Wednesday, October 10, 2012 with Becky Osborne:
Our last day in Los Sanchez, so proud of our work but so hard to leave.......
We were late leaving the Mission House, late picking up the fresh pastries for the Women's Ministry meeting and it started raining very hard. As we were making our way to Los Sanchez, the narrow dirt road became slick as glass and hard to maneuver. The teenagers compared the last hill to a ride at Dollywood - but that is another story for another day.
There they were, in the rain, waiting for us in front of the church. The ladies headed to the church for the Women's Ministry meeting, the medical team left to offer their services "house to house", the young people and Grandpaw Chubby Gibson gathered with the children who had obviously skipped school and the roofers gathered with a couple of their helpers with what turned into a men's Bible Study led by Stan. Now it doesn't get any better than that!
As we gathered in the concrete one room church with sawdust on the floor due to the rain outside, I have never experienced such a blessing. Women holding babies, gathered in a circle, praising God and singing to the top of their lungs and didn't care who was watching or listening. They were spending precious time with their Lord and it took my breath away. Women who live in conditions we can only imagine, were giving their testimonies and praising God through song. We had a devotion, with a translator, that as sisters in Christ, no matter where we live we are all alike and are to encourage each other along the way. We gave folders containing encouraging Bible verses and served our fresh pastries to women who, instead of enjoying them, folded them in their napkins so they could share them with their families. Where are my priorities and where do I go from here?
The medical team "happened upon" a woman praying so loudly for her sick child, you could hear her down the road. They were able to give the child medicine and pray with the family. God placed them on that road for His purpose.
On our way back to the Mission House we stopped at an orphanage for children ages 12 years and up who have down syndrome or mental issues. Twenty children in such a well maintained orphanage, who wanted to play, hold hands, make some crafts and be loved on. How many blessings can you have in one day?
We have just returned from a wonderful dinner at the Eskimo Restaurant here in Managua - linen tablecloths and waiters in uniforms. I totally enjoyed my dinner, but I kept wondering what those precious ladies who had gathered that morning to praise God, fed their families tonight. May God bless them and those they love.
Beautifully written.
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