Yesterday was packed. Sorry no blog last night. The last few days of devotions have been powerful from the leaders. Amanda spoke about the narrow gate and the fact that Jesus' death on the cross was not fair but was necessary and how many times in life we may feel like things aren't fair but God is always faithful. Then Joe spoke from Psalms 86 and talked about the importance of story telling and the meeting together to share the things God is speaking to us about. He also had a vision of us with a torch in a dark city lighting the world. This morning Chris spoke about presence in Hosea 2. He talked about the valley of trouble and how it produces Hope in our lives. And the significance of the trials that have even happened on our trip that have tested our faith.
Yesterday was day #4 of Camp Impossible?. We finished painting our paper maché projects and continued to fill water balloons throughout the morning. We painted kids faces which they just loved. At 1:00pm we had a water balloon fight with 1,500 water balloons. I'd never seen anything like it. At 2:30pm we had lunch. Yummy salsa verde quesadillas! Then it was "go time" - off to church for the youth group service. When we arrived we realized that our CD was not compatible with Naciones sound system...just another moment of faith. Someone was so kind to go grab a boom box from his home and the show went on. Erin Salveson began to speak after a time of lively and passionate, awesome worship! As she was explaining the drama, probably the largest hail storm I've ever been a part of began and the noise on the tin roof was so loud you couldn't hear the person talking loudly next to you. The team began dancing and singing so joyfully, because we had just sang rain down...do not shut the heavens. Singing hallelujah and proclaiming victory over the night the hail only increased. We thought if we waited the storm out we would have a better chance of performing...but there was a point after more than ten minutes that we said we are just going to do it - storm or not. As we lined up and the music began, the storm stopped and had completely stopped by the end of the drama. What a testimony of perseverance and faith in the midst of the storms of life.
At the end of the drama I spoke about the significance of the youth of this generation as John the Baptists. About putting the past behind us and burning those bridges so that we could be free to complete the work and calling God has upon our lives. I spoke of the blind man who was asked if he wanted to be healed and said yes but after Jesus put mud over his eyes he was asked to go to the pool which was named "Sent". I talked about how we may want to believe but the true test is if we will go while still standing in the impossible. He had to want his future more than his past. As I gave the alter call many of the youth came forward to receive healing from the past and be free to do all that God has for their future. Our students and leaders prayed over many of the youth. They received a lot of discernment and wisdom for others. At the end of the night our team was so blessed by the opportunity to minister in ways some of them never have. They were all beaming with the light and love of Jesus. I cried multiple times last night just because of how proud I was of our leaders and students.
When we finally arrived home after helping set up the church for this morning's service, we had a wonderful dinner and our special angel brought us brownies! Everyone was very excited! Then off to bed and now here we are on our way to Naciones for the Sunday Morning Service to worship and perform our drama one last time. This afternoon we are all going to Cholula.
PS...Last night we had our first bought of sickness. Amanda got the stomach flu. Please pray the rest of our team continues to stay well. I also fell off a cement wall last night and hurt my hand but I think it is just a deep cut and nothing more. For any of you who are wondering why I was even on a cement wall, I was just relighting the pilot light on the water heater to the back house which is up about a 3-1/2 feet wall to another level... I just slipped because the ground was wet, just being Grace. :o)
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