DAY 3 ~ Kids, Candy, and Jesus

After yesterday, we decided to start the day with prayer and time with God. It was a time of focusing on God and His plan for our lives and the lives of those in Pavia. We got to worship God and focus on prayer which has really helped this day be better! God is teaching each of us the importance of prayer and the power of prayer. Prayer is definitely us connecting with God to see His kingdom come on this earth— here in Pavia or wherever we are. Of course we are also learning the importance of prayer coupled with actions—faith without works is dead.

The day started out with a bilingual communion and time of anointing.  In obedience, Isabel shared some things God had laid on her heart about the anointing of God! So we had communion with fruit juice for the wine and casabe for the bread. Chris Nelson, the missionary our team is working alongside, explained about the process that casabe has to go through to become casabe. It is a long, hard process.  It has to be smashed, crushed, cooked over an open fire, pressed, broken apart, mashed back together and packaged at the very end in a very small package smaller than its size. So, we’re all becoming like casabe—we are going through a process, and although sometimes it is painful, God will still have the desired outcome and results. Glory to God!

Melissa and Brittany W. wired ceiling fans today. Because Melissa already knew what she was doing, Brittany enjoyed learning from her. Greg was busy putting mortar around the sanctuary door. Larissa, Meagan, and Henry were working hard to wire the light fixtures in the morning. Pastor Chris continued the electrical work in the ceiling and putting the lights there—where he has been working hard the past few days! Others of the team were digging pillar holes, continuing yard clean-up, and removing debris. Pastor Arlis did some preventive maintenance on the van. The perimeter wall (the wall around MCO) was continued today.  Roger did toilet maintenance in the women’s bathroom (Can I get an amen!). We also unloaded a truck of bricks so that we could start rebuilding the wall of the sanctuary.

Brittany & Melissa working hard wiring the fans.

Working hard on those fans!

Larissa, Meagan & Henry working hard to get the light fixtures wired and fixed.

Pastor Chris working hard!

Pastor Chris putting up those lights.

Mortar all around the door filling in the holes.

Lots of bricks and hard at work!

They are going to use the bricks to close this sanctuary wall.

Sweeping . . . sweeping . . .

Waiting on the truck to pick up the debris.

This didn't look like this before we cleared it out - no more trees!

Some of us got the chance to go to the brothel today where we had activities for the children. We sang songs, danced, and played games with them. There were about forty children that were 8 and under. These children live in the brothel or right around it.  Upon arriving, the children recognized our team and were excited because they already knew us (**from a previous visit**).  Felicia was given the opportunity to share her testimony.

Larissa & Genesis praising God!

People listening to Pastor Chris and Henry.

Brittany W. loving on her new friends!

Pastor Chris & Henry preaching.

Nancy and her husband, Pastor Arlis, washed our laundry, hung it out and folded it too! It reminds me that no job is too small or too big for us—we are to use whatever gifting or talents we have for God! Thank God, though, because clothes that are clean feel so much better than dirty ones.  Just sayin'!

Laundry hanging out to dry the good ol' fashion way!

As promised, pictures of the toe incident have been posted on DAY 2.  

Click here to read about it and to view the pictures.

THE VENEZUELA TEAM