Day 6: Worship

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Worship

Setup for worship before everyone got there

I'm just in awe and amazement of how wonderfully things went. I felt and saw the Spirit moving all around. We sang a number of songs in Spanish from the hymnals, almost all of which were songs in English as well, so it was easier for us all to worship together.

Logan did the Lord's Supper and shared as an example when the kids at the Gri Gri Lagoon on the scavenger hunt in Rio San Juan cleaned his shoes with a toothbrush. He made the analogy between that humility that Jesus exhibited with His disciples when He washed their feet - it was just before He was crucified and such a powerful way to show His sincere love for them. It was so beautiful I stopped him and translated it so those who didn't understand English very well wouldn't miss it.

During the Lord's supper, Angel and Fernando, two of the Dominican boys who are graduating, played "Eres maravilloso, Jesus" (you are wonderful, Jesus) on their guitars and sang. Listening to it back just doesn't do it justice, it was so beautiful. I was completely moved to tears at their expression of faith and our common love for Jesus. Watch it here.

Afterwards, Kailey read the scripture, 1 Corinthians 13:12-
"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

This was the culmination of about 2 weeks of getting to witness the Holy Spirit working on my heart and working out His will. I wrote a lesson that came to me while preparing for VBS from Acts 16. Without getting into tremendous detail, I initially felt the push to share it. At times it seemed like maybe it wasn't meant to be. I can honestly say I was okay either way, which is so weird.

TIMEOUT: Let me stop and remind you (if you didn't already know) a few things about myself. I'm a control freak in so many ways - well, at least a type A personality. I'm constantly trying to make plans and solidify what happens so I can be mentally ready and have things organized. Also as much as I would like to pretend it's not true, I'm very concerned with what others think of me and that concern turns into nerves when I'm afraid of looking stupid. My mind goes blank, my throat gets dry, I shake - if you share a phobia for public speaking, you know exactly what it's like. I still can't believe I became a teacher because when I get in front of people, that's what happens.

So regarding the control freak side, I was simply not myself through all of this. Admittedly, at every turn I was almost relieved it looked like I may not speak, but I just listened for His will and let Him lead me- not pushing to share, yet not being afraid of obeying the call. Yet I literally didn't even think about it or let it weigh on me, I just trusted that if the Spirit gave me a message to share, that someone needed to hear, then He would bring it to them. If He wanted me to share it, He would enable and empower me to do it, and if not, then that was okay with me. So much for the control freak.

The moment had come and instead of being nervous, I just thought there must be someone there who needed this message, one the Holy Spirit had entrusted me to deliver, so I did. I wasn't nervous at all because I didn't worry about looking stupid- I didn't care. It wasn't about me. My mind was clear and I spoke with clarity and authority. I can think of times throughout my life where God has empowered me, but this time went a step beyond. I didn't feel the nerves even try to take over beforehand, I just focused on God and that if He intended for this message to be shared, He was going to make it happen. Honestly, thinking about it NOW makes me nervous, so much so I almost didn't write this blog. I'm being serious; I wish I weren't so ridiculous, but then God's strength wouldn't be so powerfully displayed in my life. To God be the glory! So much for the nerves.

Then Jim spoke and the message God put on his heart complemented what I shared so perfectly, and went with the verse Kailey read. At first it was a little difficult for him to get used to pausing for me to translate, then he got more comfortable and it went smoothly. Once I had to ask him to repeat: he talked about the disciples on the road to Emmaus and my mind immediately went through the whole story. I wanted to make sure I didn't translate more than he had shared! I loved interpreting for him - he's such an inspired speaker and it was fun to share what he said in Spanish. I did play with him a bit because he said in English something about not knowing Spanish so he'd be speaking in English with an interpreter. I told everyone he said he could do it in Spanish but just wanted to see if I could interpret for him. They laughed, which of course confused him! I let him in on the joke later :)

some volleyball after services 

Glen and a few visitors who are temporarily working at the Christian Center in Rio San Juan

Sandy and Ryan

Getting ready to pray before lunch

I got to see Luisauny again after services, just briefly, but would get to see her that night at movie night.

Children's Home
This afternoon we went to the Children's Home and played with the kids. Many played knockout on the basketball court. It was pretty hot though, so a number of us played with the kids indoors and under the shelter by the basketball court, playing board games and painting fingernails- even the guys!

Playing connect four...or just putting chips in!

Morgan and her good buddy Yasmeri. She taught her to say "You crazy!" 

Knockout

Even the Dominican kids were overheating (sitting on the wall)

Porfi and me

Kailey was a natural with these girls - her Spanish is really good and she was helping them with their English too!

Jeff was lifting Chochi up with her just holding 2 of his fingers. I didn't get a good picture, but he got her several feet off the ground!

Nice nails, Garrett! Brought to you by Enyer :)

We also had a tour of some of the play rooms and where children are observed before being placed there, as well as where they receive therapy, just in case we forgot so many of these kids have dark, sad pasts from which they need healing. They seem so happy and normal, which masks their underlying brokenness, yet also is evidence of the healing that has already taken place here.

Hey look, it's the Giving Tree!

Movie Night

Tonight we hustled to get dinner, chores done and the pad all set up for movie night. The movie was Ant Bully. One cute little girl was giving Lauren, one of the interns, a hard time and she wouldn't sit down with the other kids because she wanted popcorn. I took her to sit down and she behaved a short while. They brought red kool-aid which she joyfully grabbed and began to sip. 5 seconds later, Meredith came with the popcorn and started to ask me (since she was so young) if she could have some and in that split second before either of us could react, she lunged for the popcorn, tossing her entire cup of red kool-aid all over the both of us. I went to the dorm to change and when I came back didn't find a place to sit, which was fine. I wasn't really in the mood for the movie anyway.

I headed down to Hope's house, as we had talked about me coming to visit her today some time and I hadn't had a chance yet. Ali saw I was going and came too. Hope wasn't home, so we just sat on the relatively cool cement porch and chatted. The more I get to know Ali and Clayton both (he's in my little group, team D!), the more I want to hang out with them. They are so hilarious and just sweethearts!

Hope got home shortly after and invited us in, giving us "the tour." Her house is really nice, which she shares with another missionary who isn't here right now. Ali headed back and Hope and I caught up a while, which was so nice. Then, Luisauny came and found me there- I hadn't seen her at the movie!! I'm glad she came to say goodbye, but wished I had seen her earlier :(

Later on, we played pitch with Ali, Jeff and Brent. Why didn't anyone ever think to teach the guy with the PhD in math how to play sooner? He was a natural!