Changed Lives...
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
 
Hello Team! I hope that everyone is doing well. I wanted to give you an update on what has been going on here in El Salvador both in the ministry and in my personal life. Well, about 30 people from our church went to the annual Easter conference in San Pedro Sula, Honduras from April 8-11. The title of the conference was “Jesucristo” or “Jesus Christ.” We took three consecutive days to learn about the person of Jesus Christ both as man and as God. It was a very edifying time. I absolutely loved the teachings because they reminded me of my seminary classes, where the studies tear apart the Scriptures to understand the context, history, and application for us today, namely, every detail of the passage. One of the BIGGEST highlights of the trip was that a student, Karla Vanessa, otherwise known as “Celeste” was baptized!! I would like to share a little of Celeste’s story. She is one of the students that we worked with when the New Life mission team from Michigan was here. After the group left, I started meet with Celeste on a weekly basis to study the Bible. One week before the Easter conference, Celeste accepted Christ at a coffee shop. She told me that she had prayed a similar prayer a few years ago at a retreat, but she didn’t understand what it meant. That day at the coffee shop, I explained the gospel and she said that it was the first time that it made sense. I asked her to try to explain the gospel and she basically said that Jesus died in our place, namely that it should have been us on the cross, but He did it for us and that by believing in Him we are forgiven and have new life because of His resurrection. The same day, she told me that she wanted to be baptized and I suggested that we do it in Honduras at the beach. She valued her baptism so much that she made a special dress for it. Another friend from the church, Paula, decided to be baptized also. Jorge and I had the privilege of baptizing both Celeste and Paula. God’s timing is always perfect. Celeste had applied for a student program as a nanny in the U.S a few years ago. She just had her interview with the U.S. Embassy a month ago and her visa was approved. In the program, she will study at a local university and work part-time as a nanny. She has told me numerous times, that she doesn’t understand why her visa would be approved now that she has started a relationship with God and gotten connected and involved in the church. She has even said that she doesn’t want to go the U.S. now. It is very difficult to get a visa approved to go to the U.S. so if she doesn’t go she would be missing a huge opportunity. She has decided to still go and she has made a promise to God to find a church in New Jersey where she will be living. Right now, we are researching and helping her find a church even before she moves. Please pray for her. She moves on May 3rd. Please pray that she can trust in God’s good plans for her. Like Jeremiah said in verses 29:11, ’For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ I will continue to meet with her until she goes and keep in contact with her to help her grow in her faith. As for an update on the ongoing follow-up from the mission group, we started an English Homework, Tutoring, and Conversation Club at La Evangelica University. Christina and I go to the University two times a week for two hours to help the students with their English. On average we have a total of 15 students coming to the classes each week. Five students from La Evangelica are regularly coming to our small group on Saturdays and to church on Sundays. Glory to God! Please continue to pray for them so that they can grow in their faith and also reach others for Christ. On a personal note, most of you know, that Jorge and I are getting married on May 30th. That’s next month!! Please pray for all our wedding plans, as we are working on all the details now. Please also pray for Jorge. He has one, or possibly two herniated disks in his back. When we were at the beach for the baptisms, we went on a short boat ride. The boat hit a wave and Jorge came down hard and threw out his back. He is in a lot of pain. He is going to physical therapy everyday. Thank you for your continued support, love, and prayers. In Christ, Sarah Rom. 11:36/Col. 1:16