This is What Obedience Feels Like

June 21st-
Let's rejoice together! We left tabacundo this morning. It is so difficult to even put into words the incredible works of the Lord which we are so unbelievable priviledge to be apart of! We worked in Tupigachi faithfully, boasting in our weaknesses all the while, for 4 weeks. Now we leave there today knowing that God's work was completed for this time in our lives! His Spirit is in that place! Last night we showed the Jesus film in the community center in El Centro (where we work in the schools 2 days a week). We invited all the children and their families through the school and through backpack/door-to-door evangelism. We were blown away by the results last night... 138 people came!!! It was like a gift that was specially picked out by God to give to us as a going away present. Cristina's (who we've been studying with for the month) two younger sisters came! Carmen (who we have also been studying in her home for a month) came and brought her whole family AND sought out us and Kelly to talk to about desiring to study more, specifically this Sunday when the priest in coming into her community to do classes with the people. It was so rewarding to see the people come which we have worked with for a month yet had not really seeing much fruit from, until last night. I also saw men and women walking up last night that I had never even seen before. Kelly said...Girls, those are the parents of all your kids from school! I wish I could thoroughly convey my excitement and awe which I experienced. After the movie, during which we prayed our hearts out for the people, I stood outside looking up that the thousands of stars and then around at the school, catholic church, and park, in this community which 28 days before I was so scared even walking into for the first time. I just reflected on the work which the Lord had done here. He told us to ask for the nations...and the nations HE WILL GIVE!!! Some days it seemed like working with the children was making no impact in the big spectrum of the community but last night God blew my mind with HIS GREATNESS!!! Yesterday we drove through the community of El Centro and could NOT find a house or a person we had not evangelized and invited to the film. What an incredible feeling to know that-FOR NOW, for this trip- we have done what we came here to do and that the work of the Lord is complete! Last night I stood there thinking...THIS IS WHAT OBEDIENCE FEELS LIKE!!!! And let me tell you IT IS WORTH IT ALL!!! It is worth those first days of feeling scared and inadequate! It's worth week 2 of feeling on a high with what the Lord has done yet being faced with spiritual warfare. It's worth week 3 of being faithful with the children who love on you from the minute you arrive at their school and sometimes wonder if anything is happening below the surface, spiritually in their lives. What I experienced last night was SOOO rewarding!!! It is worth is all! Again I repeat, This is what obedience feels like. Let me tell you, my brothers & sisters in Christ, YOU MUST EXPERIENCE THIS OBEDIENCE!!!! I will forever be changed!!!
Let me not fail to mention that we also showed the Jesus movie in Santa Monica the night before at the school and we had 110 people show up!!! There are only 90 families in this mountainous community where the houses are very far apart from one another. The people would have had to walk a long ways on that cold, dark night to come see the film. Several families wanted to study the Bible on a regular basis. One man in particular, named Nelson (not yet a believer), God is working in Greatly! After the film in Santa Monica, one lady said that she wanted to continue to study the Bible. Nelson spoke up and said Come over to my house and study with my family!!! FHC (first house church) of SANTA MONICA!!! Praise the Lord! There is a similar story in El Centro following the film with a man named Paul. He is a believer with a wife and 3 little boys (one of which has fluid on his brain and has to have surgery- Pray for this son). Pray for Nelson & Paul as they rise up as spiritual leaders for their families and for their communities!
Now we are in Quito for 2 days. We have been reunited with the other 3 Summer M Girls! It has been a wonderful day! We leave Monday morning for the jungle where we will do ministry all next week. Thank you so much for being a part of this mission with me. It is not over yet! We are just moving to the next chapter! Praise God that I am not the same person going into this chapter as I was the first one! Keep up the prayers!!!