Day 7 - A Day of Worship

Wow! The last two days have flown by and we are exhausted. Here are the highlights:

1. Finished the house yesterday and had the dedication ceremony with Felipe, Iris, Jasmine, and the workers.
2. Gave the kids tennis balls and said our goodbyes.
3. Visited Roca de Salvacion and Altos de Santa Marta. Saw old friends and had great visits!
4. Walked from the house to the downtown market. More machetes and soccer shirts purchased.
5. Had Rosa's chicken and rice with Joel's awesome guacamole.
6. Tremendous devotional time. This week's devotionals have been powerful, bonding, spiritual growth experiences. Lots of tears, laughter, sharing, singing, rejoicing.
7. Cooked our own breakfast: eggs, bacon, banana pancakes, Honduran coffee.
8. Attended worship service and Sunday School at Iglesia Bautista Nazaret, the southern Honduran Baptist mother church. This church has started 60 other churches. Powerful worship including Kristen singing "Sanctuary", Bob and Kristen singing "Amazing Grace" and Bob inviting himself to play guitar with the Praise and Worship band. We were reminded in the sermon (as David translated for us) that Christian joy does not mean the absence of problems; but joy is instead the victory of faith in the midst of troubles. Had a remarkable discussion and lesson with just Pastor Eduardo and the North Americanos during the Sunday School time. Hard to explain what happened after Sunday School but it was an amazing time in which the children, elderly, deaf, and youth participated, visitors were welcomed, Felipe spoke in gratitude for what we and his church had done for him and his family, visitors. An amazing and new experience in the "FBC" of downtown Choluteca, a huge church in beauty, spirit, worship and mission.
9. Quick lunch at Wendy's followed by trip to visit Monharas and Cedeno. Bob delivered your package, Jeremy, after getting us lost looking for both churches.
10. Return to El Carrizo. Senors Paulinos and their families in the compound on the hill. Joyous reunions and amazing late afternoon worship service with the Pastor, Claudia, the church and kids. They had baptized 12 youth in the river this morning. A true time of homecoming and celebration. Joel has a letter for you Chuck from Kaylee. We all agreed that for those of us who served there last year El Carrizo is our home away from home in Honduras. Bob and David were welcomed, embraced, moved and an integral part of the time of fellowship and worship.
11. In less than 24 hours we witnessed the Eucharist at Saturday Mass in the Cathedral, worshipped in a large, metropolitan, relatively affluent, but highly spiritual and mission oriented church, and worshiped in joy with our friends and now family in El Carrizo. Our God was very, very good to us today!!!! We have never felt more connected to Christ's worldwide Church than today.
12. Dinner at El Torrito complete with calf fries.
13. Another great devotional in which we discussed the Second Coming, our love for the people of El Carrizo, our processing of our experiences this week, future plans for our Baptist Men Honduran ministry, the remarkable spiritual and love bond of our group this week.
14. One last visit with Deysi.
15. Tomorrow morning we pack up and head for Tegucigalpa. We will leave Choluteca with the satisfaction of completing the work our Father set before us this week, having relearned how to follow His lead, making new bonds and strengthening old ones, being touched by and touching with the hands of Jesus, laughing hard, crying joyously, and thinking and feeling deeply. A perfect trip.

See you soon

In His love,

Groupo Uno