Victories on the Banks of Lake Itzá

Last month we had a special baptismal service down on the banks of Lake Itzá. It has taken me so long to post about it because that day was pretty difficult and I didn't even want to go back and look at photos. There was lots going on afterwards, so Jimmy and I didn't even get a chance to process the day's events together. The service was a huge victory, so that is what I am trying to remember in my mind and block out all of the other junk that Satan sent our way. 

Once Jimmy and I did sit down and talk we realized that the last baptismal service was a personally discouraging day for us too. I honestly believe that Satan tries to rob us of the joy of experiencing the blessing and significance of these special days where people we have worked with for so long want to boldly declare their faith in Christ. There is so much spiritual warfare that takes place it is exhausting! 

I won't share all the ickiness of the events just because I truly don't want to relive them in my mind, but what got everything going in a negative direction was the bus situation. This was the only thing that effected anyone other than Jimmy and I, so for that I am thankful. We rented a school bus from the man we usually rent micros from to pick people up for church. (We have been sending a school bus each week to SR instead of a micro because so many people are coming... blessing!) 

{This was taken when just SR was on the bus and the tense situation was happening outside}

He went to SR first. Jimmy had already communicated with the church that there wasn't going to be a lot of room on the bus, so this day was for our church family only and personal family members of those being baptized. In other words it wasn't an outreach event that they were to invite visitors too... there just wasn't space. Plus Jimmy was going to buy pizza for everyone afterwards. Juan went with the bus to SR and like Jimmy had asked him to, he made sure only our church people got on the bus. The problem is that once people found out that there was a free ride to the "beach", people in the community who are vocally against our church started getting on the bus. Juan did his best and was very polite, but some people refused to get off. So by the time it got to San Pancho to pick up the SP people and the NH people, it was already standing room only. 

What do you do? Unfortunately it was awkward, but we couldn't leave our faithful people behind because of destructive freeloaders. (These aren't visitors, they weren't going to be a part of our service, they actively tried to destroy our Bible study in SR.) Jimmy asked them to get off the bus and then we waited and waited for people to start moving. Well eventually they did and then after making a bunch of threats to us, one got back on and made a big speech about how horrible Jimmy was and wanted everyone on the bus to leave with her... nobody did! There was one casualty though. While this tense situation was happening, one lady who had been once before left quietly without us realizing, I think because she thought we were asking her to leave since she wasn't a regular, but we weren't. Anyway, I'm not sure where she lives, but if you could pray that I find her so I can invite her back. The whole situation did probably make our people feel more united and identified as our church, but that is not how we wanted to do it. Ugggh! Ok, I never want to think on this incident again! 

We sang all the way to the lake and once we got there it was a beautiful day by the water!

 We had a time of worship and prayer. We prayed for those being baptized that day specifically. 

 Saturnino wanted to be baptized that day too! Jimmy helped him into the water.

 There are so many stories here in this group! T and his daughter K were baptized that day! Jimmy led them to the Lord a couple weeks ago at the institute. I am so thankful for them. I want to share more of this family's testimony later. I just love being around them! His wife, Y, is one of the nicest, most hilarious people you could ever meet. She always make me smile! 

Do you see the rainbow God gave us?! He was with us!

 This is O, Marcos' son.

 Lico's kids were baptized that day too, L and P. There are several kids now that live in a communist communities where they have tried to keep God out. Well now there are many kids from those communities whose testimony will be, "I grew up in church." What a different world view they will have! They have Hope! 

 8 people were baptized that day: S, A, P, L, T, K, O, and Saturnino. We are so thankful for all of them and what God is doing in their lives. Please pray for them!

 The victories are what I want to take with me from this day! 

Making Their Faith Known

The Sunday before we left for furlough our church in San Pancho had a baptismal service down at Lake Itzá. It was a beautiful day! 

Of course the first part was messy. Most of our activities start off that way! Jimmy had rented a large school bus to take all of us from our church building in San Pancho to the lake in San Benito. That same company sends a micro to NH and SR to pick them up on Sundays and bring them to San Pancho. Well without us knowing, the owner was offered a higher price for his bus that morning to go a shorter distance (less gas for him) so he gave it to that person. He thought he could just have the 2 micros he normally sends come by San Pancho too and pick those people up and take them to San Benito... without telling us anything. 2 micros is not the same amount of room as a school bus. All of our people didn't fit. Besides there not being enough room and no communication, the micros were an hour apart leaving, so half of our people got to the lake and waited for a long time wondering if anyone else was coming. 

So instead of a nice drive to San Benito with all of our people singing and fellowshipping together on the bus, it was a chaos! If there wasn't any chaos it wouldn't feel normal. 

 

Once we were all reunited we had a lovely service on the riverbank! Domingo came too. (white shirt in center)

Then we headed to the water. 

{All of our people watching}

Juan baptized Noé and Jimmy baptized Hugo. There isn't anything better than to see someone come to your church, befriend them, watch the Holy Spirit work in their life and draw them, and then rejoice with them when they finally become your brother or sister in Christ! 

No one from either of their immediate families was there. 

There were several others who were wanting to get baptized that day, but they ended up not coming due to pressures from their families. When you are the first Christian in your family it can be very difficult, especially at the beginning. Please pray for them! I have no way to relate to that at all, I am just thankful for their faith and pray that God will strengthen them and encourage them as they grow in their new life with Him. 

 Poor Eden was running a fever that morning. She felt like her face!

Wendi & Mariela were sweet to take care of her while I played for the worship time. 

Afterwards we had pizza for lunch!

 Please keep praying for our church. There are many more who still haven't put their faith in Christ yet and lots of baby Christians eager to grow!

 It's a special place! I miss them while we are here. Juan is leading all of the services while we are gone. Please pray for him too! 

CRAZY ITEM OF THE DAY: 

Our grocery store is in Santa Elena right on this same lake. This is the view from the steps leading to the store. Who gets a view like this when they run to the store?!

A Beautiful Day!

We got up about 5:30 in order to make it to the other side of Petén in time for an inaugural service. I came into the kitchen about 6:00 kind of stressed saying to Jimmy that I was really sorry, but I thought I was going to be the last one ready. On really early mornings like this Jimmy usually makes breakfast - blueberry muffins in the shape of a train - in order to give me time to pack all the kids' stuff (like food, extra clothes, etc.) 

The boys love picking their train cars, it's a special treat. Well... Silas sensed that I was stressed when I came into the kitchen and he said, "You pretty Mommy, luv you." That kind of turned my day around!

The village of Tesuluclan 2 was having an inaugural service for their new church building along with their first baptismal service. This village was reached with the Gospel for the first time back in May. Domingo was the first person to visit this village after they called into the radio asking for someone to come tell them more about God. In August the Daytona team held another outreach there. They also gave money for the boards for the walls to build a church building... 2,000 feet of wood. Here is that building:

The guys painting the sign were laughing because they were embarrassed I was taking their picture! They did a great job painting the sign. I thought the church members did a great job painting the whole building too. They seems to take a lot of pride in their church!

The name of the church is The Miracles of Christ Baptist Mission. A church is referred to as a mission until it can support it's own pastor. This church currently has a mother church in another town who helps it out. 

Eden is still at the age where she doesn't mind getting past around if she can still see her mommy.

I heard the words "bow" and "baby doll" of lot that day. That is what everyone calls Eden here with her chubby cheeks and blue eyes - "baby doll" (pura muñeca!) In Kekchi they just say "muñec". Everyone is so sweet to my babies.

The church members had planned a big supper for everyone. This was their kitchen. 

They prepared "Poch" or tamalitos instead of trying to make 100's of tortillas to feed that many people. It would have been impossible to keep that many tortillas warm and nobody likes a cold corn tortilla! Tamalitos are steamed wrapped banana leaves filled with corn meal. Here they are cooking on the fire:

The tamalitos were a side to go with the beef... very fresh beef!

We arrived right after they slaughtered the bull. If I had seen him wag his tail, I wouldn't have been able to take these photos, but since we never met, I'm cool with it. 

They chopped the rib cage up among other things. I got to watch as they carried it off, piece by piece. 

They were so kind to us when we arrived with Domingo and his family. They treated us like special guests. They prepared us lunch. It was eggs and beans with dark corn tortillas. 

Purple tortillas are my favorite. They don't taste anything at all like the traditional corn tortillas here. The dark corn seed is hard to find or Jimmy would have planted some this last season at the institute. I want to find somewhere to by the dried corn so that I can make my own cornmeal... it isn't very common. I think this would make excellent corn bread. The regular corn meal sold here has a flavor I don't particularly care for... I know it's horrible. I feel bad for not liking something so attached to the country's identity. 

{Silas excited about lunch!}

The eggs and beans were so good. They had some type of seasoning on them that made them absolutely delicious! My boys liked them too! 

Right before it was time to walk down to the river it started to rain. 

The rain turned all the steep walking paths into sticky, slippery mud. I was holding E, and usually had one of the boys' hands as I very ungracefully made my way to the river. 

It was like a slip-n-slide made of mud and horse apples. I almost hit the ground several times. I could only imagine what the wet gringa looked like ankle deep is goop with her arms flailing in the air trying not to fall, which got me laughing... which made it even harder to balance.

Then I tried to take pictures while balancing, holding E and holding both the boys' hands to keep them from falling into the river! 

They had asked Jimmy to do the baptismal service. He was honored. 

It is really a beautiful scene. They sing hymns and choruses while people are being baptized. 

Everyone comes to the river to watch. It really is telling everyone in the village that you have put your faith in Christ and are starting a new life. 

16 believers were baptized that day!

Here is the line of people waiting to be baptized:

Jimmy prayed with each one in the water.

We were so thankful to get to be a part of such a special celebration!

Afterwards we met for prayer in the church building.

These girls came to sit next to Silas! He didn't appreciate it much.

We didn't stay for the evening service. It was several hours from our house and the service wouldn't have ended until after 10 for sure. Plus poor Domingo was very sick that day and he had traveled with us.

Before we left, they shared some of that bull with us! This tasted exactly like Jack Link's Teriyaki beef jerky. 

 The house where we ate was where the church use to meet before they had the building. 

They had beautiful visuals on the walls!

Please pray for the village of Tesuluclan Dos. Maybe one of our institute graduates will become the pastor of this church one day!