"Another Beautiful Horizon" (El Salvador: Sunday)
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Matthew :13-14
It's official - our team has fallen in love with the country of El Salvador. The country is absolutely gorgeous but it is the people that we have come to adore. They are incredibly hospitable and receptive to us. The children in the remote villages we visit cling to our team members and it's difficult to say "adios" ("goodbye") each day. These kids are mostly on their own as their parents work to provide what little money they will earn each year - the average salary in El Salvador is well under $5,000 a month which would represent a very good year for most Salvadorians. However, that means that the services Jireh Latin American Ministries provide as well as the love and affection we are sharing are that much more necessary and important to these people. Thank you for praying for our team here and please continue to do so.
When I was growing up as a young boy, no one worked on Sunday. We went to church, sang the songs, attended Sunday school, ate a home-cooked meal, took a glorious nap, and returned (admittedly across the parking lot) for evening church services. We didn't cut grass or vacuum - we rested and "took the sabbath." I've come to understand a bit more about The Lord of the Sabbath since that time, but Sunday and rest are easy companions (unless you are a church leader, of course). But on Sunday, our team did none of the typical Sabbath activities. Sure, we prayed together and some listened to worship songs as they cut hair or sorted medication, but we didn't participate in an organized "church" service. Instead, the soccer field at Comasagua was transformed into a sanctuary where children played soccer and our leaders tutored and showed them the love of Christ.
A school in the nearby refugee village of Bello Horizonte (or "Beautiful Horizon") became a fully functioning medical clinic where more than 300 people heard the Gospel and received doctoral evaluations, pharmaceuticals, eyeglasses, clothing, and more! In Matthew chapter 12, Jesus is condemned for gleaning from the fieilds on the Sabbath with his disciples and for healing an infirmed man. On both occasions, Jesus explained that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath and that people are valuable and thus can and should be helped when we are able - even on a day set aside for rest! Did you hear the voice of the Master on that one? Choose people over policies and programs.
Our worship minister, Pastor Chuck, has made it abundantly clear to our congregation that worship IS and MUST BE more than just a Sunday activity. Worship is less about the songs we sing and more about the heart with which we work, play and serve. Church is not a place we go - It's the body of Christ working together to fulfill the Great Commission. There are no "red shirts" (ie. those too young to serve like awesome teenage missionaries here in El Salvador) and no second strings in the church (like those senior saints who feel that they have served their sentence or have simply been relegated to the back of the bus in lieu of a younger generation). Both mindsets are wrong and it is a pleasure to serve on a team here where youths work hand-in-hand with the aged for the glory of God!
Sunday was a glorious day of worship. The song of our hearts soared especially at the end of the day when we heard that at least 17 people responded to the Gospel and made the decision to follow Jesus! God moved in these towns. We all shared our faith and were blessed to participate in the work that The Lord is doing and going to do for the Salvadorian people. I can't speak for everyone but I will anyway - haha - we can't wait to see what God does next.
P.S. After a bumpy journey into the mountains, some potentially threatening clouds, and brief rain showers, we got back on the bus exhausted, sunburnt, thirsty, hungry and absolutely filled to the brim with joy and peace. Then the bus got stuck on the side of a mountain and all the ladies piled into the back of the bus while the men put what was left of our already-strained backs into pushing the bus up the mountain. Everyone prayed for traction. We made it back safely with stories and jokes to share at the dinner table but it gave us all a clearer look into what it means to take the narrow and difficult road. Sometimes these roads are mountainous and rocky leading to desperate Salvadorian children - we took the road less traveled...a road very few missionaries will take...to serve a people some would rather just forget...and it has made all the difference. We pray that it leads to life for these people. Would you pray with us as we continue the journey?
Because it's all about Jesus - Jon
how's that for a view? :)
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