Lead Me To The Cross

What a crazy week. I wrote about the spiritual oppression going on this week, the sickness that spread trough the campus, and the pagan festival was celebrated here this week. We've had a youth mission team here this week, lead by a great friend of ours. The sickness took us out of ministry for two days with them, yet the Lord did do much in what little time we were able to be out sharing Him with Antigua!

Months ago, we had discussed with our friend the possibility of doing an outreach on Saturday, December 7, knowing that there was a specific pagan festival celebrated here in Antigua on that day every year. As our friend worked on what that outreach looked like with his team, we prepared prayerfully here. Saturday afternoon we gathered together - our friend's team and all students and staff here on campus - to pray and talk about what the afternoon would look like. The mission team had prepared a powerful drama set to the song Lead Me to the Cross in Spanish. The drama portrays a woman who becomes weighed down and entangled as sin upon sin holds her captive and keeps her in chains- until Jesus comes and takes those chains off of her and one by one puts them on himself, falling to the weight of them. As Jesus falls to the ground, weighed down by the sin he has taken upon himself, the enemy lurks in and begins beating him. After they nail him to the cross, he breathes his last breath, the chains of sin still hang around his neck. But then He rises in victory and sin nor death can him down. He begins to remove the chains one by one and then takes them all off and throws them to the ground. He raises his hands in victory and embraces the woman who he set free from the chains. He took her place and she is fully aware of that, yet there he stands, arms open with love. She found herself at the foot of the cross and there she found love, freedom, peace, mercy, and grace. It is an extremely powerful and moving skit.

The idea was to perform the drama in several different areas around Antigua with the gospel being shared at each location and staff and students being available to talk with those who had questions after the gospel presentation.

What I will share about the festival that is held on that day every year is this- it is a ritual that has deceived a people who have believed in idols and false gods, and worshipped many things apart from the One True God for far too long. The ritual is called 'the burning of the devil' and the people believe that is they clean our their homes, then burn a devil (like a papier-mâché form of a devil) along with the trash they cleaned out of their homes, they will purify themselves and their homes from the sins of the past year and the cleanse themselves from evil. They believe this act saves them from the evil of the devil and purifies them for the coming of Mary. They believe she is holy as Christ is holy. Each town also erects a statue of the devil with the purpose of a publicly burning the statue as well.

The sad truth to this is that in trying to rid themselves of the devil and the evil he brings in this way, they are only glorifying him and giving him a foothold in this country. At the same time as this public burning takes place, people in the crowd wear devil horn headbands, are dressed up as devils, and many are drunk or on drugs. It is really one big party. And also a sad reminder of the fallen, deceived world we live in whose only hope is Jesus Christ.

After praying on Saturday, we made our way into the center of Antigua and stopped right under the arch. That is where the team first performed the drama  and the gospel was shared. The drama was very powerful as was the clear gospel presentation. Afterwards, we spread out and began passing out tracts and talking with those who seemed interested in having a conversation. I began talking with two separate couples who I had seen many times before. They sell hand made jewelry. The first couple completely stonewalled any conversation, telling the second couple all I was talking about was 'another religion.' I began explaining how very different than religion Jesus was. The second couple was engaged and interested, but the conversation quickly turned away from Christ to other things. I thanked them for their time but moved on.

As I walked back towards the group, I noticed a guy off by himself, working with metal and wire, forming some jewelry piece. I sat down on the edge of the curb, as he was already sitting back against a wall, right under the arch. I gave him a tract we commonly hand out inviting the receiver to the great wedding feast of Christ. He engaged in conversation and for the next half an hour or maybe more, Matt and I began to share the gospel and much more with our new friend, Emerson. After some time, we needed to move on. We invited Emerson to church and encouraged him to come so that we could continue our conversation. We were so burdened as we walked away, yet hopeful for the intensity with he had asked his questions and his desire to know the answers. He described himself as a world traveler, content to have no family, no home, nothing other than his work and enough to survive.

Our next stop was on the corner of Arch street. We began setting up and were quickly approached by one of the many tourist police officers whose job it is to help keep Antigua's tourists safe. We were informed that without a permit we could not make any type public performance. The officer then leaned over and lowered his voice and told us to go away where he couldn't see us and do our thing. He literally gave us a free pass to do whatever we wanted as long as he didn't see it. Praise God for His favor with local authority!

So we moved into Central Park and performed the skit right there in the center by the fountain! There was quite the crowd. The sense of oppression was much thicker here. Immediately after beginning the music and the drama, a man on a loudspeaker began talking and all but drowned out the music. God was still glorified though and afterwards the Lord put on our daughter Isabelle's heart to go and talk with a young woman in the crowd. We found out her name was also Isabel - hardly a coincidence...and so totally God. I sensed immediately some sort of oppression in her life, chains of some sort weighing her down and begin to ask some pointed, personal questions. She opened up immediately and began to weep as she shared her story with me. I asked her if I could pray for her and right there she confessed that she knew the Lord but had walked so far away from Him. I told her that it was not by chance that she was right there at that exact time. She was only to be in Antigua for a few hours and then on her way elsewhere. She thought that we did that kind of drama and presentation every day and I explained that we did not but that the Lord had laid it on our hearts to be there that specific day and maybe at that exact spot just for her. She prayed with me and I believed her heart was changed and she turned back to the Lord.

We then moved down towards the large indoor market. Matt and I have been burdened for the market place for some time now. About a month ago, we stood in the open air part of the market, the real Guatemalan section where we do not go without a Guatemalan.It was early on a Saturday morning, and the Lord gave us a vision of being there and ministering to the hundreds of Mayans that make their living selling fruits and vegetables. Everywhere you look there are mounds of vibrantly colored fruits and vegetables and behind every mound or produce, sits the Mayan woman, barefoot, hair pulled back off her face, her wipil (typical Guatemala ladies blouse) tucked neatly into her skirt, sitting on her cardboard mat or vegetable leaves covering the ground. The Lord allowed us both to see the great need of the people who sell their wares there, the people who shop there, the children who work or run around, in and out of the stalls. That burden has stayed with us and we had been asking the Lord to show us if we were to take this team and their drama to the market.

We only made it to the very outer, first part of the market on this Saturday, but it was right where we were supposed to be. We've been in and out of this particular spot probably a hundred times since living here. As soon as the music started a large crowd formed. The oppression was thicker there than any other place we'd been that day. As the drama started, I looked over and saw no less than 20 paper maché devils hanging just a hundred feet or so from us. The crowd became rather large as the drama continued. Afterwards several people came to know the Lord! What great joy to see the response from those whose lives have now been eternally changed! The team pulled out the balloons and quickly began making balloon swords and animals as a line of children formed even quicker! One of the most precious sites was when about 7 little boys, with their balloon swords in hand, began chasing after our staff intern RA  as he fended them off with an empty water jug that was used as a drum during the songs that were sung before the drama. Pure joy and delight came from their mouths and was evident on all their faces!

We eventually had to stop, despite the line of children still waiting as the sun was going down and the market is no place to be after dark. We made our way down to the bright yellow La Merced church on Arch street which was to be the last place the drama would be performed.

At this point, Matt and I and the kids headed back to the center, long with Karol and her boys. Partly because we wanted to have the children back before the festival began and also because Ethan was feeling very ill.

After the team arrived back at the center and we had eaten dinner, we debriefed the day with the team and our students. They experienced a sweet, intimate time with a small crowd at the last spot where they performed the drama. They also witnessed the ending of the celebration. Their hearts were deeply saddened at what they saw at the festival. But they were also filled with joy and hope and all were encouraged as we shared stories of the day.

The Lord is so good. He is at work here in Antigua. The city is so lost and so in need of Jesus, their Savior. We have been given such a privilege to serve Him here. The need is great as is the responsibility. We know that God is in control and the work of changing a person's heart, the work of bringing this city to His feet, is all His. But the responsibility is great because we see so much more than what most see who are just passing through. We feel the burden and recognize the Lord's call upon our lives. He has called us here- the harvest is plenty. We are so thankful to be here fro such a time as this.

It is with great joy that I can report to you that Emerson, the jewelry maker from under the Arch, came to church tonight! We invited him to stay for dinner and he did. Our students engaged him and one member of the team and one of our students shared their testimonies with him. He was impacted. Please keep praying for him! Also, Antonio, one of the men who gave his life to the Lord at the market, came to church and also brought a friend. Matt and I as well a student from the Bible college spoke with him at length after he accepted the Lord. Matt told him if he came to church, Matt would give him a Bible because he said he did not own one. So, as soon as he came in, I went to get his Bible and gave it to him and also got one for his friend.

We praise the Lord for what He is doing in Antigua. We know we are here by His grace alone and we are so thankful. Please continue to pray for the city of Antigua, the Guatemalan people, and the Lord's work here.

If the Lord had not been on our side...

" 'If the Lord had not been on our side,'
Let Israel now say-
'If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
When men rose up against us,
Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their wrath was kindled against us;
Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,
The stream would have gone over our soul.'

Blessed be the Lord,
Who has not given us over to their teeth.
Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth." Psalm 124:1-8

"Those who trust in the Lord
are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved,
but abides forever." Psalm 125:1

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side...

This week would have been so much more devastating...

You see, this week most of the PFM campus was stricken with a horrible stomach virus. The virus knocked out most of the visiting mission team, most of the staff onsite, half of our interns, and most of the Bible college students. It kept every who got it in the bathroom with bouts of vomiting or in bed with horrible stomach cramps, chills, fever, body aches, and headaches.

However,

'If it had not been the Lord who was on our side...'

You see, even though this sickness that spread through the campus was rough, inconvenient, and forced us to cancel ministry opportunities we had planned with the team...but we also recognize that this illness is part of a spiritual battle that rages all around us that we cannot see, but can most certainly feel, especially at times like this when it seems aimed right at this center.

Tuesday we had one of the most amazing opportunities to serve what one might consider some of the least of these, but whom surely are some of the most highly esteemed in the Lord's eyes. Here in Antigua, there is a hospital called Hermano Pedro (Brother Peter) that is home for 240 some patients, most of whom are physically disabled in some way; many who have some form of mental incapacity; ALL need the love of Jesus in a real and tangible way.

A little over a month ago, we found out about this hospital and even met some of the young boys who live there while sharing the gospel and passing out Bibles in Antigua one afternoon. We met a group who serve in another ministry near Antigua who were visiting with some of the patients and were on a walk with them. We shared the gospel with each of the young boy patients and gave each one of them a Bible. We exchanged information with the assistant director of that ministry that day and later contacted him through email but never heard anything back from him. A few weeks ago, we visited the hospital to find out more information about how we might be able to serve the patients that live there. We were then given information for the person in charge of volunteers and told to contact her. I contacted her a few days later and set up an appointment for a tour of the hospital and time to be able to ask questions and discuss what opportunities existed for us to serve there.

The next day, Matt and I and our kids, along with all six interns went to visit the hospital and take the tour. What took place that day was a true work of the Lord. On many levels, being there was very difficult for some in our group. On many levels, being there was so encouraging and so overwhelming.  But overall, the time spent there that day was proof of God opening the door for more time to be spent there.

After the tour that day, I set up two more times for us to come and serve with Pastor D's team. The plan was that we would come and help serve dinner one day and then lunch the other day. We could also bring bubbles, a guitar, and balloons to make balloon animals if we desired.

Our interns were so impacted by that visit that they asked and pleaded that we go back on Friday, which was to be there only day off of the week. We were blown away at the intensity of their request to go back. We decided that we would wait upon the Lord and not rush into something out of emotion or our desire but wait to see what He had planned for us and future ministry there.

It did not work out for us to go that Friday and we could all see that the Lord's hand was upon that.

But almost all of us were eagerly anticipating going again on Tuesday. We briefed the team about the hospital, the patients, and about expectations for the afternoon before leaving. We bathed the whole outing in prayer and entered the hospital. Once there, there was an unmistakeable energy flowing through us. We did not really now what to expect as this was the first ministry opportunity we had had here. But when we met up with our contact, she informed us that there was a hospital wide activity for all the patients and we were welcome to participate in it if we liked. We could play the guitar, sing, do balloon animals and anything else we had planned as well. So, we joined in to help with the activity. Our first task was to help bring patients from their rooms to the area of the activity. Some took off to help bring the adult men while others took off to bring the children. Some stayed to entertain the patients who were already arriving. I went with some of the students to the children's wing.

This is by far the most visited wing in the hospital. It is no wonder why. It is heartbreaking to see children who for the most part have been abandoned and left in this hospital. So many of the volunteers who come and serve in the hospital spend most of their time with the children. But equally as heartbreaking are the other areas of the hospital where the adult men, adult women, and young adults live. These patients get the least amount of visitors, but they are desperate for attention. The hospital is run completely by donations from charitable organizations, humanitarian groups, and religious organizations. There is a paid staff of nurses for each wing, maintenance and cleaning staff, as well as administrative staff. But all doctors are strictly volunteers- and throughout the year there are different doctors who come and donate all of their time, medicine, and equipment to perform surgeries on the patients. It is truly remarkable. The hospital is a Catholic hospital. Hermano Pedro is believed to be a saint and highly worshipped in Antigua. One of the main churches here has his body embalmed in a tomb and people come from all over to pay homage to him and to pray to him. Because of the Catholic influence, we feel the Lord opening the door to bring the light of Christ into the hospital. We can do nothing else for them except share Jesus with them.

The staff of the hospital truly have a heart and a calling for what they do. Our tour guide and liaison stopped in every wing to talk with the patients, call them by name, or to just give them a few minutes of her time and affection. The nurses are business like, but once you begin to be around them and talk with them you see their hearts are really loving to the patients. Most of them have worked their for over 10 years.

So, once in the children's wing, we began to transport patients from the wing to the activity area. Once we had transported all who were able to go, I went back to gather up those who remained with the patients. One of our interns begged me to let her stay with her new friend. One of the team members also wanted to stay for awhile longer. I asked the nurse if we were allowed to remain with the children who were still in their beds and she gave us permission. So I stayed with those who asked to stay. I walked around and visited with the few who were awake. Most were napping. One little boy who had captured my heart the first time we were there was crying as he was being fed his bottle. He is around 5, but has the body of a three year old. He does not speak or walk, but has good strength in his upper body and arms. He was born out of his mother being raped when she was just a teenager. She tried to care for him for a time, but his medical needs were too demanding for her to maintain and she ultimately turned him over to the care of the hospital. I walked over to his bed and began rubbing his feet and legs while the nurse fed him. I began a conversation with the nurse to find out more about him. After she had fed him and lifted up the bar on his bed, I stayed at his side. He pulled himself up to a sitting position and reached for me and grabbed my hand into his and held on. I had to catch my breath as I was not expecting that he would do this. One of our interns had already asked me specifically about seeing this little boy that day, and since he was now calm and very alert I asked the nurse if I go bring a friend back to visit with the little boy. She said yes, but caught me off guard by saying to me, "Now you know he cannot hold him." I assured her that my friend just wanted to visit with the little boy and that he understood that he could not hold him.

I went to get our intern and walked back with him and took him to the little boy. As we arrived at his bed, the little boy greeted our intern the same way he had greeted me. I had to catch my breath again. I began talking with the nurse again as she was now feeding the child behind the bed of the little boy. She reminded me that my friend could not hold the little boy. She said that the children loved to be held, but that they cry for so long afterwards that it makes it so difficult on them (the children). I asked her if they ever get held. She paused before she answered and said that it is not because they do not want to hold them, but more because there are so many of the children and so little of the nurses. There just are not enough of them to go around. She said the little boy in particular would cry all night long if he was held. She paused again. Not long after that comment, she looked at me and asked, 'Does your friend want to hold the boy?' I said, 'Really?' She said 'Yes.' I asked our intern and he could only nod his head yes. Having heard the whole conversation I am sure that he was just as surprised as I was to hear her give him permission to hold the child.

The nurse unlatched the crib rail and allowed our intern to pick up the child. For the next hour or so, he walked and held the child. I watched the two of them from time to time and what I saw would melt any mother's heart. To see the child lean his head upon the shoulder of this young man, curl up against his chest, and lean into him was nothing short of a God-blessing. I watched the nursing staff as well. I watched them take in the scene and listened to their comments. I saw their surprise at how patient and loving and caring this young man was with this little child. I watched them as they watched our intern try various times to set the child in his crib, only for the child to being crying again. So our student would pick up the child again, comfort him and begin walking around the room with him again. Finally, the child was comfortable enough to sit down in his crib and our intern began to play a game with him. Three short taps of his finger and wait...do it again...three short taps of his finger and wait. over time the chid began to repeat the three short taps with his own finger. Our intern called me over to watch. Like all kids do when their loved ones want them to 'perform' this child was no different and seemed to get 'stage fright' when I came over to watch. I tried to coax him to mimic our intern. And he finally did. I encouraged him, snuggled him, and then watched and giggled as he did it again. The faint traces of a smile skimmed across his otherwise solemn face. His eyes made direct contact with mine every time I praised him. I watched the nurses as we rejoiced with this precious little child.

By this time other children were beginning to wake up. I walked over to the crib of one of the older girls in the children's wing. At first she was completely unresponsive to my attempts to communicate with her. Until one of the nurses brought her a toy. The child held up the toy towards the top of her crib rail. I asked her if she was going to share her toy with me and to her surprise she dropped it into my hands! I gave it back to her and a game began between her and I. The game quickly turned into the all too familiar game of drop-it, pick it up that all parents of toddlers are familiar with. I spent the next half hour playing pick up with this precious girl. One of the best half hours I have ever spent.

Why do I spend so much time on these stories? Because God is so good! In  the midst of a brief period of suffering experienced by those currently on the campus here, our perspective is not inward. Our desire is to get better for the purpose of getting out into Antigua with the good news of Jesus Christ with the perspective of rejoicing in these light and momentary troubles for the sake of knowing Christ more! One day spent in bed is difficult for me being a person who doesn't stop going for much. But after visiting the precious people that live in the local hospital here, I will not complain and I will not focus on the time lost, because my idea of time means nothing to the great God I serve. The fact that our second trip to the hospital was cancelled due to the illness that plagued us is no surprise for our God. He is in control and he is sovereign. He is on the throne.

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side...

We might not understand why the sickness plagued us but if it had not been the Lord on our side...who knows what other worse thing could have swept through the center.

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side...
We would not have had the hope of Tuesday and all the ways the Lord blessed us through those precious people to carry us through the illness of Wednesday and Thursday.

Blessed be the Lord who is our help. He has made heaven and earth. We who trust in him are like Mount Zion...we cannot be moved...

So, to end this post...

Please keep on praying for us here at the PFM center in Antigua. Pray for the mission team that is here. We are hoping to do an outreach in the center of Antigua and different areas around the city tomorrow afternoon. Our hope is to bring the light of Jesus Christ into this city who is currently in the midst of a pagan celebration this week. Please pray for the light of Christ to go forth boldly tomorrow and the message of His life saving gospel to break down idols, strongholds, and demonic forces that currently enslave and hold so many captive.

Pray that those of us living here will press on through the spiritual attacks, raise our shields to the fiery darts that come at us, and let nothing move us as we continue on in firm in the Word of God bringing His good news to the lost of Antigua.

PS: It is not possible to take any pictures inside the hospital. So please forgive us for not having any. Thanks for your understanding.