me. Kind of like the little morsels of life that God gives us to treasure sometimes.
We got all packed up and headed to El Sauce for 2 Fiestas (like block parties) and a feeding. It's a long drive (usually 1.5-2 hours one way. But the roads are pretty good until the last 45 minutes and then it's really bad with potholes and we have to go slow and swing back and forth on the road. It's not pleasant for someone who gets carsick! I keep my ginger pills handy!
We stopped at the church in El Sauce for a quick bathroom break. Then we headed over to the site of the first Fiesta. it was a pretty good turn out.
When we first get to the site, the team splits up into groups to walk up and down the streets shouting "Venga, Venga. Fiesta de caramelos. Cinco Minutos." Come, Come. Candy festival. 5 minutes. (and we say where it is going to take place) Then when everyone arrives, Pastor Miguel starts his craziness with the crowd and gets them laughing and participating. We have riddles that they have to figure out and the first one with the right answer gets a prize. Then he gets the crowd singing songs like 'If you're happy and you know it'. Then there is a game for 6 girls and they all get prizes. Then there is a game for boys (usually 5-6 boys) and they all get prizes. Then a game for 4 women and they all get prizes. Do you see a trend here?
Then comes the drama. It's a big hit. It's about Sinbox Sally, who finds herself trying out the fun of a sinful life and then getting stuck in it. (she is standing in a box labeled sin). She can't get herself out and she starts shouting for help. Some singers come by to party with her and then they try to help her out and can't. They see that the box is labeled sin and they run away. Next a strong man comes along. (he really hams it up with the crowd). He can't get her out and he enlists a helper (usually a skinny boy in the audience) and they exercise and get buff and try to help Sinbox Sally out of her box. They can't do it and notice the box is labeled sin and they run away. Then along come 2 drunks, who are stumbling and spilling their 'drinks' on her. They try to get her out with their partying, but can't do it either. They notice the word sin on the box and run away. Now Sally is crying out for help and Pastor Miguel comes along and talks to her about her predicament. He offers to introduce her to someone who can help her get out of sin. He explains the plan of salvation and leads her in the prayer.
Once the drama is over, the group is divided into 3 groups, boys, girls, adults (mostly women). They are talked to by the team members and listen to the description of the drama again. They are presented with the plan of salvation and have the opportunity to pray the prayer. After that everyone gets candy. All of the people who receive Christ have their names written down by the translators for the Pastors to use for follow up and disciple ship.
While the Fiesta is going on, those not in the drama go out in groups of 3-4 people with a translator and street witness. This is very effective.
You may wonder why the local church doesn't just do this all by themselves. For one thing, North Americans are a drawing card to the event. The people come because they want to see us. They listen to the Good News and have a chance to respond. And then the local church people can follow up. It's very effective in this culture where we serve. God uses us all to reach each person that He draws to Himself through these events. It's fun to be a part of it.
We did 2 Fiestas this afternoon and over 160 people prayed to receive Christ. Including one of the children on our team! The Pastors will follow up to confirm the decisions and start discipleship.
It is so great to hear the stories of the team members, especially if it's their first time witnessing. It's so easy to talk to people here since we have the translators and they are veterans of sharing the Good News thousands of times with our teams. The people are very receptive to hear about the hope that they can have in Jesus Christ. There is a lot of prayer to cover these encounters. God moves mightily.
After the Fiestas, we went to help out at a feeding that the group sponsored with a donation. There was enough food for about 300 people. While some of the team helped to serve the food, others walked around with the translators to witness to people in line and milling around. We left there at dark and started back for Leon. The drive felt very long.
When we got into town, we stopped at Eskimo ice cream shop and everyone enjoyed some yummy ice cream. Mary and I grabbed ours first and headed out with Danilo over to the La Union grocery store for more food for the week. We got done shopping and met up with the team at the park where they were watching some traditional performances for the Christmas season.
Then we all piled back in the vans and headed back to the house. We arrived about 9pm and had dinner that the cooks had left for us. Everyone loved the rice dish, which is a traditional dish and eaten especially for the holidays. Then we all retired for the night.
Everyone had a great day today and are looking forward to the next three long days serving in El Sauce. We will be heading out right after an early lunch, doing 2 fiestas, eating dinner that is prepared for us by someone in El Sauce, changing into our church clothes (somewhere) and attend the outdoor Crusade in the evening. We'll be gone about 12 hours each day and will be very tired when we get home at night, but I think God has some wonderful plans ready for us!!
It's way past time for me to be asleep, so I'll sign off for now. I pray for sweet dreams and wonderful, restful sleep tonight. I can't wait to get busy with work tomorrow.
He is so good. I love being here to work with the team and help with Voice of Hope Ministries. God has placed me in the perfect circumstances for my life right now. His plans are wonderful. I am truly blessed.
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