May 1, 2016

Visitors for the month.  For the month of May, Eliza’s parents, Manuel and Marina Azucena and her brother, Jose, and his fiancé, Lia will conduct our services and teach Sunday school.  What a treat!  They are doing a ministry where they go to twelve different congregations, each for a month to encourage and work among the people.  This was our first Sunday and we had quite a number with their presence.  It was encouraging.  We had invited Mario and Sara for lunch, with a small ‘bribe.’ Mario usually goes to his mom’s home on Sunday morning, and does not come with Sara for a visit.  We thought a lunch invite might encourage him to come.  In the end, he did not, but did join us for lunch.  He was hoping to have the opportunity to tour groups going to the falls.  In the end, no one came.  He can’t work and Sara has not had work for quite a while.  It is very difficult for them right now.  They both come regularly on Wednesday and Sara and the kids come on Sunday.  We wanted to use the lunch to ask if they might consider studying again since they have started coming regularly.  We studied together for a long time, but when Sara did have a job, they did not have much time to continue.  Mario and Sara were from contacts that were made during last year’s campaign.  We are excited to see their renewed interest, but we still realize they have several issues they need to work through and need much prayer.  About 2:30 Dwaine took them home because I had about 30 minutes to finish up on getting ready for the Sunday school class in Salcoatitan and we were to pick up Ana at 3:30.  Salcoatitan had a good turn out and there were 13 for the class.  The theme was reconciliation and I asked Dwaine to use some boards that were around to make a cross.  Each child pinned a sin on their shirt.  Then, they took it off and hung it on a nail on the cross.  When that was done, we had an idea of reconciliation.  We did have an interesting return home.  When we had picked Ana we noticed there was a stage put up just beyond her road.  When we returned, the Assembly of God was having a major gospel meeting.  So, there were people in chairs way past her road and down her road too.  In other words we could not enter.  Dwaine explained to the ushers that Ana lived down that road and they said we could wait until it was over.  After a long discussion, two of the ushers agreed to put her in a chair and carry her home.  We had to move for we were blocking a taxi.  So, we left the final moments with the ushers and her three daughters that followed behind.  One of her daughters just said it looked like Ana would have to stay the night with us.  While we agreed, we thought it might be rather difficult.  Well, in the end, we left her being carried off towards her home. 

Morning Service in Juayua