"Vida Eterna"

We were so blessed to be able to reunite with Pastor Jose and Lorina and their three children.  When we heard from Pastor Matty about forming an evangelism team we asked Pastor Carlos did he know of a church family who needed some encouragement through evangelism.  He said yes, "Vida Eterna".  He said the Pastor was Jose from Santa Cruz and he had been pastor there for two years.  We got excited hearing this.  We have known Jose for nine years.  We know him as the young man who played the guitar in his praise band in his church in Santa Cruz.  Mike and I were eager to go out to San Jose de las Conchas to see what our friend, Pastor Jose was in need of. We were welcomed with lots of tears of reunion and excitement that we will be working beside "his" church family to help bring the lost to Christ. Pastor Jose said there were 30 plus active adults and a lot of children attending Vide Eterna. I noticed the scripture in the sanctuary was Psalm 119:9.  Pastor Jose's heart was for the young people of the church and community.  This is what one of his focuses was that week to reach the teenagers in the school.

  The two ladies standing at the front door of the church, Lorina and Marie, a member since she was nine years old watched as each team headed out to the designated homes for the day.  Pastor Jose had women there cooking all day to prepare meals for the Hondurans and were there each day to welcome back the three groups with huge smiles and a chair to rest their bones.  This church family went all out for this week.  They worked very hard before Arlington Baptist Church arrived.  

So as they left each morning and returned at lunch there was so many stories to tell to each other about their visitations in San Jose de las Conchas.

There was similar stories we would hear back home but different receptions.  Each team as they would be walking down the dirt roads and stop at a home they were assigned to go visit to a warm heartfelt welcoming.  The families would pull out there plastic chairs and the teams would sit for as long as needed to explain the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ with each family.  Pastor Matty said one evening we were prepared but still surprised of how very receptive each family was to us.  Susan shared one evening some would say "Just not right now."  We are not promised tomorrow folks.  If you are reading this today and you are not sure where you are going to spend eternity please know your good works, your kind words and going to church is not going to give you eternal life.  As this team experienced so many reasons like I am a Christian and go to the Catholic church.  Zach, our young person on the team did not share anything but this relationship is not a religion.  Jesus does not care what religion you are, He simply wants a personal relationship with you. He wants us through faith and grace only which comes from God through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We need the Trinity to receive eternal life.  

Amy shared as her group was walking down the path there was a lady yelling to come to her house please and share the gospel with her husband.  This lady was a believer and a member of the church but her husband was not. Her husband's name was Marcos.  He would not come out to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.  So the evangelism group shared from the yard about the greatest gift of all salvation through Jesus Christ.  Marcos heard the good news, the seed was planted, the group prayed someone else would come behind them and reap the harvest one day before it is too late.  One day Todd shared how they had a similar situation where the man was not interested at all.  So Meida walked away dusting off her hands and shaking the dirt off her feet and continued to the next home where they were received and welcomed. So yes they did have a few not interested at all but the ones who were either rededicated their lives to the Lord or received Him as their personal Lord and Savior.