Santo, Santo, Santo...

The students down here are on spring break for 2 weeks.  Nieves and I thought it’d be a great idea to have a youth cleaning day at the orphanage.  Things started early yesterday morning as I was getting ready to leave.  Antu had been talking about how excited she was to go work at the orphanage.  I was going to have her come later, but she woke up extra early and insisted that she had to go with me.  She quickly ran to get dressed, grab her bike, dog, fruit snacks, blankie, all the essentials for an effective work day. As we were heading to the orphanage, she kept saying something in Spanish, “santo, santo, santo, sldkjf;alsdkjf;...” (couldn’t make out the rest).  I asked her what she was saying...she said, “santo, santo, santo, daddy.”  I didn’t put two and two together until she told me it had to do with my guitar.  Ah, she was singing one of the worship songs we sing.  Santo, is spanish for “holy”...and the chorus of the song sings, “singing holy, holy, holy is the Lord.”  Antu asked me if we could sing that song...so thus started our day filled with singing, “holy, holy, holy is the Lord.”

The plan was to clean the orphanage and prepare it for the missions team that is coming next week to paint the facility.  About 15 of us showed up for our work day.  We started off with a sweet time of worship and devotional, which of course, included Ayantu’s favorite song.

After about 4 hours of work, all the floors had been swept, mopped, scrapped, trashed picked up, supplies arranged neatly and windows washed.  Having been a youth pastor for so many years, it was such great joy to watch all of these young people, faithfully, willingly and humbly serving the Lord.  We all enjoyed ourselves so much, we are going to have another work party next week to prime the walls and ceilings for paint.

Throughout the rest of the day, I kept thinking about that moment with my daughter in the truck, singing “holy, holy, holy is the Lord” over and over and over again.  It reminded me of what John wrote in the book of Revelation...

“The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.  And they DO NOT REST day or night, saying; Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come” (Revelation 4:8)!

 How glorious that day will be, when we for all eternity...will be singing, “holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”

That afternoon, we called my cousin Becky, who was leading worship, and Antu asked her if we could sing her (Antu’s) song again at church.  Last night, as we were up there, leading worship, singing out to the Lord, I looked back and I saw my precious 3 year old, lifting her hands and singing with all her heart...”holy, holy, holy, is the Lord!” It was truly a blessed and wonderful day....thank you Jesus!

After a long hard, dirty work day...Antu insisted she had to wash her bike...

Easter Weekend...

Churches across the world celebrated Palm Sunday, this past weekend, in remembrance of when Jesus entered Jerusalem.  The gospel of Mark tells us that as Jesus came into Jerusalem, people threw done their clothes and palm branches and began to shout... “Hosanna (save now)!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.  Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest” (Mark 11:9-10)

This coming weekend...churches once again will celebrate, this time, in remembrance of Jesus’ resurrection.  Church attendance will be at one of its highest times, aside from Christmas.  For the believer, it indeed is a glorious celebration, for death could not hold Him down.  Jesus conquered the grave and made a way for us to spend eternity with our Heavenly Father.  For the unbeliever, it will either be just 1 of the services they attend a year, to feel good about themselves...OR...an opportunity for their life to be changed.

For the past 8 years, I’ve loved working with choirs and putting together special music for our home church.  I was very excited and interested in what Easter services were like down here in Mexico.  I had already been thinking about what we could do for the masses that would come for church.  When I brought it up, I was shocked when I heard what this coming weekend would consist of.  Rather then being one of the highest attended church times, it will be one of the lowest.  Instead of the pews being packed with believers and unbelievers, the local lake here in Bachiniva will be swarmed with close to 5,000 people, beginning Thursday night.  I had to ask again, because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.  There are only 2500 people who live in Bachiniva, how in the world will there be 5,000.  The Vargas’ began to share that people will come from all over, for a weekend of drinking, partying and fornicating.  One year, the normal 5 minute drive from the church to their house, took the Vargas family close to 2 hours, because of traffic.  Roads are being fixed, fences are being painted and the whole town is gearing up for this grand ole party.

My heart was so saddened as I heard this.  I immediately thought of Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, and what he wrote in chapter 5...

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles...”

Paul was basically saying, “...what you guys are doing is so messed up, even the heathens aren’t doing that.”  I thought that same thing...at least choose a different weekend to have this drunken party fest.  Why reserve it for Easter?  However, I realized, that this is the whole reason Jesus came, died and rose again...that the lost might be found.  People are perishing all over, especially those that come this weekend and what a tremendous opportunity we have to be a light in this dark community.

Please be praying for the town of Bachiniva and the thousands that will flock here this weekend.  Please pray for those who attend our church, that may choose going to the lake over coming to church.  Please pray for our church and the special services will be have starting Wednesday night.  The Lord desires non to perish, but ALL to come to repentance.  So do we and we trust and pray that the Holy Spirit will draw those that need to be here and hear the good news of salvation!

Here is the schedule for this weeks services...

Wednesday Night - Midweek Service                                                                            We will continue our in-depth study through Psalm 119, and then feed 50-70 people through the soup kitchen.                                                                                               Thursday Night - The Last Supper                                                                                This will be a time of worship and special message on Jesus’ last supper with his disciples.  We will gather afterwards for a potluck and time of fellowship.                         Friday Night - Good Friday                                                                                               This will be an intimate time of worship, prayer and anointing with oil for the sick.       Saturday Night - Special Youth Service                                                                     Jose Nieves (youth pastor) has invited parents and family to be apart of the youth service to see what takes place at youth group on Saturday nights.                                        Sunday Morning - Easter (Pascua)                                                                                We have put together a special band and music that will be incorporated throughout the service.  Pastor Luis, Jose and myself will each share for about 15 minutes on Jesus’ Life, Death and Resurrection.

Thank you for your prayers and intercession for us!

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have no believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14).

Praying For Pancho...

Thank you all for your fervent prayers for Pancho and his family.  After a 6 hour surgery yesterday, Pancho emerged in good spirits.  We weren’t sure if we were going to be allowed to see him, but the Lord opened that door.  As we were walking down the hallways, looking for his room, I was praying for strength...unsure of what I would see or experience.  Thankfully, His peace, which surpasses all understanding, flooded my heart. As we stood there in his room, in silence, unsure of what to say, I was reminded of all my hospital visits back in the states.  It came to me, that God had given me those past experiences and opportunities to prepare me for such a time as this, down here in Mexico.  Pancho was in and out of sleep...but he knew we were there. I asked Sabrina how the surgery went, and she said she had no information.  She had been in that room for over an hour, with no word, updates, or anything from the doctors.  I can’t imagine seeing your spouse, after an intense 6 hour surgery, and having no information about how it went.

I couldn’t bare it anymore, so I asked her if it’d be alright if we tried to go find out more information.  Nieves and I asked a few nurses and then were directed to a room where there were a couple doctors that looked like they were in their twenties.  One of them was very nice and began to share how things went...

Overall, the surgery went well.  The cancer had completely taken over his throat and part of his tongue. It seems like they were able to remove all of the cancer.  They were able to take part of his chest muscle to help reconstruct his jaw.  The doctor said that he is in a very delicate state right now, and needs to be under careful observation.  He will probably be in the hospital for at least a week.  His left lung is not functioning properly.  They don’t know why, so they are monitoring that as well.  He has to breathe through a tube in his throat.  He is unable to eat and has lost some of the functions of his tongue.  With therapy and time, he should be able to communicate a little bit, however, he will not be able to talk as he once did.  In the end, it seemed like the doctor was pleased with how things turned out.  I was very thankful we were able to gain this information, and also able to share it with Sabrina and Pancho.

Back in the room, for the next 45 minutes or so, we had an incredible, powerful time of prayer, reading from the scriptures and singing worship songs to Pancho.  The Lord had stirred on my heart, to read to him, Isaiah 40:21-31.  I grabbed his hand and started reading.  By the time I got to these verses, Pancho squeezed my hand with a slight smile on his face...

“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Is 40:29-31).

When we were done reading, Nieves asked if we could sing him some songs.  With a big smile on his face, that was a confirmation that Pancho was ready.  Holding his hands, with no guitars or instruments, we began to sing...

All who are thirsty, all who are weak, come to the fountain, dip your heart in the streams of life.  Let the pain and the sorrow, be washed away, in the waves of His mercy, as the deep cries out to deep...come Lord Jesus come.  Come Lord Jesus come!

We then sang, the choruses of How Great is Our God and Mighty To Save.  It was one of the sweetest, anointed worship times I’ve ever had.  It was hard to keep from crying, as I watched Pancho’s wife grab his arm, lay her head on his shoulder, close her eyes and begin to weep.

I couldn’t think of a better way to end our time yesterday then with worship and prayer.  Before we left we were able to get a few pictures with Pancho.  Actually, something funny about that. Pancho wrote a note to his wife, asking her to take a picture of him, because he wanted to see how he looked.  We all chuckled and smiled.  As we walked out the door, Pancho told us he loved us all and gave us another thumbs up.  It was a truly a glorious day!

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).