Last day with our friends at church

Yesterday was our last day with the church. We did VBS for the kids in the morning and just as we were done with the games outside it started to pour down raining. We got all of the kids together and gave them salvation bracelets and explained the gospel. CJ and Robin led the kids in this activity. Irene did some finishing touches on the verses she was painting. And when it stopped raining a bunch of our students played soccer with the older kids. We gave all of the kids teddy bears, balls, and rubber ducks and they loved them.

During the middle of VBS we gave Rubi and the pastor's wife, Eva, gifts that we brought from home and they both appreciated them. Towards the end we were pleasantly surprised by a visit from Carlos (our friend from yesterday) who forgot what time church started. The rest of our team got to meet Carlos and we enjoyed hearing how he had been reading his Bible the night before. We told him that church started at 7pm that night. The Pastor was there and he told us that he knows who Carlos was and he knows his story. He said he has helped him before but it did not last. He said he would reach out to him again and see if this was really the time for change in his life. Pray for Carlos that God would heal him and would use this church to change his life!

Towards that end of VBS the church gave all of the kids and our team a snack and then a bunch of kids loaded in the pastor's van and he drove them to their homes. He took two loads of kids home. It is amazing that this church picks up these kids every Sunday morning for Sunday school for 3 and a half hours! We enjoyed loving on these kids and we said our goodbyes and headed home.

Back at home, some of our students went snorkeling and and some took naps. Mr. C started to BBQ and it began to pour dour rain while he was outside. We ate dinner and got ready for the evening church service which was our last time seeing this church family. As we were driving it began to pour down rain again. When we arrived the service just started and it was not very full (last week it was a packed house) because of the rain. We did not see Carlos there but it was probably due to the rain and we pray he comes next week.

Our students had been practicing two songs to sing for the church. One in English, "Our God is An Awesome God", and one in Spanish, "He is Jealous For Me." They performed them during the service and did a great job of memorizing the words and singing them in parts! Mr. C gave the message on obeying God and this time he spoke in English and Rubi translated for him (last time he spoke in Spanish). The church video tapped the entire service and towards the end Rubi asked all of us to come to the front of the church for a gift. The youth came up and presented us all with key chains and picture frames that they made. Then the pastor asked the entire church to lay hands on us and to pray for us. It was amazing to hear in Spanish all of the prayers. It was humbling to see how we had come to bless these people and they were blessing us! Church ended after the prayer and the the goodbyes began. People came from the congregation and gave us huge hugs. The youth took pictures, hugged us and exchanged facebook information. Tears were shed as we said goodbye and drove off. We will miss this church family and pray that God continues to work in the lives of the people!