Bolivia #5 – The Lord’s Day
Ashlynn did a great job in her SS class with the little children. Deacon Martin Irusta helped her translate. Ashlynn is proving to be a real blessing, adding a dimension we’ve never had on a team before – specifically, she is able to relate and minister to the kids who are close to her age in ways that we as adults can’t do as well. Even though she doesn’t speak very much Spanish, the kids just gravitate to her, and they have a great time together.
Carol worked hard on Saturday with Roldan to get her lessons translated, and she was able to present her lesson in Spanish by herself. Both Ashlynn and Carol were only asked to do their classes a couple of weeks ago – Semper Gumby!
The rest of our services today went really well. We did have to come up with some special music on the fly, and Rachel, Carol, and Liz did a wonderful job playing their instruments in a beautiful rendition of Pasion por Ti on the flute, violin, and piano. Carol played her violin in the evening (planned!), a very nice arrangement of Amazing Grace. Our trip to El Alto in the afternoon was an eye-opener for the first-time team members, as we wound our way up the narrow and twisting streets through La Paz up to El Alto to meet with the deaf congregation there, the only one in the whole area. The sights and sounds of a La Paz were both interesting and sobering. Sunday is mostly a day off, though there are still vendors and businesses that are trying to make every dime they can. Community bands are around every corner it seems, and people drink beer and dance in the streets in their finery. There is a lot of drunkenness as well, and it is heartbreaking to see many people sagging in a doorway or staggering down the streets.
When we arrived at the deaf church, we were enthusiastically greeted by the members there. Most of us don’t know any sign language, but Susan, Rachel, and Liz know a little. So, we were able to communicate. The pastor is a hearing person, and there is a very able translator there, too, so we got on well. These dear people were so happy to welcome us. They meet in a nice little upstairs chapel in the middle of a residential district. This work was started and is overseen by a Korean Presbyterian group, though there were not any Koreans there today. It was a typical service of greetings, Scripture readings, singing (quieter, of course!), special music, and a message from the Word. The girls signed/sang two songs, which the congregation loved, and the congregation signed/sang for us as well. They have so little, and yet have so much in the Lord. They gave us a large bag of tangerines as a gift, and we went our way back down the hill with hearts full of thankfulness for the providence of God.
Today I started a series of messages through the book of Revelation, particularly the messages to the Seven Churches of Asia in chapters 1-3, and will end with chapter 4 and the vision of the throne of God. The messages this morning and evening covered the vision of the Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, and tried to establish the proper framework for understanding the book as pointing to the certain victory of the Second Person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. God was good, and strengthened me for the work today. Thanks for your prayers for all of us! It has been an awesome day.
