After returning from our assigned mission project this past week, it is time to give everyone an update on the happenings. You will hopefully be hearing from other members of the team as they will be posting articles about their experience, but this is an effort to share with you, our friends, the wonderful provision of our Lord during the visit to the US/Mexico Border.
First, if we had a theme that could sum up what all happened, it would be based on Psalm 23. We experienced times of great provision. It became a point of laughter at times because every time we turned around there were people providing meals and other items to us as a way of expressing their love. We are so grateful for God watching over us and providing for us through His people. In addition to the provision there were times of a real presence of "attack" by the enemy. Members of our team really struggled with this and the Lord used this to remind us that even though we walk through very dark times, He is with us. His rod and his staff, they comforted us.
Second, we met a new congregation (Primera San Juan) and new brothers and sisters at this location. We were so blessed by the people and the great response for the Vacation Bible School. We had a regular crew of 10-15 adults that attended the Adult session, which I lead. This was in addition to the adults from the congregation with whom we had the privilege of working beside. The second night of VBS there were three adults in the class that made public professions of faith in Christ and repentance of sin. Praise the Lord!
Also, it was an encouragement to see some of the families we have met while working in the community around Iglesia Cristo El Rey. Some of these individuals have matured in the faith and are using the resources provided by some of you. We were also able to purchase some new Bibles and deliver them to those who have been meeting with us for Bible study. Would you please ask that the Lord would grant salvation to the children of the families with whom our teams have been working?
Finally, we need to discuss Sunday morning. Sunday morning there was a real "sense of oppression" to the point that some of us did not even feel as if we should go to the morning service. Some were physically ill. However, what we found is that after the sermon we heard a most wonderful message from a man that has been filling the pulpit at Cristo El Rey. The message has to be the best message I have heard in my time spent working along the border. This brother brought an expositional message that was sound and centered on Christ and the priority of the Gospel both proclaimed verbally and evident by the transformation of the lives of the followers of Christ. I cannot tell you how much joy this brings us as we have prayed for this congregation and have now experienced the blessing of seeing what could be their new Pastor, sharing the unashamed Gospel with them! Please continue to pray! I see this as a time of great outpouring of God's grace, His blessing on us, and the congregation. This will most likely result in us transitioning in working alongside them but in other areas as it appears that they are going to be able to put together a team of Godly leaders. (I hope to comment more for the future).
On behalf of all of us, I do wish to thank each and every one of you for praying, giving, and going. Thank you so much for your faithfulness. Please continue to pray that the Lord would raise up an army of people to go and take the Gospel and for partners that would continue to send the Gospel out through missionaries of all types.
In Christ,
Aaron
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