Church with Mil Palmeras

Today was a day of worship and celebration with Mil Palmeras. We finally saw the church in action today.

Worship started at 10 am with 15 - 20 minutes of choruses with some in English to include us, but it was a time were the Spirit was evident in their singing. They commissioned or sent off three groups of people: a couple to live in Israel, a family that visits a mission outpost for a month at a time (Belle Vista) and a missionary kid returning to Switzerland after living many years in Pucallpa. The sermon by Julio and translated by Doreen (Are you a believer or a disciple?) was on Matt 7, and was on the 3 Tests/Marks of a disciple: following the narrow way, bearing appropriate fruit, building on solid ground.

The service was finished by the moving testimonies of 6 people who were to be baptized during this service. They varied in ages from 6 or 7 years old to mature adult, with a variety of different stories bringing them to baptism. The baptism was just off the basketball court where Mil Palmeras meets, and was an immersion baptism experience with lots of celebration when they came out of the water. Julio indicated to us that they try to have baptisms 3 or 4 times a years.

Lunch served under their mango tree since the electricity was off and we wanted some coolness. The meet was roasted lamb done over an open fire right outside of Julio and Olga's house, with potatoes of course (we have had potatoes every day in this country since it is their staple food), yucca, and veggies.

After lunch, we had to round up a generator and gas so we could watch the all important final game of the World Cup in Soccer. This motivated Bob and Lindsey to play some soccer with other church folks after the game, while some of us went on a road trip to visit TEC, a site were some of us had done other short term missions work.

A quick supper of chicken, and you guessed it, french fries, some shaved palm tree heart and alvacado for veggies and a birthday cake for Joelle Hess, turning 10 today. Then it was the sad good-byes for Doreen, Lindsey, Gary and Sue, as they took off to fly to Lima to catch a plan tomorrow for the states.

Tomorrow: more construction work on the compound and finishing up a social construction worksite...

Prayer requests: safety in travel for Doreen, Lindsey, Gary and Sue; continued relation building with church members, SAM Missionaries and Mil Palmeras staff; continue health for the team (we thank the Lord for no sickness on the trip so far!); continued openness by the team to God's speaking to them, and leading them in actions and conversations.