It seems to be a different animal that wakes us up every morning. Today's animal: pigeons. Not an ugly sound, but it will wake you up. Yesterday was interesting...I think the theme for my week here is, "Rely on God". Or maybe it is, "Pray".
Last night we had another church show up when we had invited men to a "Wild at Heart" talk. We heard music coming from Mamma Mago's house as we walked down the street after having finished VBS. Church had already started. I am not sure what town this church was from, but it was not the church from Leon. I must confess, I was not happy to see them. Apparently, Victor had invited them to come on Tuesday night during the week of our visit, but then this was never finalized. Well, they came. And so did the men who we had invited to come to a talk about living for God as a men. A talk that did not happen...
I had invited Nicholas, Lupe's husband, to come to the "Wild at Heart" meeting. Nicholas, who does not attend church and does not know the Lord. I told him about the meeting, through Steve Aldrich translating, and I told him that I would be honored if he came. He came. Mache came with his sons and his soccer friends. His soccer friends who do not go to church. Trinidad's sons came. Who knows who else came and then left when it was not what they expected. So I sat there in the back of the service, frustrated. And I felt something like embarrassment and guilt. I figured the men who came were upset and feeling that we had played a bait and switch on them. Worshiping was not on my mind. Then I felt the voice of the Holy Spirit, telling me to pray. To pray for the men who came, that they would listen and be open to the Spirit of God. I heard the Spirit say, "It doesn't have to be YOUR way. Or PRC's way." I heard the Spirit say, "I can work here now. Pray." So I prayed. And as I prayed, the edge softened and my outlook started to change. For this event, for this reason, to hear from God this night, I am glad that I came back to the worship service.
Initially, I could not stay. I was mad. I had just attended a worship service. Actually 2 on Sunday and 1 on Monday. I didn't FEEL like staying. So I left. I took the kids to the store for a snack and then down to hang out in the town square. As time passed in the square, I saw more and more of our PRC folks filtering in. Hmm, I wondered if they had the same reaction I did. About 25 minutes went by, hanging with the kids in the square, and I began to feel that I could not stay away. The Mexican believers wanted to worship with the believers from Colorado. I knew I needed to be there. So I went to Lupe's, took a quick shower, and went back and sat in the back of the service. This is when the Spirit began to work me over.
I moved over next to Steve and asked him to translate the sermon, in summary to this point. He said that the pastor was preaching great stories of fathers and sons. He said it was a terrific message. After the worship finished, I found Nicholas and thanked him for coming. He said that he would come tomorrow night also! This, I decided, was another reason that I needed to be there. To not run away and do my own thing. So that I could acknowledge Nicholas and thank him for coming.
Have been working backwards to this point and I'm running out of time. So, the day in summary in forward order: men's devotions this morning on Galatians 3. Organized an Aww Heck game for the kids. I was feeling that I needed to do something to connect with my own kids. Breakfast. Team meeting. Had a visitation with Lupe and Nicholas and 2 of their grown daughters. This is when I had invited Nicholas to come to the "Wild at Heart" talk. Took invitations to Savino and Trinidad's son, Guadalupe. Fixed the tarp that had blown apart in the wind. Lunch. VBS preparation. VBS. Then the rest, as recorded.
Update: I learned later in the week that the breakdown in communication with the church that came was due to the fact that Victor's uncle had been sick 2 weeks before our visit and, sadly, had passed away the week before we arrived. Victor had been with him in the hospital several days and, thus, difficulty communicating.
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