End of Week Report...
It has been a week of mixed emotions. Tuesday I finally was able to get down to El 7 and we had a great bible study. Two ladies from the community joined us. What was discouraging was the pre-study conversation. They were sharing with me how the ladies from the Catholic church are telling all the youth that participated with our youth week last summer are involved in something "diabolic." We have only taught straight from Scripture and have not pressured anyone to participate, or to leave their church, or anything! But there is a little group of people there doing everything they can to scare people away from our Bible studies. I was very thankful these folks brought it out in the open. I shared that while I disagree with some of the Catholic church teachings, I do not reject them as Christians and have nothing against them. And also explained that no "religion" nor any "church" can save, only Christ. It was quite an experience! Please join me in praying for Morena and her family as they stand against this teaching (that we are diabolic!) and pray that God will touch people's hearts. Wednesday I dealt with some other disappointing news so it was a pretty frustrating few days.
From there I spent several hours visiting in Villa de Yaque. I left in tears! (Nothing happened really but it was discouraging to take the "pulse" of the people.) I talked with several different families which was very good but I realized that there is so little trust among the people and it is next to impossible for them to work together and the constant conflicts keep them upset all the time. That is no way to live! And it makes it VERY hard to develop a church! Please pray for the key community leaders (some are our church leaders too!) that God will help them learn to seek peace and forgive past wrongs and build again a foundation of trust. Also, pray for one young man, Sanchez, who has just started coming back to church but Monday threw gas on some people (a child!) and tried to light a match. The police took him away and I don't know if he has returned. So as you can see, that was a discouraging visit!
We missed our Bible study with Simon's family in La Canela but I talked with him by phone later. Please pray for him as he deals with a very difficult financial situation and is trying to work out a business agreement with Felix- our woodworker in the Hole. Victor shared with me that Santo, our new Christian in the Hole, was a strong participant in their Bible study. It has been exciting and instructive to see his determination to leave his previous life-style behind!
We finally got back to Guayacanal Thursday to visit with folks and that felt good. People are doing well- Johnny had gotten hit in the head with a rock (needed 11 stitches!) last week. Some folks who were drunk got into a fight and he crossed by looking for his little girl and got the rock in the back of the head! Oh boy! Between the rain and him having stitches in his head, they haven't finished the little bit that remains to do on the church but I hope within a week or so that is all done! This rain has really messed up our schedules but there isn't much we can do about it!
I was pretty excited today to get the official paperwork back on the foundation- our name was approved and registered officially, paving the way for the next step in the incorporation process. Please pray with me that next week we can make some significant strides in getting the by-laws approved by the board and signed and turned into to the government- it seems like a lot to do but I want to try to get it done before I travel on the 25th.
From there I spent several hours visiting in Villa de Yaque. I left in tears! (Nothing happened really but it was discouraging to take the "pulse" of the people.) I talked with several different families which was very good but I realized that there is so little trust among the people and it is next to impossible for them to work together and the constant conflicts keep them upset all the time. That is no way to live! And it makes it VERY hard to develop a church! Please pray for the key community leaders (some are our church leaders too!) that God will help them learn to seek peace and forgive past wrongs and build again a foundation of trust. Also, pray for one young man, Sanchez, who has just started coming back to church but Monday threw gas on some people (a child!) and tried to light a match. The police took him away and I don't know if he has returned. So as you can see, that was a discouraging visit!
We missed our Bible study with Simon's family in La Canela but I talked with him by phone later. Please pray for him as he deals with a very difficult financial situation and is trying to work out a business agreement with Felix- our woodworker in the Hole. Victor shared with me that Santo, our new Christian in the Hole, was a strong participant in their Bible study. It has been exciting and instructive to see his determination to leave his previous life-style behind!
We finally got back to Guayacanal Thursday to visit with folks and that felt good. People are doing well- Johnny had gotten hit in the head with a rock (needed 11 stitches!) last week. Some folks who were drunk got into a fight and he crossed by looking for his little girl and got the rock in the back of the head! Oh boy! Between the rain and him having stitches in his head, they haven't finished the little bit that remains to do on the church but I hope within a week or so that is all done! This rain has really messed up our schedules but there isn't much we can do about it!
I was pretty excited today to get the official paperwork back on the foundation- our name was approved and registered officially, paving the way for the next step in the incorporation process. Please pray with me that next week we can make some significant strides in getting the by-laws approved by the board and signed and turned into to the government- it seems like a lot to do but I want to try to get it done before I travel on the 25th.
