God is faithful and will trample down our enemies!

I can hardly believe that my last post was almost three weeks ago because it feels like it was just last week!  Time has flown by since then; I guess it's because I have been somewhat busier.  However, it's been a blessing to be able to do all that we've been doing and been apart of.

Before I tell you what Luis and I have been focused on, let me give you an update on some of the sick that I had mentioned in my previous blogs:

The woman that had cervical cancer had her hysterectomy Monday, October 28.  Even though she had to wait to have surgery in an uncomfortable hospital bed for a week without hardly eating anything, she came out of the surgery great and was able to go back home two days later.  She is still recovering, although we worry about her doing too much because she does not like staying still and not working.  She told us that when she gets the money and gets a little better, she wants to have a worship service in her house to thank God for getting her through all this!  Even though I wish there was a better way for this to happen, I praise God that He has used all of this to draw her closer to Him and show her His faithfulness!

The young man that has the kidney disease is still fighting.  They have taken him to another clinic in a town called Esteli that's located in the mountains of Nicaragua.  He is receiving dialysis there and is getting better medical attention than when he was in his house.  Please pray for his healing.

The young woman that was pregnant and having severe sickness unfortunately lost her baby about 3 weeks ago.  Due to the extremity of her morning sickness and dehydration, she went into preterm labor at 5 months and the baby girl didn't survive.  I was and am heartbroken cause she is a friend of mine, and she was about as a far along as I was.  She's been really strong through this, even though she's still having physical and emotional pain from all of this.  I hope praying for God to restore her and to reveal Himself in all of this.

Our pastor in El Paraiso, Juan Pablo, had his 2 month baby boy in the hospital for a week with pneumonia.  Thankfully, the baby recovered and is now back at home.  Again, God was faithful and provided Juan Pablo and his family through different brothers and sisters in Christ with what they needed at that time.  People that didn't even know what was going on came to him and gave him money or some other kind of support.  This shows you that God takes care of His servants.

Things in El Paraiso have been going really well.  Last week, Tamara graduated the second sewing class, and we had a party.  They are going to be making stuff to sell (scarves, change purses, tote bags), and I will be bringing a lot with me when I go back to Tennessee on November 20.  Please let me know if you are interested in buying something!

The church in Paraiso is continuing to grow, even if it isn't in abounding numbers.  Yesterday, I had my normal crowd of about 20 kids.  We have about 15 adults that have been regularly attending.   There are a lot of kids and adults that come off and on and some have stopped coming.  I know that the enemy has a stronghold on this community because I have seen it and felt it, but I also know that God has a plan to break that stronghold down.  We just have to persevere and continue to pray and fast.

God has started breaking these strongholds down in our youth.  I mentioned before that we were starting youth activities on Friday afternoons, and so far we've had three successful youth gatherings.  Our first gathering we had 15 youth show up; 20 for the second; and 20 inside and 15 watching outside for the third.  It is such a blessing and an inexpressible joy to see the smiles on their faces and hear their laughter!  They love the games we play; some of the girls that come to our sewing class was playing one of the games on their own after class one day!  Even though they don't know the songs, they try to sing or read along with the words.  I think the testimonies that Luis, Yeral, and Karla have given so far have touched their hearts as well.  I'm giving mine this Friday, and Daniel Price (Tamara's son) will be giving his the next Friday.  Please pray that the words will come out for both of us!

Our crowd of 20 inside and 15 outside on November 8

 

You might ask, "Why is it that so many of the youth stand outside and watch?"  I asked Luis that, too, and he said that it's probably because they know what it means to enter inside a church.  Going inside a church shows that they actually want or are considering something with God.  By standing outside the church, they can still see what's going on and maybe are curious, but they don't want anything with God yet.  However, I still count them, because even though they aren't participating, maybe they will hear something about what is said that will plant a seed.  Maybe one day they'll decide to be brave and step inside even if their friends don't.  Maybe one day they'll meet Jesus, whether it be from the window or in a seat of the church.  Like I said, I know Satan has a stronghold on El Paraiso and especially these youth.  I have felt that before every activity we've had; I can feel that Satan has a grip on some of them and does not want to let them go.  But every time I feel this, I do what only I can do and use the weapon God has given to every follower of Christ: the power of prayer.  And we have to keep praying until every stronghold is demolished and our work is complete.

My hope is that every one of those youth will come to know the Lord, but it is all worth it for even just one.  I know that a few are close to accepting Christ.  I can see it in their faces and their actions.  For example, my dear little friend Glenda Massiel is 15 years old and the community leader's daughter.  She's one of the people that I remember from my first visit in El Paraiso; I still have a picture of her in a VBS activity from July 2009.  Now, she's involved in the sewing class.  She cleans the church more than any other person and always does it with a smile on her face.  She attends church every Sunday, even if no one in her family does.  In devotion times on Tuesdays and Thursdays, she listens attentively.  On Fridays, she's the first one to show up to the youth activities, and even though she's a little shy, she encourages others to participate.  She's always smiling and kind to others; I have never seen her upset.

Reyna, Glenda, and Porfilio

Porfilio, aka Gallo, is often made fun of and abused by other guys in the community,

but Glenda always invites him in and treats him as a friend.

Last week, Luis asked the sewing group who had accepted Christ, and only one other girl, that attends another church, raised her hand.  Afterwards, I approached Glenda and asked her, "Have you not accepted yet?"  She told me "no," but I asked, "But you're close, aren't you?"  She nodded with a smile.  I know that it won't be long, but it's up to her and in God's timing.  Once she does, she's going to be even more of a leader, example, and light to her own community.

I know God's tugging on other hearts like Mario and his 8 other siblings that are almost all youth.  Mario has been coming to church and youth activities and inviting others to come with him.  He always has a smile on his face, too, and always makes sure to thank us after Friday activities.

Mario volunteered to be the "bottle" in the first game we played.

 

So even if it's just for them, it's all worth it. Jesus says after telling the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15, "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine persons who do not need to repent." (v.7)  We they do come to Jesus, we will rejoice and have a party with the angels!

 

Please join us in praying and fasting for these youth.  We cannot do any of this with our own power or ideas or words.  Only the Holy Spirit of God can change a person's life and allow us to be His instruments.

 

We plan to have activities this Friday, November 15 and Friday, November 22.  On Wednesday, November 20, Luis and I will be leaving Nicaragua for a couple of weeks to come to some of you in the States!  Yeral, Karla, and Daniel will be in charge of the November 22 event and then we won't have activities till we come back on December 6.  Even though it's just a week, I am hoping the absence of the activity won't do any harm, and we can start back stronger in December.

 

I am excited to being seeing some of you when we come to Tennessee November 20-December 5!  We are looking forward to giving thanks with my family on the 27th and 28th.  Luis is going to his first UT football game on the 23rd; I'm hoping it's not going to be too cold! Annabelle is having her first baby shower on December 1! Other than that we don't have many other plans yet, even though time will fill up.  If you would like to see us, please message or e-mail me.

 

At the end of our church services we recite this verse:

"With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies." -Psalms 60:12

 

I declare this for our ministry and may it be for your life as well.  Thank you for reading, for your thoughts, and your prayers.