The Burden
While translating for last year's IHS Team clinic in Rus Rus, I was burdened for the individuals and families having to stay overnight awaiting treatment the next day. Over the past year, I'd prayed about holding evening services for them during this year's clinic and had purchased hundreds of copies of the Gospel of John to give away in the event we were able to hold such services. There's very little to do while sitting around and sleeping in various hospital buildings during the long dark nights.
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| Carlos |
Tuesday evening, Benigo, a lay pastor in the village, and I met with guitar and literature in hand and went from building to building inviting people to come, worship, and listen to the message.
We sang and I preached from John, Chapter 3 on the need to be born again. I shared my own story of being born again and what that looked like in my life. Then I walked them through the passage explaining as I went. Everyone was very attentive and we had a wonderful time together.
Thursday Evening: Reaping A Harvest
Thursday Evening we again invited those staying over to gather with us. At first, only a few came. We started singing and preaching. More people joined us. Soon the crowd grew to about fifty people. Then two of the visitors shared in the message and we were preaching back and forth in Spanish and Miskito. The people were more engaged than on Tuesday and when we invited the listeners to surrender their lives to Jesus, nearly twenty people responded and were born again! One of those responding was Eduardo.
Eduardo's Story: Delivering Help
Eduardo had been part of last year's clinic. He had been shot and robbed and brought to our hospital in very bad shape. The IHS medical team stabilized his condition as best they could and made him as comfortable as they could, but no one knew whether or not he'd make it through the night. I prayed for him and with him that night and at first light, Wes flew him to to Puerto Lempira where he was treated and underwent two surgeries enabling him to live.
Eduardo's Story: Delivering Hope
I'd prayed for him often over the past year wondering what had become of him and then, there he was in the crowd Tuesday evening. It was so good to see him. He returned Thursday evening, responded to the Gospel message, and prayed to receive Christ. (Last year he was a patient close to death. This year he's a Brother in Christ sharing eternal life.) What a joy it was to pray with him and the others!
How we rejoice today knowing that God's love and grace was poured out by his Spirit to touch so many of these poor, precious souls. We hope to preach on as we continue the medical clinic. The moon was almost full last night as we gathered together in its soft glow. That was all we had for light, plus our small flashlights, but it felt as if God himself was shining down upon us.
Thank you for your prayers.
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3 comments:
This is amazing!!! We're so pleased to hear about what is happening there. We continue to pray.
Lauren
Thanks, Lauren. God's doing some really neat things down in Rus Rus. There are too many stories to share in one blog. We look forward to sharing them over the next few weeks and months!
I was overwhelmed with joy this morning as I read about how God touched Eduardo's heart and how he has used Carlos to bless the people. I was especially moved because I am Carlos's son-in-law and was reading the post with his grandchildren who love him very much and are very excited to hear about all the happenings in Honduras. Thank you for posting.
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