First, I would like to thank my Lord for a very safe trip and for the the souls saved while we were there. Also, for the souls continuing to be saved .
I want to apologize for taking so long to blog. With the holidays it has been a little crazy and just now settled down.
Our trip really started months ago...a lot of fundraising with the team giving their all. Yard sales, fish fry, Sunday lunch, dime drive, cook books, tshirts, sewing dresses and some just gave.We had a lot of sweet people give their time and prayers. We thank you and God will bless you.
On Monday Nov 22nd, the team loaded two vans and headed to Louisville to spend the night in order to be at the airport by 4:30 am. We had with us 14 check bags all weighing 50 lbs each and 14 carry on bags. That is 700 lbs of supplies ...God is Good !!
The flight was great ,but don't ask Kathy lol !! Seeing the Drokes at the airport (so glad they made it haha) was the highlight of my day ! Arriving at Bro Rons we had a lot of work to do before lights out .We filled 100 bags with enough food to feed a family of five for one week. We then sorted everything in the 14 suitcases that held the supplies. I do not know how we got all that stuff in those suitcases. REALLY, it was like the story of the widows oil in the bible, there was no bottom it just keep coming out !
I was speechless to see it all laid out in front of us !
Walking in Huacas, a community of 2000, we went door to door sharing the word of God and handing out food bags. That evening we went to Villarreal for prayer service.The greatest thing about this day ( as said by Sherry) 36 more brothers and sisters in Christ !! Praise God !!
Thursaday, Thanksgiving Day. Bro Ron took us to Tamarindo Beach and it was beautiful ! Then a tour of the town and back home to Thanksgiving dinner. So much to be thankful for, families back home ,new friends, sharing the holidays with the Drokes, and souls being saved !
In the evening we made a trip to visit the discipleship class from First Baptist Church in Villarreal. What a blessing. The classes are held in front of Carlos house, on a dirt floor under a tarp for a roof ,so that they would not have to discontinue class because of rain. That tarp took those men 9 weeks of chipping in what they could to buy it, about $26.00. Think about that for a while... outside in the dark with bad lighting, rain, dirt, no bibles, mosquitoes,animal noises and drums playing in the background and what they had to give up to chip in their money. How many of you would have been there?
I am so thankful I was !
While there I met Izaac and he blessed my heart. He talked about all the hours he worked and how much he wanted to be in church and help.To be in and do Gods will. We talked about the pebbles being thrown in the river and how they make ripples...that's when he said "I can not be pebble in the river making ripples, but a stone in the ocean making waves ". I believe he will. WOW, I want to be a stone like Izaac! Izaac also asked prayer for his mother in Nicaragua who does not know Jesus. Her name is Brittany.
Friday and Saturday we held VBS at 1st Baptist Church of Filadelfia. Over 200 in attendance for the two days. All in two little rooms about the size of your kitchen.
Saturday night was youth group at Villarreal. Gave each member a tote bag full of goodies.
Sunday we went to church at 1st Baptist Church of Villarreal. Pastor Nelson preached a wonderful message from Matt 7:24-29. Many came to the altar. Bro Ron told us this was the first time in over three years that anyone had come to pray.
Monday we went door to door in Matapalo. This day was to be our last day before leaving and talk about a sweet one. This day was a gift from God that has not stopped ! We had such a feeling about this place and I could see Bro Ron's wheels turning. The people were coming out into the streets running after us wanting to know about this Jesus. Tracking us down in their cars and getting out even after all the food was gone,they still wanted to know. The girls were even talking about swimming across a river to get to a house that desperately needed that last bag of food (and I know they would have). Thank God for providing a way. When we were close enough to see that the water was down and rocks big enough to walk across. The yellow house we call it, where Dona Ana lives. She asked Jesus into her heart that day. Praise God !
This makes me think about all the first Marvin talked about the last night of our trip ...and now all the firsts at Matapalo that has happened since we left...all those steps Sherry walked up and now a whole family one by one has each asked Jesus into their heart and life... discipleship class at their house,,, The First Baptist Church of Matapalo....the first VBS ....80 year old Don Feliz saved that same day, his first time in church...discipleship at his house...discipleship class at Dona Ana's house...the first baptizings in Matapalo ....they are Dona Ana, Laurie, Katherine, Wendolin and Michael ..first youth group just started on Friday nights...and it just keeps coming ! What a blessing !!
Oh my, if we could have only known the friendships that were going to be made that would last a lifetime. Gringos and Ticos, strangers at that moment, but already brothers and sisters in Christ. By the end of the week, dear friends that had laughed, sweated, prayed, and cried together. Brothers and sisters that did not say good-bye, but see you soon.
The Riverside Team would like you to remember Bro Ron and his family... Esteban and the rest of their team. The hard work starts after we are gone. They contuine with the follow ups, the going back house to house doing discipleship classes, youth groups and church. They need our prayers.
I want to say Thank you to everyone...those who gave money to buy Bibles and food ...those who made dresses ...sent toys and supplies...for prayers... we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
I would also like to say thank you to our team...for an outstanding job of letting those see Jesus shine so brightly thru you . Riverside you were well represented.
Thank you for obeying God and going to serve and to love His people so far from home. One day we will get to see all the waves that were made. May God Bless you all !
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