Hope Becomes Reality

At times, as a missionary trying to plant 3 churches within the next year, it's hard to imagine the task actually being completed. But fortunately, we've got God on our side and He plays a pretty huge role. He's the reason for everything we do and the source of our connections and the changes in people's lives.

I'm grateful that He is allowing us to see the changes happening. One of the guys in our Hunter cell group was a bit drunk and out of it; he had been sleeping in the side room and stumbled into the doorway a bit dazed and confused. When he recognized that he was standing in front of a room full of people he quickly headed back to his room. Of course everyone in his family was laughing and distracted, as we were trying to make it through the lesson. Three people came in after we finished the lesson and sat down right before the closing prayer. After prayer the mother of this new family, wanted to clarify just how catholic she was and ask if it was ok to attend other churches if there wasn't a catholic church in her town, as well as make sure that we were catholic. Sometimes it feels like just about anything and everything will happen, but to have the word be heard and absorbed, now that's out of the question. I really don't care what church you attend, just that His rich and vibrant, living word is sinking in – because that is going to lead you closer to His heart and will. He'll make it clear where to be.

Anyway, as we were heading out, Javier came out and apologized for being so distracted and tuned out, on behalf of the group, and then said he was so grateful that we were there and to please continue to bring the word of God to them. He agreed to teach a lesson while we will be on vacation and that he wanted to teach the very lesson that we had just taught. He told us about the obvious changes occurring in his father's life – Julio is not or hardly is drinking and he's waking up early to do some family chores, things he never used to do. He is eager to know more and to get others pumped about knowing more of and simply knowing God. Good stuff.

Zelmira is preparing to send her boys back to Cusco, where they will start back to school and live with their father. Her home is too small to house them with her; she's devastated. Kevin, her oldest son at 10 years of age, is incredibly sad and blames God for this happening. We'll meet with them for ice cream or go to the zoo on Friday to help him process what is happening. It's so hard for them to understand. And Zelmira lives in a tiny one room home with her parents-in-law and her current husband; she feels as though she has no one with whom she can talk about what the boys are going through and how much she wishes she could be nearer to them. It has a little too much to do with the father of her boys. She pulled us aside the other day on the way out to ask prayer for the situation, she cried, and trusted that God is in the midst of what will come. She also agreed to teach a lesson while we're gone and join the folks at Javier's place.

Javier's place averages about 7-8 folks now and Zelmira's room had 7 adults and 3 kids last Monday. We're watching God's word call out to people and draw them in. We're watching people reach out, open up, begin to trust and dare to change. We're watching people claim this faith walk as their own and ask people to join them. We watch our church start to take form. Hope becomes reality by the grace of God.