March 12th Post

Friday was a great day for everyone. It began with all of us going back to the church and house we are working on in Chiquimula. We had to unload an entire truck bed of cinder blocks, which the students performed like a well-oiled machine! After that, we divided up into painting groups, building groups, and house to house evangelism teams. The painting group had the opportunity to "paint the town." :) In other words, they painted the walls of the town for several blocks down the road, which was a huge blessing to the community there in Chiquimula. The building team continued to put together the foundation and walls for Pastor Salvador's church.

Pastor Salvador took a group of students along with Matt Combs to go house to house in their community to invite people to come to Sunday's service and then move the conversation to talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Since this group did not have a translator with them, Danielle had a chance to use her Spanish....what a great job she did with that! I took another group with a translator and we had a chance to get in several Gospel conversations with the people of Chiquimula. I hope and pray that they will come on Sunday and that their eyes will be open to the truth of the Gospel.

After we left Chiquimula, we went to a place called "the Dump." This is a place where all the trash of the Zacapa community is taken. It is also a place where Hope of Life Mission distributes food. We had the privilege of seeing over 150 adults and children come to be fed. For them, this is the only way that they get a meal other than going through the dump's trash heaps. It was so humbling for all of us and was definitely some of the worst poverty situations that any of us have ever seen. We are grateful to God to be able to serve these people, knowing that as we serve them, we are serving Jesus (Matt. 25:34-40). I was gripped with this question, however...."Does God love these people any less than He loves us who live in comfort and ease in America?" I asked this question to the students on the way back on the bus. Their response was a resounding "NO!" God has not abandoned these little ones and has a specific purpose and plan for their lives. He is still the Father to the fatherless!

For our team devotions last night, so many students shared how this trip has impacted them and about how they do not want to leave, with so many greater things that need to be done here. This trip is having a great impact on their lives and mine! Thank you for your continued prayers for us and we continue to serve.

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen