Rosita:

10/26/07

Rosita:
“… if I go I will return to take you with me, so you will be where I am”
Today, Oct 26th 2007 at 10:30 am Rosita passed away in a small room at the Seguro Social Hospital of Riobamba. She was a fine lady of 91 years old, beloved mother of a dear friend. I met her the very day I arrived to Riobamba two months ago; it was in a rush at the emergency room at the same hospital I visited today to pray for her safe trip to heaven over a body that few minutes later would be just an empty vessel of the precious and eternal soul God has given us. I prayed today the very same words of Jesus that I prayed when I met her… “… if I go I will return to take you with me, so you will be where I am”

The day we met hear death was diagnosed as certain since she had just 5% of her lungs working. Medicine gave up on her. She was amazingly lucid and conscious of everything. We prayed together. God graciously granted her eternal life through her faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior… Who would know that God also granted her 2 more months of life at home, surrounded of her sons and daughters and their children; with no pain and complete consciousness! God is good.

I had the opportunity to visit her almost every week and witness her amazing spirit and the miracle of few more days on this earth given out of grace, not science. I visited her yesterday and she was beautiful with a new red hair and at peace feeling herself ‘amost at home’… with a big smile she asked me “what do you have for me today?” referring to what passage of the Bible we will read… I was not sure… I read a couple feeling clearly in my heart those were not the passages for today. My mind came back to the same one we shared when we met. I read it again while she listened carefully. I asked her if she had any burden on her heart that we can give to Jesus and she answered that her only burden was her children… “that they would not worry for me… God will take me soon” - she said -. I asked her if she knew who she was waiting for; with another big smile she answered “yes, I know”. Together we prayed for peace in the time to come.

Today I am sited among those she did not want to be worried for her. We are in a cold room where her empty vessel is present waiting for the earth. She left in peace. I almost can see her by the hand of Jesus with her big smile and her shining eyes… I thank the Lord for allow my path cross with hers. We will see each other again.

I have been asked to pray tomorrow at her burial. In the middle of the suffering of her relatives I hope to be able to pray thanking God for the peace Rosita had and I witnessed. May the Name of our Prince of Peace be lifted up so He will draw others to Himself… as He did with Rosita.

Lord, teach us to count our days so we will bring wisdom to our souls.

Change for Life!

10/24/07

Change for life:
Finally, it happened.

We faced rain and one of the coldest nights of the season on Friday night that almost frozen our expectations but about 400 people showed up at 8 PM and later – at 9 PM when the rain ceased – we had also an audience of drinking buddies listening to the concert from their cars parked all over the street.

91 cards were collected splitting them almost in halves between decisions for Christ (first timers and reconciliations); and inquiries about more information and prayer requests. My heart is thankful, my soul praises the Lord! Thanks for your prayers.

I got out of the night with a realization and a revelation (sort of a new teaching and understanding of the Word of God).

The realization is that the youth around the world are like a “different tribe”; yes, they talk a different language; look different; see things from a different perspective and somehow ‘think’ different… I may be exaggerating but my realization certainly was that this ‘other tribe’ needs desperately missionaries to be sent to reach them. As usual preparation, those missionaries need to learn the language and the culture in order to be relevant to them; in order to reach them with a message that is powerful and remains the same, but need to be presented in another language.

The revelation was rooted on the words of Christ “if you remain in me and I in you; you will bear abundant fruit”. This passage acquired new meaning for me that night. Fruit only comes when we remain in Him, in His character, in His love, in His peace… no matter how well things can be organized or planned, if we plug out of Him, fruit is gone!

The lesson of this revelation says that chances are (almost in 100%) that during the process of developing crusades or events looking to bear eternal fruit for God’s glory; we will face situations that will challenge us to completely, tempting us and almost forcing us to plug out of Him. From rain to the last minute sound problems… Fact is that if we overcome and “remain in Him”, shining His character, abiding in the rule of love and the promise of peace; fruit will come, abundantly.

I consider this impossible to mere human beings; so the presence in us of the Holy Spirit and the power of prayer are essential. Diligence in preparation will also help since it will decrease the possibilities of these last minute unfortunate events that challenge our hearts to abide and reflect the Lord of love. It’s been a big lesson for me that came alive and powerful even after read that passage several times… I guess is like reading about golf and actually playing golf. I pray the Holy Spirit of our Lord will write this lesson in the deep of my heart… as Oswald Chambers implies relating the public ministry of a man of God with his private and intimate time with God “the worth of our public depends of the quality of our private”.

Last note of praise; there is something about coming to preach the Gospel at the street of your own town… God thanks for changing me and making of this life that you gave to me - the one which dishonored you in the past - an instrument today to bring glory to your Name through your Son Jesus Christ. Thanks.

Praise & Prayer

Praise and Prayer:

“With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies.”
With God we will be able to do amazing things indeed. He will do them through us by the power of His Spirit, in the Name of His Son, for the Glory of the Father.

It has been a long time (couple weeks) without any entry in the blog; but surely the Lord has been on the move; He has been keeping us busy, and personally He has been giving me opportunities to ‘fan into flame’ the gift of God which is in me. At this moment while I’m writing these words my soul rejoices in what is going on since I just heard some of the testimonies of God changing the lives of some people who are coming to a Bible Study group we have every Sunday afternoon in the house where I’m staying… alcohol addictions broken, reconciliation with parents, physical healings, hope in the middle of the storm, freedom of inner vows and old sins, new perspective of life, new understanding of the Word of God, healing in marriages… yes, God has been good with us, all of this has been His work! Is one of those moments where my heart is fully satisfied; there is nothing missing Lord tonight for my praise and gratitude to be complete… I hope this joy and adoration will come to your presence as incense; as a burning offering that is pleasing in your sight; that brings you glory as the rain that is now coming down to bless this land, to feed beasts and people, brings you glory also. Glory coming down and glory going up… all the earth is filled with your glory.

These are some of the testimonies I want to praise for:

· We finished a workshop of evangelism with more than 40 people participating during couple sessions… after the main session more than half of the present gave or recommitted their lives to Christ!
· I’m participating in three Bible Study groups every week; one was assigned by the Church and the other two are completely new. I have seen people giving their hearts to Jesus for first time in all of them; especially in one of them where last week 6 couples committed their lives to the Savior.
· We had a youth retreat last week with about 25 young boys and girls between 12 and 20 years old participating; most of them Christians. Healing of the heart and amazing testimonies of reconciliation and recommitment where the outcome. After the retreat the whole Church came together asking for forgiveness to God for the sins committed for parents and their children. You have to see now the faces of these young believers and hear their testimonies! I get to see them every week at the youth gathering and at their Sunday school and I can tell that freedom and peace are reflected in our faces as are reigning in our hearts.
· I have had the opportunity to teach and share with the youth leaders and the Sunday school teachers of the Church and we all can feel how the Lord is bringing renewal into His ministry. We are encouraged to see new visitors, more attendance and participation in all projects.

There are still many things going on; please pray for:

· The “Change for life” concert coming this next Oct 19th. It’s an evangelistic concert; a free event to take place a Friday night on the most congested street of the city, where young people gather by hundreds on the weekend to chat and drink. It’s important to note that this city has been declared couple months ago as the national capital of the alcohol. The ‘Change for life’ concert will include rock, theater, videos and a ‘challenge to the heart’, meaning the message of the Gospel. Please pray for the hundreds – we hope couple thousands – of young souls that may receive this message for first time in their lives that night. May God raise many people for Him that night; may God speak through His Spirit clearly and firmly revealing His Son; may the tents of counselors be guided by the Spirit to led many to Christ; may the music and the event bring glory to God… may God be present with us.
· There is a youth gathering for Christians of different Churches on Oct 20th… the challenge will be to become salt and light in the city.
· There is a conference for Entrepreneurs and businessmen believers on Thurs Oct 18th with the participation of Jorge Martinez from Houston who is visiting us. What a blessing! Pray for God using him to reach and encourage this group of people.

“En Dios haremos proezas” (In God we will do amazing things) Thanks for your support and prayers.